Competence Vs "Doing Something You Love"

The first time I heard the idea that "becoming financially successful requires doing something you love" was in one of Gary Halbert's early books. Since then, I've heard this idea repeated over and over by a seemingly countless number of YOU-TOO-can-make-money promoters and gurus.

At first, I thought "Wow, that makes total sense." But now, many years later, I've come to the conclusion that this idea is NOT a truism. In fact, it's completely BACKWARDS.

If I were asked to advise someone who wanted to improve their financial standing in life, I wouldn't put their attention on trying to figure out a way to make money “doing what they love to do”.

Here's why: For many, if not most people, the concept of "doing what one loves to do" is far, far removed from the idea of making money, creating a successful business, or having a successful job or career.

Most people, if they simply "did what they love to do", would probably make very little, or no money at all.

And that's because doing something ("whatever") to make money is usually NOT very high on the list of things people love to do.

Example: I have a friend who loves to play golf. He became an outside sales rep because he thought this would give him a lot of time on the links. Well, yes, he did spend a lot of time golfing. But he didn't make any money or get ahead as a salesman because he put the bulk of his attention on "doing what he loves to do", not selling!

Businesses, careers and jobs are typically thought of as NECESSITIES. Things one HAS to do in order to be able to get the money so one can, eventually, do what one REALLY wants (or "loves") to do --- which, in most cases, probably doesn’t involve making money at all.

So what advice WOULD I offer to someone who wanted to improve his or her financial condition?

Well, the full answer might fill a book. But the short answer is this: Whatever means or method you decide to use to make money, make sure you do it better than just at an "acceptable" level.

Do whatever it takes (research, training, practice, etc.) to get yourself up to and beyond professional standards as fast as you possibly can in your chosen field.

People (or, if you like, call them "bosses" or "prospects" or "customers") are somehow able to instantly recognize competence when they see it.

Would you rather buy from an honest, knowledgeable and obviously competent sales person or a commission-hungry fool who apparently doesn't know a thing about the product or service you want to buy?

Today more than ever, the COMPETENT person in any field stands out, head and shoulders above the rest. Even just being a competent laborer can get you noticed and promoted (i.e., "making more money").

You see, these gurus who preach "do what you love" have it all backwards. You’re supposed take what you love doing (such as a hobby) and turn it into a business (work).

Well, I ask you: Do you think Gary Halbert loved what he was doing when, in his early days, he used the electric bill money to send out a sales letter that got NO response? Hah! I doubt it.

But what about AFTER he became a competent copywriter who could get mail order results almost at will? Ah, THAT’S where it's at!

Become professional and totally competent at doing SOMETHING that will make you some money. Repeatedly demonstrate your competence to (yourself and) others simply by doing what you do. And don't be surprised if you eventually find yourself LOVING what you do (and making some money too!)

---- Hugh

Hi,

Hugh wrote:

> Become professional and totally competent at
> doing SOMETHING that will make you some
> money. Repeatedly demonstrate your
> competence to (yourself and) others simply
> by doing what you do. And don't be surprised
> if you eventually find yourself LOVING what
> you do (and making some money too!)

A way to get started on doing that is monitoring yourself for a couple of weeks and whenever you do something effortlessly that succeeds bigtime, make a note of it.

If it happens to be something related to convincing or persuading people, you should be a salesman (and you'll make more money than Carter's has little pills).

Then, take the things that you do effortlessly and apply them in the manner that makes the most money, and then work your butt off to develop hyper competency in them. "Go with the flow."

Hope this was useful,

- Boyd

Please keep this thread going...Have you
ever had people tell you you're good at
doing a particular thing? You know your competence in that area: but,can't see
yourself doing it for money. I've seen this over and over.People I know who have a strength or a core competency, but they can not see themselves
doing what they do in exchange for money.

In fact, when it's suggested they do this
for a business they minimize the importance
of their skill or suggests it wouldn't be
fun anymore if it turned into a business.

But the irony is: they want to make money in
business; yet the competency area is apparent
but they are busy looking for another area
to explore.

What is going on?

I can give you a very good example. There are two artists who really should be counted as living American treasures for the number of book covers they've done: Michael Whelan and Kelly Freas. They do science fiction book covers and over the years they've both done thousands of paintings and illustrations. There's no doubt they're doing what they love.

Whelan recently had cancer. Freas had a triple bypass this year. Both had to continue working from (quite literally) the hospital bed to pay the bills. Niether can retire, because art never pays enough to put anything into retirement funds (in spite of the fact that they're top selling artists). Art makes them a living, but just barely.

Others I know who aren't so famous (and yet had done numerous book covers) had to go take a 9-5 job simply because doing what they love to do doesn't pay enough to maintain a house and sustain life. If they didn't have to eat and if they could live in a tree or a cave (rent free) then they'd do quite well. Same with musicians. Same with writers. Next time you go into a bookstore, look at the books on the shelves. Anyone who has more than 20 different books published (and currently on the shelves) is making enough to quit their day job and write full time (according to sf author Mercedes Lackey... and she should know, since she did that.) Everyone else is struggling.

It's a lovely ideal. It really is, but unless you happen to love something that's in high demand and garners a high salary (OR unless you have a spouse whose wages provide more than enough for you to live on) OR unless you can afford to retire then doing what you want to do isn't practical.


The Five Minute Mentor

Here's my theory.

Find your passion, then find a way to create a product about your passion.

Of the people we know that are really, really good at something, but would never think of doing it for money, these people were born to have a job.

People like us usually see a way to make money with just about any product, service, or hobby.

On the internet I think pursuing your passion is extremely important because it is so much easier to create content about something that you are passionate about. If you create valid content on any given subject, the traffic generation factor becomes automatic.

Then all you have to do is find a way make money at it.

Some people are cut out to hustle a buck and others aren't. Like the guy that took the sales job so he could play more golf. A good sales rep will do both, and still make a lot of money.


"37 Secret Money Making Strategies"-FREE

Well said Mike, you have hit the nail on the
head, and this is the message that many of the
guru's Hugh dismisses are delivering. Many of
the tips on developing successful businesses don't
just say "do what you love to do" they say align
your commerce with your passion - that's a true
win-win.

Surely anyone who has successfully built their own
business understands that it is NOT easy, there
is an incredible amount of effort, persistence,
learning and sweat that has to go into building
long-term success. How can you possibly stay
motivated if you are not passionate about the
area you are working in? Granted there are a
small number of very successful individuals that
are simply motivated/passionate about the game
of selling - the thrill of closing another sale (Donald Trump?). But there are MANY others who
turn their passion into commercially viable
enterprises (ie. Bill Gates as an excellent
example)

To many people are out looking for a program, solution or system that will quickly make them
rich, without ever understanding what it will
be like to WORK that program day and night for
6-12 months to get it off the ground.

Aligning your commerce with your interests is
important - but you have to have the end in mind
first.

Jeff

> Here's my theory.

> Find your passion, then find a way to create
> a product about your passion.

> Of the people we know that are really,
> really good at something, but would never
> think of doing it for money, these people
> were born to have a job.

> People like us usually see a way to make
> money with just about any product, service,
> or hobby.

> On the internet I think pursuing your
> passion is extremely important because it is
> so much easier to create content about
> something that you are passionate about. If
> you create valid content on any given
> subject, the traffic generation factor
> becomes automatic.

> Then all you have to do is find a way make
> money at it.

> Some people are cut out to hustle a buck and
> others aren't. Like the guy that took the
> sales job so he could play more golf. A good
> sales rep will do both, and still make a lot
> of money.




Discover How To Sell Your Knowledge

Hi Mike!

> Find your passion, then find a way to create
> a product about your passion.

Good advice. Nothing wrong with it. Short and to the point.

Unfortunately, like the Success Formulas from some of the most well known success gurus (linked to on the page below), people have a great deal of trouble with it.

What could 'sound' easier than writing about something you are very interested in?

The thing is... your interest is in the thing (whatever it is) and NOT writing.

As you pointed out... Passion does not mean success.

And let me add... you do not need to be passionate about a thing to succeed at it.

There's a story... I believe it's in one of Stanley's books... about a pig farmer millionaire who HATED pigs but did it because he knew how to run a business and there was money in it.

His REWARD enabled him to 'love' his business.

For those who do find it hard to get going... or are maybe looking for a way to motivate themselves to write about their interest... or want to make sure they can stick with their goals until the end... and do it whether or not they have this mysterious 'passion'... The Success Report might be able to help you. (the link is below)

Michael Ross


Get your own, personal copy of The Success Report today. Click here.

Hi,

I agree with you. My passions are surfing the net for interesting or exciting stuff, drinking beer, taking vacations and watching TV. I don't want to write about drinking beer, I want to drink the dam stuff. I don't even want to take vacations and then write about my experiences--the latter would ruin the fun of the former.

Best,

- Boyd

...there is no market for what you love.

I love many activities, but most of them don't pay any money...like hanging around at my local pub or taking a stroll on the beach. Nope, earnings are slim there.

I also love acting and I'm very good at it...BUT...I'm not willing to give up my "well-rounded" life to dedicate myself 24/7 to auditions. My beach-walking is just too important to me.

I am in the process of learning now that you can "love" a lot of things. So I'm finding new "things" to "love"..."things" that have a market.

Plus, if you "love" making money...which I do...then a lot of things...things that you never even would have considered doing before...become "love"-worthy.

So, instead of trying to make money from what you love...how about learning to love something that makes money?

John

Michael,

You make a good point, and have forced me to clear up my post. Like the pig farmer, do what you know really well, and find a way to make it pay.

However, in order for that to work, you have to be passionate about running the business.

The truth be known, my passion is not plants. Never really was. Sure there are some plants that I have truly come to appreciate, but plants are what I know best. I'm learned them by accident while I was trying to make a few bucks in high school.

Most of my customers would never believe it, but I seldom read anything at all about plants, unless I need to research something. I don't like gardening magazines.

When I made the cover of Mother Earth News I wasn't even a subscriber or a reader. I didn't tell Mother that.

So what's my passion?

My passion is marketing! I love marketing and read every word I can on the subject. I'm a sucker for anything on marketing.

I simply combined my love for marketing, and my knowledge of plants, and over the years I've "invented" several new ways to make money with plants. Then I packaged those ideas and now I sell them on the net.

That's why I have a gardening site, a booklets site, a travel site, and a site on Alcatraz. It's not about the topics, it's about the marketing. That's my passion!

Thanks for making me make this a little clearer. -Mike


"37 Secret Money Making Strategies"-FREE