We’ve all heard the saying;
“Do what you love, and you’ll never work a day in your life.”
It’s a phrase often used to encourage people to follow their passions and pursue a career they truly enjoy.
While there’s certainly merit to this idea, blindly following your passion may not always lead to the most fulfilling or financially stable career path (it definitely didn’t for me)
The reality is that not everyone’s passion can be turned into a viable business or career.
For example, if your passion is collecting vintage postcards or knitting, turning that into a full-time job may be difficult. Even if you can monetise your passion, it may not pay enough to support your desired lifestyle.
I can speak from experience on this topic. My passion is health and fitness, and in 2018, I started a fitness app called Flive. Long story short, my passion soon turned into a nightmare.
The business was bleeding money each month, and I worked so much that I never enjoyed time with friends or, ironically, health and fitness!
This was a big lesson for me and one that I am grateful I experienced at a young age!
It’s also important to remember that not everyone knows their passion. Some people have various interests and talents, making narrowing down one specific career path tricky.
Focusing too much on finding your passion can actually lead to analysis paralysis, decision fatigue, and even feeling like your life has no purpose or meaning!
Instead of solely focusing on my passion, I considered my overall life goals when making career and business decisions.
I asked myself these 5 key questions;
- “What kind of life do I want to live outside of work”?
- “What do I value financial stability, flexibility, the ability to travel”?
- “What industry or type of work environment do I thrive in”?
- “How much money do I need to earn to support my lifestyle”?
- “Where do I want to live”?
By answering these questions, I was able to narrow down my career and business options and make a more informed decision about my future.
Of course, I am not saying you should completely ignore your passions.
Pursuing hobbies and interests outside of work can bring a sense of fulfilment and joy to our lives, and it certainly does for me!
I believe finding a career that aligns with your passions is possible, but it’s important to approach the job search with a realistic mindset.
Don’t be afraid to consider alternative career paths that may better fit your overall life goals.
To conclude today’s article, I think it’s equally important to consider your overall life goals when making career decisions while pursuing what you love.
Pursuing a passion may not always lead to the most stable or fulfilling life (in my case, it didn’t).
Instead, I recommend focusing on finding a career or business that aligns with your desired lifestyle and offers opportunities for growth, progression, and accomplishment.
