
Youâve likely heard the quote, âDo what you love and the money will follow.â Itâs the idea that you should pursue something you love as a career, because your passion will come through in the work that you do, ensuring your success.
While thatâs an inspiring notion, is it really realistic? You may have heard stories of people who turned their passion into a fulfilling and lucrative career, but are they the exception or the rule?
The answer isnât so cut and dry. You can successfully follow a passion, and if you really want to do something, you can make it happen. But thereâs a lot to consider before quitting your current job and never turning back. Ask yourself the following questions to help guide you in your pursuit.
Is it more than just a hobby?
Career coach Jenn DeWall says that she encourages her clients to identify their passions when making career choices, but to make sure they can see pursuing this path long term.
âI think when you’re leveraging your passion, you’re able to create the most success for yourself,â she says. âHowever, it is important to clarify whether your passion is just a hobby or if it’s something you enjoy so much that you could work without a true work-life balance. I’m not advocating to overwork yourself, but a passion is something you live, it is not something that you just do for a small amount of your day or week. If you decide to turn a hobby into a passion, then you may not get the same return on investment, because it does not motivate you in the same way, and before long you may begin to loathe your job.â
Are you really good at it?
You know those auditions on âAmerican Idolâ that make you cringe, because someone who truly thinks heâs a singing prodigy isnât so good at singing after all (and the critiques from the judges make that very clear)? He deserves kudos for going after his dreams, but at the end of the day, itâs probably not going to pay the bills.
The same idea applies to pursuing any type of passion â you may be really interested in something and enjoy doing it, but it may not be something at which youâre naturally talented. Without having the experience or abilities, you could quickly get frustrated or hit a dead end.
Try asking others around you for their honest opinion. If you think your family wonât be completely honest or will try to spare your feelings, seek a more objective opinion from someone in your network or an expert in the field youâre trying to pursue.
If you donât yet have the skills to launch a career, that doesnât mean you canât build them. Find out what you need to do to get there â taking classes, getting an advanced degree, participating in an internship program. Or if itâs something thatâs better left as a hobby, enjoy it for what it is.
Can you support yourself financially?
Before pursuing your passion, consider the various financial implications. If youâre looking to start your own business, youâll not only need to find the money to invest in it, but you may not be making money for a while once the business takes off, so do you have enough saved up to cover your financial obligations? If youâre entering a completely different field and you need to take a more junior position than previously held, can you afford a potential salary dip?
Josh Rubin, SEO expert and marketer, and someone who himself turned a passion into a career, suggests being realistic about your potential earnings to help you better prepare financially. He says that âwhen it comes to the financial viability of your chosen career, don’t look at the best â look at the average and entry-level salaries and success levels. That’s where you’ll very likely start off.â
What else is important to you?
âMany people believe that doing what you love full time will bring fulfillment, but they donât always factor in the other things that are important to them,â says Jane Cavanaugh, creator of âThe Passionate Professional Program.â âThe reality is, loving our work isnât the only thing that matters to most of us. We want to have enough money to be comfortable, spend time with family and friends and pursue other activities. The work youâre passionate about doesnât always allow for those things, too. You may end up loving your work and being miserable elsewhere â so allowing yourself to identify whatâs truly important to you can help to determine whether you need to work in your passion or find work that allows you to playin it.â
Cavanaugh adds, âThere isnât just one âgreat thingâ you can do or achieve to find happiness and passion in your life â just start down the path and explore the possibilities. Youâll be surprised what opens up.â
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