The Impact of Doing What You Love: Risks and Rewards of Pursuing Passion Professionally

It's easy to lose myself in Solutions for the Planet – because this work is one of the loves of my life, my passion. But of course, there's more to life and love than work, right. For me, the magic lies in the synergy between my personal purpose and professional mission. I’m lucky enough to have found a perfect alignment, a unique harmony, between what drives me personally and what we strive to achieve at Solutions for the Planet.

Simon Sinek famously said, “Start with Why,” and at Solutions, our “why” is the beating heart of everything we do. But pursuing a passion professionally isn’t without challenges. Sometimes, that love for impact feels so overwhelming that I can’t even express it. I get so caught up in the magnitude of my subjective feelings about the impact we’re creating that I can find it hard to remain objective and articulate and communicate as clearly as I would like the bottom line business benefits to partnering on programmes like Big Ideas and Youth Insights.

Pursuing work you love, work that reflects your “why,” can bring incredible benefits – but it also comes with its own unique set of challenges and in today’s article I wanted to explore both.

The Benefits of Pursuing Passion Professionally

1. Sense of Purpose and Fulfilment: When our work is aligned with our passion, every day feels meaningful. We’re not clock watching; we’re contributing to something that aligns deeply with our values and vision. For me, this sense of purpose brings a unique kind of satisfaction that keeps me motivated, determined and, importantly, hopeful, even when challenges arise.  Whether it’s budgeting, marketing, managing or delivering there’s always a deeper level of joy in the work.
2. Increased Resilience: Working on something we love makes us more resilient. Obstacles become part of the journey rather than dead-ends. For instance, working directly with (or mentoring) young people through Solutions for the Planet is full of twists and turns and unexpected news, I (generally) find challenge an energizing experience that fuels my own hope and optimism.
3. Authenticity in Work: When we’re passionate about what we do, authenticity naturally follows. We are not pretending to care; we genuinely do. This authenticity not only makes our work more fulfilling but also gives an opportunity to inspires others, whether they are young people, colleagues, partners, or the communities we’re working in.
4. Higher Performance and Creativity: Being invested in the work we do drives us to do it better. Passionate people often bring more energy, creativity, and innovation to their work, constantly seeking ways to improve or expand the impact.  For me, working with young people and their constant curiosity has rubbed off on me.  I’ve got a thirst for knowledge and a commitment to life long learning and personally, doing the work, to make sure I’m performing at my best.
5. Being surrounded by amazing people: passionate people attract passionate people; purpose driven businesses attract purpose drive people.  I could shout from the rooftops about this benefit for hours!

The Risks of Pursuing Passion Professionally

1. Overwhelm and Burnout: Loving our work intensely can blur boundaries, leading us to pour too much of ourselves into it. Because the work is personally meaningful, it’s easy to keep pushing until exhaustion sets in. This relentless pursuit can ultimately lead to burnout, making it difficult to maintain a healthy work-life balance.  I have personally experienced this in 2018 leading to four months our of the business (that’s a story for another time).
2. Attachment to the Solution over the Problem: One of the greatest risks in doing what we love is becoming infatuated with our solution rather than focusing on the underlying problem. I love our solution at Solutions for the Planet – how it’s designed, how it’s delivered, and the positive change it creates. However, the real impact (and magic!) comes when we map our solution to the real needs and challenges of our partners and community. It’s crucial to remain open and adaptable, keeping our focus on solving the problem, not just on our love for the approach.
3. Difficulty Staying Objective: Passion can make us emotionally invested to the point that objectivity fades. This can create blind spots and make it harder to step back and evaluate our approach critically. Being too close to the work can sometimes hinder innovation if you’re unwilling to let go of certain ideas or elements of the solution that you’re attached to.  That’s why at Solutions for the Planet both our Board of Directors and Advisory groups play such a vital role in supporting business strategy.
4. Fear of Failure: When we deeply care about our work, the stakes feel much higher, and the fear of failure can be terrifying. The passion that drives us can, paradoxically, hold us back if you’re afraid of risking the thing you love. This fear of failure might make it harder to take bold steps, which can limit your growth or the evolution of the project.  On the flip side, as we proved during the Covid19 Pivot, this fear can make us bolder and take more ‘make or break’ risks.
5. Difficulty Communicating the Impact: Sometimes, the passion for the work is so personal and profound that it’s hard to translate it into words. When we feel deeply connected to the work, the emotions and purpose behind it can be difficult to articulate, especially to people who aren’t as close to it. This can lead to a sense of isolation or frustration, feeling like we’re the only one who fully grasps the work’s significance.

Balancing Passion with Practicality

After ten years, I’m still learning that the key to a sustainable relationship with work you love is balance. Finding ways to stay focused on the larger “why” can keep the work fresh, even when it’s hard. Building in reflection points or pausing to reconnect with the core purpose can help prevent burnout and keep you grounded. It’s also essential to remember that passion doesn’t have to mean perfection; sometimes the most meaningful work comes with messiness, adaptation, and even mistakes.  When I was growing up, I have a postcard on my door which said “ I’ve learnt so much from my mistakes, I think I’ll make another”.

At Solutions for the Planet, I try to stay mindful of our impact, keeping focus on our shared purpose while staying flexible in how we achieve it. Passion, when managed well, can transform not just our own lives but the lives of those your work and life touches – turning passion into purpose and purpose into impact.