Should we stop telling kids to 'follow your dream'?

Episode 220: For decades, the phrase “follow your dream” has been stitched into graduation speeches, greeting cards and social-media pep talks. But what if that familiar advice is doing more harm than good?

Hosts Richard Kyte and Scott Rada challenge one of America’s most cherished bits of wisdom. Drawing inspiration from a syndicated column by journalist Dick Meyer, the pair consider whether the pursuit of a singular passion has left too many people anxious, disillusioned or convinced that ordinary success isn’t enough.

Kyte argues that telling every young person to chase a dream sets them up for frustration.

“Most people don’t have one burning passion at 18,” he said, noting that interests shift and mature over time. Far better, he suggests, to focus on becoming useful, developing skills and finding work that contributes to others’ well-being.

Rada shares his own early ambitions — becoming a baseball announcer or a TV meteorologist — and how those seemingly unattainable dreams eventually resurfaced in unexpected ways.

The hosts also examine the modern pressure on college students to declare majors and find direction early, even as industries change faster than ever. They discuss the idea of a “growth mindset,” coined by psychologist Carol Dweck, which emphasizes adaptability and resilience over fixed talent or destiny. Both agree that in a world reshaped by technology and automation, curiosity may be the most important skill of all.

By the episode’s end, Rada and Kyte reach a thoughtful conclusion: Purpose isn’t a finish line but a moving target. Staying curious, taking on new challenges and investing in relationships often lead to deeper satisfaction than chasing the perfect career ever could.

Scott Rada is a digital strategist with Lee Enterprises, and Richard Kyte is the director of the D.B. Reinhart Institute for Ethics in Leadership at Viterbo University in La Crosse, Wisconsin. Kyte is also the author of "Finding Your Third Place: Building Happier Communities (and Making Great Friends Along the Way)."

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