Aww! Thanks for the mention, Ryan! I'm really enjoying our mutual support. Your newsletter is getting better and better.
To answer your question about what I wanted to be when I grew up, I thought of being an astronaut too, as well as a firefighter, a veterinarian, a racing driver, and probably many other things I can't recall now. I didn't become any of those things, but I enjoy most of them in different ways.
Something that resonated with me was the famous phrase: “Find something you love to do, and you’ll never have to work a day in your life.” I have always been on the lookout for that something, but have struggled because I often found that my love for an activity changed once it turned into "a job". Typically, what I love is a hobby, and doing that hobby on a daily basis and as a job can alter my perspective of it. Sometimes experiencing that hobby in a professional setting takes all the fun from it. However, as I read that line in your newsletter today, it suddenly felt different. I think I have found something I love that doesn't feel like work, even though I do it every day, and used to consider it a hobby. This is doing my own thing, trying new things and finding ways to potentially monetize them. Essentially, I get to do what I want to do without any pressure, and pursue things that I love while making them my "work". Does this make sense? I'm feeling a bit sluggish today (I walked 13km uphill yesterday, and I'm still recovering like the old lady I am).
Yeah, both sides of the debate definitely have strong support. E.g. Derek Sivers, Rick Rubin, and others recommend separating how you pay the bills from "how you make your art".
When I first heard that recommendation (when in college), it made sense to me.
Maybe a professor said "If you enjoy writing, playing guitar, or whatever, you might NOT like it once there are deadlines and expectations. To keep enjoying it, you might want to do it only on your own terms as a hobby."
But I think someone working as a knowledge worker for 40 to 60-hr / week probably isn't what they had in mind for paying the bills.
If you "give your all" to someone else's organization, there is a risk that you'll exhaust yourself and not be able to bring the original energy to your side passion.
Going solo has its challenges too. For me, for now, the way I'm thinking about it is that I'd regret not trying. 😁
Aww! Thanks for the mention, Ryan! I'm really enjoying our mutual support. Your newsletter is getting better and better.
To answer your question about what I wanted to be when I grew up, I thought of being an astronaut too, as well as a firefighter, a veterinarian, a racing driver, and probably many other things I can't recall now. I didn't become any of those things, but I enjoy most of them in different ways.
Something that resonated with me was the famous phrase: “Find something you love to do, and you’ll never have to work a day in your life.” I have always been on the lookout for that something, but have struggled because I often found that my love for an activity changed once it turned into "a job". Typically, what I love is a hobby, and doing that hobby on a daily basis and as a job can alter my perspective of it. Sometimes experiencing that hobby in a professional setting takes all the fun from it. However, as I read that line in your newsletter today, it suddenly felt different. I think I have found something I love that doesn't feel like work, even though I do it every day, and used to consider it a hobby. This is doing my own thing, trying new things and finding ways to potentially monetize them. Essentially, I get to do what I want to do without any pressure, and pursue things that I love while making them my "work". Does this make sense? I'm feeling a bit sluggish today (I walked 13km uphill yesterday, and I'm still recovering like the old lady I am).
Thanks, Sabrina!
That's awesome that you've found such alignment.
Yeah, both sides of the debate definitely have strong support. E.g. Derek Sivers, Rick Rubin, and others recommend separating how you pay the bills from "how you make your art".
When I first heard that recommendation (when in college), it made sense to me.
Maybe a professor said "If you enjoy writing, playing guitar, or whatever, you might NOT like it once there are deadlines and expectations. To keep enjoying it, you might want to do it only on your own terms as a hobby."
But I think someone working as a knowledge worker for 40 to 60-hr / week probably isn't what they had in mind for paying the bills.
If you "give your all" to someone else's organization, there is a risk that you'll exhaust yourself and not be able to bring the original energy to your side passion.
Going solo has its challenges too. For me, for now, the way I'm thinking about it is that I'd regret not trying. 😁