4 Big Reasons To Only Do Work You Love
Every so often, I take an inventory of everything going on in my life and list out all of the projects, mini-projects, responsibilities and opportunities. As I go down the list, I simply ask the question, “How does this activity make me feel?”
“Does it drain me or am I excited about it?”
If I’m honest, there are usually a few activities I’ve picked up along the way which don’t really meet the set of criteria I’ve created to guard my energy. So, I’ve got to figure out what steps to take next. I usually start by looking at the activity to see if it is something short term or long term. I ask the all important WHY question. I look at the results I expect to achieve from it. Then I figure out how much time and energy I need to invest. For most of the quick activities, I get them done or assign them somewhere else. But, if it is something that will take up more than a day, I’ve got to figure out if I want to do it. If it’s a long term activity, I’ve got to figure out if I LOVE it.
I used to take on things simply because I desired to see change. But, if I didn’t LOVE it, I began to see the signs of it shortly after. I took longer to do it. I found other things to do first. I never got really excited about it. So, I would often end up asking the question, “Why am I doing this again?” I would get up feeling like I didn’t want to do that particular activity anymore.
So, I made the commitment to do work I loved. The challenge for some is finding out what that is. Then, once they find out, getting there is another challenge. They’ve got bills to pay. (I have a podcast episode with Grant Baldwin talking about this very thing).
Here are 4 reasons why I hold on to my commitment:
1. Burnout — There are a myriad of symptoms letting you know burnout is on the horizon. Forbes magazine lists 10 of them. But, in my case, I know I’m on the fringes when I begin to feel mentally exhausted. My creative energy has been robbed and I don’t feel like doing anything. I’m negative. Yes, me…Mr. Optimistic. I begin mentally complaining about almost everything when I’m on the fringes of burnout. I used to work in the mental health industry and I saw burnout everyday. The industry was high turnover and people who talked about how much they loved people in the interviews quickly burned through their energy reserves. I also taught 7th grade for a year. Yes, I lasted a year. I didn’t love it and it wore on me. But, there were teachers who absolutely poured everything they had into it daily and had the brightest smiles you could ever imagine. If you don’t love it or at least like something about it, you can burnout quickly.
2. When things get tough you will rise to the challenge — Things get tough no matter what industry it is. One of the reasons some people become entrepreneurs is so they can have control of their time and do something they love. Many are fooled, though, and think it’s an easier road. So, when the challenges hit, they immediately begin to reconsider their path. Love doesn’t make it easier but it definitely helps you hang in there much longer.
3. Focus — When you love something, you tend to focus on it. I love my wife and so I pour my relationship energies into making her happy. Aside from the fact that she would be less than thrilled if I were cavorting with other women, it makes it so much easier to focus on her when it’s clear I love her and I’m IN love with her. It’s the same with my work. When I’m doing something I love, I can focus on it for long periods of time without feeling trapped.
4. Freedom — There is such a sense of freedom when you are doing what you love. You are doing it simply because you love it. You are being forced. You aren’t doing it for the money. You aren’t doing it because you are obligated. You are doing it because you want to and because you love to. That’s freedom. When you are able to make the choice to perform an action, that is true liberty.
Will everyone GET to do work they love? No. In fact, some may just try to find a way to love what they are already doing. That is fine as well. But, it’s a sad world if you choose to remain stuck doing what you hate.
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