Rethinking Passion: Why “Doing What You Love” Isn’t Always the Dream

✍️ By Pinar Koyuncu Oktar

“Follow your passion.”“ Do what you love, and you’ll never work a day in your life.”

We’ve all heard it. It sounds empowering, even romantic. But is it really true? And more importantly does it work for everyone?

At Her Leadership Playbook, we believe in challenging the myths that often hold people back, especially the ones that sound the most inspiring on the surface. This week, we’re unpacking one of the most popular (and oversimplified) pieces of career advice: that passion should lead the way, and that if you can monetize what you love, fulfillment will naturally follow.

I’ve been talking to many women in coaching sessions who are trying to “find their true passion.” They’re wondering why they don’t feel fulfilled in their current roles, often assuming the answer is that they’re simply not doing what they love.

But here’s the thing: most of us don’t work just for the love of it. We work because we need to, we want to pay the bills, support our families, send our kids to school, and maybe save for a summer holiday in the process.

And what happens when you do try to turn passion into work? Sometimes it works. But sometimes… it steals the joy.

What if your passion isn’t marketable?

Or worse, what if turning it into a hustle leaves you burned out instead of free?

Let’s be real:

Having a corporate job is not a nightmare: It has its own structure, security, and comfort zone.

Having your own business isn’t “living the dream” 24/7: It takes relentless effort, emotional investment, and serious risk.

Every success story is different, but most of them share one key truth: Passion isn’t the whole story. Purpose, resilience, and clarity matter just as much maybe even more.

Working together

So… Can We Find Passion Within Corporate Roles?

Not everyone needs to leave their job or start a business to feel fulfilled. For many of us, the goal isn’t to escape the corporate world, it’s to make peace with it, and to find meaning within it. Passion doesn’t only show up through radical change or entrepreneurship. Sometimes, it’s right there, quietly woven into the work we do each day. The challenge is learning to recognize it, nurture it, and give it space.

I know this personally. I spent many years working for a company I deeply believed in. I worked across different countries, joined different teams, and adapted to changing responsibilities. And yet, what remained consistent was the shared vision I felt connected to. It was a company that was a game-changer in my country one where sustainability and social responsibility weren’t just talked about, but embedded into the DNA. I felt proud to contribute. That was my passion. It wasn’t flashy, and it didn’t require me to walk away from the corporate world but it was something I found within it.

Passion doesn’t have to be loud or all-consuming. Sometimes, it’s a quiet sense of pride in what you’re building. It might be the curiosity that drives you to solve complex problems, or the energy you get from mentoring someone on your team. You may feel it in moments where you realize your work is contributing to something meaningful even if your name isn’t in the spotlight.

When we use our natural strengths, we tend to feel more alive. Reflecting on the moments when we feel confident, capable, or completely absorbed in a task can offer valuable clues. Maybe it’s not your title or department that matters but how aligned your work is with what you’re good at and what energizes you.

Sometimes, purpose doesn’t come from the work itself, but from the relationships around it. The people you mentor, the team culture you help shape, the support you offer during difficult projects these all carry meaning. They create connection and a sense of belonging that can be just as powerful as loving the task at hand.

Passion can also come from seeing the bigger picture. Even if your job feels routine, understanding how your contribution fits into something larger, whether it's driving innovation, creating social impact, or advancing sustainability, it can breathe new life into your role. Often, it’s not about changing the job itself, but changing how you see it.

And finally, there’s always room to carve out something that’s uniquely yours. It can be starting a new initiative, volunteering for a project outside your usual scope, or bringing a new idea to life. Passion can be reignited through ownership and creativity. You don’t need a promotion to do meaningful work. Sometimes, you just need permission from yourself.

If you’ve been wondering whether you need to find your passion or simply reconnect with it, HLP Community created something just for you.

The Passion-to-Purpose Clarity Map is a guided tool designed to help you reflect on what you love, explore where it fits in your life, and decide whether it’s time to protect, pursue, or profit from it.

Don’t forget to download your free copy and give yourself the space to explore without pressure, without perfection, just with honesty.

Passion-to-Purpose_Clarity_Map_HLP.pdf

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