The Other Side of Life 24/7: The Cynical Girl: Do What You’re Good At

Friday, October 19, 2012

The Cynical Girl: Do What You’re Good At

Posted: 18 Oct 2012 03:45 AM PDT

As I’ve mentioned in the past, I am a source for many journalists. Sometimes I give information on background. Sometimes I offer direct quotes.

Jacquelyn Smith contacted me and asked, “I want to explore how your hobbies (i.e. reading, cooking, athletics, scrapbooking, playing cards, dancing, woodworking, biking, knitting, yoga, etc.) can apply to your career or help you choose a career. Is this something that you might be able to help with?”

I told Jacquelyn that I wasn’t her woman. I think Richard Branson is pretty happy being Richard Branson regardless of his job. He has a healthy ego and a strong sense of self. He could be a coal miner, a dancer or an entrepreneur. Doesn’t matter. He doesn’t need his job to define him. He defines himself. Like the Dos Equis guy — only British.

The other thing? Once your hobby becomes a career, it actually becomes a job. When I worked in HR, my hobby was blogging. Then I started blogging and I’m like, snap, this sucks as a job. Then I started attending conferences and speaking as a hobby. Once I earned money as a speaker, I quickly became disaffected.

I think you should do what you’re good at doing — plumbing, accounting, HR — and keep your hobby as something special that cannot be corrupted by money.

I shared this brief POV with Jacquelyn and she wrote back and said, “Okay, thnx.”

Dang. My cynical point of view isn’t always appropriate for a regular audience. I get it. I do. Ms. Smith wrote a really great article, but I am right.

Do what you’re good at and the money will follow. Do what you love on the side.