Ask HN: Passion vs. Tools. Which drove your career?
Did you later find passion along the way, or did it never come?
The debate is often framed as "follow your passion" (the Joseph Campbell model) vs. "follow your tools and skills" (à la Cal Newport). I recently watched a video that strongly advocated for the "tools-first" approach, and it forced me to articulate my own perspective, which is that, in my opinion, the most sustainable path is a blend of both.
In my case, I prove both theories:
- Passion as the Compass: A long-held interest in storytelling sparks my pursuits.
- Tools as the Engine: My career in IT, which I entered for stability, gave me the resources and discipline to actually build things. Mastery did, in fact, build passion in that field.
This tension led me to flesh out my thoughts, but I'm ultimately more interested in the community's experience.
Which came first for you: the passion, or the tools (skills, classes, opportunities)?