How to find your thing

The discussion centers on the often-given advice to "follow your passion" and argues that it's flawed, proposing alternatives like "follow your bliss" or "follow your blisters" as more effective guides for finding fulfilling work and life paths. The initial premise stems from a conversation with a 24-year-old who, despite knowing he's smart and hardworking, struggles to find direction after a structured education. He feels lost in the unstructured post-graduation world and questions how to genuinely "follow his passion" when generic advice feels inadequate. The speakers critique the concept of "passion" for several reasons. Firstly, most people, even successful ones, don't definitively know their passion. Secondly, "passion" can often be mistaken for what is merely familiar or what friends and family are doing. This leads to pursuing paths that don't necessarily align with what truly energizes an individual. The feeling of being lost during the search for passion can be demoralizing, leading people to believe they're doing something wrong. Joseph Campbell's philosophy offers a potential alternative. He initially suggested "follow your bliss" and later refined it to "follow your blisters." Bliss, in this context, isn't about constant euphoria but about what one is genuinely enthusiastic about doing. Key indicators of bliss include being naturally drawn to an activity, finding it interesting, feeling alive while doing it, losing track of time, and engaging in it during leisure hours. These activities, even if they appear as work to others, are significant signals. The concept of "blisters" is introduced to address the inevitable hardship involved in pursuing any meaningful endeavor. Campbell recognized that his initial "bliss" advice was misinterpreted as seeking only pleasurable activities. "Blisters" represent the evidence of price paid, the suffering willingly endured because one is deeply drawn to the activity. These are the signs of a path that, while difficult, is ultimately deeply satisfying. The analogy of blisters on hands from rigorous training illustrates this point – they are a receipt for effort and commitment that willpower alone cannot sustain. The idea is echoed by Paul Graham, who advises letting enthusiasm be both the motor and the rudder of one's pursuits. Enthusiasm, he suggests, leads individuals to the frontier of any field. At this frontier, one is more likely to identify gaps and opportunities. The example given is an investment in Hone Health, which arose from noticing a gap in trusted brands for men's health treatments, identified when one of the speakers was exploring the cutting edge of fitness and health. Similarly, early insights into semaglutide (Ozempic) also stemmed from exploring the frontier. The etymology of "passion" is explored, revealing it derives from the Latin word for "suffering." This suggests that true passion inherently involves enduring hardship. The historical context of "passion" is also examined. In the Gilded Age, leisure was a sign of class, and the idea of following one's passion was largely a luxury of the wealthy. Before that, trades were often inherited. The concept of a standard workweek and vacation only emerged in the 1930s. Post-World War II saw a "golden age of leisure," but this has since shifted. The speakers argue that people today work harder than ever, creating a dichotomy where the pursuit of passion is expected in work, leading to increased unhappiness for those who don't find it. Cal Newport's idea that "passion is a byproduct of mastery" is also mentioned. Mastery, in turn, comes from enduring enthusiasm. The chain is proposed as: enduring enthusiasm leads to mastery, which then leads to passion. This process requires significant effort, akin to the "10,000 hours" concept. A more practical approach is offered: instead of choosing an industry or product to love, one should identify a "sales motion" or "growth mechanism" that they enjoy. The majority of time in any business is spent on people management, growth, and sales, not just product development. The speakers share their preferred "loops" or repeatable processes. One speaker favors content creation and advertising, while disliking viral growth and traditional sales. The other shares a negative experience with the "wooing of influencers" and the demands of traditional enterprise sales. The concept of a "loop" is defined as a repeatable process inherent in a job. Examples include the "healer loop" (diagnosis, prescription, relief) for doctors and therapists, and the "founder loop" (imagining a better state, building a product, selling it, building a team). The key is to find a loop that one loves, one that provides energy and feels alive, even with its accompanying pain and suffering. The discussion then touches upon "The Top Five Regrets of the Dying," highlighting the common regret of not living a life true to oneself. Other regrets include working too hard, not expressing feelings, losing touch with friends, and not allowing oneself to be happier. This reinforces the idea that pursuing external expectations over internal desires can lead to profound regret. A crucial distinction is made: following your passion doesn't necessarily mean making it your job. Many people make the mistake of pursuing creative passions as careers, which can lead to financial insecurity and unhappiness. Having a hobby that aligns with one's passion is presented as a viable and often happier alternative. However, the point is also made that since a significant portion of life is spent at work, it is worth striving to find a job that is enjoyable. The ultimate goal is to find a loop that provides energy and makes one feel alive, whether through entrepreneurship or a fulfilling job. The quote "Light yourself on fire and people will come from many miles away to watch you burn" is presented as a visual metaphor for someone truly lit up by their work. However, the speakers acknowledge the difficulty of achieving this, emphasizing the importance of internal rewards over external ones and the need for a "scorecard" to avoid constant comparison and dissatisfaction. The analogy of holding onto a pole on a moving airport tram illustrates the need for grounding advice amidst life's inevitable turbulence. Finally, the importance of "naming the blisters" – acknowledging and accepting the hardships involved – and cultivating a "great art of noticing" are stressed. This involves recognizing one's own irrational enthusiasm and willingness to go further than others, often with the help of others who can spot these inclinations, as illustrated by the stories of Naval Ravikant and Adam Neumann. The concept of "braces money" exemplifies how a passion for something beyond a job can lead to choosing a career that supports it. The overarching message is to find a loop that you love, to embrace the blisters, and to cultivate self-awareness to identify what truly energizes you.