A million years ago, I read a book. It changed the way I thought about making money. It changed the way I thought about a lot of things.
The book is “Do What You Love and the Money Will Follow” by Marsha Sinetar. It was reasonably revolutionary in 1989, when it came out. Two generations who had been raised to achieve by going into the more lucrative career pathways, whether they liked what they were doing or not,dominated the workforce. Many of them were doing what they had been told they “should” do in order to be good adults and good providers. Many of them were “living the dream” and not loving it, not one little bit. But they were doing it, because they believed they should.
Were you raised with expectations of the career path you should take? Did you take it? How did it work out for you?
Your answer to those questions probably depends on which life group you landed in when you were born. Boomers and Millennials report more parental pressure to conform, career-wise, than Gen Z’ers, though a full 40% of that generationreport feeling pressured to follow the career path laid out by their parents.
I think my parents expected me to follow the “wife and mother” career path. I did the wife thing, though not the mother thing, and had a very successful career as a radio personality. That’s what I was doing when I read that book – I was already doing something I loved to do, and already making a good living. Why, then, did the book shift things within me?
Because it shifted the permission switch from “other” to “self.” It eliminated the tyranny of “should.” It illuminated the idea that your heart really can sing while you earn a living.
In short, it advocated a paradigm shift from being what everyone else things a productive adult should look like to being the whole, unique person you are, and using your unique gifts and talents to make life better for yourself and others.
Recently, I morphed my training and coaching business. I still love working with those in the veterinary field, those who want to be better leaders, and those who want to create the strongest, most self-actuated version of themselves they can. I took a page from Marsha Sinetar’s book and decided to focus on what I dearly love and have dearly loved for more than 4 decades – the people who compete in dog sports.
As an AKC judge, I watch people struggle to get the best from their dogs and from themselves. As a coach and trainer of people, working with owner-handlers to create a polished, professional look and performance in the ring makes my heart sing. Having students message me from the show site, telling me of their dog’s breakthroughs and wins makes my heart soar. Looking at a calendar filling up with judging assignments and seminars is the proof I need that when you do what you truly love, the money will follow.
And your passion will inspire others to follow their passion, too.
What is your passion? Will you follow it?
Wags,
Sandy Weaver
The Voice of Wagaliciousness
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