Comments on: Do Something You Love, Before You Have To Do Something For Money

By: Good Read$ for Your Weekend Reading Plea$ure

Good Read$ for Your Weekend Reading Plea$ure — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 17:06:37 +0000

[...] Dad: Do Something You Love, Before You Have to Do Something For Money (excellent perspective for those “just starting [...]

By: Monevator

Monevator — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 21:49:36 +0000

If you love what you’re doing it’s not even work. It’s such a cliche, and it’s so true.

One tricky thing not touched on above is even a job or role or career you love can change into one you don’t.

A classic example is creatives who get promoted into managers. They do it because after a certain point it’s the only way to make more money (unless they go freelance, which they rarely do and to be honest often shouldn’t).

They’re the usually terrible managers, and they’re usually unhappy.

I’ve seen this happen with programmers, too.

Nothing easy in this life!

By: Eugene

Eugene — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 19:42:40 +0000

I have to agree with kyle. With the Technology we are surrounded by today. There is no reason why anybody cant monetize anything that they love to do.
I my self have made hundreds of thousands of dollars monetizing the simple fact that I know how to play the drums at my local church and I wasn’t even good enough to make it in a H.S. jazz band. Im not saying that to impress any of you or to toot my own horn. But just understand that if a 21 year old college dropout can use modern technology and not spend more than $100.00 a month to create that type of income when i couldn’t even make it in a high school jazz band, I know that people who have a true PASSION for what they do can take their income to what ever level they want. My actual passion is Network Marketing and Coaching People In Network Marketing and because I am good at monetizing it earn a consistent 6 figure monthly income. The Only question you should have in your head right now and the one question that brought me from where I was to where I am now is:
Who Can Teach Me How To Monetize My Passion?
Stop trying to reinvent the wheel and find somebody who has done it and ask them to teach you how to do it.(Mentor)

By: getagrip

getagrip — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 04:44:16 +0000

The problem I have with this type of advice is it’s pretty much useless to most of the population. First off, if a high schooler or college grad really has an honest to God passion for something, chances are they’re going for it to begin with.

However, IMHO they are the rare case. Most people, at best, have a vague notion of what they want to do, generally find something in an area of interest, and then later in their career realize it may not be exactly what they love, but it ain’t too bad. At that point, hopefully with some perspective and real world knowledge, they can zero in on a real passion or enjoy the current career and have fun doing other things as hobbies or chuck it all and go for something else.

So unless the person has a clear goal to begin with, the above advice just put a boatload of pressure on the relative to “discover” at all costs their passion before they are chained to a spouse and kids and dead end career and become miserable like their older relative who they may have thought reasonably enjoyed his life.

By: Kyle @ Rather-Be-Shopping

Kyle @ Rather-Be-Shopping — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 22:27:36 +0000

Absolutely. The “do something you love” mantra lasts only as long as you can put food on the table. The real secret, as I see it, is to find your passion and then find a way to make money at it. Often easier said than done, but definitely something that should be done before you have mouths to feed and a big mortgage to pay. Nice post, glad I re-discovered your blog!

By: MyFinancialObjectives

MyFinancialObjectives — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 03:43:16 +0000

Wise words….I have given similar advice to my much younger brother and cousin, both who are entering the “big decision” parts of life. “If only I knew then what I know now”- the sentence heard ’round the world.

By: Personal Development

Personal Development — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 18:12:46 +0000

There’s a quote that goes something like,

“Match the world’s deep hunger with your hearts deep gladness and you’ll find success.”

It’s all good to follow your dreams and do what you love but you must add a dash of reality to the mix and make sure there’s a market for it.

Ian

By: Meg

Meg — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 13:58:31 +0000

Like MD at comment 19, I’m also torn about this advice because of the survivorship bias in the success stories you hear. On the other hand, if you follow the money and sacrifice your dreams, you’ll get zero sympathy from people simply because you’re rich, as shown at this blog post.

http://www.financialsamurai.com/2010/02/26/the-curse-of-making-too-much-money-and-not-pursuing-your-dreams/#comments

So, maybe following the money really isn’t worth it after all. You give up your dreams AND emotional support from other people.

By: Frugal Dad

Frugal Dad — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 13:23:10 +0000

@Beth: This is what we did, though I have to admit it wasn’t intentionaly – or at least, not for the reasons you mention. Oddly enough, what you described is exactly how my 20s played out.

I worked in a dead end job, finished school, and just plain enjoyed time being a dad. Now my kids are older and I burned out with same career and started something different. Jury is still out on what the remainder of my 30s and then 40s will hold.

By: MD @ Studenomics

MD @ Studenomics — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 05:35:26 +0000

Okay this is just too strange. I just finished typing a post with a very similar theme. My post however does not have a conclusion. I left it open ended. I really don’t know what to make of the whole “follow you passions and the money will follow” theory.

On one hand you can follow your passions through 20s, turn 30 and realize “shit I’m broke!” I mean let’s be honest– we’re all guilty of the survivorship bias. Only success stories get out. What about the young guy who put his life towards starting his own business and it went no where?

Then on the other hand, you can work a job you don’t hate but don’t really like either, make some decent money, and be financially secure by the time you hit 30. You won’t be the happiest guy out there but your bank account will be healthy.

What do you guys think?

@Beth interesting take but there’s no chance you can convince me to have kids in the near future lol.