Passion vs. Being Good.......

[Bassin_7]

One thing I really like about this place, there is a lot of life experiences.

Lots of people in careers that I enjoy as well (aviation, technology, trades, etc.).

We have those that are retired. Those in the middle of the working lives. Business owners. Etc.

So, I thought I'd bring this up to see what y'all think.

When it comes to earning a living, do you believe it is better to follow your passion (being happy/interested in what you are doing)?

Or

Is it better to follow what you are good at (even if you do not enjoy it)?

I know we have people here in both categories and I think it would be interesting to hear the responses.

Yes, even if you do something you are passionate about, it does become "work". And yes, you may lose interest.

Yes, you may be good at something and able to earn a living. But, you aren't as happy either.

Think this could be a good topic to discuss.

[posmallie]

This is a great question and I think it's a mix of both. It's very important to like what you do. We spend too much time at work to hate our jobs. But you also have to be good at your job because if you're bad, the criticism from higher ups will eventually cause you to not like your job. While I don't have my dream job, I enjoy it most days and am very good at it. I make good money for what I do, so I can't really complain.

[rboren]

If I followed my passion when I was younger I would be broker!

[LateralLine]

If I followed my passion when I was younger I would be broker!

I'd be a homeless (sorry unhoused) broke out of work porn star!

[jbassman87]

I would make a lot more money in construction, but my body likes me so much better now that I do own/work in a title insurance company. I also enjoy doing what I do now more than the construction. Not sure I am really passionate about it though.

[yatesville88fan]

I really think a lot would depend on the guys you work with and the job market where you live. Most of the guys I worked with were Great. So it made going to work fun.

[LateralLine]

Happiness. To much of your life is spent working to not be happy.

[Tone357]

I think it depends on the passion or what a person is good at. For example, lets say a guy is passionate about fishing, but he's a hell of a stock broker. I would recommend he stay with stock brokering.

[xcoach]

I’d ask an older professional bass fisherman, might have a whole lot of wisdom he could share.

[fishnfireman]

Would like to think I was good at what I was passionate about.

[Bassin_7]

May be I should have include "......the state of Bass fishing" in the title. lol

[ksubasser24]

I have done several different things. Work is work IMHO. There will be things you like and enjoy in most everything and parts you can't stand. I do what I do because I'm well compensated which provides me the ability to chase my passions outside of work and provide a good life for my family.

[Bassin_7]

I have done several different things. Work is work IMHO. There will be things you like and enjoy in most everything and parts you can't stand. I do what I do because I'm well compensated which provides me the ability to chase my passions outside of work and provide a good life for my family.

You hit something that is also important (more so as we age).

Not all jobs allow that time.

Working 10-12 a day, leaves little time to pursue other things!

[Dixie-Raven]

I have done several different things. Work is work IMHO. There will be things you like and enjoy in most everything and parts you can't stand. I do what I do because I'm well compensated which provides me the ability to chase my passions outside of work and provide a good life for my family.

This is more inline with my thoughts on the subject.

My saying has always been I work to live and not live to work.

[local16]

I got lucky and worked at a trade for a guy that was great, was union and I could stand back at the end of the day and see something I was proud of. Had the best of both.

[townsend266]

I’d say make a living doing something that makes you happy and you enjoy, however, most of the time that ain’t the way life works. I love my job, I dont feel like I’m great at it either. Most of the time for me it’s the people and the company that I didn’t like, not the task.

I’ve only ever felt I was good at one thing, and I didn’t make a living out of that either.

[hatcreek]

Could've made a lot more money by going down a different path, but I've always been passionate about fish/wildlife/natural resources and have been blessed to enjoy a good career in the field...

I don't believe you can put a price on happiness.

[pabasshawk]

I worked hard all my life because it was more important to me that I provided security for my family than being happy with my job. I was very fortunate that I got good at my job and found happiness in its challenges. I managed to put 3 kids through college and helped buy each their first home and I can now do pretty much anything I wish.

[Jeff Hahn]

My friend Harold Kollenbrander is a former President of Mount College and a very wise man. He always told students to find out what they love to do and then figure out a way to make a good living doing it. I always thought that was sound advice.

[bcreek]

I taught high school woodworking for 35 years and never once woke up and not want to go. Did I make a lot of money?--NO.(always worked construction industry on the side), but I like to think I changed some lives for the better and provided for my family.