Comments on Do What You Love and StarveTypePad2007-12-19T13:45:00ZNAhttps://www.freemoneyfinance.com/tag:typepad.com,2003:https://www.freemoneyfinance.com/2007/12/do-what-you-lov/comments/atom.xml/Matt commented on 'Do What You Love and Starve'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d83451bcbd69e200e54fdb115f88342008-01-10T17:39:51Z2008-08-29T12:15:04ZMattDarn. You had to throw that word "salary" into it and ruin my unqualified "YES!!!". :) If you're working for...<p>Darn. You had to throw that word "salary" into it and ruin my unqualified "YES!!!". :)</p>
<p>If you're working for an employer, it's definitely not "do what you love and the money will follow", but rather "do what the boss standing in front of you right now tells you to do until the other boss comes down a few minutes later and contradicts him, then pray they don't keep using you as a pawn in their turf war, and maybe hopefully you won't get fired". Maybe you used to be capable of deriving some joy from the thing you do for money, but W2 employment will almost surely squeeze that joy right out, given time. (Time will vary as a function of starting joy and inate optimism, but will never reach infinity and is unlikely to reach "until retirement".)</p>
<p>I'm self-employed. I do what I love, and the money follows. (In order to have the money follow, I also have to do things I don't even remotely love -- see my "what if you won $50M" answer -- but the core business is still one of love, and if I lost all my clients tomorrow I'd keep doing it as a hobby until the money ran out.)</p>
<p>There are really only two steps:</p>
<p>1. Find something you love that also adds value to other people's lives<br />
2. Find a way to extract some of that value for yourself in dollar-denominated form.</p>
<p>A lot of people talk as if the first step (at least the latter clause) is the harder one...it isn't. If nothing you love adds value for anyone but you, money is the least of your worries.</p>Mrs.W commented on 'Do What You Love and Starve'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d83451bcbd69e200e54fad7fe088332007-12-22T01:44:45Z2007-12-22T01:44:45ZMrs.Whttp://mrswskitchen.blogspot.comI would like to add that if you give it time, you might find that you love a job that...<p>I would like to add that if you give it time, you might find that you love a job that you didn't think you would... or one that you could not have forseen having. After some years as a US gov't employed civilian, moving among various jobs (for example, military bases to social security admin to veteran's affairs, etc), I landed at the Department of Health and Human Services in a section that I became really passionate about, landed in a great work team, and got to travel internationally. It was a fantastic job--and completely unexpected.<br />
</p>Dale commented on 'Do What You Love and Starve'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d83451bcbd69e200e54fac618788332007-12-21T01:59:24Z2008-08-27T12:05:44ZDaleI have never had a job that I absolutely loved, one that was my overwhelming passion. However, there is a...<p>I have never had a job that I absolutely loved, one that was my overwhelming passion. However, there is a simple test to determine whether you have a job that is a good fit for you. Pay attention to how much you want to get up and go to work in the morning. Alternatively, think about your worst problems at work and whether you wanted to solve them or avoid them. If you are invigorated by the challenge you face, your job is a good fit.</p>
<p>I enjoy the challenges of my work. Sure, I dread having things go wrong, and they do. There are times when all of the problems drop on my desk on the same day. Those are some of my most productive days, because I'm trying to work through as many of them as possible.</p>Pat commented on 'Do What You Love and Starve'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d83451bcbd69e200e54fab5ce588332007-12-20T04:02:05Z2008-08-30T09:42:24ZPatI absolutely love what I do for a living. I started out working on computers as a hobby and now...<p>I absolutely love what I do for a living. I started out working on computers as a hobby and now I am a network administrator. I make more than enough money to pay all of my retirement accounts in full every year (457 and Roth IRA) plus put away a little more. I could retire at 55 but I don't think I will since my job is so much fun. I do have bad days. No job is perfect. But it is usually due to people that I work with not the work itself. Still, those days are rare. I'm not an extravagant person but if I do find something that I really want, I buy it. All in all I'd have to say that I couldn't be happier even if I didn't have to work at all.</p>Pat commented on 'Do What You Love and Starve'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d83451bcbd69e200e54fbe455d88342007-12-20T03:59:59Z2008-08-27T12:11:10ZPatI absolutely love what I do for a living. I started out working on computers as a hobby and now...<p>I absolutely love what I do for a living. I started out working on computers as a hobby and now I am a network administrator. I make more than enough money to pay all of my retirement accounts in full every year (457 and Roth IRA) plus put away a little more. I could retire at 55 but I don't think I will since my job is so much fun. I do have bad days. No job is perfect. But it is usually due to people that I work with not the work itself. Still, those days are rare. I'm not an extravagant person but if I do find something that I really want, I buy it. All in all I'd have to say that I couldn't be happier even if I didn't have to work at all.</p>Rita Bradley commented on 'Do What You Love and Starve'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d83451bcbd69e200e54faaf53b88332007-12-19T21:03:21Z2007-12-19T21:03:21ZRita BradleyI think this topic really needed discussion. I've felt guilty for not doing "what I love" for a living but...<p>I think this topic really needed discussion. I've felt guilty for not doing "what I love" for a living but really I just like to read all day! I don't think anyone is going to pay me to do just that. I think I've found a job doing something I like, with nice people so I guess that's something. </p>Anitra commented on 'Do What You Love and Starve'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d83451bcbd69e200e54fbdd6ee88342007-12-19T20:16:37Z2007-12-19T20:16:37ZAnitrahttp://ithilien.mine.nu/Kelly: exactly. That's why I didn't try to go into music - I love performing, but if I had to...<p>Kelly: exactly. That's why I didn't try to go into music - I love performing, but if I had to make my living doing it, I think I would grow to hate it. Not to mention it's an extremely hard career to make a living from.</p>
<p>I'm a computer programmer, and I enjoy it, but it's not something I usually turn to in my free time.</p>Suze commented on 'Do What You Love and Starve'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d83451bcbd69e200e54fbdc21388342007-12-19T19:00:08Z2007-12-19T19:00:09ZSuzeI like my job quite a bit. I work for a multi-national company and I am a business writer. My...<p>I like my job quite a bit. I work for a multi-national company and I am a business writer.</p>
<p>My work life could be, and has been, much worse.</p>Kelly commented on 'Do What You Love and Starve'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d83451bcbd69e200e54faacc9988332007-12-19T18:54:29Z2008-08-30T21:06:45ZKellyBe careful about taking something you "love" and turning it into a career--sometimes doing something you enjoy for pay can...<p>Be careful about taking something you "love" and turning it into a career--sometimes doing something you enjoy for pay can make you enjoy it less and no longer want to do it for a hobby. :( That is what happened to me.</p>Kelly commented on 'Do What You Love and Starve'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d83451bcbd69e200e54faacbc988332007-12-19T18:54:02Z2007-12-19T18:54:02ZKellyBe careful about taking something you "love" and turning it into a career--sometimes doing something you enjoy for pay can...<p>Be careful about taking something you "love" and turning it into a career--sometimes doing something you enjoy for pay can make you enjoy it less and no longer want to do it for a hobby. :( That is what happened to me.</p>Jo commented on 'Do What You Love and Starve'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d83451bcbd69e200e54fbda70b88342007-12-19T17:22:57Z2008-08-30T14:15:04ZJoI love my job, and I now have found a place where I think I can really thrive. Granted, it...<p>I love my job, and I now have found a place where I think I can really thrive. Granted, it would be nice to make a little more, so I was able to have a bigger safety net, but I do get paid well (better than at my old job) and I am able to save and spend and not worry about whether or not I can buy both soup and crackers this week. I do recieve my masters in May, so hopefully that will increase my salary significantly.</p>
<p>If I was only doing what I truly love...well, I would be doing alot...but I think I would love to do more public speaking especially for ministry retreats and conferences. I have done a number of retreats, one of which I was the main speaker. It was the most incredible thing, and I really think I have a knack for it. But it is a hard business to get into, and like you said it is an area where only the best of the best can make a real living just off of speaking.</p>M commented on 'Do What You Love and Starve'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d83451bcbd69e200e54faab0bb88332007-12-19T17:17:44Z2007-12-19T17:17:44ZMI'm an Attorney at a major law firm. I get paid well... but I work for it. I don't love...<p>I'm an Attorney at a major law firm. I get paid well... but I work for it. I don't love it, but I don't hate it either. </p>
<p>What I do hate, however, is the billable hour... I'm looking for alternatives within my career where I'm actually rewarded for the value added to my clients' by the quality of work performed, rather than by the amount of time I spend doing it.</p>Tracee F. commented on 'Do What You Love and Starve'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d83451bcbd69e200e54fbd95f188342007-12-19T16:24:43Z2008-08-28T06:33:58ZTracee F.I love working on computers, and I am a data warehouse analyst. I get paid quite well, and I don't...<p>I love working on computers, and I am a data warehouse analyst. I get paid quite well, and I don't dread coming to work every day. I wouldn't say I *love* what I do, but I like it okay. The thing I've done in the past that I *loved* was working as a Paramedic, and I couldn't pay the bills. If I had my life to live over again, I'd become an emergency room physician or trauma surgeon.</p>
<p>For me, it's more about the people I work with and the environment I work in. I have a great boss, and great people to work with, in a flexible work environment. For that reason, my job is really great. The work is challenging at times, but fairly routine for me... with a different group of people or a rigid environment, I'd hate it and be looking for something else.</p>
<p>I tell my girls (10 and 16) that if you can find a way to do what you love and pay the bills, then go for it. If not, find something you like a lot in a place that's great, preferably that pays really well, and then you'll be able to support yourself following your passion in your spare time. It's maybe not the best advice, but it's what I've come to believe as I near 40.</p>Robert commented on 'Do What You Love and Starve'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d83451bcbd69e200e54fbd7fc588342007-12-19T15:06:15Z2007-12-19T15:06:15ZRoberthttp://expat.savagenet.com"Michael, I did nothing. I did absolutely nothing, and it was everything that I thought it could be." I guess...<p>"Michael, I did nothing. I did absolutely nothing, and it was everything that I thought it could be."</p>
<p>I guess it kind of fails the "making a living" test though, huh?</p>
<p>The problem is that people look for some phrase that neatly sums up a situation and encapsulates it into a pill you can swallow that solves everything. Life is too complicated for such trite explanations. Some things will lend themselves to making a living and some don't. I think liking what you do and making a decent living at it actually constitutes a pretty good deal.</p>Edmund commented on 'Do What You Love and Starve'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d83451bcbd69e200e54fbd7ef488342007-12-19T15:02:33Z2007-12-19T15:02:33ZEdmundhttp://www.othellogateway.com/blog/There are three things that I love doing: Math (since a little kid), programming (since I was in my pre-teen),...<p>There are three things that I love doing: Math (since a little kid), programming (since I was in my pre-teen), and finance (I used to skip lunch and look at the stock market during lunch in high school).</p>
<p>My job is a Quant Developer. It pays well and I get to do the three things I love at the same time. I would say I got a sweet deal!</p>Jeff commented on 'Do What You Love and Starve'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d83451bcbd69e200e54fbd7d6288342007-12-19T14:56:18Z2007-12-19T14:56:18ZJeffhttp://www.jeffjsnider.com/I work as a web developer, and I absolutely love it, and I get paid very well. It's not my...<p>I work as a web developer, and I absolutely love it, and I get paid very well. It's not my number one love (if I were financially independent, I would probably spend more time writing and less web developing), but I do honestly love my work, my job, and the company I work for.</p>Kevin commented on 'Do What You Love and Starve'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d83451bcbd69e200e54faa83d388332007-12-19T14:50:16Z2007-12-19T14:50:16ZKevinI guess I'm one of those accounting people they talk about. I like my job nearly every day. There are...<p>I guess I'm one of those accounting people they talk about. I like my job nearly every day. There are bad days, but few and far between. I get challenged almost every day due to the variety and complexity of the work (have you seen the tax code lately?). I get to work with interesting clients in a wide variety of businesses with very different backgrounds. My co-workers are easy to work with. Did I mention the pay is pretty good too? Actually the worst thing about my job is the drive home - lots of construction going on right now.</p>plonkee commented on 'Do What You Love and Starve'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d83451bcbd69e200e54fbd74f188342007-12-19T14:15:46Z2007-12-19T14:15:46Zplonkeehttp://www.plonkee.comI really enjoy my job. I think I'd still like to do it even if I won the lottery. It's...<p>I really enjoy my job. I think I'd still like to do it even if I won the lottery. It's just an ordinary sort of a job though, nothing earth-shattering. I probably don't love it as much as I do, sleep, say but of all the things that I actually do, it's one of the best.</p>FMF commented on 'Do What You Love and Starve'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d83451bcbd69e200e54fbd723f88342007-12-19T14:03:04Z2008-08-30T14:11:31ZFMFhttp://www.freemoneyfinance.comBlaine -- Ok, let me amend that to: "Playing whatever video games I like for three hours per day while...<p>Blaine --</p>
<p>Ok, let me amend that to:</p>
<p>"Playing whatever video games I like for three hours per day while earning $1 million a year." ;-)</p>Blaine Moore commented on 'Do What You Love and Starve'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d83451bcbd69e200e54faa749d88332007-12-19T13:51:50Z2008-08-30T16:34:58ZBlaine Moorehttp://www.runtowin.comTesting video games? Been there, done that, and far and away the worst job that I ever had (even after...<p>Testing video games?</p>
<p>Been there, done that, and far and away the worst job that I ever had (even after being promoted to the database manager of the Q/A department.)</p>
<p>14 to 20 hour work days, 6 to 7 days per week, and even with all that overtime at 1.5 I was making less money per week than I had at my previous job. It isn't quite as bad outside crunch time when you are working 40 hours per week, but crunch time lasts a few months at a whack.</p>
<p>As for making a salary doing what I actually love (running) I'm not quite there yet. I'm working on it though. I started a business a couple of months ago and the doors open in less than a month. Hopefully it'll be lucrative as well as satisfying.</p>