By CPA Allan Wasonga
It is tempting to dismiss history as mere mythology by our distant ancestors of copper chisels and grinding stones. After all, you might argue, we are now so sophisticated and technologically advanced, so progressive and enlightened; we have moved well beyond our primitive roots; we are rewriting our nature. But not so fast, the truth is the opposite – we have never been more in the thrall of human nature and its destructive potential than now. And by ignoring this reality, we are skating on thin ice.
Our careers are far too complex, and the changes we have experienced over the years are far too valuable to be wished away. Some of the most common career advice you’ll hear today is: ‘Follow your passion’ or ‘Follow your dreams.’ According to Cal Newport, an associate professor at Georgetown University who teaches computer science, this advice is problematic. Let’s look at some history, shall we?
Careers and professions began early in the prehistoric era (before 3000 BCE), with the structure of work being survival-based tasks distributed among community members, and there being no formal careers as we know them. Hunting, gathering and basic shelter construction were some of the most common occupations as we read in our history books. In the ancient civilisations such as Egypt, Rome, Greece, Mesopotamia and China, more formalised labour systems emerged as evidenced by careers in governance, military and craftsmanship. People began taking on specific roles, such as farmers, blacksmiths, merchants, and soldiers. There was also the beginning of apprenticeships with much younger people learning trades from elders and masters.
In the medieval period and from the Renaissance to the early modern period, professions were expanded with the rise of artists, scientists, bankers and lawyers. Colonialism and Trade created roles in sea navigation, as well as traders, shipmakers, and administrators. The invention of the printing press aided in spreading education, leading to more intellectual career paths. During the Industrial Revolution (18th – 19th Century), new professions emerged, including engineers, accountants and managers, as there was a massive shift from agrarian work to more factory-based labour. There was also the emergence of rural-urban migration, which led to more structural work in the cities.
The rise of corporate careers has been witnessed more in the modern era (20th Century to present). We have seen the separation between office work and manual labour, the digital revolution, which has to a large extent disrupted the workforce and the adoption of a lifelong learning approach to work to ensure continuous upskilling as the job requirements keep changing. There has been a drastic paradigm shift in how business is conducted, with careers and professions becoming more diverse and dynamic. Whereas the lessons from history remain intact, the coherent structure of career progression and matching knowledge to opportunities diminishes. This means there will be much more emphasis on soft skills and the ability to create meaningful connections within a professional network to create opportunities for prosperity.
But what lessons can we draw from history? Across the historical timeline, we have seen people adapt to the changes in the world around them, with younger people learning their craft from the much older individuals during the prehistoric era and sea navigation necessitated by colonialism and Trade from the Renaissance to the early modern period. This means that humanity has been adapting to its surroundings and the world around it for the longest time.
The problem with following a preconceived passion is that you find little time to adapt to the changes around you. In the event you do, the challenges you encounter along the way are far too depressing and are more likely to diminish the initial dream and passion you held so close. Besides, there are at least three issues with relying heavily on your passion, according to Cal Newport. The first is that passion is rare. Very few people have this ‘passion’ lying dormant within them, just waiting to be awoken. It is an unintelligent risk to bank on the fact that you’ll one day discover this overwhelming passion that will show you the light and guide you toward exactly what you should be doing, especially in your career. Secondly, it would be nice to skip straight to our calling in life, but this is not often the case. Passion takes a long time to discover and execute, and we can infer that execution will be far from perfect. Thirdly, passion is a result of mastery. Put simply, you enjoy the things that you are good at, and to be good at something, you must rely on repeated actions and initiatives that eventually build up to mastery. This may not fit your passion when you set out to begin. You will unlikely stumble upon your desired work by hoping you’ll magically find it.
Craftsman Hypothesis
It is very liberating to imagine your destiny in your own hands. It is up to you to create something meaningful and present it to your workplace. If you hone your craft while concentrating on building your skills and career capital, luck and opportunity will naturally work themselves out. It is essential to distinguish between the “Craftsman Mindset” and the “Passion Mindset” (and choose the Craftsman Mindset once the difference is clear). Someone with a passion mindset focuses on what the world can offer them, not what they can offer the world, and that is why they are constantly asking themselves big questions such as: Who am I? What do I truly like? What is my passion? Unfortunately, the answers to these questions are difficult to come by and are essentially impossible to confirm. The craftsman mindset offers clarity of purpose, while the passion mindset offers an endless list of ambiguous questions. Part of what makes the craftsman mindset thrilling is its pragmatism toward the type of work you do. The work and the craft come first; the luck and opportunity come second.
This calls for patience in the work we do. The payoff has to be in the distant future after repeated effort, not immediately. Don’t wait for the perfect opportunity or “the perfect time” because those things don’t seem to come along. You need to strain and stretch your abilities and skills in order to grow. If you just turn up and put your best foot forward, sooner or later, you’ll hit a performance target that puts you on a trajectory towards success and achieving your goals.
The author is an Audit Manager at Grohney & Co. Associates, a firm of Certified Public Accountants. He is responsible for Policy Formulation within the firm to ensure value creation and building of trust with clients.
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