Do You Work for your 'Passion' or for a 'Paycheck?'

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   Glenda Motsavageposted 10 years ago

   Do You Work for your 'Passion' or for a 'Paycheck?'
   
   I've heard it said that, 'If you do what you love and love what you do, you'll never have to work another day of your life!'  The challenge for most people is this... their 'Passion' doesn't pay very well.  So, is it better to work for your Passion or Paycheck?

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   daydreamsposted 10 years ago

   Of course it's better to work for your passion if you can, but before you can concentrate on your passion you need to pay rent and eat, so you do need money, but I think its better to have less money (but enough to live off) and enjoy life than have a really well paying job that you hate.

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      Glenda Motsavageposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      So, then our financial responsibilities are key to our decision? "I think its better to have less money (but enough to live off) and enjoy life than have a really well paying job that you hate." Well spoken - I totally agree! Thanks for your input!

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   orandzeposted 10 years ago

   That's a really tough one that I've been struggling with for years. My degree is in music theory/composition and I just couldn't find any jobs for the longest time.
   Finally I decided that I would try to figure out what creative methods of working actually paid well and develop a way to incorporate some of those with my passion.
   I found I like writing and selling,so I've been working on articles about things I enjoy, like music and video games. I also discovered a fondness for web design, so I build music related websites.
   I think sometimes to be truly happy you have to find new ways to incorporate your expertise into making a living. It keeps things interesting

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      Glenda Motsavageposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      So, perhaps BOTH are possible?  Living our passion AND getting paid to do it?  I love your suggestion to find creative ways to incorporate our passion into a paycheck!  Thank you for your input and thoughtful response!

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   SilentMagentaposted 10 years ago

   As I am figuring out myself I am realizing little things about me. I will probably be someone who lives to work. If I am not balancing work and school than I am balancing school and hubpages. I love to feel busy majority of the day.

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      Glenda Motsavageposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      You sound like a very busy lady.  I pray the long hours invested between work, school and HubPages will be profitable enough to provide time for your passion!

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   connorjposted 10 years ago

   
   
   There is absolutely no reason why one cannot work for their "Passion!" However, if their passion does not pay well then there are indeed significant issues. However, there are indeed many areas where a passion provides adequate income. In sports and acting many are able to work for their "Passion" and bring home significant amounts of income (not just the athletes/actors/actresses/singers/musicians, this includes most auxiliary areas associated with these).
   Yet there are a myriad of other careers that accomplish this. Significant amounts of professors have turned their "Passion" into quantitative research and/or discoveries that provide so much for all and these professors are literally obsessed with their work. They love it. Dr. Albert Bandura is still at Stanford University after over 50 years of research and teaching.
   Many Individuals or families that "run" their own businesses derive significant income and passion from their pursuit and some work well into their 80s because of their passion and/or profit margin. They love it until their death. Thus, I conclude with what I consider a tell-tale sign/quality to demonstrate this is indeed a passion rather than just work. Perhaps the litmus test is simply the presence or persistence of retirement as a concern?

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      Glenda Motsavageposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Your examples are a great encouragement and reminder to allow our passions to guide us toward our professions.  And, when we do, there are no regrets and retirement is rare!  Thanks so much for your thoughtful input, connorj.

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   Kailua-KonaGirlposted 10 years ago

   I discovered when working online for a paycheck that I made more when I created sites about things I love.
   
   For example, I created over 400 sites on Squidoo over the years. Some of my most profitable were sites that I made because of shopping for my grandchildren. I love to shop for my kids and grand kids!
   
   My background is a retail manager, so I guess that came back into focus when creating retail sites about the things I was purchasing for my family or about things I love to do..
   
   I love to garden and my gardening sites where also more profitable than other topic sites.
   
   So for me it turned out to be a case of making more from things I love to do.

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      Glenda Motsavageposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      So then, your biggest online paychecks were a result of your portfolios filled with articles you were passionate about - proving that our 'passions' CAN be profitable!  Thanks, Kailua-KonaGirl for your thoughtful input... it may help someone today!

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   Virginia Allainposted 10 years ago

   One of the things I love about retirement is being able to follow my passion.
   
   In writing, I get a little divided as the paycheck becomes an enticement. It serves to validate my activity, so sometimes I end up pursuing it when it is off-track from what I really love.

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      Glenda Motsavageposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Yes, the proverbial paycheck is tremendously tempting at times!  May you tiptoe through your retirement, choosing to engage in the things you are most passionate about!  Thank you, Virginia, for your thoughtful input!

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