Passion or Paycheck? How to Choose a Major and Career That Fits You

Jack McCarthy
Feb 26
5 min read

Updated: Jul 20

All jobs, careers, and businesses revolve around the production and operation of goods and services that solve problems. Financially successful individuals often create or contribute to solutions that improve others' lives. The key to finding a fulfilling career or developing a business is identifying a problem in the world that you want to solve.

Simon Squibb, an entrepreneur and YouTube creator, suggests reframing the age-old question, "What do you want to do for a living?" into "What world problems do you want to solve?" However, many people struggle with this because they don’t truly know themselves. Daily responsibilities and distractions often prevent deep self-reflection. Socrates famously declared, "The unexamined life is not worth living," emphasizing the importance of self-reflection and personal growth.

How to Discover a Career Path

If you’re unsure of your direction, seek exposure to various jobs and industries while actively and passively identifying problems that resonate with you. The problems don’t have to be global issues—personal frustrations can lead to great innovations.

For example, I often struggle with carrying groceries from my car, especially from warehouse stores like Costco and Sam’s Club. I would love a foldable, durable, aesthetically pleasing storage bin with gripped handles to store in my car and make transportation easier. This is a simple but real problem that others likely experience.

Continually ask yourself, "What are the biggest problems in the world that need fixing, and how can I contribute to solutions?" Personally, I am passionate about solving homelessness and hunger, and I believe financial literacy and education are crucial solutions. By teaching financial skills and career readiness, I aim to prevent homelessness and poverty. This passion led me to a career in higher education advising, where I help students maximize earnings and minimize expenses.

Your career path might not be clear immediately, and that’s okay. The key is exposure and experience. You don’t know what you don’t know.

How to Gain Exposure to Careers and Industries

To explore potential career paths and identify problems worth solving, try the following:

1. Research Job Descriptions – Use LinkedIn, Indeed, ZipRecruiter, and company career pages to read job descriptions. Ask yourself: If all these jobs paid $400,000 a year, which would I choose? Write down the pros and cons of each.

2. Consume High-Quality Content – Watch YouTube videos, read books and articles, and listen to podcasts featuring entrepreneurs and professionals in various industries. Learn from the best in their fields by assessing their impact, financial success, and expertise.

3. Gain Hands-on Experience – Work in industries you’re curious about. If you’re interested in entrepreneurship but lack direction, working for a company in your area of interest will provide exposure and insight into existing gaps.

4. Take Career and Personality Tests – Assessments like the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI), StrengthsFinder, and Holland Code can provide valuable insights into career alignment.

5. Seek Input from Trusted Individuals – Ask family, friends, and mentors what careers they think suit you. Their perspectives can highlight strengths you may not recognize in yourself.

6. Shadow and Volunteer – Gain firsthand experience by shadowing professionals and volunteering in industries of interest.

7. Attend Networking Events – Conferences, expos, and industry-specific gatherings provide opportunities to learn and connect with professionals.

8. Engage in College Resources – Join clubs, attend career fairs, and visit career resource centers for guidance and networking.

Choosing a Major Based on Career Goals

Once you’ve identified a career interest, reverse-engineer your steps. Consider:

What degrees or certifications are required?
What skills do you need to develop?
Are there alternative paths (apprenticeships, boot camps, entrepreneurship)?

Play a thought experiment: Imagine yourself on your deathbed. What experiences would you regret not pursuing? Your answer will evolve over time, but it can help you align your current choices with your long-term fulfillment.

Taking Action on Your Ideas

A major problem in the world is inaction. Many people identify problems but never pursue solutions due to distractions, fear, or the belief that someone else will handle them. This is known as the bystander effect.

A quote from The School of Hard Knocks content channel states, "Where is the richest piece of real estate? The graveyard—where billion-dollar ideas die with people who never took action." Don’t let that be you.

Start documenting problems that stand out to you. Keep a running list of ideas and revisit them regularly. God has given each person unique insights—your ability to recognize certain problems may be a sign that you are meant to solve them.

What's your "Why": Passion vs. Lifestyle-Driven Careers

Some argue that "following your passion" is misleading and that people should instead engineer their careers around the lifestyle they desire. For example, if someone wants a luxury lifestyle, they shouldn’t become a teacher. However, I believe that a truly passionate teacher can find ways to achieve financial success through their craft—whether through creating educational content, developing curriculum, or starting an education-based business. Passion fuels perseverance and mastery.

Passion, derived from the Greek word for "suffering," means being willing to endure hardships for what you love. YouTube star MrBeast stated that he would still pursue content creation even with little success. Find the problems or careers that you’re willing to "suffer" for, and success will follow. If you're willing to endure challenges in a career to fund the lifestyle you desire, it means your true passion lies in that lifestyle—it becomes your driving force and ultimate "why."

Making the Final Decision

Once you’ve explored various careers and world problems, it's time to narrow down your choices. If you have a top 20 list, refine it to your top 3-5 options. Ask yourself:

Which of these would I regret not pursuing?
Do I feel both inner peace and excitement about this path?
Does this choice align with my financial and lifestyle goals?

Final Thoughts

Finding the right career path and major is a journey that requires exploration, self-reflection, and strategic decision-making. By increasing exposure, identifying problems to solve, understanding your motivations, and taking action, you can align your career with your purpose and financial goals.Take steps today to explore industries, develop skills, and identify problems you want to solve.

Challenge: Research three potential careers today. Write down what interests you about them, the skills required, and potential job opportunities. Start taking small steps toward your future career.

The world needs more problem-solvers. Will you be one of them?

Suggested Resources

Job Search Engines

https://www.indeed.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/company/linkedin/jobs

https://www.ziprecruiter.com/

https://www.glassdoor.com/index.htm

https://www.usajobs.gov/

https://www.monster.com/

https://jobs.workable.com/

https://remote.com/jobs

https://ufl-csm.symplicity.com/students/app/jobs/discover