Episode Overview

Title: Follow Your Passion: Good Advice or Bad Advice?
Host: Scott Becker
Date: August 25, 2025
Podcast: Becker Private Equity & Business Podcast

In this episode, Scott Becker explores the popular advice of “follow your passion,” questioning whether it’s good or bad, particularly in the context of careers and building a life in business. Drawing from personal experience and broader observations, Becker discusses where this advice fits—and where it falls short—within the spheres of career, love, and personal fulfillment.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Two Sides of “Follow Your Passion” (00:05 – 01:00)

• Scott addresses a question he received about whether to follow one’s passion in life and business.
• He draws a distinction between different areas of life:
  • Love and Hobbies: Advocates for following your passion “absolutely.”
  • Business and Career: Advises a more pragmatic approach.

“There are two or three different parts of life that in love and in your hobbies, absolutely. Follow your passion. In business... your first goal is to make a living. Your second goal is support your family.”
— Scott Becker (00:16)

Passion vs. Practicality in Business (01:01 – 02:10)

• Becker notes that the advice to “follow your passion” is often given by people who are already successful and wealthy.
• He emphasizes the necessity to first secure financial stability before pursuing passion within business.

“Many of the people that say follow your passion are people that are already rich in business.”
— Scott Becker (01:02)

• He adds that becoming skilled and successful in a career can itself become rewarding and fulfilling over time, regardless of initial passion.

Gradually Intersecting Passion and Profession (02:11 – 03:10)

• Scott suggests that happiness in work often emerges as you get better at your chosen field.
• The ideal is to eventually align your passion with your profession, but stability must come first.

“If you're good at making a living and supporting your family, you'll probably find it very fulfilling and very rewarding.”
— Scott Becker (02:17)

Candid Personal Examples (03:11 – 03:55)

• Scott shares personal interests—including astronomy, tennis, and golf—but points out the challenge of monetizing them.
• He explains his attempts at coaching tennis despite loving the sport, but admits it wasn’t financially or personally fulfilling.

“My passion might be looking at the stars, but I'll be damned if I can figure out how to make a living and looking at the stars... I love playing tennis, I love playing golf... tried that over the years, but that wasn't tremendously fulfilling, even though I'm passionate about tennis and golf.”
— Scott Becker (03:16)

Final Verdict: Where Passion Fits (03:56 – 04:40)

• Becker summarizes his position:
  • In business, prioritize earning a living and supporting your family.
  • “Save the ‘follow your passion’ advice for your love life, your hobbies, the other things that you do on the side.”

“No, don't follow your passion. Follow making a living and supporting your family, then you could figure out how to follow your passion.”
— Scott Becker (03:47)

Notable Quotes

• “Follow your passion, for sure. Follow it in love, in your hobbies. In business, your first goal is make a living, support your family, then find your passion and figure out how to intersect those, perhaps.”
  — Scott Becker (02:28)

• “That's where your passion should be followed.”
  — Scott Becker (04:32)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:05 – Introduction to the topic: “Follow your passion” as advice
• 01:02 – Critique of the advice from the perspective of wealthy individuals
• 02:17 – How fulfillment follows success and proficiency
• 03:16 – Personal examples: The limits of turning passions into a career
• 03:47 – The advice: Practicality first, passion later

Tone and Takeaway

Becker’s tone is candid, pragmatic, and gently humorous, using personal anecdotes to underscore his message. His central message is clear: In life and love, chase your passions feverishly, but in business, let practicality and responsibility lead, finding passion where possible only after securing your foundation.

Summary:
Scott Becker thoughtfully dissects the “follow your passion” adage, advocating for a realistic approach: Priority should be given to establishing financial security and supporting your family before sacrificing for passion in your professional life—a message delivered with warmth, humor, and actionable wisdom.