Doing what you love.

[kiltedsawyer]

This idea came to me in another thread, but since I don't, I'm wondering how many of the rabble do what they love for a living. What a blessing this must be. I know there are some like Matt Newsome, who must really love what they do everyday, but how many others? I've got so many things that I love to do, woodcarving, furniture making, acting, scuba-diving, ( the list goes on,) but can't figure out how to make a living, (or least my current standard of living,) doing any of them. Advice is welcome, but would like to hear how those of you who love what you do, found your vocation.
Thanks,
David

[davedove]

I've always found that as soon as you HAVE to do something every day in order to make a living, no matter how much you liked it before, it becomes a JOB and therefore not as much fun.

[Dan R Porter]

I love my job, it was not my dream, but It was like a "Second Love." I always wanted to work with animals, SO I went and worked for a Vet. Man that job was H O R R I D !!!!

SO I continued my quest to be a Herpetologist. Well there is very little Job hope for that title, So Arborist was next. So I climbed trees for a few years, and Now I am in Grounds Managementy for a local college. SO I get to play outside in the dirt, until I get bored then I tell someone else to do it! I am the boss after all. :Wink:

And I get all the free school I want!

[KFCarter]

This is where I go to work everyday (and many nights):



I am in charge of the care and feeding of this complicated, some say haunted, 88 year old, loving restored vaudeville/movie house... we rent the building out, present shows ourselves, partner with dozens of local non-profits to make their presentations work, etc. We show movies, produce and /or present concerts of all kinds, and opera and full orchestral concerts... lectures, conferences, graduation ceremonies, and twice on Sundays, church services. It exhausting... and exhilarating... and never boring.

After seven years, do I still love it? Oh, yes. Absolutely!!

Do I know how lucky I am? Very definitely!

:ootd:

[Coinneach]

I'm a freelance writer, and yes, I love what I do.

Sometimes I have to (yes, have to) write something the way a client wants rather than write it a way I think is better for their audience. Then it's a job. Still, even then I enjoy the challenge of trying to satisfy myself inside the schedule and budget I've been allotted.

How did I come to this? I would have to say I knew somebody (my brother's best friend). He gave me my first break and then it was all up to me. Mind you, I had a linguistic background...but when he hired me, I couldn't even type.

I worked for a large company for quite a few years before being downsized. I've been freelancing ever since (and the company that downsized me is my client).

How can you earn money for what you love to do? Network. Everybody knows somebody. Be able to say what you love to do in 15 to 30 seconds and practice everywhere: the barber, the grocery store, kilt nights. At the end of your speech you want people to think they NEED that. ("Oh really? My brother's friend's cousin's wife's sister is looking for someone to do that.")

Look for places that need somebody who needs the services you can provide or the abilities you have. Find somebody who knows someone who works on the inside and get to know them.

Look for all the markets where you can freelance or advertise your work as well: consignment stores, eBay, festivals, themed organizations, web sites, etc.

[kevinkinney]

...I will probably die, slumped over a sewing machine, with a smile.

Kevin

[Old Hippie]

I'm wondering how many of the rabble do what they love for a living.

You can do what you love, you can love what you do.

I teach. My own life has taught me that the lessons we learn are the ones we're ready to learn -- which may be different lessons than the person teaching them thinks we should be learning. I've learned to accept that with joy.

In the midst of preparing advanced students to be journalists, I see them learning all kinds of lessons. I often step out of the way to give them the freedom to learn important things that don't relate to the class. A percentage of them "turn on" with an almost audible click about halfway through their program, and I am ceaselessly amazed at the changes that are wrought in each one who is so lucky.

There's good days and less good days, days when you celebrate at the end and days when you drown your sorrows. I still work in the craft, I teach the craft, and I have time to pursue other interests -- many of which turn into fodder for the writer's mill, a double return.

So yeah, it beats the h*77 out of workin' for a livin'.

[MacKay71]

I like my first job (most of the time), fixing airplanes. But the living I make from it allows me to do the job I love on the weekends, teaching rock climbing, rappelling, and ropes courses.

[ali8780]

I absolutely love what I do (Mothering), and I feel very lucky to be able to be supported by my husband. There are days though... And generally those days involve poop.

[MrLion]

I love what I do. I have been a Physical Therapist for over 25 years. The paperwork part is not my favorite. Figuring out what's wrong and helping the patients get better really floats my boat! I don't plan to retire until I physically cannot do this anymore.
It's very rewarding helping others get BACK to doing what they love.