Follow Your Bliss? No! Follow Your Usefulness
Many of us came of age inspired by mythologist Joseph Campbell and the line that is often attributed to him: “Follow your bliss and the money will follow.” What Campbell actually said was a bit different, and not quite so definitive:
“Follow your bliss and don’t be afraid, and doors will open where you didn’t know they were going to be.”
Still, as products of post-WWII cultural transformation, and motivated by progressive ideas and “new politics,” we embraced this idea that we could have our cake and eat it too. We could indeed pursue an occupation that filled us with meaning, and believe that somehow the “making a living” part of it would take care of itself.
For some of us, this call-to-action became the emblem of our careers. For others, it became an empty promise as we resigned ourselves to getting what our parents called “a real job.”
As we complete that first act of our careers, we face a new decision about whether to pursue a second-act career that now awaits us over 50. With longer, more engaged, and more active lives, retirement, even for those who can afford it, seems unsatisfying.
Many of you are wondering if now is (perhaps finally) the time to follow your bliss. Armed with experience and wisdom, are we better-positioned to explore and exploit this notion?
Purpose and the Ticking Clock
It is tempting to believe that success may finally lie where our bliss and our passion reside. After many years of deferring it, or channeling it into non-professional, personal pursuits, we may feel that it is finally time to return to what captured our imagination early in life.
It’s also natural to want to pursue an occupation that fills us with meaning and purpose as we get older. This is a documented psychological shift for most of us. We are rounding the bend into our final lap on the planet and we want to make the most of it.
Many of us feel burned out and ready to throw in the towel in our careers. It is tempting to pivot to something totally new that may seem more aligned with our purpose. Many people over 50 suddenly find themselves questioning the work that they have done unquestioningly for decades. Others are forced to confront the meaning and the value of their work when they get unexpectedly let go or bought out.
Because of the time factor, we feel a greater sense of urgency and impatience. But there is also a mounting sense of anxiety around this decision if we’re feeling a loss of direction, commitment, or certainty about what we’re going to do.
The Myth of Bliss
But simply pursuing our passion and following our bliss may not be the solution.
A few years ago, I chanced upon a commencement address delivered in 2015 at Columbia University by an alumnus named Ben Horowitz. Horowitz is a Silicon Valley venture capitalist whose firm, Andreesen-Horowitz, has backed companies like Facebook, Lyft, AirBnB, and many others.
While most commencement speakers try to inspire graduates by encouraging them to follow their dreams, Horowitz’ sobering message was this: if “follow your bliss” were a prescription for success, then every contestant on American Idol would be a multi-millionaire. Success is a much more complex intertwining of skill, talent, hard work, and timing. So don’t simply follow your bliss. It’s an illusion.
Instead, follow your usefulness.
Figure out what you’re good at, and make sure that it has some practical value and utility. Make sure someone wants and can use what you’re offering. The more useful your pursuit, the more successful you will be. Focusing solely on your bliss is one-sided. It ignores the truth of business success, which is that it depends on relationships and tangible value. You have to channel whatever inspiration you have and connect to someone else and deliver something useful to them.
And your success will make you happy – and maybe even blissful.
This post was originally published on John Tarnoff's website and is republished with permission.
