Discussion on How to Find The Job You Love

Do What You Love: Myth or Reality?

“Do what you love, and you’ll never work another day in your life.” Yes, we’ve all heard that sentiment countless times, and repeat it to recent graduates like it’s the only career advice they’ll ever need. We print it on motivational posters, bumper stickers, and encouraging note cards. We incorporate it into commencement addresses. But, is this treasured piece of advice even a bit true? Will finding a career that you’re insanely passionate about make your entire life feel like one big tropical vacation? No, it is not like that your all dreams will come true. In fact, it will increase interest towards that particular job. That’s right—just because you sometimes feel stressed, overwhelmed, or even a little tired doesn’t mean that you’re in the wrong line of work. Here are four facts that debunk that infamous (and misleading) proverb.

Discussion on How to Find The Job You Love

I absolutely love what I do, and I’m lucky to be able to make a living at it. But, that doesn’t mean that I’m not consciously aware of the fact that I would usually rather be enjoying cocktails with friends than trying to meet a deadline. Yes, work and play are two vastly different things. Work requires exertion and effort in order to pay the bills and put food on the table, whereas play is all about fun and enjoyment. If you’re lucky, you’ll be able to incorporate some of that joy and passion into your daily routine. But, that definitely doesn’t mean that your entire career will be a walk in the park. Adding in that pressure and the expectation of pay is exactly what separates your job from everything else. Unlike fun, work isn’t always something that you want to do—it’s something that you need to do. And, chances are, when what you love turns into your job, you just might not love it as much anymore.

Perhaps you’re an outstanding violinist or video gamer. That’s awesome! However, we all recognize that these are pretty exclusive and specialized career fields, even if you are insanely talented. So, while you may have crossed “identifying what you love” off your to-do list—you’re also probably well aware that love doesn’t pay the bills. In reality, finding a job that aligns with your passions can be more challenging than it seems, as the job market is competitive and not all industries offer the same opportunities for growth and fulfillment.

There are plenty of people out there who absolutely love their careers. But, that shouldn’t be twisted into a perception that everything’s perfect. Maybe you hate monitoring incoming invoices. Perhaps you loathe the quarterly board meeting. Or, maybe you simply can’t stand filling out your monthly expense report. Whatever it is, there’s undoubtedly a certain aspect of your day-to-day that makes you say, “Ugh.”

Loving your job is a wonderful thing. Not only are you bringing home the bacon, but you also get the added reward of feeling fulfilled, accomplished, and satisfied each time you stroll out of your office. But, you likely don’t feel that way because you spent the entire day slacking. That’s right, loving your livelihood requires hard work. It’s pretty much human nature to enjoy the things we’re good at. And, in order to be good at your position, you need to put in some serious elbow grease. Oftentimes, it’s not just the work that we love. It’s the reward and satisfaction we get after doing it well. And we all know that getting things done well involves exerting effort and staying at the office for the occasional late night. It’s a never-ending cycle. In addition, the sense of accomplishment from overcoming challenges can enhance your passion for your work.

Lessons from Steve Jobs

“You’ve got to find what you love” (Jobs, 2005). There are many chances you will get in life, but some may not be right for you and others will complete who you are. There are opportunities you will turn down and they might be opportunities of a lifetime. Steve Jobs is an example of doing what you love and turning down the best, but look for better. Steve Jobs shows that opportunities come and go, but not all will be worthwhile. Finding your purpose in life is the hardest thing people have nowadays and you have to do what you want and not settle for anything less. If you settle for less you will never find your real purpose in life. Jobs gives a great example that attending college does not always have to be the first thing on the list to making your life what you have always wanted.

References:

• Jobs, S. (2005). Commencement address at Stanford University. Stanford, CA.