The Freelance Issue No.23 // Earning Money Doing What You Love

Pretty much all of us have to work and some of us will ask ourselves if it is possible to earn money through doing something that you really enjoy to do or even love. Is this a thing or is it just some spoilt Millenial thinking?

I had jobs that I absolutely hated, that completely burnt me out, that took all of my energy and put me to bed at 8 o’clock in the evening because I was so drained. I guess in modern times work does not have to be like that and should not have this kind of effect.

When talking to my friends, some like their jobs, others hate their jobs, I am not sure if any of my friends ever said they love their job. Maybe it is easiest to have a job you love once you create one for yourself that truly covers all your talents, skills and interests.

Is it wishful thinking to work in something that is experienced as useful and fulfilling? Maybe not since we spend so much time at work. I guess some people are happy with their jobs even if the majority of people might not be able to relate to it, I once read in a newspaper that a woman delivering packages absolutely loves her job and that her clients know her, their dogs are happy whenever she comes around and i thought this is absolutely beautiful how much joy is felt on all sides here even though this is a very stressful job with a low salary. So, probably when it comes to loving your job, it also has to do with what you make out of if for yourself and how you look at it.

I for myself can also say that I love my job and this is the first job I have I can truly say I love. The only downside is that I only earn money the hours I work and once people don’t have time to take their lessons, then I don’t earn money. But that is the only downside of it, apart from that I am absolutely happy with the work that I do.

Of course it would be amazing to make money just from designing, drawing and writing but I have to figured out yet how to do it but who knows maybe also here exist possibilities that I just have not even thought or heard of.

Also i think in the current crazy Corona times we should be open-minded to new ways of earning money since the working environment and the way we used to work drastically changed due to lockdowns etc. A former student of mine from China told me that after the SARS outbreak from 2003 people realised that they had to get away from the working styles that had existed before because it was not possible anymore due to the outbreak - so the internet started to become a blooming place for entrepreneurs and also for online learning. Apparently AliBaba, the Chinese Amazon, was born through that. I get the feeling that Asia is better in adapting and reacting to fast changes than we are in Europe because I don’t really see much progress coming from here when it comes to that.

I do believe that it is possible to earn money doing what you love in many cases but it is a bit of work to figure it out for yourself because you really have to investigate what your interests, talents, skills etc are and then you have to figure out how to make money from that in a way that benefits you and your lifestyle. Haha, I guess this is what is nowadays called ‘lifestyle design’ and I am sure out there exist a million lifestyle design coaches already in case anyone needs any help or support to figure out a niche.

I wonder how the work environment keeps changing and evolving and how work will be in a few years from now. Since Corona we have seen that working from home is absolutely possible, that remote work is even possible in the Corporate world and not just for freelancers. So I really wonder where the journey is going to work-wise.