How to find your thing

The hosts argue that 'follow your passion' is poor advice because most people (over 90%) don't know what their passion is, and the word 'passion' itself etymologically means 'suffering.' This advice often leads to confusion, inaction, or mistaking familiar activities for true calling. It also sets an unrealistic expectation of constant euphoria in work.

Host Shaan Puri cites Mark Manson and his own experience at 36 not knowing his passion. The etymology of 'passion' is linked to 'suffering' (e.g., 'the Passion of the Christ').

A better alternative to 'passion' is Joseph Campbell's 'follow your bliss,' later refined to 'follow your blisters.' 'Bliss' means enthusiastic engagement, feeling alive, losing track of time, and doing it in off-hours. 'Blisters' represent the willing endurance of hardship and pain for that activity, serving as evidence of deep, intrinsic motivation beyond willpower. This indicates a path worth pursuing, even when difficult.

Joseph Campbell's philosophy and his own journey discovering the 'hero's journey' through studying myths. Host Shaan Puri's personal example of getting blisters from pull-ups for a Murph challenge, signifying willing suffering.

Enthusiasm should not just be the 'motor' (fuel) but also the 'rudder' (guide) of your career. Following your enthusiasm will naturally lead you to the 'frontier' of any field. At this frontier, you will identify gaps and opportunities that others don't see, which can then be leveraged for innovation and business creation.

Paul Graham's essay 'How to Do Great Work' and his phrase 'let enthusiasm be not just the motor but the rudder of your boat.' Sam Parr's journey into fitness, leading him to discover the 'male epidemic of low testosterone' and invest in Hone Health, and his early insight into semaglutide (Ozempic).

When choosing a career or business, don't just pick an industry or product you think is 'fun.' Instead, identify the core, repeatable 'loop' of activities that constitute the majority of the work. For founders, this often shifts from building to selling and managing people. Choose a 'sales motion' or growth mechanism you enjoy, as this will consume most of your time.

Host Shaan Puri's realization that he spent minimal time on product/industry in his businesses, and most time on 'people stuff' and 'selling the thing.' He identifies his preferred loop as 'content' and 'ads,' disliking 'viral growth' and 'sales' (wooing influencers). His experience shadowing an orthopedic surgeon revealed a 'healer loop' he didn't love, despite his initial 'passion' for sports medicine.

The idea that work should be a source of passion and leisure is a relatively modern concept, emerging significantly after the Gilded Age and peaking post-WWII. Historically, trades were inherited, and leisure was a sign of class. This historical context suggests that the current societal pressure to find 'passion' in one's job can lead to discontentment.

Discussion of the 'Gilded Age' and the invention of 'leisure time' and the 'man of leisure' phrase. Henry Ford's role in popularizing weekends and standard workdays in the 1930s. The 'golden age of leisure' between 1950-1970 for American soldiers returning with the GI Bill.

Constantly questioning 'why am I not happy?' or 'why am I not following my life's work?' can ironically lead to greater unhappiness and discontent. Instead, focusing on enduring enthusiasm and mastery can organically lead to fulfillment.

Reference to the book 'Bad Therapy' and its author's idea that people who overthink their happiness are often more discontent. Cal Newport's quote: 'Passion is a byproduct of mastery,' where mastery comes from enduring enthusiasm.