The "Passion" Dilemma - Greatness Without Love: Can we dislike our job or profession, but still be good at it?

 

"Follow your passion." It's common advice, often attributed to Steve Jobs: "The only way to do great work is to love what you do."

Yet, there was a constant nagging thought that continued bothering me, especially in the early days of my career struggling as a graduate engineer:

But what if you DON'T love your work? What if you're just getting by, dragging your feet? Are you doomed to mediocrity? Should you just quit? 

I found an answer in the most unexpected of places: Andre Agassi.

Considered one of tennis all-time greats, Agassi achieved the Career Golden Slam - one of only three people in history to win all four grand slams AND an an Olympic gold medal - and reached World #1. Despite a dramatic fall to  #141 in 1997 due to personal issues, he miraculously climbed back to #1 by 1999, enjoying immense success into his late 20s and early 30s – an age when many players decline, showing incredible resilience.

Plot twist: Andre Agassi hates tennis.

In his autobiography, "Open," he confessed: "I play tennis for a living, even though I hate tennis, hate it with a dark and secret passion, and always have."

So, yes, you can dislike - even hate - your profession, and yet still be world-class.

How is this possible?

In his book "So Good They Can't Ignore You", author Cal Newport offers a much more practical perspective than the blanket “follow your passion”. Instead of searching for your passion, focus on becoming exceptionally good at something valuable: In whatever you do, treat your work as a craft, relentlessly hone your skills, and constantly seek to improve through deliberate practice. In spite of how you might “feel” about the job itself. 

As you develop rare and valuable skills (your "career capital"), you gain leverage. This capital allows you to "purchase" desirable traits in a job, such as Control/Autonomy, Creativity, and Impact - and that’s when you “discover” your passion. 

Agassi, despite his personal feelings, committed to deliberate practice, achieving incredible mastery. This mastery, and the career capital it generated, gave him options and control. While he didn't start with passion, his relentless pursuit of excellence made him one of the best, opening doors to valuable treasured relationships (like his wife Steffi Graf and coach Gil Reyes), and bringing a unique sense of pride in his craft as he achieved his legendary status.

Herein lies the important lesson for us, especially for the younger generation: You might not "love" your career, in the beginning. But with discipline, continuous growth, and a commitment to doing your best, opportunities will emerge. Adopt a craftsman mindset, and you'll eventually discover aspects you are passionate about.

And that gets you on the path of greatness. 

"Inspiration is for amateurs. The rest of us just show up and get to work." (Chuck Close)