How do you choose a profession or business direction that you won’t regret years down the line? Should you follow your dream, or think rationally?
That’s exactly what this article is about.
“Follow Your Dream” — But Should You?
There’s a popular slogan: “Follow your dream!”
Picture a young person torn between a desire to become a theater actor and enrolling in a computer science program. These seem like two completely opposite paths, and the decision becomes agonizing. People tell him: “Follow your dream, listen to your heart!” But what does that really mean? In practice, advice like “just follow your dream” often turns out to be vague and abstract. Sometimes it leads to broken families or shattered futures when someone plunges headfirst into a fantasy, ignoring reality.
When I entered university, I didn’t really consider how long my professional life would actually be. I’m 42 now, and I realize I have at least another 20 to 30 years of active work ahead of me. That’s a massive stretch of time—enough to switch careers, master new skills, and reach new heights. But nobody really talks about that when you’re young.
What’s truly important is to start thinking strategically—not just “I’ll go into this field because it’s trendy now” or “I dreamed of being an actor”—but to look at your life as a series of evolving stages.
You can combine different interests, experiment with various fields, and not limit yourself to one single point of focus like “follow your dream and nothing else.”
Dreams, Rationality, and Parallel Paths
You don’t have to reject your dreams—but you also don’t have to idolize them to the point of sacrificing every other opportunity.
People sometimes ask me, “Should I trust this inner feeling that I’ve wanted to do something my whole life?” I see no reason to ignore that desire. But at the same time, it’s essential to place it within a real-life context.
For instance, I once started learning to play the piano. I used to think it was unbearably difficult and “just not for me.” But it turned out to be a skill I could steadily develop with regular practice over a few months. Who knows—maybe one day I’ll become a composer or open a music school. No one can predict that. What’s more important is that this pursuit now runs in parallel with everything else I’m doing.
Rationality Doesn’t Cancel Creativity
Being rational doesn’t mean killing your creative impulse. When you’re choosing what to do with your life, ask yourself:
- Does this decision align with the bigger context of my life?
- How will it affect the people around me—my family, my environment?
- Can I combine it with other interests or directions?
For example, I’ve always had a passion for cooking. I can prepare a feast for 20 people, and it brings me immense joy. But does that mean I should turn it into my lifelong profession? Not necessarily.
Childhood Passions and Strengths — Are They Always a Career?
We often think, “If I loved something as a child, that must be my purpose.” But loving to draw doesn’t mean you should become a designer. Maybe it’s just a hobby that enriches your life. And conversely—if you suddenly feel drawn to learning something new, no matter your age—ask yourself if it naturally fits into your current life structure.
Leave Room for Change
The biggest insight I’ve gained is this: life is unpredictable, and we can’t know where we’ll end up 20 years from now. At one time, I couldn’t have imagined I’d be living in California or doing the work I do today. There was no way to map that out with a simple “follow your dream.”
A lot of people overestimate the importance of making the “right” choice in their youth, like picking the perfect college major. But that’s just one phase of life. Today you might be studying programming, and tomorrow you’re launching art projects or opening a restaurant. And that’s perfectly okay.
I’m not saying you should abandon your dreams. But I’m also not suggesting you follow them blindly while turning a blind eye to reality.
The best path is to integrate your dreams and desires into the full context of your long, evolving life—which can unfold in countless ways. See your profession not as a one-time, forever decision, but as a strategy made up of many stages, where you can shift directions, gain new skills, and even return to childhood passions.
Because scaling personal development is precisely about learning how to combine creativity and rationality—without rigid boundaries or limitations.