an interesting view on things...

Michael,

You said, "You might like taking photos and so you start a photography business.
The problem is, you are now taking photos at the request of other people... of things they want photos taken of."

Well you are sort of contradicting yourself in that example. In your example the photographer isn't really following his passion. BUT it is possible that he can take pictures only of stuff he wants and make a successful career of it...and therefore truly follow his passion.

I have heard of photographers who take pictures only of what they want and sell them at art galleries, or have them made into notecards, posters and such. Perhaps you have heard of Ansel Adams or Anne Geddes?

The key is not just to do photography (or whatever your passion is), but to do it in a way that is passionate to you...that is true to you. It is not just saying this activity is my passion, but also the way I pursue and nurture this activity is my passion.

Your example of the photographer had his
creative freedom restricted not because he wasn't doing what he loved any more. But because he wasn't pursuing it in the same WAY that he had loved and pursued it before.

We have to discover our passion, and then choose to follow it in the way our heart leads us too. Not the way others or our mind says it must be done. Actually, the mind and heart must work together or we might passionatelly be making ourselves broke. :)

I guess what I'm trying to say is that we must be very clear about what we mean when we say I am passionate about this. If you just say I am passionate about photography, that is actually very vague. What specifically about this activity do you love? Integrating those specific things into your career or business I believe is the key.

However, I think you are right about procrastination cropping up even if we are passionate about something and about other things you said.

Thanks for playing the devil's advocate...You make a lot of good points.