Do What You Love And You'll Probably Starve

[cmotherofpirl]

By Marty Nemko

We've been sold a bill of goods when we're told to "Follow your passion, " or "Do what you love and the money will follow." Fact is, if you do what you love, you'll probably starve.

Yes, some people do what they love and the money follows. Others make less money but still are happy, but millions of people have followed their passion and still haven't earned enough money to even pay back their student loans, let alone make a middle-class living doing what they're passionate about.

The problem is that too many people crave the same few careers, for example, the arts and non-profit work. Because employers in these fields get dozens if not hundreds of applications for each job, you have to be a superstar or extremely well-connected to get the job. In other cases, salaries tend to be low or nonexistent. Do what you love and volunteer work will probably follow.

The irony is that the small percentage of people who do make a living in "do-what-you-love," "follow-your-passion" careers, are on average, no happier than people in less sexy jobs.

Here's why. Not only do salaries in "cool" careers tend to be low, employers in those fields know they needn't treat their employees with kid gloves because zillions of other capable people are panting for the opportunity to work 60 hours a week for $27,521 (with no benefits) for the good feeling of knowing they're playing an infinitesimal role in saving the spotted owl or whatever, even though they may never get closer to a spotted owl than a pile of accounts receivable statements.

So there are plenty of unhappy people in so-called cool careers. That's true even in unarguably cool careers. Think of how many stars have big-time problems with drugs or depression. Kurt Cobain, John Belushi and Janis Joplin loved their cool career so much they killed themselves.

Other people's passion is status. So, for example, they endure years of boring law school and accumulate boatloads of student debt for the privilege of slaving under a 2,200-billable-hour quota for the law firm of Dewey, Cheatham and Howe, with a futon in their office so they can sneak in a few "zzzs" in the middle of the all-nighters they pull to boost the chances of another lawyer's corporate client giving money to their corporate client.

Other status seekers prostitute themselves to climb the corporate ladder. They put in 60-plus-hour workweeks and kiss up to their bosses, smilingly willing to uproot themselves and their families for a few years in Dubuque, Tuscaloosa, and/or anyplace else the company wants to dump them. They endure years of theoretical carp in an MBA program so they can put those three letters on their resume. And for what? So they may finally get a title of director or vice president, and after their 12-hour cover-their-butt workday, collapse on their sofa, get blitzed and stare at their oversized living room in their oversized neighborhood wondering, "Is that all there is?"

In contrast, if your job is mundane, for example, marketing manager for the Ace Processing Company, the employer knows there aren't hundreds of competent people champing at the bit for your job. So, to keep you, the employer is more likely to offer decent working conditions, reasonable work hours, kind treatment, opportunities for learning, and pay you well. Those are the things that, much more than being in a "cool" career, lead to career contentment.

You say you want status? Unless you're a true superstar (brilliant, driven, great personality, or have great connections), give it up. Status is often the enemy of success. You're more likely to find career contentment in a lower-status career. In my mind, someone who's an honorable assistant manager for the Ace Processing Co. is more worthy of respect than many lawyers, investment bankers, and business development VPs I know. If someone thinks less of you because your job isn't high-status, they don't deserve to be your friend.

Advice I'd Give My Child
If you're at all entrepreneurial, I recommend starting your own business. Yes, I know, only 20 percent of new businesses are still in business after five years, but you can beat the odds. Just this one rule: Do not innovate. Copy a successful simple business. Innovations are risky. Your product might not work, may not be popular with the public, or a competitor could beat you to market. Why be a guinea pig? Drive around to find a simple business at which customers are lined up out the door. For example, see a successful burrito shop or espresso cart? Open a similar one in a similar neighborhood. Your chances of success will be a helluva lot higher than 20 percent. Confine your urge to innovate to your hobbies.

Another approach to finding a good business is to pick a grungy one, for example, automatic transmission repair or mobile home park maintenance. Few top-notch people go into such businesses, so if you do a decent job, you'll probably make good, maybe great, money. And you'll feel better about your work, having people coming to you and thanking you, and owning your own business rather than slaving away for some boss ever fearing your job will be downsized or shipped to India.

You say you don't have the knowledge to run such a business? No problem. For example, I don't know squat about transmissions, but if I wanted to open a transmission shop, I'd find the best transmission mechanic, pay him well and hire a consultant who is the owner a successful transmission shop far enough from my store that he wouldn't fear my competition. The two of them would teach me how to set up my business. Then, I'd spend my time building relationships with car repair shop owners so I'd get their referral business.

If starting a business from scratch seems too scary, consider a franchise. According to Robert Bond, author of Bond's Franchise Guide 2004, some of the best include Jani-King commercial cleaning, Merry Maids residential cleaning and Aussie Pet Mobile, a grooming service. When you find a franchise that sounds appealing, be sure to speak with at least 10 of the franchise's franchisees at random before signing on the dotted line.

If you're not at all entrepreneurial and want to be well employed, here are some areas where the job market is not hypercompetitive: Court reporting, car finance & insurance, accounting, insurance, sales of little known commercial products, health care, health care administration, fundraising, financial services, anything serving Latinos (entertainment, schools, hospitals, criminal justice system), anti-terrorism and biotech regulatory affairs.

Remember, you're more likely to find career contentment by going far from the madding crowd.

Career coach Dr. Nemko's radio show airs in San Francisco on Sundays from 11 a.m. to noon Pacific time on KALW 91.7 FM or worldwide on www.martynemko.com. That site also contains more than 400 of his published writings. The Reader's Choice poll rated his book, "Cool Careers for Dummies," the No. 1 most useful career guide.

from MSN's career builder

[jasJis]

Here's a thought. A job is WORK. We wouldn't do it if we didn't get paid to show up. I don't want to do a job I absolutely HATE, but my standards are low. It's a paycheck and groceries. We will never find fulfillment in a job. Fulfillment is what God, family, and friends are for.

[Azriel]

yup.

A job ain't nothin but work.

[picchick]

A job is work but you have to find in it somewhere. Because then you can have something to work off of.

I do agree with you though. Work is work. Choosing something that you'll be happy doing is sometimes selfish. For example, a man wants to be a professional artist. Well, a artist will not get alot of money. He needs to think about the future. If he plans to have a family someday, he's gonna have to support them. An artist pay will not cover a whole lot.

And even if you find the job of your dreams and it pays good money, you're going to have ups and downs. I am hoping to someday become a doctor. I think that life is just absolutely fascinating!! Even if I find it to be fun, it is going to be very stressful. I think that people who are picking careers based off of the "do what you'll find fun" principle may run into trouble when they hit rough spots in the road because their jobs will not always be "fun".

(I am just rambling on.)

[BeenaBobba]

Good and interesting post, cmother.

I think that when looking for a job, people should ask themselves (1) if the job they're looking for will put food on the table and a roof over their heads, and (2) if the job is something they'll enjoy to some degree or another.

I've told a few of my friends that I've considered going to school to be a doctor in the past, but that I've decided against a medical career because I want to have a family (and medical careers require a lot of time that I'd rather spend with family and friends). As a Catholic, I know that my future husband and kids will be my top priority, and that's why I reject their urges to "follow my dreams." You can't have it all, and to me, a family is much more important than a career.

God bless,

Jen

[Sojourner]

I just read that article!!!!

I am doing what I love, and it's difficult to make ends meet. I'm a reporter, and it's really the perfect job for me ... except that the pay isn't that stellar. I figure, though, that I'm happy at work 85 percent of the time, which is more than most people can say, so I can handle having to smell of elderberries it in a bit when it comes to finances. Although I'm seriously considering taking on a second job for a little while so I can get caught up on bills and such ...

[Ash Wednesday]

Yes, you have to be realistic. You have to have a backup plan. That is what *really* following your dreams is about. But don't put yourself in a place where you really hate where you're at, because you will burn yourself out and your job will not last.

Of COURSE you have to factor in having a family and being able to support them. If you're NOT considering this in a concrete way, then you are NOT following a "dream," you are just daydreaming. I would like to know what "dream careers" this guy is talking about -- it would have helped if he would have clarified. I did, however, appreciate the article's suggestion that you could start your own business if you're smart about it.

I don't know about you, but from an artist's standpoint, we get really tired of hearing the "you will starve" brouhaha. We get enough lack of respect for our careers as it is. As an illustrator and designer who took a risk and ignored outside pressure to become a nurse instead of being in art -- what I was good at and *really* wanted to do, and to boot I am MAKING MONEY doing this, I'm not sure if I should be offended by all this talk or not.


Nah, I guess I'm pretty offended.

[theculturewarrior]

I'm doing what I love, and I will survive for as long as I am doing it.

There are really two factors...

Doing what you love,

And living where you would love to live.

On the border librarians get paid more.

[Scofizzle]

I currently am doing what I love. I am a youth minister at a Catholic church. And in case you didnt know...working for the church doesn't exactly have the best pay, but thats not what its all about. I think working in a job you hate for your whole life(like my old man did) just to maintain the high quality of living you are used to just silly. Before taking any job:

1. Pray about it
2. Make sure you can at least eat on the salary.
3. Pray about it
4. Make sure it pays the bills
5. Pray about it
6. Do what God tells you

[Pete-ster]

I want to either become an accountant or a lawyer. Maybe both.

[Sojourner]

[quote name='theculturewarrior' date='Aug 31 2004, 01:19 PM'] I'm doing what I love, and I will survive for as long as I am doing it.

There are really two factors...

Doing what you love,

And living where you would love to live.

On the border librarians get paid more. [/quote]
That's true about living where you would love to live ... I love the people where I live, and I love living in a city, but I am not really partial to the climate ... I'd like to live somewhere warmer and sunnier. I've always thought I might end up in Texas or Arizona at some point, or maybe Louisiana.

[Oik]

FOR THE LOVE OF GOD people, stop moving to arizona, it is awful here! Seriously. Try this, pay attention to the movies and tv shows you watch. A lot of the people talk about moving to Arizona or vacationing in Arizona or a place in Arizona. THERE IS NOTHING HERE! I guess I say this because I long to be back home in the midwest. I'm a hooiser boy, it's in my blood.

[Oik]

The article is a bit dismal, but Is true. Jesus was a carpenter. I often wonder if somewhere, somebody has a piece of work. That would be awesome.

[Aloysius]

it'd be pretty rare to have any type of carpentry work from the 1st century I think...

though who knows? He was I'm sure the best carpenter ever!

anywho, i'm still young and idealistic. i'll prolly starve.

[the_rev]

Hmmmmm. I'll be happy as a priest.