Timing Is Everything

There is a saying, “If you love what you do you’ll never work a day in your life.”  It’s a motivating phrase, since everyone would love to find the thing that they could do to make a living and feel like they were pursuing their dreams.  To most people, a job is a job.  It pays the bills.  It may bring a measure of fulfillment and excitement--but love? 

Most people accept the fact that they have to make sacrifices in order to make a living.  The more obligations you have, like family, house to pay for, medical bills, education, and just a few toys to make life interesting, the more pressure to find any job to pay the bills.  The desire to do something you love to do can become so strong, you just might throw caution to the wind and quit your day job to pursue your dreams.

While that may seem romantic, it can be a huge mistake.  Trying to make it without a steady paycheck brings freedom but a lot of stress.  Besides, there is time before or after work to pursue your dreams.  That’s what some very successful people figured out.  They pursued their dreams while working a steady job.  Some never stopped working while others kept their jobs until they made it big.

An article in Fast Company featured some famous, successful people who kept their day jobs while they were making it big.  Robert Frost, the poet, worked in a manufacturing plant changing light bulbs before he published his first poem.    Dustin Hoffman worked several different jobs before he made it big in “The Graduate.”  He even worked as a stenographer, often the only male typist in the office. 

It’s not unusual to work two jobs in this economy.  McDonalds made the news by offering financial advice to its employees on how to put together a household budget.  They assumed that in order to make it a person would have to work two jobs.  Working two jobs is easier than ever because some jobs can be done from home with an Internet connection and a PC.   Retail, hospitality and food service jobs offer flexible hours and are usually available, especially during the holidays.

If you want to pursue a passion while working your regular job, check out your company’s policy on working a second job.  Some companies discourage them, while others don’t have an objection as long as your regular job takes priority in attendance and scheduling.   If you’re on the clock, you should be working your job, not your side business.  Using the company’s computers, Internet, supplies and resources for your other job or business is against company policy and can get you fired. 

If you are doing what you love but would like to be your own boss, you may be able to have both.  The easiest way to get started on your own is to convince your employer to be your first client.  You can then do what you love without prospecting for your first clients.

Keep your day job and your paycheck until you’re ready and able to go it alone.  You’ll be happy to be able to pay the bills and do what you love.

Photo Source:  Freedigitalphotos.net