Stanford Experts Say Don’t Follow Your Passion—Try Prototyping Your Career

Stanford professors Bill Burnett and Dave Evans argue that the common guidance to 'follow your passion' is often harmful because most people don’t have a single identifiable passion. They recommend starting from curiosity and using prototyping—testing interests through conversations, small projects, or firsthand exposure—to explore careers without a high-stakes commitment. They also frame college majors as organizational tools, and say meaning and money don’t have to be the same, emphasizing action and iteration over solving for a fixed purpose.