The four things that will stop you.

Recently, I’ve interacted with four close friends who are on four very different career paths and who all actually belong in four industries that are different from the ones they’re in.

Each of them has stalled at one point or another and it has been for one of four reasons:

1. There is no clear path. By its very nature, pursuing passion lacks a path. Passion is a specific, individual thing. It’s customized to you. Jobs are not. They are general requests for someone with a certain combination of skills. Thus, if you’re going to pursue passion, you’re likely going to have to carve the path yourself. Welcome to the club.

2. There is no vision. Vision pulls people through difficult times. Vision is more than “I want to make money” or “I want more freedom.” Vision is specific, clear, and vivid. Have you taken the time to sit down, take a blank piece of paper, and get really clear about what the future will look like when you’re doing what you love? If not, when difficulty arises — and it always will — you won’t have the drive to persist.

3. It’s hard. What percentage of people in the U.S. pursue passion, their best-fit career? Their manifest destiny? Between 15-20 percent. That’s not very many. Most give up for the same reason you and I bail on exercise plans, diets, budgeting, and anything else that takes consistent investment for long-term gain…it’s hard.

4. Comfort. Think of the last dramatic change you’ve experienced in life. Perhaps it was a job change, new baby, relocation, or loss of a family member. If you’re like me, you feel anxiety thinking about it, because change is hard and comfort is not. Comfort is alluring, but also unsatisfying. Change is hard, but necessary.
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So, which of the four is stopping you?