Stanford Psychology Podcast  cover image

Stanford Psychology Podcast

113 REAIR SUMMER - Jon Jachimowicz: Should You Follow Your Passion?

Sep 8, 2023
Jon Jachimowicz, Assistant Professor of Organizational Behavior at Harvard Business School, discusses the complex link between passion and productivity. He explores how passion can lead to exhaustion and emphasizes the importance of maintaining passion in the long run. The podcast also touches on cultural differences in pursuing passion, challenges faced in discovering one's passions, and the struggle to balance financial return and personal values.
01:07:41

Episode guests

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • Passion is not fixed and can lead to exhaustion if not managed properly.
  • The cultural emphasis on pursuing passion at work can be exclusionary and exacerbate inequalities.

Deep dives

Passion is complex and can lead to exhaustion

Passion is not a fixed trait, but a strong and intense affective experience tied to values. Research shows that the link between passion and productivity is more nuanced than commonly believed. One study found that being passionate about work can lead to longer working hours and feelings of empowerment, but also difficulty detaching from work, resulting in emotional exhaustion on the following day. Emotionally exhausted individuals have fewer resources available for passion in subsequent days, leading to a cycle where passion drains over time. The study also revealed that feeling in control of your passion and having the ability to detach from work can mitigate the negative effects of passion.

Get the Snipd
podcast app

Unlock the knowledge in podcasts with the podcast player of the future.
App store bannerPlay store banner

AI-powered
podcast player

Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features

Discover
highlights

Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode

Save any
moment

Hear something you like? Tap your headphones to save it with AI-generated key takeaways

Share
& Export

Send highlights to Twitter, WhatsApp or export them to Notion, Readwise & more

AI-powered
podcast player

Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features

Discover
highlights

Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode