I think it is important to realise the difference between finding something you love and finding something that will benefit you economically. When those two things overlap it can be amazing! When they do not it can be hard. When you have nothing to be passionate about it is sad. For example:
- I love kitesurfing. Since 13 I have been insanely passionate about it. Right now I am sat in a hostel in Cape Town coding away just giddy with the excitement about the waves and wind that are coming in tomorrow. I am hoping to get another jump this big tomorrow: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BVDgV7cbNjU. However, no one is going to pay me to kitesurf. Even the best guys in the world do not make much money at all. I am always going to lose money kiting. I love it; but I cannot make enough money from it to have a family and give them the life my father gave me. Therefore trying to pursue kitesurfing as a means to happiness and economic stability would be a terrible idea.
- I love the internet. I love the apps, sites, hacks, businesses, connections, possibilities and promises of the internet. The economies of the world love the internet. That is a great overlap. I can always make money by coding no matter how bad things get. And I will enjoy it. I may find the clients tedious or the projects dull but I enjoy the process of writing code. It is fun and although I am not very good; it fulfils me intellectually, economically, and professionally.
- I love making stuff happen. The satisfaction I got from running my last business and see all my competitors copy my model was amazing. I loved managing my staff and reading happy customers' emails and everything that involved improving our software. These are things that I am deeply passionate about and are extremely economically valuable. I have found happiness through my passion for business.
Think of it like a ven diagram. If passion and economic potential overlap - happy days.
- I love kitesurfing. Since 13 I have been insanely passionate about it. Right now I am sat in a hostel in Cape Town coding away just giddy with the excitement about the waves and wind that are coming in tomorrow. I am hoping to get another jump this big tomorrow: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BVDgV7cbNjU. However, no one is going to pay me to kitesurf. Even the best guys in the world do not make much money at all. I am always going to lose money kiting. I love it; but I cannot make enough money from it to have a family and give them the life my father gave me. Therefore trying to pursue kitesurfing as a means to happiness and economic stability would be a terrible idea.
- I love the internet. I love the apps, sites, hacks, businesses, connections, possibilities and promises of the internet. The economies of the world love the internet. That is a great overlap. I can always make money by coding no matter how bad things get. And I will enjoy it. I may find the clients tedious or the projects dull but I enjoy the process of writing code. It is fun and although I am not very good; it fulfils me intellectually, economically, and professionally.
- I love making stuff happen. The satisfaction I got from running my last business and see all my competitors copy my model was amazing. I loved managing my staff and reading happy customers' emails and everything that involved improving our software. These are things that I am deeply passionate about and are extremely economically valuable. I have found happiness through my passion for business.
Think of it like a ven diagram. If passion and economic potential overlap - happy days.