> Say I love taking photographs of landscapes.
> I hear the "do what you love"
> thing and decide to open a photography
> business.
> BIG MISTAKE!

Ron's post about saying no was a perfect example of this. He sounds like he gets to do what he loves, but isn't loaded down with work he hates (snake in a shoe, photos of collicky crying babies in shirley temple outfits, etc).

I don't know how Ron is doing. But he sounded like he made good money when he has work and that he genuinely enjoys doing it.

> The moment I open that photography business
> where people come in and get me to take
> photos of things, is the moment I STOP doing
> what I love.

Yes, those are good points, Michael.

> Taking a photo of a shoe with a snake
> slithering through it, because that is what
> the clients wants, is NOT landscapes. It is
> not what I love.

What a weird, but probably realistic example of what a photographer has to deal with :) Snake in a shoe... for a few rolls, to get the best angle and lighting. Then next client. Bronzed baby shoe and an orange... together at last.

> For the landscape taking photographer to be
> truly happy, they must continue to take
> photos of landscapes of their choosing. Then
> offer those photos up for sale.

Yes, this would be the ideal do what you love business for this particular photographer. Taking exactly the photos he wants to, where he wants to, when he wants to.

> And if they are no good at selling, then an
> agent must take care of that for them.

Maybe part of it is to do well with what you love some people will need to expand their abilities in other areas they aren't sure about. I know of many a business owner who loves their business, but doesn't know marketing.

Suddenly they NEED to increase their sales just to stay in business. They tiptoe into their local library and check out a few marketing books. Maybe they also do what is meant to be a quick search on the internet and end up someplace like here.

Before long they find themselves head over heels in love with marketing AND their business. They have a new interest and are simply incorporating it into their old love.

Of course, this doesn't happen all the time. And it's a selective example. But if it can happen just a few times in just a few areas, doesn't that make it valid for those people? Won't they be getting to do what they love?

True, they had to try something new and expand a little, but it seems like the people who do that are the ones who do well anyway (just a crazy coincidence I guess).

> What part of you is satisfied when you take
> a landscape photograph of your choosing? And
> could that part of you be satisfied in some
> other way?

Hmmm. Maybe :) And I haven't even discovered that part yet. But I can imagine it.

> If taking photos of landscapes which you
> choose, satisfies some Creative Element
> inside of you, then it stands to reason that
> another activity, besides photography, could
> also satisfy that Creative Element. It might
> be Painting (Art), Sculpting, Sketching,
> Image Manipulation, Writing, or a host of
> other creative "hobbies."

Yes, I think doing what you love might require trying different things, being flexible, willing to experiment. Things seem to work in odd ways. As soon as you decide its the only thing you want to do in life, you might try something else and enjoy it more. Maybe something that could turn into a business/hobby/income stream.

> Dien asked if there was a way for him to
> make money from Body Surfing.

> At first, the obvious answer is to open a
> Body Surfing School. But that makes Dien a
> Teacher - something he may not like.

True. Although, this seems like a very good way for him to stay close to what he loves. This is probably the easiest route for our local body surf king here though.

> What would work is for someone to Film Dien
> in action and for those video to be sold.
> Not by Dien though. Because that would make
> him a Video Seller, not a Body Surfer.

You're right, Michael. Without doing any selling, he is somewhat limiting his options.

Even with the lessons. But I think someone in Dien's position would find that it wouldn't feel like "selling" (as if they hate it) to find a few students and tell them about the lessons you'll offer. Most body surfers would probably just consider it easy to talk about and describe the experience in glowing enthusiastic terms.

> The only drawback to this is, he needs to be
> supported, or have independent income coming
> in, while he practices body surfing until he
> is good enough to enter the world class
> contests.

Or to live the surfer lifestyle of the 1950s and live in a van or a bungaloo with 6 other body surfers, waking up for the waves. Only coming in once they're completely spent for a restful rejuvenating sleep. Getting up the next day to hop in the beaten up VW van and driving to the next cove they heard about.

> You may remember the story of the Golfer and
> his Wife. It went like this...
> Notice how they were able to do this because
> they didn't have to earn money?

Yes, I did notice. And I'll think about that more, Michael.

Inching towards a book called the Joy of Not Working by Edward Zelinkski. I'll keep you updated.

> The alternative is a Body Surfing
> Newsletter. Where Dien body surfs all the
> beaches of Australia (and the world at some
> stage) and writes reviews.
> Problem is, Dien is a Body Surfer and not a
> Writer (for the sake of the example). He is
> a Body Surfer and not a Publisher. He is a
> Body Surfer and not a Marketer. And yet, he
> needs to be a Writer, Publisher and Marketer
> to get subscribers. And hopefully enough
> subscribers so subscription money is enough
> to support him while he travels around and
> body surfs all the beaches.
> Catch 22.

Sure, I get all that. And I understand your distinction about being specific vs. being a little more vague about what you love doing in another post too.

> There is a way to do what you love and make
> money from it. It usually involves
> delegating and using Leverage (Other
> people's resources) though.

Good summary of what is needed, Michael. I like to think it's possible too.

Success,

Erik Lukas