When to switch careers–and when to double down

“I read once that the true mark of a pro — at anything — is that he understands, loves, and is good at even the drudgery of his profession.”

–Paul Halmos 

“The first thing I tell people is to embrace boredom.”

–Questlove 

Modern companies aren’t built for growth. Very few have the resources and growth opportunities to keep talented people around for more than a few years. This isn’t a bad thing as much as it is a product of technology advancements. But the fact remains: after a few years in your current job, you might be thinking about a career change. 

There are a lot of things you can consider when deciding whether or not to switch careers: money, stress, time, opportunity, passion. I can’t tell you what your life and family requires from you. But I can tell you that the career you’re most likely to be successful in is the one you get lost in. 

If you’re passionate about your job, you’ll lose track of time while working. You’ll be excited for it, and you’ll even sort of enjoy the mundane parts. You’ll love the process of showing up and working on it, even if results haven’t come yet. 

I’d bet on a young, uneducated entrepreneur with a serious passion before I bet on a top-tier business student with no passion. Because the young entrepreneur loves the process, even the failures and setbacks. 

If your current job doesn’t have you falling in love with the process–the boring stuff–you might be right in considering a change. But if you already have this passion for something, and are considering a change because the results haven’t come yet? I’d push you to stay in it a bit longer. Because the passionate person’s ceiling doesn’t exist.