Insights & Resources

In this Ted Talk, "How to Build a Career You Love," Bill Gurley explores why he believes fascination is better than “passion” for career enjoyment. In his research, “continuous and obsessive learning” is the key to having a career you love. He says that artisans of their craft, those who study during their entire careers because of their fascination with it, are the ones who most enjoy what they do.

 

Bill Gurley: “Passion doesn’t invoke work. You can be passionate about the Cincinnati Reds and sit in a chair for three and a half hours drinking beer.” 

Bill offers, “Fascination comes with a mechanism. When you are fascinated, you study ‘automagically.’” He says that magical things happen when you combine fascination and a career. Instead of viewing your work as an expenditure of energy, fascinated people get energy from their continuous and obsessive learning and want to smile.
 
Now, I know what some may be thinking. “Well, I am in the job that I have, regardless of whether I am fascinated by it or not, and I need it to pay the bills and support my family. I can’t afford to start over and go work for less money doing something that fascinates me.”
 
That is fair. But this is not an all or nothing proposition. If you want more enjoyment in what you do, find something fascinating about your work, and keep learning. Let what does fascinate you give you the energy to do the things that do not. Seek out and volunteer for projects that make you want to learn. Or, start a new project yourself and bring what fascinates you to your company! 

#Fascination #Livetolearn #CareerEnjoyment #TedTalk #BillGurley

Watch Bill Gurley's Ted Talk, "How to Build a Career You Love":
https://youtu.be/z-WfDn_0AWE?si=_JG7w9dVMVMa23TT