Often, young people are told to discover their passion, follow their dreams, and “reach for the stars.” Mike Rowe thinks millennials should disregard such empty idealism.
Rowe, the host of the Discovery Channel show “Dirty Jobs,” went against the grain in a video for PragerU when he told kids not to follow their passion. He calls his advice “the hard truth” — it’s the opposite of conventional opinions.
“Every time I watch the Oscars, I cringe when some famous movie star — trophy in hand — starts to deconstruct the secret of their success,” Rowe said. “It’s always the same thing: ‘Don’t let anyone tell you that you don’t have what it takes, kid!’ and the ever-popular, ‘Never give up on your dreams!’ Look, I understand the importance of persistence, and the value of encouragement, but who tells a stranger to never give up on their dreams, without even knowing what it is they’re dreaming? How can Lady Gaga possibly know where your passion will lead you?”
Rowe emphasized that passion doesn’t drive skill and mentions the thousands of passionate singers that try out for American Idol, but get rejected because they don’t have the ability.
People miss out on many opportunities when they follow their passion, Rowe said.
“If we’re talking about your hobby, by all means, let your passion lead you,” Rowe said. “But when it comes to making a living, it’s easy to forget the dirty truth: Just because you’re passionate about something doesn’t mean you won’t suck at it.”
Rowe also says that just because students earn a degree in their chosen field doesn’t mean they’ll land a dream job. He says that dream jobs are often just “dreams.”
“Their imaginary existence just might keep you from exploring careers that offer a legitimate chance to perform meaningful work and develop a genuine passion for the job you already have. Because here’s another dirty truth: your happiness on the job has very little to do with the work itself.”
Instead, Rowe suggests that millennials search for opportunity. Rowe says he has met many tradesmen that followed opportunity instead of passion and prospered as a result.
“Never follow your passion, but always bring it with you,” Rowe said.
