Do what you love and the money will follow. This is a very popular saying that has been making its way around for many years. While it is a nice sentiment to have, we have to recognize that it’s mostly wishful thinking. Keep doing only what you love and you’re probably going to end up on the street without a penny to your name.
Now, this isn’t to say that you shouldn’t do what you love. I think that’s the real objective behind the dot com lifestyle, because it can afford all of us the freedom to do what we love. What I am trying to say, though, is that it will take some work for you to figure out how you can do what you love and actually have it be effective.
Outside Your Comfort Zone
The truth of the matter is that you have to earn the privilege of doing what you love for a living. And in order to earn that privilege, you need to be willing to do the things that make you uncomfortable, stressed or on edge. After all, if you keep doing only what you’re doing, you can only expect to keep getting what you’re already getting. And you want more than that.
Let’s take my professional life as an example of this. I love writing. It doesn’t always come easily, but I very much value the power of the written word and my ability to express myself through writing. If it were entirely up to me, the only “work” I’d ever do is actual writing… but that’s just not how business works.
I’m not a fan of the hard sell, but I necessarily have to engage in “sales” behaviors in order to attract and land the right clients. I’m not a fan of dealing with all the legal and tax ramifications of running my own business, but those responsibilities come with the territory. I don’t always get to write about precisely the subjects I most enjoy, but I take on those projects to make a living.
Sacrifice and Reward
And that’s really the kind of mindset you have to be prepared to take if you want to earn the freedom that the dot com lifestyle can provide you. That’s the kind of approach you need to take if you want to do what you love and actually earn a comfortable living doing it. Sometimes, you really have to do what you hate.
Maybe you don’t like public speaking, but taking on the opportunity to speak at a conference can do wonders for your career. Maybe you don’t like math, but having a strong grasp of your numbers is of paramount importance to your future success. Maybe you hate social media, but understanding the power of online outreach can greatly grow your brand. Make those sacrifices and earn those rewards.
And then, with a little luck on your side and in due time, you’ll be able to focus much more on the things that you really love because you can just outsource the rest to someone else.