Choosing between making money and doing what you love

L. A. Schlesinger, C. F. Kiefer, and P. B. BrownHBR/ March 2012

Summarized by: Vahid Shamekhi

If you’re really passionate about what you do,

but it’s not going to make you a lot of money,

should you still do it?!

Do what you

love, the

money will

follow…

Do what you

love, the

money will

follow…

Is it true???

That desire will make you more creative and more

resourceful, and will help you get further faster.

when you’re heading into

the unknown, desire is

all-important.

And, it will help

you persist…

When you’re trying something that’s never

been attempted before — beginning an

unusual project at work, or trying to get a new

business off the ground — you’re going to face

a lot of obstacles.

You don’t want to be giving up the first time you encounter one.

But, let’s be real.

None of this guarantees wealth,

or even financial success.

I have the desire, but I

am pretty certain it’s not

going to lead anywhere

that’s monetarily

profitable.

Now what?

Should I still go ahead?

If you can’t afford to do the thing you’re

passionate about — which is something

you think is more important than whatever

you’re passionate about — then no, you’d

better not bet your economic life on it…

A basic principle concerning how you should deal with

an unknown future is that every small smart step you

take should leave you alive to take the next step.

So, make sure you attend to your

lower order Maslow needs of food and

shelter and the like.

But even this doesn’t mean you can’t work on your

passion a little — even if it’s just for 15 minutes a day.

And you should!

Research shows that people who make progress

every day toward something they care about,

report being satisfied and fulfilled…

We’re in favor of people being happy…

And we’re also in favor of provoking people into

pursuing happiness…

“Once I get enough money, I’ll do

what I really want to do. I won’t worry

about the money.” But somehow, they

never get to that point…

Time is finite...

The question might

be enough to get you

to reconsider how

you’re spending it…

And of course, the assumption embedded in

the question could be wrong…

And of course, the assumption embedded in

the question could be wrong…

You might, indeed, end up making money if

you engage in your passion, even though

you currently think you won’t.

Remember, the future is unknown…

Who knows what people will buy, or what you

might invent after your very next act…

Who knows what people will buy, or what you

might invent after your very next act…

At any moment in time, you are only one thought

away from an insight — an insight that can

change everything…

When you are facing the unknown, they only way to

know anything for sure is to act…

When you are dealing with uncertainty you act…

You don’t think about what might happen, or try to

predict the outcome, or plan for every contingency.

You take a small step toward making it a reality,

and you see what happens.

Who knows?

Even the smallest

step can change

everything…

So take those small steps…

You might discover that your passion

does, in fact, make you money…

After all, who knew you could make huge

amounts of money figuring out a way to

connect all your friends (Facebook) or make

a better map (pick your favorite GPS tool)…

Even if you don’t, you want to spend part

of your day doing at least one thing that’s

making you happy…

Even if you don’t, you want to spend part

of your day doing at least one thing that’s

making you happy…

Otherwise, something is terribly wrong.