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Passion is not limited to entrepreneurship.

May 4th, 2010 | 51 comments | Skydiving

Quit your day job.

Leave the 9-5.

Get out of your cubicle/office/four walls of whatever organization you work with.

Live the free life! Bounce from coffee shop to coffee shop, bookstore to bookstore, library to library!

Be free!

Be an entrepreneur.

SHUT UP.

Seriously – I’m over it. Passion is not limited to entrepreneurship. Doing good work, enjoying your life, and making a difference is not limited to those who start their own business.

I’m going to speak on behalf of everyone who loves their 9-5 for a good chunk of this post. And sometimes I’m going to jump back in and talk about the things I love specifically because, well, I don’t want to put words in anyone’s mouth.

We love our 9-5′s (technically 8:30-5:30, but sometimes 7-7, 8-9). And we’re not by any means less passionate about the work that we’re doing or the life that we’re living because we aren’t starting our own businesses or working for ourselves.

I’ll be honest, I’d probably suck at the “working on my own” thing. I’ll be honest (again) and even go so far as to say that I think I’m probably too lazy for that lifestyle. That naps (one of my favorite past times) would get in the way of productivity.

In my 9-5 I have the structure that I obsess over. I also have the creative freedom to rock the house when I’m given a task and given the wings to take it and fly. So please, stop preaching to the masses that we aren’t great leaders-to-be, thinkers, creators or doers because we’re happy with the ladder.

As cool as your story is, leaving a job you hated to do something you love – we (the Ladder-Lovers) did the same. Our paths are not so different from yours. We busted our asses similarly to how you busted yours to get to where you are. We networked (and continue to network) our faces off to get to where we are (and where we’re going), similar to how you did, and how you continue to do.

Your story is awesome because you’re living the dream. Our stories are awesome for the same reason. Where your story differs is that you get jazzed about doing your own thing. We, well, I get jazzed about thinking about how I started at my current employer as an intern, and I look forward to learning from everyone that works here as I move through (or up, whatever) the ladder that everyone has deemed evil.

The hours we keep and the location of where we do work does not define what we consider to be passion for the work we are doing.

I know people that study improv on the side to enhance their ability to tell a story. I, personally, am getting certified to jump out of planes because I am an adrenaline junkie and think REALLY clearly right before I jump out at 14,000 feet above ground. I know people that play instruments, do open mic night, rock at karaoke, run marathons, and scuba dive for an extra boost in the passion that they have for life.

So please, for the love, stop telling the world that the true path to passion is breaking the 9-5 mold.

Passion is not limited to entrepreneurship.

And what the definition of entrepreneur could be another post in itself. I’d like to think that we (the Ladder-Lovers) have a little bit of that entrepreneurial spirit.

An entrepreneurial mindset can be described as a group of personal dispositions, also known as entrepreneurial spirit, which lead to the innovative practice of identifying and/or creating opportunities, then acting to manifest those opportunities in a productive way. -Wikipedia (I know, I know, don’t cite Wikipedia for school papers, but we aren’t in school and I like this definition)

So, we’ve talked about how passion is different for everybody – and that it doesn’t even necessarily apply to your career (side note – read this and this - spot-freakin-on)… What do you think? Do you work 9-5 and love it? Are you an entrepreneur who is sick of entrepreneurs talking about how awesome it is to be an entrepreneur?

At the end of the day, if we want to be all kumbayah about it – can’t we all just celebrate the fact that we’ve found something to be passionate about? Shouldn’t passionate people recognize and appreciate and celebrate other passionate folks?

Can we come up with another word for passion? Please?

Newer Comments →
  • http://www.opheliaswebb.com Elisa Doucette

    THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU!

    Now that I have that out of my system….I wonder what the next generation will have to say about 9-5 Corporate work (or maybe the generation afterwards.) We talk about how we all yearn to buck “tradition” and become entrepreneurs to “control our own destinies.” Completely shrugging the American Dream we have been spoonfed (as every generation before ours has done.)

    Will future generations shrug the starry-eyed/unrealistic/irresponsible decisions we made? Will we rue our own paths when we reach a time where more obligations/responsibilities creep into our lives? Do the executives at Visa seriously sit in an office laughing maniacally at every “Become an Entrepreneur” post that comes out.

    Many people love their “laddered” existence. Why do we have to tell them their path is outdated, shallow or sub-par? How about let's all live lives that make us happy, do work that fulfills us, and stop judging others decisions to make our own existence worthwhile.

    APPENDIX – I flip daily between safe/content/happy corporate life and entrepreneurship. I won't make a jump to the latter til I'm sure that I'm all in, cause it seems like that would be a bad decision.

  • tiffanymonhollon

    Hey, Sydney,
    Good thoughts here. I have had many similar moments myself in my career journey, a gal who's stuck to the corporate path so far and enjoys it, which is why I love the concept of intrepreneurship – applying the go-getter mindset within organizations.

    Sure, it can be frustrating working within a big organization with lots of layers and structure. Sure, I have my days I wish I could be enjoying a latte at Starbucks instead of sitting in my office to finish some editing. But I also get to work with really incredible people, like authors and business leaders, to travel to great places, to work with a bright, capable team that elevates everyone and makes us all stronger professionals.

    So I agree – there's not necessarily one right path to career/life's work happiness. And I don't think any choice will make you 100% satisfied 100% of the time – I have yet to have discovered any career, job, or business that is completely flawless (or we'd all be doing that, wouldn't we?)

    That's why you don't put all your happiness eggs in one basket. Or, as you so aptly put it, you dare to find excitement 14,000 feet up if you want to!

  • http://twentyorsomething.com Susan Pogorzelski

    LOVE this post, Sydney. If only because, as someone who absolutely adores her 9-5, I can relate to every word. I work in the international department of a bank (a bank!), and three years ago when I was there, I would have said there's no way I would feel so passionate about what I do. But after a job in communications and working long-term temp jobs from everything to admin to higher education and trying my hand at full-time freelance writing, I realize I'm exactly where I want to be now.

    Is this a job I hope to have until I retire? Absolutely not. But there is absolutely nothing wrong with loving what I do, with being happy going to work, and with appreciating my co-workers who make me laugh day in and day out, the health insurance that I so desperately needed, and vacation time that lets me travel and do the other things I'm passionate about. And yes, I'm still writing. On my own time.

    Passion isn't external. It doesn't depend on what you're doing, but rather how you feel about what you're doing.

    Great post, Syndey. Great, great post.

  • tiffanymonhollon

    Elisa – What I think is so interesting is that most knowledge entrepreneurs wouldn't make it without big businesses (run by lots of people). So the idea of an all-entrepreneur generation is really a myth.

    The most successful speakers and consultants work big contracts with companies – which is great, and I think that it's definitely a valuable business model, but what seems to be happening is that so often those thought leaders who are sharing career advice are those who have taken that leap, and we don't see a lot of influence on career paths advice from mid-level people who remain within organizations, for one reason or the other.

    So this develops some false sense of reality that may cause lot of unrest and unease – it may cause perfectly happy employees to wonder if their career decisions are wrong just because they are working for someone else because it seems like everyone else is saying everybody should just work for themselves now.

    Which is why I love this conversation going on right now. We can influence and encourage each other by supporting both the entrepreneurial and intrepreneurial approach and affirming that these two approaches should work harmoniously together and both be valid career decisions.

  • http://twitter.com/BryantJoseph Bryant Seppelt

    Your first 7 or so lines scared me. I start my career July 17th. At the bottom of the ladder. Glad to know it's not all doom & gloom.

  • kristenej

    I can agree with a lot of what you are saying. However, I must add that one needs to make sure that whatever structure they are in, they are working smartly by getting as much feedback as they can, giving people a chance to mess up and to forgive and actively challenging the system if they absolutely feel something is wrong or they have concrete evidence for a solution. This is also not license for active employee discrimination or demeaning; if that is the situation, find another environment that is more supportive of your professional growth and respectful of the parts you were born with.

  • krisgarvey

    Well said, Sydney. Passion means something different to everyone. After 20 yrs (UGGH, I'm old) as a 9-5er, 7-7er, 8-4er, 6-9er, etc….I wouldn't want it any other way. Life is good when you surround yourself with great people and amazing clients in a wonderful work environment (which happens to be MY life). But it's up to each of us to bring our best to the “party” that is your life…otherwise, you will never reap the rewards.

    And, I especially LOVE those days when I get a nice BIG hug from one of my clients. :)

    PLEASE find another word for “passion.” Thinking it should be a blog challenge in your next post. :)

  • http://sydneyowen.com Sydney Owen

    I think you're on to something. The thing of it is, when it comes right down to it, anyone that comments on this post “gets it” – whether “it” is from a corporate or entrepreneur-ish standpoint. The people who aren't commenting are the people that realize that they're preaching to the choir.

    Here's my thing: to everyone who writes about passion all the time – you can sell it. It's hard not to get behind that. When you (we, I, they, whoever) talk(s) about passion and finding what makes you happy and taking every measure, responsible or not, to make that dream come true – it's a great story. Nobody is at fault for talking the talk.

    But, seriously, walk the walk. Then I'll get off my soapbox.

  • http://sydneyowen.com Sydney Owen

    LOVE LOVE LOVE “intrepreneurship.” I might have to borrow that. Actually, I'm definitely going to borrow that. Brilliant.

    Of course the hierarchy is frustrating. The hardest part for me was realizing that I'm not going to get feedback 24/7 like I did growing up. Sometimes, in a large organization, no news is good news, and good news is great news.

    Love the part about happiness eggs in one basket. If you rely solely on your career for happiness – what happens if you lose your job?

    Though the main point of this post is that passion isn't limited to entrepreneurs, I'd also argue that passion shouldn't only lie in your career. Hence, the jumping-out-of-perfectly-good-airplanes thing. :)

  • http://sydneyowen.com Sydney Owen

    “Passion isn't external. It doesn't depend on what you're doing, but rather how you feel about what you're doing.”

    LOVE.

    And that's the whole thing – it's not limited to where you do work. As I mentioned in my comment to Tiffany above – it shouldn't be limited to your career alone.

    I'm a workaholic. I know that. I embrace it. And I struggle to disconnect sometimes. BUT I DO. And I'm finding (now) passion in other things – those things that people before me called “hobbies.” If I'm work-work-work all the time, I'm going to get boring, stagnant, and lose my creative edge.

    Totally off-topic but SERIOUSLY, we need to find passion in things outside of our career in order to bring the best that we can to the table.

    There's a lot to be said for someone who loves what they do but is also realistic that they probably won't be in that position forever. Kudos to you for having that balance. :)

  • http://sydneyowen.com Sydney Owen

    Bryant – hang in there. Let me get all inspirational on you and say: be true to yourself, do good work, and the rest will fall into place. If that's climbing the corporate ladder – awesome. If not, that's fine too. :)

    Thanks for being here!

  • http://sydneyowen.com Sydney Owen

    I agree with you all the way.

    One of the best nuggets of wisdom that I received when I started at Weber as an intern was to work with as many people as I could (within reason) because the more people that you have the opportunity to work with, the more well-rounded your experience will be and the more people you have (potentially) to advocate for the work that you do.

    I'm addicted to feedback – good or bad. Good is affirmation that what I'm doing is solid, and constructive criticism is absolutely essential to develop into the kind of professional that I aspire to be.

    It's been awhile since I've seen you around – thanks for being here!

  • http://sydneyowen.com Sydney Owen

    “Life is good when you surround yourself with great people and amazing clients in a wonderful work environment (which happens to be MY life). But it's up to each of us to bring our best to the “party” that is your life…otherwise, you will never reap the rewards.”

    NAILED IT.

    I'm a firm believer in surrounding myself with amazing, talented, inspiring and yes, challenging individuals. If I hung out with a bunch of Sydney's – there would be a lot of face-buried-in-iPhones and not a lot of room for growth.

    I'm on a mission to find another word for passion. Or, to at least define it in a way that doesn't make me gag.

    And yes, client hugs are always awesome. You're definitely right about that. Throw some love from me when you're in meetings tomorrow. :)

  • http://jennbollenbacher.com/blog Jenn

    This one always gets to me. Like you, I don't know if I have the self-discipline of an entrepreneur, but I also don't want to feel stifled.

    As a soon-to-be college graduate who plans to enter the “corporate” world soon, I want to have the freedom to take ownership over projects and interact with clients and bosses and colleagues and a fun way.

    My strategy so far has been to find a company culture in line with my wants and needs — a place that allows me to take a Friday afternoon off here and there in the summer a place where people love what they do. Your passion should be directed towards the work that you do, not the situation within which you do it. It shouldn't be about coffee shops versus cubicles; it should be about feeling fulfilled and inspired by your environment.

  • http://www.needlemeethaystack.com/ Andrew

    I've built three companies from the ground up, worked several 9-5s, dealt with hourly pay, salary pay, and no pay at all. And as someone who's doing both the “corporate ladder” and entrepreneurship thing at the moment, I can tell you: there's no difference in the passion, drive, commitment, energy or enthusiasm for people on either side.

    The thing about being an entrepreneur is that you need a bit more ego and bravado than an office worker. You have to sell, market, panhandle and whore your company and yourself out as much as possible to get things off the ground. You need to create an unwavering sense of belief and truth that what you are doing is going to change the world. The minute you doubt yourself is the minute everything falls apart. So sometimes, the reassurance of superiority is more of a defense mechanism against these fears and concerns.

    Truth is, it's scary to be in the business of yourself. You're the one who is held accountable for everything; the security of a salary, sick days and even healthcare is something you might not have. You're jumping without a net and hoping that it all works out for the best. Just imagine if you had to do the jobs of everyone in your office for 1/5 of the pay (if that) of the lowest paid employee and you might start to understand what it's like to start out as an entrepreneur. The lines about “livin' the dream” and “having the best lifestyle” are motivators for the entrepreneurs themselves more than bragging to “cubicle drones.”

    I've had the pleasure of seeing some people who are so passionate about their work that they give up everything to chase their dreams and make their businesses better. It's not exclusive to who the boss is. In fact, when it comes right down to it, the biggest difference is who's signing the checks. Once you get that, you can be just as motivated to work for yourself or someone else. The “passion” part is just an illusion.

  • http://sydneyowen.com Sydney Owen

    ::slow clap that turns into really fast clap::

    THANK YOU.

    I say thank you for multiple reasons, the first being that you're the first to come swing by and offer up a view point from the other side of the coin. The second being that you, in fact, are not one of the people that I'm being all passive-aggressive about. You “get it.” You, sir, are one of the few that do.

    I respect and agree with everything you're saying up top. Some day, I think, I want to have my own agency. But I know myself. I know that I couldn't do this tomorrow, or five years from now, maybe 10. I know that there are TONS of opportunities for me to learn from the best in the business, from all walks of life, from incredibly diverse backgrounds, and that's the life I want to lead.

    At the end of the day – I want my “thing on my own” to be sure-fire. I want to know that I am going into it with oodles of experience, tons of connections, and some great work under my belt. That, for me, is what is going to carry me through, to not cause that moment of doubt when everything comes crashing down.

    If I decide to do my own thing – I'll be ready – not just doing it because it's what everyone is doing. Or because it's the cool thing. Or because I'm tired of “putting in my time” and “working for the man.” I'll do it because I will have exhausted my opportunities. I'll do it because it's the next logical step.

    Thanks for being here, Andrew. You're one smart cookie and I look forward to working with you down the road, somewhere in the future.

  • http://sydneyowen.com Sydney Owen

    Jenn, that's the glory of this whole thing. A ton of what I want to do and what I need to do in order to grow and succeed comes with time. I can't speed that up. Yes, I can seek out tons of opportunities to get that experience, but in all reality – time is the key factor here.

    Yes, I've had the opportunity to touch some pretty awesome stuff. But I haven't been the brain behind it. I haven't thought up the million-dollar-idea yet. I haven't had the TIME to develop the skills that it takes. I'll get there. But I'm learning, much to my dismay, that I need to be patient. I'm not good at the whole patience thing.

    “It shouldn't be about coffee shops versus cubicles; it should be about feeling fulfilled and inspired by your environment.”

    YES. I think that's where my need for a little campfire song comes in. At the end of the day – can't all of us passionate folk just rejoice around the campfire, hold hands, roast marshmallows and drink in each other's drive and passion and awesomeness?

  • http://diamondkt.blogspot.com David

    “Are you an entrepreneur who is sick of entrepreneurs talking about how awesome it is to be an entrepreneur?”

    Yes and yes! I ranted about this very topic on Derek’s blog awhile back and plan on writing my own little post on the subject some day about what it’s REALLY like to be an entrepreneur – the good, the bad, and my own personal struggles when I started my company.

    I’m sooo sick of constantly hearing how everyone should just quit their job and be an entrepreneur – to live a location independent lifestyle. That sounds swell and all, but the reality is that very few people are cutout for entrepreneurship. It’s not as easy or as glamorous as all these starry-eyed Gen-Y articles try to make it sound. The truth is that more startups fail than succeed and it often takes years before you see a real profit!

    I’m also irritated by people who make those who work in a cube and report to a boss feel like a sucker. There is nothing wrong with reporting to a 9-5 job. And those that put down these people are usually the REAL sucker – they’re unemployed and trying to label themselves an “entrepreneur” when in reality they are not! Entrepreneurship and freelancing are two totally different things! A lot of freelancers like to call themselves an “entrepreneur” because it sounds fancier and more impressive.

    Besides, whoever said that ALL entrepreneurs live this location independent lifestyle? Even if I do travel quite a bit for work, the bulk of my time is still spent working in some office somewhere just like the average cube dweller. And who said you have to quit your current full time job to pursue your passion? There’s nothing wrong with stability – continuing to work full time while working part time on a project you one day would like to turn into your full time paying gig. I just don’t get this “all or nothing” mentality, which is why I have the utmost respect for those that take logical leaps in life.

    Bottom line – think shit through and have a plan already underway before you tell your boss you quit. If not, you may be in for one hell of a shock when you discover entrepreneurship isn’t as glamorous as you thought it was.

  • http://twitter.com/akeats Adam Keats

    I agree with much of what's below (or above, depending on how you're sorting these comments). Passion is not about whether you're 9-5, 6-6, an entrepreneur or golfing every day while living off a trust fund. It's about YOU, about what makes you happy, about what makes you fulfilled. It doesn't matter whether you find that in a 9-5 job, starting your own business or a combination of both. It's up to you to decide what's right for you, not others who scream from the rooftops and encourage you to do what they do. I have several friends who are successful entrepreneurs. They worked day and night, weekend after weekend to become profitable and ultimately acquire many of the same aspects around them that they didn't have when they started (but hoped to acquire as their business became successful). They have an office. They have a desk. They have a payroll. They have meetings in conference rooms. They have health insurance. They have clients. They have colleagues. And they cancel big vacation plans…ones where they thought they could go anywhere at anytime…when something is going wrong unexpectedly with their business or they need to immediately help clients, because they are small and don't have the “backup” that a larger company can offer. Sometimes it works out really well…the business grows, they can take more time off and they sell that business so they can start all over again. Or maybe they stick with the original one post sale as Tony Hsieh of Zappos has done after selling his company to Amazon. But no matter what an entrepreneur does or how he or she does it, the bottom line is this: if they don't deliver results for the people who pay them, it won't matter how passionate they are. Just like the rest of us.

  • http://restlesslikeme.com Norcross

    I agree that passion is not limited to being an entrepreneur, however, it's REQUIRED to be one. And often times, an entrepreneur need a bit of help now and then to keep it alive.

  • http://www.lifeschocolates.com sameve

    I join with everyone else in thanking you for writing this. I am SO sick of hearing that quiting your job and going for broke (literally) starting your own business is the only way to live your passion. Actually, the part that really bugs me, is the insistence that we have to be “passionate” about our work. Yes, we should definitely try to enjoy our jobs, since we spend many of our waking hours there, but our “passion,” the thing that really gets our hearts beating and makes us smile, can be something totally separate. You love your job AND you really enjoy jumping out of planes. That's awesome, truly awesome. Passion is definitely not limited to entrepreneurship.

  • http://twitter.com/patrickbjohnson Patrick Johnson

    I see a good thing to both corporation life and entrepreneurial ventures.

    Corporate- there is structure, if you don't know you can ask someone. You can leave your house

    Entrepreneurial- You can work in your underwear!!!!

    With that said, I think I'll do both at some point in my life, maybe at the same time, even.

  • emilyjasper

    Three cheers for Sydney! I threw down a few months ago and said I was Pro-Corporate. I got tired of hearing that the corporate world isn't enough for the “likes” of the dream-loving Gen-Yer. That's bull. You have giant corporations run by entrepreneurs, and many of those are trying to level the playing field with flexibility and work environments. I know for a fact I suck at working for myself. Besides, you may have the egomaniac at the helm of a start-up, but there's always going to be that person who actually knows how to get things done in the background. Wanna bet they came from the corporate world? Wanna bet the egomaniac is benefiting from that experience? Sure thing…

    Nice post!

  • Your roomie

    Congratulations. I still think working on weekends and holidays is wrong.

  • http://sydneyowen.com Sydney Owen

    “Bottom line – think shit through and have a plan already underway before you tell your boss you quit. If not, you may be in for one hell of a shock when you discover entrepreneurship isn’t as glamorous as you thought it was.”

    AMEN.

    I'm not bashing entrepreneurship. My father is an entrepreneur to the fullest. He had his own restaurant. He started his own travel agency. The guy knows what it's like to put in crazy man hours, work till your hands are to the bare bones, all the while pursuing what he loves and keeping a roof over our heads.

    But, my father had a solid job that he held while he was starting to build his travel agency. He worked tirelessly for five years – building his portfolio of cruise reviews, travel information, and building relationships with travelers that would someday be clients. Then, when he knew he could make enough money at the travel thing to continue to provide for our family, THAT'S when he quit the other job. That's when he really took the leap.

    Was it hard? Hell yeah. But were we always safe and fed? Absolutely.

    I'm more or less concerned about the generation behind us that hears all this jibber-jabber about how some of OUR generation defines entrepreneur. The definition is so different for everyone who chooses to use it. The company I work with now was not started out of thin air. It was a dream that exploded into one of the largest global PR firms. I work with entrepreneurs every day.

    I can't wait to read your post – given how much I know about what you do outside of being your awesome self – I am VERY interested to hear about your struggles and successes.

    Thanks for being here. I missed your face!

  • http://www.smallhandsbigideas.blogspot.com Grace Boyle

    This is a great post, Sydney!

    I also love Jenny's post about why she loves her cubicle (http://www.lifeaftercollege.org/blog/2010/01/10…) speaking broadly of course about a full-time job with benefits, that inspires you, gives you stability, challenges you and sparks passion. Yes, passion and you don't even have to be an entrepreneur.

    Today I was actually talking with a friend who is on the job hunt/wanting to relocate. A few people chatting with him encouraged him to freelance (he has specific skills that would be awesome for such). He simply didn't find it illuminating and he said, “I'm looking for community. I want structure. I want someone to teach me, I want to work with/for people and when I'm hurt and sick, have insurance take care of me instead of worrying about how I'll pay for that.”

    I liked what he had to say. And I agree, it's not for everyone and passion doesn't have boundaries, it exists in many, many places, people, experiences and jobs. Even those 9-5's :) Speakin' from experience.

  • http://twitter.com/jrmoreau James Ryan Moreau

    With there being so little in corporate America to be passionate about, if you've found a job you can express passion in, more power to you.

  • http://edcabellon.com edcabellon

    Fantastic post Sydney! My word for passion is education, particularly Higher Education. College is the last time many people have passion in their lives before going off and becoming jaded for whatever reason. It's my passion to ignite fires, encourage big thinking, and inspire action in my students.

    Hopefully, more students will enter post-graduation with a sustained, lifetime passion in whatever they choose to do!

    Keep up the great posts :-)

  • http://www.scribnia.com/author/show/473/david-spinks/ David Spinks

    You said it. I've been equally bothered by the prominent of the “break away from the 9-5″ preaching that has been going on.

    There is NO easy way to make money. Whether you're working 9-5 or you're running your own company, you have to bust your ass to succeed.

    If you're not happy at your job, there are probably a thousand other reasons before “I should be an entrepreneur”.

    Thanks for tellin it like it is Sydney.

  • jenniewhite

    I am living the life of an entrepreneur at the age of 21 (well kind of) and for everyone out there who thinks entrepreneurship is “glamourous,” it's not. Entrepreneurship is ramen noodles, little sleep, and zero structure. Do entrepreneurs have passion? Hell yeah, but I agree with you Sydney everyone has a passion–whether it's playing the tuba or starting a dot com, who are we to tell you what passion is or isn't.

    I am surrounded by entrepreneurs everyday and I've learned a lot about them; they cling on to words like “passion,” because it gives what they're doing meaning. That sounds harsher than it should, but entrepreneurship can get lonely and very tough at points, if entrepreneurs tell themselves they're following their passion it makes things a little easier.

  • http://www.lifewithoutpants.com Matt Cheuvront

    I'm actually seeing much less of this “preaching” as of late – what you said here is exactly what I believe – and I think we talked about this a couple months ago when we met up. Passion is not limited, bottom line. You can be just as passionate about working a nine to five, a ten to two, being a garbage man, designing websites, whatever. There is absolutely no limit to what you can be passionate about. Your passion is YOUR passion. If you want to work an agency job and climb your way up the ladder – go for it, do it, put your all into it – that's YOUR passion, so just go make it happen.

    What I'm tired of, more than anything, are those people who try to define what passion is, or what is should be for you. That's bullshit – no one can tell me, or you, or anyone what to be passionate about – and if you're letting other people influence what you consider “amazing work” – you need to stop, right now. At the end of the day – if you love what you do – whatever that is – then you're living a pretty dam good life.

    If there's one thing I picked up from our conversation over coffee a couple months ago, it's that I could tell, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that you are passionate about the work you do. You told me point blank that you wanted to be at the top of the company someday. Lofty goals, but you're the kind of person any agency needs to have – a person who realizes that the sky is the limit and no one will hold you back from getting to where you want to be.

    Great post Sydney, and great conversation below. Cheers.

  • http://www.seanogle.com Sean

    Sydney,

    I just recently found your blog, and I've gotta say, I thought this was an awesome post – and this is coming from someone normally preaching about the virtues of location independent lifestyle design (or whatever other bullshit buzz words you want to use).

    I think you are dead on about something that so many people miss: you can't tell someone else what their passion is, or should be. Whereas I wasn't a huge fan of the 9-5 thing (mine was 7:30-5), there are A LOT, and by that I mean the vast majority of people who that lifestyle is perfect for, and they are just as passionate about their lives as someone who is working for themselves, if not more so. I've met plenty of freelancers or people working for themselves who are not nearly as happy or as passionate about their lives, as many of my employed counterparts.

    So cheers to you for finding your passion and speaking up about an all to common mistake that people make. There is no right or wrong passion, or right or wrong way to do things, everyone is different.

  • http://www.BeyondThePedway.com Tim Jahn

    9-5 gets a bad rap overall because a majority of people with a 9-5 job hate it.

    The average 9-5 employee lives for Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. They dread Mondays like the plague. They work long hours for little pay and hate almost every minute of it.

    And yet they do nothing about it (barring any medical or personal reasons preventing them from doing so).

    Of course, as you're pointing out clearly here, this scenario is not the same for all 9-5 employees. But I think the mentality you're seeing exists for that simple reason: most 9-5 employees hate it.

    Contrast that with most self-employed folks. I've yet to meet a self-employed person who hates their situation and wishes they had a 9-5 job.

    It's a lifestyle choice, really. I'm having a kid in August. Do I want to be at work everyday from 8-8 and see the kid only for a few hours at night and mostly on the weekends?

    Absolutely not. I want to play drums with him in the afternoon. Or go to the Field Museum on a spring Tuesday morning.

  • http://www.BeyondThePedway.com Tim Jahn

    The idea of needing to be passionate about your job/career stems from the fact that traditionally, we're expected to work in our career for 43+ years of our life. So if you're spending 40%+ of your waking hours at your job/working on your career, might as well be passionate about it, right?

    Maybe. I think of the whole situation differently. To me, you're just doing things in life. Things you enjoy. And you're getting paid for them because our society revolves around money. You simply need money to buy things and survive.

    So do things you like doing and get paid to do it. Right?

  • http://www.BeyondThePedway.com Tim Jahn

    That's the key right there, Patrick. You need to experience different situations and lifestyles to learn the elements of each you enjoy and don't enjoy. There's definitely no right answer here, as I think Sydney is saying. All that matters is that you've found a scenario that works for you.

  • http://www.BeyondThePedway.com Tim Jahn

    Most likely because you're putting weekends on a pedestal. Why are they so much different/better than weekdays?

  • http://www.BeyondThePedway.com Tim Jahn

    Succeed and making money are not necessarily the same things.

    For example, a 9-5 employee could decide on Wednesday that they don't feel like really “working” and just screw around all day, barely getting any work done. They still make money that day. They might “succeed” in their eyes.

    If I were to do the same thing, I wouldn't be making any money. Nor would I succeed.

  • http://www.BeyondThePedway.com Tim Jahn

    “Passion is not limited, bottom line. You can be just as passionate about working a nine to five, a ten to two, being a garbage man, designing websites, whatever.”

    AMEN! That's exactly why I want to make that web series you talked me out of! (at least for the moment…) ;)

  • http://www.lifewithoutpants.com Matt Cheuvront

    Talked you out of your passion? I was just trying to be helpful man – if it came across that way, fuck what I said and go do it. I wasn't trying to hold you back.

  • http://www.BeyondThePedway.com Tim Jahn

    I was just messin' with ya. I meant the types of people you described there are exactly the types I'd be looking to chat with on that series. You were helpful – you brought me to reality for a moment, which I definitely needed.

    We've talked about the idea wrangler notion before. You were simply my idea wrangler then. :)

  • http://www.lifewithoutpants.com Matt Cheuvront

    We all need someone to wrangle our ideas from time to time – over-committing can be a dangerous thing. See you this weekend buddy!

  • Your roomie

    I am putting them on a pedestal because in my mind you should have a few days out of every week that you don't work. Doesn't necessarily have to Saturday and Sunday. But 2 days out of the week and holidays, people should chill.

  • http://maryisawesome.com Mary Thompson

    Great post. Really, really great post.

    Personally, I wasn't happy in 9-5 corporate role, but I don't think that makes it impossible for others to be. I hate when those of us on the entrepreneur/do-your-own-thing side act like it's the only way to be truly happy. It's not, of course. Whichever side one chooses can be a fulfilling path full of passion and rewarding work.

  • mikediliberto

    Awesome Post. Seriously Awesome. Your post summarizes a lot of the thinking that I've been doing about this topic. There is definitely a subset of people that look at us like we're selling out to “the man” by working for a large corporation, yet nothing could be further from the truth.

    We are not defined by where we work, but by how we treat the work that we do. We (by “we” I mean, you and I and the readers of this blog that are nodding their heads as they read this post) find work that we are passionate about and we give it our all. We take ownership. We seriously kick ass. You don't need to be entrepreneur to be awesome.

    Entrepreneurial = taking ownership.
    Really, I think that what we define as entrepreneurship means taking ownership of something, being passionate about it and seeing through to the end. There are lots of people in the corporate world that are not entrepreneurial, and that's ok. But there are those of us that “Intrepreneurs” (nice job Tiffany, dig the word) that behave as entrepreneurs no matter if we work at a two person company or a two thousand person company.

  • http://twitter.com/aprilabtbalance April McCaffery

    Awesome post! Sondheim once said, “it's not so much do what you like as it is that you like what I do.” I now love my job because I like what I do and work with people I like. For many years, I thought I had to choose between passion and money. Now I've found a happy middle ground, and I love it.

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  • http://www.workinonaramp.com Jenny

    I don't think you have to open your own business to find passion in your work. I am currently in a 9-5 and I just put in my 3 weeks. I would eventually like to break out and work on a full-time freelance basis, but I know I need more experience before that will be possible. To me, it doesn't matter whether you have your own business or you work for a company, what does matter is that your biggest kick in life isn't finally escaping a place you hate and tasks you dread to enjoy happy hour and in general, anything other than being at work. I think this economy has forced so many people to “be happy they have a job.” I still feel like your employer should be happy they have an employee as well. And all in all, I just think the entrepreneurial push shouldn't be so focused on entrepreneurship. The end goal should be waking up with excitement for the day ahead of you. Not slaving away all year for two weeks of freedom that you'll feel guilty about taking anyway.

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  • http://pixie658.wordpress.com/ Alex

    God, I am so behind on the Internets.
    I about SCREAMED when I read this out of joy.
    I LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE my job. I work for the government as a Human Factors scientist. I am a specialist in a particular field. I work a flex schedule and can telework and travel all the time for work, but have to show up at an office. I love my work because it is meaningful and rewarding and because I learn SO much on the job that I wouldn't learn in graduate school. Right now my education and career are EXACTLY what I need. I am blessed to have the job I have.
    I would not give up this life for the “freedom” of being an entrepreneur.
    Thank you so much for saying what so many of us haven't said.

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