Finding Your Passion

Growing up, I couldn’t wait for the day when I could wear a stylish business suit and head to work in a high rise business office in Chicago. Having business meetings and working with clients always seemed so glamorous. I have come to the realization though that things do not always seem the way they appear. As a woman, a career in a business field is not as exciting as I once thought. 

After reading the articles, “White-Collar Sweatshop” by Fraser and “Work in an Alienated Society,” by Fromm, living a stress free life in the work force seems impossible. Many times one’s quest to move up the business ladder consumes their entire life. You begin to change who you are as a person without even realizing it, because the need for power and money are so prevalent. As Fromm states, “In the process of work, that is, the molding and changing of nature outside of himself, man molds and changes himself.” If you are good at your job and get recognition, you only become more alienated in your work place because you begin to sell your marketable ability for a higher wage. “Work, instead of being an activity satisfying in itself and pleasurable, becomes a duty and an obsession,” Fromm. The more your work develops, the more anal and fixated you become in moving through the ranks of your company. We found a similar situation in the article “White-Collar Sweatshop,” with the story of Catherine, a woman who grew to never have time for herself or her family because she was always chasing the next promotion. With this sort of pressure, people grow to hate their job and are in a continuing downward spiral, without no way to get out.

I have been struggling with my career path for the past few years, and even though I am not in the work force yet, I find myself alienated. Since our society is focused around material possessions and wealth, we are finding more and more students pursuing careers in a particular field due to the potential wealth they will incur. I was falling into that same trap when I was studying the sciences hoping to become a dentist. Rather than following the concept of craft ideal, working on your passion with no ulterior motives, and controlling your own activities and actions, I was setting myself up for labor alienation by perusing a career only because it had the potential to make money. I was forcing myself into something, which would of left me in an unhappy career under bad conditions.

I have realized that if I want to have a happy work life in the future I need to follow the craft ideal. If I find and develop my passion, without an ulterior motive, I will reach my goals and be happy with my job because I am satisfying myself. This will result in me being more productive for the company I am working for. Rather than spending all your time on something that you do not enjoy, producing average results, find your passion and do great things with it.