Genius Margins

Genius Margins

What They Don't Tell You About "Finding Yourself"

How storyboarding your life reveals the path you're already on

Noah Zender's avatar
Noah Zender
Jul 06, 2025
∙ Paid

"Find your passion" is the most overrated advice ever.

It's like we're supposed to be on some spiritual treasure hunt for our "authentic self." As if there's a perfect version of you buried somewhere, just waiting to be discovered.

What if we've got this whole thing backward?

For years, I felt like something was wrong with me. I bounced between economics, sales, VC, and product management like a pinball machine. Each time thinking "maybe THIS is finally my passion."

Meanwhile, I'd look at friends who seemed so certain:

"I've always wanted to be a doctor"

"I was born to create music"

"I knew since I was 12 that I wanted to design shoes"

And I'd think: what's wrong with me? Why am I 20% committed to five different things instead of 100% devoted to one thing?

Then I had a breakthrough.

What if you're not supposed to find yourself?

What if you're supposed to create yourself?

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