Can You Make Good Money When You Love What You Do?
People say that everything's great when you do what you love, but you might be (rightfully) concerned about financial security.
Would you like to find the way forward?
The genie lunges at you with a crazy look in its eyes: "DO I NEED TO REPEAT MYSELF? I DON'T LIKE repeating myself. You can ONLY have the work you love, OR the money you want. QUICK, which one will it be?"
This is not a fair choice. You'll be miserable either way.
You take a look at the genie who seems to enjoy seeing you in pain. If only you hadn't picked up that darn bottle you found on the beach. The same bottle that now lies smashed on your kitchen floor. Along with the last remnants of your sanity.
You continue glancing at the shards, wondering what you have done to deserves this.
Beyond the fear, it's also a bit confusing to you. From the childhood stories you heard, you don't recall genies being quite so...sadistic.
The genie stares you into the eyes as if it could read your mind.
On second thought, that's probably exactly what it has been doing.
You can't help but flinch.
"First of all, I'm a Jinn.
Secondly, nobody actually cares about your secrets.
And thirdly, I don't actually exist."
With a puff, the genie disappears in a cloud of smoke. Or mist?
You exhale, only noticing now that you'd been holding your breath.
"Fourthly..."
the voice comes out of nowhere. You jump, turn in a circle and ask yourself if you have gone mad.
"Fourthly, even though I don't exist, you do live your life as if I did."
You press the back of your hand to your forehead. Maybe you should check your temperature.
"Don't bother."
The genie still sounds the same even if it is nowhere to be seen. "You're suffering from something the doctors can't help you with."
"Yes. I'm suffering from an impending psychosis, by the looks of it." You glare at the invisible genie. Which means that you glare at nowhere in particular.
"Oh no no no."
The genie's voice feels rushed. "Can't you see what's going on?"
"What's going on is that I'm talking to the air."
"Yes, that too."
The genie suddenly sounds patient and gentle. "But that's not what I meant."
"THEN WHAT DID YOU MEAN?" You think to yourself that the psychosis is getting worse. You're now officially shouting at air.
"What going on is that you're suffering from a severe case of the Money/Meaning-Dilemma which impedes your life fulfillment."
"The WHAT!?"
"The Money-or-Meaning Dilemma."
"I am not your dear!"
The genie continues with its lecture, unperturbed: "It is based on the societal belief that we can only have money or meaning in our lives."
"Oh-kay. What does this have to do with me?"
"Patience, my dear, patience. Now, according to this belief system, people have the choice between two bad options --- to either ignore their desire to do the work they really love to do, or to sacrifice their need for financial security."
"In other words, you can either choose the path of money (i.e. external success) or the path of meaning (i.e. internal fulfillment)."
"Mmhm." You head decided to nod, without your conscious consent.
"It’s also the main reason why someone who is as accomplished, intelligent and talented as yourself feels like a total failure deep down. And why you feel you're in the wrong place, in the wrong job, in the wrong life. And why you wonder how on Earth you got there. And why you ask yourself if you should give up on your big paycheck to pursue what you really want."
"So what do you propose I do? I mean, obviously money is more important."
"It is! I have bills to pay."
"Yes, and a psychiatrist. He also wrote that "t
"What we can take from this is that while money helps fulfill your basic and other needs, meaning gives you a reason to live.
Ouch. That hurt. And not just because an invisible genie just quoted Tony Robbins.
You sigh: "So, wise one, what should I choose?"
"Glad you asked!"
The genie's voice sounds all perky. "The great news is that you don't have to! There's a sure way out of this dilemma!"
You press your lips together. "You're starting to sound like an advertisement."
The genie ignores you: "You can have a life of true success. You can have external success and internal fulfillment."
"Okay, no, you're actually sounding more like a deranged cheerleader."
"Mock me all you want, little change-maker but it's true."
"Yes. I'm not totally stupid." You can't help but sound defiant. And a bit defensive. This is hitting close to home.
"Okay. So how do I broaden my understanding, or whatever it is you think I need to do?"
"Patience, little change-maker, patience. Now, according to Frankl, two of the main sources for finding meaning in life are work and love. I define them as follows: Work describes a contribution we make through our doing in the world. Love describes a sense of connection we feel through our being in the world. "
"What you need to know, little change-maker, is that these two are not separate from each other. As the poet Khalil Gibran so beautifully put it: 'Work is love made visible.'"
"Not my work!" You can't help but protest.
The genie increases its volume: "What you need to know is that purpose, being intrinsically related to love, is something that starts on the inside. While purpose is often expressed externally, it is not dependent on outside conditions. You can begin to create a sense of purpose in any environment."
"And how do I do that?"
"That, my dear, will be your journey to travel. My work here is done. Farewell, little change-maker."
You hear a big swoosh. Then little hearts start filling your room.
You groan. "Really? You're just gonna leave me here like that? With glowing hearts
floating all around me?"
Silence. The hearts disappear.
"Do you expect me to clean all this up by myself?"
You look around the room. The broken bottle on the kitchen floor has disappeared as well.
As you ponder your conversation with the genie, your face lights up. With determination, you walk towards the door.
You don't know if you can make good money when you love what you do. But it's sure worth exploring.
This is your story and it's to be continued.
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