About a week ago I asked you a number of questions because I wanted to learn more about who you are and what you do. Many of you responded that your current job is not your dream job.
Over the past year my posts have leaned more and more toward the idea of pursuing work you love. Last year I wrote Do You Want To Be Self Employed, and the topic has stuck with me since. Passion-driven careers and side hustles have become common discussion in the personal finance world, with bloggers and entrepreneurs choosing to strike out on their own. The encouraging truth is this: finding your dream job is possible.
I recently read two contrasting stories on Get Rich Slowly: one about a reader who left a high-paying, promising career to enjoy life more, and another about someone who quit their passion to take a steadier, more conventional job. Those two pieces made me question my own path.
My side income has never been better, and I’m actively diversifying it. Right now I’m at a point where I could take a leap of faith and invest more time in the side projects I enjoy, potentially doing them full-time instead of continuing my standard 8-to-5 office role.
I’ve had this “Money or Passion” post on my blogging to-do list for a while, and I’m glad to finally publish it. I’ve been soliciting your tips, and so many of you have replied via tweets and emails with thoughtful feedback.
When I chose my college major at 18, I rushed to finish my degree as quickly as possible. I graduated in 2.5 years, even after taking a semester off. I was driven by several things: needing something to occupy my mind while coping with my father’s illness, and believing that two business-related degrees would be practical and valuable.
At the time I equated success with money rather than happiness. I believed that pursuing your passion as a career was something only “lucky” people or those with a rare talent could do. So I chose the “realistic and responsible” route with business degrees.
For some people, their passion naturally generates income, and that’s wonderful. I have multiple passions, and together they feed my side hustles and a volunteer role I’m considering—these combined pursuits form my passion. Thankfully, my side hustles already produce a respectable income.
We’ve been fortunate that our monthly expenses are relatively low. Our total bills—mortgage, utilities, food, and other costs—come to less than $3,200 per month. That level of spending makes it feasible to manage living on one income while still saving, though we’d prefer to reduce expenses further and build a stronger safety cushion for unexpected events.
Why I want to prioritize passion and enjoy life more
Lately I’ve been reflecting a lot on the meaning of life and where I want to go. Losing my father, and then learning my grandfather had passed away, forced me to confront how routine and monotonous daily life can feel. It’s made me question what I want to spend my time doing.
I don’t want to wake up each day wondering where the time went or feel like I’m merely waiting for the workday to end. I want to enjoy my days instead of feeling like I’m simply slaving away.
I hope to continue and grow my side hustles—potentially making them my primary work—and to start a position at a nonprofit I care about. I want my days to feel rewarding, not like something I dread (and I’m sure my partner is tired of my complaining).
I’m still young—today I’m 24 (happy birthday to me!)—and I haven’t yet taken a break to pursue something I truly love. Am I too old, too young, or too naive to try this? I won’t know until I try.
I’ve always taken a responsible approach to life because others have depended on me. Now that those people are doing better, I feel freer to explore new directions.
What are the risks of pursuing passion or a dream job?
The biggest challenge is instability—the uncertainty of stepping away from a reliable paycheck. I worry about putting all my eggs into one basket and watching it fail. I fear damaging my financial future or making a choice I’ll regret if circumstances change.
Of course I could keep doing everything—my day job plus all my side projects—but at what cost? I want to enjoy life, and I’m less motivated by accumulating more money than I used to be. There comes a point when you must decide how much is enough.
To quote the Get Rich Slowly piece I mentioned earlier—one reason to be cautious:
Your career is only one part of your life. Doing work that satisfies you most won’t automatically make you a much happier person. Consider how a change could affect you in other ways, not just the task itself. Seek balance rather than following only the work you love most.
Should work be treated purely as a way to earn money while keeping passions separate? Or is it realistic to combine both money and passion? These are the questions I’ve been wrestling with.
Based on my own reflections and many conversations with readers, here are a few practical suggestions to help you decide.
1. Identify why you no longer enjoy your current job
Ask yourself whether you’ve truly never enjoyed your job or whether something changed. If your work once excited you, consider what specific aspects have shifted and whether you can adjust your current role to regain that satisfaction.
2. Test the waters before making a leap
Some situations require immediate action, but if you have control over the timing, start small. Explore your passion part-time or on weekends to see what it’s really like. Your idea of the dream job may differ from the reality once you try it.
3. Be realistic about expectations
Realism is crucial. Avoid living in a fantasy where everything works out perfectly overnight. Set honest expectations about income, workload, and the challenges you might face. You may discover that your current job had aspects you miss after quitting, so plan accordingly.