Why Do You Do What You Do?

Do you like what you do?

I mean, do you enjoy the hardships, obstacles and problems that are inevitably thrown your way? Would you do it for free? Would you do it if you received no accolades or pat on the backs? Or if that meant sacrificing most of your social life? Is there something inside of you that fuels you to wake up every single day and devote your energy and time into this task? Do you feel that there is no other option for you — that this is your true purpose? If so, congratulations. If not, you might want to take some time to self-reflect.

Time is the most precious commodity that we have. Our energy is second. Money comes third. So why do we prioritize money over the first two?

For me, I sometimes enviously look at Bay Street lawyers who are taking home a nice chunk of change every month. But then, within moments, I snap back to reality. That work doesn’t appeal to me at all. Neither does the culture or the office politics. So why the heck am I envious of their job? For them, they may wake up giddy in the morning, looking forward to a day of reviewing contracts and talking to c-suite executives. For me, that sounds awful.

Figure out what works for you. And if you carry some form of privilege, like I do, then you probably have the option to seek out different ways to earn a living. You can work full-time for someone else. You can work multiple part-time jobs. You can start your own business. You can do some variation of all three. For those of you, who like me, have education, some marketable skills and come from a middle-class background, there are actually a lot of ways to earn a living.

The formula is relatively straightforward: Figure out what you like, figure out what you’re good at and whether there’s an opportunity to make a profit at the intersection of the two.

I’m a lawyer at a legal aid clinic. I like using my skills to help people out. I’m also good at consuming a large amount of data and coming up with a compelling narrative to frame it in a way that benefits you. Blogging and lawyer-ing are very different industries. But both require skills that feed off one another. I don’t make six figures, but I make enough to live in a nice apartment, put food on the table, go on vacation every once in awhile and save over half my income. I live a life that feels right to me.

All I’m trying to say is that most of us have the ability to make big and small changes in your life. As Ryan Holiday says, “You don’t control the results, only the effort.” I think that saying is true as hell.

In 2018, give yourself the gift of clarity. Ask yourself one simple question. Why are you doing what you do? Don’t let this year be filled with 365 days of feeling stuck doing something you despise. And if you don’t know what you want to do, at least give yourself permission to figure it out. Experimenting now is much better than having an epiphany that your life sucks in 2040. This year, be brave enough to figure out what makes you happy. Make strides towards leaving that job that makes you dead inside. You’re unique with a valuable set of skills and motivations. Start acting like it. Your future yourself will thank you.

Thanks for reading!

If you enjoyed this story, you should check out www.jenonmoney.com where I write about personal finance, progressive economics, going against the grain, and tons more. — Jen