Why is 'follow your passion' considered bad advice?

The advice is problematic because most people don't know their passion, and often confuse familiarity with genuine enthusiasm, leading them down unfulfilling paths.

What does Joseph Campbell mean by 'follow your blisters'?

Campbell suggested 'follow your blisters' to emphasize that pursuing something you truly care about involves hardship and pain, which serves as evidence of your commitment and the price you willingly pay.

How can enthusiasm guide you in your career?

Enthusiasm acts as both the 'motor' to fuel your efforts and the 'rudder' to guide your direction. It can lead you to the 'frontier' of a field, where gaps and opportunities emerge.

What is the 'loop' concept for finding fulfilling work?

A 'loop' is the fundamental, repeatable process within a job or role. Identifying a loop you love, whether it's in sales, content creation, or another area, can lead to sustained energy and fulfillment.

What are the top five regrets of the dying?

The top regrets include not living a life true to oneself, working too hard, not expressing feelings, losing touch with friends, and not allowing oneself to be happier.

Should your passion be your job?

Not necessarily. While pursuing your passion is important, making it your sole career can be a mistake. It's often more fulfilling to have a job you enjoy and keep your passion as a hobby, ensuring financial security.

How can you identify your true calling if you're unsure?

Pay attention to 'blisters' – the specific hardships you're willing to endure, and 'notice' your own irrational enthusiasm or areas where you naturally excel, even if others point them out to you.

Key Moments

How to find your thing

My First Million

Entertainment5 min read42 min video

Apr 27, 2026|2,524 views|121|17

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Key Moments

TL;DR

Forget 'follow your passion'; instead, 'follow your bliss' by embracing the 'blisters'—the enjoyable suffering—that indicate true enthusiasm and lead to mastery, not fleeting happiness.

Key Insights

The original meaning of 'passion' is derived from the word for 'suffering,' suggesting that true passion involves enduring hardship willingly, rather than just seeking pleasure.

Joseph Campbell's concept of 'follow your bliss' evolved to 'follow your blisters,' highlighting that enthusiasm for something often leads to hardship, which is a sign of a deeper calling.

Paul Graham suggests letting enthusiasm be both the 'motor' and the 'rudder,' driving you to the frontier of a field where gaps and opportunities become visible.

A significant number of people, estimated at 70% according to Bill Gurley, dislike their work, spending roughly half of their adult waking hours in jobs that don't fulfill them.

Regrets of the dying, as documented by a hospice nurse, include wishing for courage to live true to oneself, not working so hard, expressing feelings, staying in touch with friends, and allowing oneself to be happier.

The 'loop' of a job or activity (e.g., healer loop, founder loop, farmer loop) is more critical than the industry or product; finding a loop you love is key to sustained engagement.

Rethinking 'follow your passion' for genuine fulfillment

The common advice to 'follow your passion' is often unhelpful, especially for young adults facing unstructured choices after a structured upbringing. Many people, even successful ones, struggle to identify a singular passion. This advice can lead individuals to mistake familiarity for genuine interest or to feel lost and uncertain during their search. The podcast argues for a more nuanced approach, suggesting that the concept of 'passion' itself, derived from the Latin word for 'suffering,' implies a willingness to endure hardship for something deeply meaningful. This is contrasted with the modern interpretation of passion as merely pursuing constant happiness or pleasure, which can be misleading.

Embracing 'bliss' and 'blisters' as guides

Joseph Campbell's advice to 'follow your bliss,' later refined to 'follow your blisters,' offers a more practical framework. Bliss, in this context, isn't just about easy joy but about what you are genuinely enthusiastic about—activities that naturally draw you in, make you feel alive, cause you to lose track of time, and that you'll do even in your off-hours. 'Blisters' represent the undeniable evidence of effort and sacrifice made willingly. These are the calluses earned from dedicated practice, the sign that you've paid a price because you were deeply compelled to do so. This willingly endured suffering is a signals a strong connection to an activity, far more than mere willpower can sustain.

Enthusiasm as the engine and rudder for great work

Paul Graham's essay 'How to Do Great Work' suggests that enthusiasm should not only be the 'motor' propelling you forward but also the 'rudder' guiding your direction. This enthusiasm, often irrational, drives individuals to the frontier of any field. For example, someone deeply interested in fitness might go far beyond typical engagement, exploring experimental techniques and precise measurements. At this frontier, gaps and unmet needs become apparent. Shaan Puri illustrates this by discussing how exploring the frontier of men's health led to investing in Hone Health, a multi-million dollar business addressing low testosterone—an opportunity that wouldn't have been visible from the outside.

The historical evolution of work, leisure, and passion

The modern concept of pursuing passion as a career is a relatively recent phenomenon tied to increased leisure time and economic prosperity. Historically, trades were inherited. The idea of leisure and passion only became prominent during the Gilded Age for the wealthy. The standardization of the work week and vacations, popularized by figures like Henry Ford around the 1930s, gradually made leisure more accessible. Post-WWII, fueled by the GI Bill and economic boom, leisure peaked. However, today, despite this history, people often work harder while simultaneously feeling pressure to find a 'passionate' career, creating a paradox that can lead to discontent. Books like 'Bad Therapy' suggest that over-analyzing happiness can paradoxically increase unhappiness.

Passion as a byproduct of mastery and enduring enthusiasm

Cal Newport posits that passion is a byproduct of mastery. Mastery, in turn, is achieved through 'enduring enthusiasm'—the sustained drive to practice, learn, and improve over long periods, often referred to as the '10,000 hours' concept. This enduring enthusiasm is what allows individuals to put in the necessary work, even when it's difficult. The process involves a chain: initial enthusiasm leads to enduring enthusiasm, which fosters mastery, and mastery ultimately yields a deep, satisfying passion. The 'blisters' are the tangible evidence of this enduring enthusiasm and the subsequent mastery.

Identifying the 'loop' you love

Instead of focusing on industries or products, the key is to identify and love the 'loop'—the repeatable cycle of activities that define a job or role. For a doctor, it might be diagnosing pain and prescribing solutions. For a founder, it's envisioning a better future, building a product, selling it, and then building a team. The podcast emphasizes that the time spent on the actual product is often minimal compared to time spent on sales, growth, management, and team building. Therefore, understanding which operational 'loop' genuinely resonates with you—whether it's content creation, sales, advertising, or something else—is crucial for long-term career satisfaction.

The top five regrets of the dying and their implications

Drawing from the book 'The Top Five Regrets of the Dying,' the speakers highlight critical life lessons. The most common regret is wishing one had lived a life true to themselves, not one expected by others. Other significant regrets include working too hard and missing family time, regretting not expressing feelings, wishing to have stayed in touch with friends, and not allowing oneself to be happier. These regrets underscore the importance of aligning one's actions with their inner desires and prioritizing well-being and relationships over external expectations or relentless work, which echoes the 'follow your bliss' and 'voluntary suffering' themes.

Practical advice: Naming blisters and cultivating awareness

To practically apply these principles, first, 'name the blisters'—clearly identify the specific hardships and diligent practices required for an activity, not just the desired outcomes. This helps in deciding if you're truly willing to embrace them. Second, develop the 'art of noticing'—pay attention to your own unusual, disproportionate enthusiasm or where you willingly go further than others. This self-awareness, sometimes catalyzed by external observation (like a parent or partner pointing out a consistent pattern), is vital. Furthermore, maintaining internal rewards and scorecards, rather than constantly comparing oneself to external benchmarks (like $18 million apartments), is essential to avoid comparison-induced discontent and maintain focus on what truly lights you up.

Mentioned in This Episode

●Companies

●Books

●Drugs & Medications

●Concepts

●People Referenced

Finding Your 'Thing': Blisters, Bliss, and Loops

Practical takeaways from this episode

Do This

Follow your 'bliss' or 'blisters' – what you're naturally drawn to, find interesting, feel alive doing, and lose track of time doing.

Let enthusiasm be your motor and rudder, guiding you to the frontier of any field.

Identify your 'loop' – the repeatable process within a job that you genuinely enjoy doing.

Focus on the 'blisters' – the willing suffering and hardships – as a key indicator of true pursuit.

Name your blisters upfront: identify the specific challenges and tasks involved in your pursuit.

Practice the 'art of noticing' your own irrational enthusiasm and willingness to endure more than others.

Seek external validation or insight from trusted individuals who can spot your strengths.

Prioritize internal rewards and create your own scorecard, rather than relying on external validation.

Hold onto your metaphorical 'pole' when the world starts to rock you – stay grounded in your internal compass and advice.

Avoid This

Don't confuse familiarity with genuine enthusiasm or passion.

Avoid seeking constant instantaneous pleasure or euphoria; true bliss often involves hardship.

Do not let the idea of 'passion' solely dictate your career choice; it can often be a hobby.

Avoid comparison shopping for lifestyles or achievements, as it can kill joy and passion.

Don't solely focus on the desired outcome; understand and accept the necessary 'blisters' or difficulties.

Be wary of external reward systems that can undermine intrinsic motivation.

Don't quit your job or start a business without saving 6-12 months of expenses to ensure financial security.

Common Questions

Passion is often misunderstood as pure joy, while bliss, according to Joseph Campbell, is about what you are enthusiastically drawn to. Bliss involves activities that make you feel alive and cause you to lose track of time.

Topics

Mindset & Self-Improvement Business & Entrepreneurship Decision Making Personal Growth Work-life Balance Finding Purpose Career & Skills Entrepreneurial Mindset Career Fulfillment

Mentioned in this video

Concepts

The hero's journey

A narrative pattern identified by Joseph Campbell, common in stories like Star Wars and Harry Potter, which describes a protagonist's transformation.

Media

Star Wars

A film series used as an example of the hero's journey narrative structure explained by Joseph Campbell.

Harry Potter

A book and film series mentioned as an example of the hero's journey narrative structure.

Passion of the Christ

Used as an example to illustrate the etymological connection between the word 'passion' and 'suffering'.

People

Paul Graham

Entrepreneur and essayist whose "How to Do Great Work" essay advocating for enthusiasm as a guide is discussed.

Rick Rubin

Podcast host whose show featured Adam Neumann, leading to a discussion about his entrepreneurial journey.

Joseph Campbell

Author and mythologist known for his work on the hero's journey, whose concept of 'follow your bliss' is discussed.

Mark Manson

Author mentioned for his podcast discussing why one should not follow their passion, and for his ideas on success despite not knowing one's passion.

Henry Ford

Credited with popularizing the weekend and standard work week concept in the early 20th century for increased productivity and worker loyalty.

Cal Newport

Author of 'Deep Work', who posits that passion is a byproduct of mastery, which in turn comes from enduring enthusiasm.

Gary Vaynerchuk

Entrepreneur mentioned for his practice of talking to elderly people to gain wisdom and perspective.

Bill Gurley

Venture capitalist whose book is cited for the statistic that 70% of people dislike how they spend their days at work.

Isaac Asimov

Guest on the podcast who shared the quote 'light yourself on fire and people will come from many miles away to watch you burn' about his successful Airbnb business.

Adam Neumann

Co-founder of WeWork, discussed for his story of his girlfriend Rebecca identifying his passion for real estate by observing his fascination with buildings.

Austin Reef

Mentioned as someone highly recommending listening to Adam Neumann's podcast appearance.

Companies

Hone Health

A company discussed as a successful investment related to the 'male epidemic of low testosterone' business opportunity identified at the frontier of a field.

HubSpot

Mentioned as the creator of a 30-day operating system based on the speaker's framework for building excellence.

WeWork

Company founded by Adam Neumann, mentioned in the context of his story about discovering his calling.

Books

Deep Work

A book by Cal Newport that argues passion is a byproduct of mastery, which is achieved through sustained effort and enthusiasm.

Bad Therapy

A book that discusses how introspection into happiness and purpose can lead to discontent, a concept related to the modern pursuit of passion.

The Top Five Regrets of the Dying

A book by a hospice nurse detailing the most common regrets of terminally ill patients, emphasizing living authentically and cherishing relationships.

Drugs & Medications

Ozempic

Mentioned in the context of semaglutide and its potential as a business insight when discovered at the frontier of medical innovation.

Legislation & Policy

GI Bill

Legislation that funded college for returning WWII soldiers, contributing to a post-war boom and a 'golden age of leisure'.