Comments on: Bad career advice: Do what you love

By: Why Is It Bad To Do What You Love? « The Awkward Bridge

Why Is It Bad To Do What You Love? « The Awkward Bridge — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 02:33:01 +0000

[...] quote comes from a post I found at Brazen Careerist. The title, "Bad career advice: Do what you love," is what pulled me into the article. [...]

By: Azi

Azi — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 22:01:36 +0000

Arghhhhhhh! It bothers me that I know that my expectations of finding a perfect career are insane… and that I should stop putting that kind of pressure on myself in my late 20s.

It's a terrifying thing to accept and let go of. At the same time, I've been pushing myself to 'find' my dream job for a few years now… it's only made me miserable at my current job.

I’ll read the book you suggested. Perhaps the idea will stick!

Great post!

Azi

By: Ric Raftis

Ric Raftis — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 18:48:37 +0000

I was initially attracted to your post because I disagreed with your title. However you laid the bait well and your statement about not doing what you love, but doing what you are is absolutely brilliant.

I suppose we all come across people who for some reason or other hate their job or their business. No doubt the original advice came from this issue where love is the opposite of hate. The biggest problem with people who hate what they are doing is that their insincerity and nonchanlence shines through. Eventually, this can cost them the job or business.

Perhaps they just aren't doing "what they are"!

Great post and twist on some old advice.

Cheers,

By: Chris Imamshah

Chris Imamshah — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 15:23:22 +0000

Penelope,

Just found your blog today and read a few of your posts. This one caught my eye as you say because everyone tells you this is the way to go and yes I've succumbed to this advice too. I wanted to see what you had to say about why it was bad advice as I had never read or heard anyone take this tack on this advice.

I absolutely loved your honesty in this posts and the others that I have read and plan to keep reading.

Good stuff.
Chris

By: MLM Training

MLM Training — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 02:30:35 +0000

I'm a big fan of your blog but I must disagree with you on this one.

By: On failing, careers, life dreams & knowing it’s all going to be okay. – Ramblings of a Fab Brunette

Sat, 27 Feb 2010 09:32:07 +0000

[...] started reading about jobs and self-fulfillment and bad career choices. And then I thought a lot. A whole [...]

By: INFP work and money and work and money and happiness or at least fake happiness? - Page 2 - PersonalityCafe

Thu, 25 Feb 2010 08:32:48 +0000

[...] Read about it at Brazen Careerist by someone who makes living at helping people with careers: blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/12/18/bad-career-advice-do-what-you-love/ I love her blog. My favorite quote is " Career decisions are about what kind of life do I [...]

By: Odda

Odda — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 02:58:29 +0000

This is bull crap. You have to LOVE your job, or else you will go into burnout and quit. You should just say that this article is made for losers with no specific talent- so yes, they need to take ANY JOB. However, if you are any bit crative, then be an entrepreneur. If you are funny, use it. If you want to find a job, a job that suits you, just CREATE IT. We have one life to live and sorry lady, but 40 hours a week in MY LIFE, not just a part of my life. We must love, chersih and grow with our jobs. Maybe if you enjoyed your job more and took chances, your sex life would be better and you would be less eager to give dumb advice.

By: Laura

Laura — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 18:43:44 +0000

Kat – I hope you choose love! Unless your family will suffer from not taking the higher paying job, I think you must follow the job that you will enjoy more. I have learned the hard way that more money does not make you happier! Most of the waking hours of your week are spent working, so you should follow the path the gives you more joy, more fulfillment. It doesn't matter what degrees you have or what other people think. Ignore the money and decide which job is truly a better fit for you right now. You won't regret it if you stay true to yourself.

By: Kat

Kat — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 06:14:25 +0000

Penelope!
You raise some interesting points to ponder! I happen to have the luxury (?) of currently working in an environment I love, providing a service I love, creating a community where most everyone retreats for a hours of bliss after a full day trapped in a career serving only as a (financial) means to an end. I manage a rapidly growing yoga studio in Southern California, which allows me to facilitate health and bliss in several people's lives on a daily basis. With a PhD in Biomechanics, however, some may say I am successfully underemployed! On the verge of receiving an offer for a position "I should do" (more in-sync with my PhD than full-time yoga), I am honestly torn – weighing out the non-financial compensation more so than the financial compensation of each … And yes – I am a 35 y/o woman, about to get married, and planning on kids … more fun factors to weigh in. For love or money? … in my career that is.