The No. 1 mistake young people make when 'following their passion,' according a career expert

When it comes to choosing the right career path, many people will tell you, "Just follow your passion."

But it's not that simple — and I understand the struggle. In my 20 years as a career coach, the biggest mistake people make when trying to "follow their passion" is getting sucked into thinking about what they'll say when someone asks them, "What do you do?"

I hear it often with my clients, especially the younger folks:

The consequences of trying to impress

We tend to base our career choices>How to pursue the career path that's right for you

The solution is a complete change of mindset. Put more focus into answering: What do want to do?

Stop worrying about how other people might perceive you and instead focus on your strengths, the tasks you enjoy, the skills you can leverage, and the type of problems you're interested in solving.

For example, if you love to write and have an appreciation for good storytelling, you might want to consider a career in journalism. Or even marketing, where using narrative to communicate a message that captivates viewers is essential.

You won't find your perfect career path immediately. It takes a constant and deep level of self-assessment. More importantly, you have to be honest with yourself.

Remember, you can't build a satisfying career around someone else's hopes and dreams. The smartest thing to do is to put your own happiness first.