Love Your Work or Don't Work at All (Blog)

[Jaben]

Originally Posted by Steve Pavlina

But what differentiates them most is that they put their attention on opportunities instead of obstacles.

I would love to help generate opportunities for providing resources to allow those who are truly ready to drop the fear and scarcity paradigm quit their jobs and provide value to the world for free.

I believe the accessibility of Steve's suggestion to do what you love or stop correlates directly to how many people are willing to provide value for free. I believe anyone's work is only as free of the scarcity mindset as it is unbound by the economy of exchanging value for money and money for value.

[Mr.Mustache]

Originally Posted by kat

(Looks around). Nope, this is Switzerland!

I'll compromise and call it 'Earth' if you will.

Sometimes I forget there are other countries at all.

[impaul99]

Originally Posted by Steve Pavlina

Feel free to disagree, but some people have told me they found this web site to be a useful handout... perhaps worth at least a few alms.

Am I personally going to fund your education though? Heck no. There's quite a list of people ahead of you in line. But I do what I can to help you help yourself, including encouraging you to think more resourcefully and creatively instead of succumbing to a socially conditioned mindset that sees a lack of money as a serious obstacle.

College student Alex Tew funded his education by launching a very simple web site. It earned him a million dollars in a matter of months. Another 17-year old girl built a million-dollar online business in 3 years. Were they just geniuses? No. Lucky? Perhaps. But what differentiates them most is that they put their attention on opportunities instead of obstacles.

Steve, the examples you give are people who created money, but once again they did it to make money to pay for something, not because they loved doing what they did. How is that different from having a job?

Also, what if you're already going what you love outside of work, but it just doesn't make money yet? What if converting it into a money-making thing right now would take a lot more effort than having a job? Wouldn't it be better to just keep doing what you love doing as much as you can, and just producing "output" and wait for the universe to return back your "output" with an inflow of resources, and when that happens then quit your job?

[Michelle]

I am living this blog post at the moment. One month ago I walked away from my studies and profession and have never been happier. I am finding myself and my joy. I am finding safety and comfort. I am enjoying the physical pleasures - delicious gourmet food, my fiance, tv shows, heated outdoor swimming pools in the midst of the alps, simple being and relaxation - of being on this planet. I am loving the anxiety free time for contemplation, for simply being with myself and my feelings, for the dissolving of internal blocks, release of emotional pain, and personal growth. Whether I return to my profession or another remains to be seen. As I see it, one cannot serve others the whole day in scared obedience with noise coming from every direction and expect to be open to divine guidance. I fully expect to have more to offer the world through my actions now than if I would continue on grudgingly or at a snail's pace in my development. So, I thankfully receive what the universe is sending me in time and resources (alms) now, that I may do greater work later.

I'd also like to add that I have almost nothing of my own to live on, and yet I receive enough to live on. The universe is supporting me and I am sure it will support anyone who is serious and courageous enough to leap.

[Angela]

Thank you for posting that, Michelle. It means a lot to me.

[Sindre]

Yeah, thank you Michelle. You actually described my life right now too. I quit my job some weeks ago, and I've never been happier. I could say the same as you

Take care and good luck!

[WrathOfBlade]

A distinction can probably be made between getting out of work you hate and refusing to do anything to get by until you've reached your ultimate destination. One of the first things to think about in intelligently making a transition in your life is making sure you can survive that transition. You've just got to be careful that you don't let that concern for your survival keep you from taking action in the first place. "Slow and steady wins the race", to resort to a stale, outmoded aphorism. Anyways, just my thoughts on the subject.

(Also, first post. Hello!)

[JohnR]

I can understand why it is difficult for some to leave work they are not happy in. Money issues, perceived obligations, living for others, and low self worth, can keep us pinned down. I did this for far too many years in the past, and I can tell you it damages a person.

The spirit though is pretty resilient if we give a half a chance. Sometimes we have to tread gently in that transition until we understand all the nuances of what kept us in the wrong spot. We need to gradually strengthen our self-conception. It's a tough task for the majority of folks. That's why most people stay put.

The good part is, it's possible for anyone to make the change, even if it's by small incremental actions. If we move consistently in the right direction we'll eventually get there. A lot of people who feel they know me think that I'm already there, but I'm still healing, and still taking those small steps -- though it often feels like a small step right off a cliff

And sometimes it's not so clear how to merge the practical side of life with what you love. I'd rather it be unclear than a non-issue though.

Good post Steve,

John
Landscape Paintings of British Columbia - John Rocheleau

[carenkh]

Originally Posted by wolfgang

IOr I think of work of doing chores around the house. If I stopped doing the chores that I don't like doing - what would the house look like?

Unless you hired someone to take care of them for you, or looked outside the box to get things done (trading with someone else, co-op cleaning group...), it would look like hell.

I know because I've done it. I was in transition time from unschooling (homeschooling with no curriculum, learning from life) to radical unschooling (the kids have autonomy over their lives, actions and activities; no coercion in parenting them - it's much, much more than this, but that sums most of it up) and I realized that either I was *making* the boys clean, or I was cleaning very resentfully. I heard of other RU families cleaning together joyfully, and that's what I wanted. To get there, *I* had to start cleaning joyfully - and I was nowhere near there. (LOTS of childhood baggage from a clean-freak perfectionist mother) So - I figured if I couldn't clean joyfully, I wasn't going to clean. I did only what I wanted to do, and didn't MAKE the boys do anything. I also didn't find the money to hire someone, nor did I think outside the box - I tend to do things *very alone*. (I'm a single mom, so no one else had to deal with this.)

I won't go into detail about my experiment, but I will say I am now cleaning my home gratefully and joyfully. I love to wash the dishes, because I love how it feels when I go to prepare a meal, and everything is ready. I did always do the laundry, because both the boys and I feel loved and cared for when we have clean clothes, so I've always enjoyed washing the clothes and hanging them out to dry. I now pick up toys, games, etc. with gratitude for the fun my guys derived from playing with them. I pick up trash and paper because I like having a clear space to walk in, and I like how it feels to have order. Now - this isn't always, of every minute - I am human - but it's SO much better than it used to be. And it's contagious! My oldest will straighten things without being asked - because he likes things to be straight. When I'm doing the dishes, (we don't have a dishwasher) either one of them might come in and help dry, or start washing. They're more likely to help now when I ask them (they know they can say no, and that will be honored). There's no resentment or resistance.

The way I did it, it looked a LOT worse before it got better. There are probably other ways to achieve the same thing.

[Honeywith4bees]

So, I have been thinking about this for quite some time. I think it would be far more accurate for me to say that I don't hate my job. What I don't like, is not having enough time to pursue all of the interests that I have by the time I finish with my paying job. I feel useful at my job and I derive a sense of self esteem from getting the paycheck that allows me to provide a certain life style for my kids.
So, the thing I will work on changing, is freeing up more time for the other things that I like to do.

[doriette]

I read this article when it was first posted, and it struck me right through the heart. In a good way.

Steve's "Now." spoke directly to me. It filled me with such inspiration and joy. "Okay, I WILL," I thought.

But then I didn't quit. The job I've had for twelve years. Devil you know, and all that rot.

But it did change some settings for me. I've wanted to quit before, but it was always rooted in "how they treat me," or "how little they pay me." All reactionary.

Now I want to quit because I want to try to make a living doing what makes me happy. And the universe and my subconscious have conspired.

I'm waking up and coming to work every day, but instead of doing what my office pays me to do, I'm working on the multitude of projects on my plate that actually bring me joy.

You can see my problem. Now that I know it's all a charade, I can't put my energy into the job. But I'm too afraid to leave it. It's completely unfair and unethical of me.

I've reprinted Steve's

"Honest mistakes can be readily forgiven, but intentional dishonesty, deception, and cowardice have no place here. It's OK to be human, but it's not OK to hide from our humanity"

and taped it up onto the top of my monitor. (It used to sit on my desk, but then my office moved, and I got a new desk, and I have no idea what happened to it.)

My problem is this. I've got a tremendous amount of backlog. I've been telling myself as long as I can remember, that once I clean up my backlog, I'll quit. I've done such a good job (until recently) covering up how much of it there really is, that I'd just be devastated if anyone knew how far behind I was.

And if I were to quit tomorrow, everyone would know. That kills me.

But since reading 'Love Your Work or Don't work at All,' my ability to focus on this 'work I don't love' has gotten worse, and the backlog has increased. So I guess I'm preventing myself from leaving, by making sure that conditions are never right for it.

I don't know what to do.

I feel like I'm self-destructing here, and I don't know the password to stop the sequence.

[Brigid]

hi doriette....

It sounds to me like your feet have been in the starting blocks for some time now.
There really is no right or wrong move for any of us to make.
But sometimes it is hard to follow ones heart, with the worlds list of fair and just coursing through our brains.
While I am not where I intend to be yet, I put a sign up , on my computer screen and on the dashboard of my car. It reads, 'ITS JUST BUSINESS BRIGID!"

And this has helped me move through some paralyzing moments, toward my hearts desire.
The business of the heart, in my opinion, is paramount.

I have spent my whole life thus far, worrying about making a mistake, ( and made them anyway), and worrying about what visible and invisible others might think, (and really they wern't thinkning about me). Thereby accomplishing nothing I would want to have written on my tombstone, or filmed in Hollywood.

Change, I have discovered, is not always initially comfortable.
All those voices in ones head to contend with, and the panic attacks...who invited them?

If you really beleive in your hearts desire/dream. If you really want it to manifest as your full life. Then somehow, you and your beleif energy will conspire together to make it happen. Its work, its focus, its courageous, but its the business and work and courage of the heart.

Whatever you decide, will be absolutely right for you in this moment.

ps....
about the back log
whether you fess up and roll with the punches, share the load with a confidante, pass it entirely over, continue to cover it, or just walk away...........its just business.
To thine own self be true.
Its your journey.

[Angela]

Doriette, I'm sorry that I have no helping words for you, but I want you to know I'm with you, on your side, and pulling for you. I'm working through something very similar, and it's nice to know I'm not alone in that.

Love,
Angela

[cdn2wheeler]

I have to chime in here based on something that's taken place less than 12 hours ago.

I was let go. Not due to anything I did wrong, or that my work wasn't up to par - I was far exceeding every expectation - but the simple fact was that there just wasn't any money coming in. Marketing - that was me - was generating dozens, even hundreds, of leads but the leads weren't being closed. No sales = no cashflow, no cashflow = layoff. So whom do they lay off? The guy that gets the leads.

Seems rather silly if you ask me but so be it.

To the big question: Now what?

"Do what you love!"

Trust me, there's no money in being a gigolo. The job is great, but the dental plan sucks.

"Follow your heart!"

I did. Two divorces later...

"Listen to your Spirit Guide/Higher Self/Other indefinable ethereal being!"

Uh, ok. What's his/her number? Do they take collect calls? I'm a little short of cash right now...

"Something will come up, the Universe will provide."

Oh. Izzat so? I'm still waiting for my BMW.

I jest (only a little) but the point is serious. WTF do I do now?

I'm not in panic mode quite yet, I'm saving that for another day when I can have a right old tizzy fit in the grocery store. It might liven up someone's day, or at least give witnesses something to talk about over dinner. "Did you see that guy in the produce section? Wow... he was NUTS!"

Seems that our friend Angela may be in a similar situation soon, as is doriette. And I expect there's a LOT of employment angst amongst the fine denizens of this board that we never hear about.

Anyway, I certainly don't have any advice. Wish I did, because that would mean that I might actually have an idea of what to do next. But I don't.

Off to the grocery store. How many bananas do you think I can throw around before someone calls security?

[Ree]

Doriete, Oh boy! Was your timing ever perfect in bumping this thread to tell us your story of how you allowed doubt and uncertainty to cause you to fall short of your goal!

I had an opportunity today, because of a serious failing by a competitor of mine, to approach a large firm about taking a big big chunk of their work on a contract basis. It would mean more travel, a heavier workload and more outsourcing than I've ever done. And what do you think happened? The voices started whispering in my ear

I had written the letter and put it in my draft box to go over again later. I was having serious doubts, and then I read your posting! I went straight to my mailbox, proofed the letter, tweaked it a little and hit SEND!

Your being willing to open up about what happened to you helped me tremendously. For me, reading your posting was like looking in the mirror a couple years down the road. Thank ya, thank ya, thank ya!!

[impaul99]

Originally Posted by cdn2wheeler

I have to chime in here based on something that's taken place less than 12 hours ago.

I was let go. Not due to anything I did wrong, or that my work wasn't up to par - I was far exceeding every expectation - but the simple fact was that there just wasn't any money coming in. Marketing - that was me - was generating dozens, even hundreds, of leads but the leads weren't being closed. No sales = no cashflow, no cashflow = layoff. So whom do they lay off? The guy that gets the leads.

Seems rather silly if you ask me but so be it.

Not surprising though. Marketing people are easier to get rid of than sales. Why? Because Marketing = Potential Sales. Sales = Sales.

I know it doesn't make sense, but from a shortsighted bonehead top level decision maker's point of view, it does. I wouldn't take it as something you did wrong though.

Perhaps your LoA manifesting abilities kicked in and you manifested yourself out of a job to pursue what you love doing. When I was broke, almost bankrupt and jobless 8 years ago what I did is I decided I wanted to make a living running my own thing, but to pay for bills I went and got a job. However, I attracted a job that allowed me to grow and learn how business works and runs.

If you figure out what your passion/purpose is, and you make a decision to not allow this kind of stupid stuff to happen to you anymore by not participating in the corporate rat race anymore, you can kind of just use the corporate setup to learn what you need to learn. For example, lets say you want to start a marketing company of your own eventually, you could get a job at a print shop for a while and learn all about that, or something related to your business. Know what I mean? basically get paid to learn what you need to learn.

You can check out my site as well. My theme is helping people to make money doing what they love. The Passion Project eBook I wrote might help you find your passion/purpose as well.

Just some suggestions...

U can also ask Steve what he suggests. His opinion is to just quit if you're not doing what you enjoy, so you're kind of in that same place now.

[Brigid]

I was perusing Steves Blog and doing his suggested exercises, as well as Pauls, when I came across this article in Fast Company.
Since I am not html link savy YET. Just go to Fast Company | Management, Leadership and Career Advice for Business Executives
Click on archives and put "What SHould I Do With My Life" in the search for text box.
Here you will find a brilliant 8 page document full of some really enlightening tid bits, put into real life perspective. You will aslo find an audio link to an interview with the author of the article.
Really helpful stuff, all of it.

If I were to tell you ALL about the position I am in, while trying to trust the universe, relax, and do the work to find work, well, I am sure one of you nice Americans would just send me a preloaded gun.

This forum, and searching for understanding and truth, changing my thoughts, and beleiving, if only a teeny tiny bit, that I'll find or create work that groks with my inner self, is the only thing keeping me from being a suicide banana in a grocery store.

Like they all say, see the end result you want, from the beginning, and keep breathing as you move forward. Miracles happen every day.

[munish]

Originally Posted by doriette

I But then I didn't quit.

Now I want to quit because I want to try to make a living doing what makes me happy. And the universe and my subconscious have conspired.

You can see my problem. Now that I know it's all a charade, I can't put my energy into the job. But I'm too afraid to leave it. It's completely unfair and unethical of me.

My problem is this. I've got a tremendous amount of backlog. I've been telling myself as long as I can remember, that once I clean up my backlog, I'll quit. I've done such a good job (until recently) covering up how much of it there really is, that I'd just be devastated if anyone knew how far behind I was.

And if I were to quit tomorrow, everyone would know. That kills me.

But since reading 'Love Your Work or Don't work at All,' my ability to focus on this 'work I don't love' has gotten worse, and the backlog has increased. So I guess I'm preventing myself from leaving, by making sure that conditions are never right for it.

I don't know what to do.

I feel like I'm self-destructing here, and I don't know the password to stop the sequence.

Feel the fear and do it anyway.

Leave your job.You will not regret it.

[munish]

Originally Posted by cdn2wheeler

To the big question: Now what?

"Do what you love!"

"Follow your heart!"

I did. Two divorces later...

Uh, ok. What's his/her number? Do they take collect calls? I'm a little short of cash right now...

"Something will come up, the Universe will provide."

Oh. Izzat so? I'm still waiting for my BMW.

I read somewhere.

Dont take your life too seriously ,you may die of heart attack .

And,why do you need so much cash? bananas are not so expensive?

I got them for Rs. 12 a kilo .

[Brigid]

More stuff to share.......
Sometimes, a light goes on and we know what to do.
I subscribe this this daily special.
Heres my quote of the day.
Hope it eases someone.


A master's awareness of spiritual laws, Brigid, directs him or her to manifest major life changes by working with their thoughts, not by working harder.

Which isn't to say they don't sometimes work very long hours, because they do; they just don't think of it as work. Which also isn't to say that they all have cool jobs that anyone would love, because they don't; they just see every task before them, no matter where they work, as a gift to unwrap.

Hmmmmm...
The Universe
Thoughts become things... choose the good ones! ®
© TUTs Adventurers Club: Explore the power of thought & creative visualization to manifest dreams! ®

As I was saying, Brigid, to manifest major life changes think on how things will be after your life is transformed, while today busying yourself with unwrapping presents, doing something you no longer call work.="Purple"][/COLOR][/COLOR]

[Joyous]

==========================
Once on a day the prophet Sharia met a child in a garden. The child ran to him and said, "Good morrow to you, Sir," and the prophet said, "Good morrow to you, Sir." And in a moment, "I see that you are alone."

Then the child said, in laughter and delight, "It took a long time to lose my nurse. She thinks I am behind those hedges; but can't you see that I am here?" Then he gazed at the prophet's face and spoke again. "You are alone, too. What did you do with your nurse?"

The prophet answered and said, "Ah, that is a different thing. In very truth I cannot lose her oftentime. But now, when I came into this garden, she was seeking after me behind the hedges."

The child clapped his hands and cried out, "So you are like me! Isn't it good to be lost?" And then he said, "Who are you?"

And the man answered, "They call me the prophet Sharia. And tell me, who are you?"

"I am only myself," said the child, "and my nurse is seeking after me, and she does not know where I am."

Then the prophet gazed into space saying, "I too have escaped my nurse for awhile, but she will find me out."

And the child said, "I know mine will find me out too."

At that moment a woman's voice was heard calling the child's name, "See," said the child, "I told you she would be finding me."

And at the same moment another voice was heard, "Where art thou, Sharia?"

And the prophet said, "See my child, they have found me also."

And turning his face upward, Sharia answered, "Here I am."
======================

Even the prophet seems bored with his job. What is your answer to this Steve?