“I Don’t Get Excited About It”
Specialists get to be passionate about what they do — not in the usual “follow your passion!” way, but in the sense that they can go deep and derive the satisfaction that comes from expertise.
Shane Parrish • The Generalized Specialist: How Shakespeare, Da Vinci, and Kepler Excelled
It's hard to find work you love; it must be, if so few do. So don't underestimate this task. And don't feel bad if you haven't succeeded yet. In fact, if you admit to yourself that you're discontented, you're a step ahead of most people, who are still in denial. If you're surrounded by colleagues who claim to enjoy work that you find contemptible, ... See more
How to Do What You Love
It is all love with me and this observation and I make it as a card-carrying member of the tribe to which it is directed, but here goes: there may be no cohort of professionals less qualified to assess barely-tangible socio-psychological attributes like “passion” and “confidence” than the modern software nerd.
Thomas Ptacek • The Hiring Post
And the research shows that, for most people, passion comes after they try something, discover they like it, and develop mastery—not before.