"Do what you love and you'll never work a day in your life" - said someone who probably never had to pay a mortgage. Have you heard this quote? Did it make you feel guilty for not pursuing your true passion at work? Here's the truth: Whoever said that (whether it was Confucius or Mark Twain) was a liar and a fraud.
How many people love art? Soccer? Music? And how many actually manage to make a living from it? Statistically, it's simply impossible for all of us to make a living from our passions.
In the YourMarket.Fit process that I lead, I repeatedly see how my trainees create "pressure" to find work that fulfills their "why". As if by not making a living from their passion, they've failed some life test.
I think about a good friend of mine, Itzik (Betz) Ohana, who owns a motorcycle garage, a successful business that supports him well. But his true passion? Saving lives.
The translation captures the essence of the original text, emphasizing the problematic nature of the "do what you love" advice and highlighting the complexity of aligning passion with professional life. The narrative underscores the importance of finding meaning and value in work, even if it isn't directly tied to one's deepest passions.
Here's the translation:
Instead of closing the family business (a move that would have harmed his and his employees' livelihood), he chose a different path. He continues to manage the business efficiently and professionally, but almost every evening, he volunteers with Magen David Adom (MDA) or the police.
The business allows him not just to pay the bills, but also provides the flexibility and financial security to dedicate significant time to what truly ignites him. He doesn't have to choose between "making a living" and "doing what he loves" - he found a way to integrate both into his life.
When I ask him if he feels a "split personality", he laughs and answers: "Not at all. I feel whole. The business is the stable foundation that allows me to fulfill my purpose in a way I truly love."
When I ask him, after 9 hours of work at the garage and another night shift at MDA, where he finds the energy or time, he says: "You don't measure time for your passions, and I leave an MDA shift with more energy than when I entered it!"
The most important message: It's completely fine to separate the work that supports you from the things that fill your heart. But - and here's a big but - this doesn't mean you should suffer at your workplace!
Here are 5 things that must exist in your workplace, even if it doesn't fulfill your deep purpose:
Appropriate Compensation - feeling that your value is appreciated
Recognition - feeling that your contribution is seen and valued
Development - feeling that you're growing and challenged, personally and professionally
Cultural Fit - that the environment and people suit your personality
Values Alignment - that the organization doesn't operate contrary to your core values like integrity, justice, and reliability
When these conditions exist, work takes its proper place in your life - it supports and provides, while the deep purpose can be fulfilled in other places: through volunteering, hobby, side project, or time spent with those who matter to you.
I was a 13-year-old boy with hands stained with paint who became a product manager in high-tech. The passion for art didn't disappear - it simply found expression in other creative ways.
Interested in hearing more about finding your Personal Market Fit? I'm about to give a lecture on the topic soon. Send me a message if you want to be updated about when and where it will happen.
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