Hey there,
The latest episode of Solved just dropped: Passion, Solved: Is It Really Worth Pursuing?
Nearly 60% of U.S. workers are disengaged or actively hate their jobs. And nearly 70% experience regular financial stress. So the question of whether to pursue what you love or what pays the bills isn't abstract—it's one of the most practical decisions most of us ever face.
In this episode, Drew and I went head to head on it. I argued the case for passion. Drew argued the case for pragmatism. We went four rounds.
We got into J.K. Rowling and Kurt Cobain—two people who followed their passion with everything they had, and ended up in completely opposite places.
We talked about the research on harmonious vs. obsessive passion and why loving your work can sometimes make burnout worse, not better.
We got into survivorship bias, financial stress, the five most common deathbed regrets, Jane Goodall, Trent Reznor, and what Cal Newport gets right—and wrong.
And then we got personal about our own careers, which is where I think it gets most useful.
If you've ever felt stuck between a calling and a paycheck, or wondered whether the thing you're passionate about is even something you should be doing professionally—this one's for you.
You can listen here:
One more thing—and this one's time-sensitive.
Solved has been nominated for a Webby Award for Best Indie Podcast, and voting closes tomorrow (April 16th at 11:59pm PT). If this show has been useful to you, I'd appreciate your vote. Takes 30 seconds.
Click to vote for Solved here.
Hope you enjoy the episode.
And if you do, pass it on to someone who could use it too.
Mark