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When you are driven by your passion for a cause and determined to make a change, you pour your heart and soul into your work. Your commitment and dedication can lead to significant progress and success. It is during these times that Passion Parasites may appear.
Passion Parasites are adept at weaselling their way into passion projects, often making grand promises of collaboration and support. In reality, their primary goal is to use your dedication to further their own brand, profile, and profits.
Passion Parasites are users who rely on your passion and commitment to serve their selfish interests. They can be identified by 12 key traits:
- Flattery and excessive familiarity, aka loe-bombing, from the start
- Grandiose self-descriptions and name-dropping
- Vague language and lack of detail about their work
- Emphasis on appearance over substance
- Incongruence between their words and actions
- Numerous one-off collaborations with different people
- Dismissive treatment of those they perceive as lower in status/earnings
- Excessive flattery towards those they see as influential or powerful
- Positioning themselves as the most important person or leader in past projects
- Overvaluing their own skills while diminishing others’ contributions
- Promising the world but avoiding hard work or outsourcing their responsibilities
- Quick to claim credit and seek recognition
- Eager to ask for favours but reluctant to return them
Protecting your projects and passions from Passion Parasites is crucial for maintaining the integrity of your work and preserving your wellbeing. Be cautious when forming new collaborations, and look for genuine partners who genuinely share your dedication and values (watch what they do, don’t just believe what they say). By remaining vigilant and prioritising authentic connections, you can ensure that your passion continues to fuel positive change rather than fall prey to exploitation.
