Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life.
Recently, I have been thinking through a new approach to money.
I am still working it through in my mind, and I’m a bit hesitant to write about it here. But I think this community can help add perspective.
My new, guiding philosophy towards work and income is this, “If I wouldn’t do it for free, I won’t do it for money.”
I realize, in many ways, this is an idealistic view of the world. But I am starting to wonder if this approach is more available to us than we think.
Still, it feels to me, at times, this statement comes from a place of privilege. And I will readily admit that. I grew up in a middle-class family that provided stability, support, and opportunity. I do not have unpaid medical bills on my desk from an unexpected surgery. I am not a single parent trying to raise my kids despite a deadbeat spouse. Nor was my position downsized due to unexpected corporate layoffs during the last recession.
I am fortunate to work a job I love and live in a country that provides me the freedom to do so. This is not something I take for granted.
I realize there are circumstances (sometimes caused by others) when we are called to selflessly sacrifice for our family. And I recognize there are certain seasons of life when we may be required to do work that we do not enjoy simply because there are people counting upon us to do so.
I just wonder if those situations are less common than we think.
18 months ago, I transitioned into promoting minimalism as my full-time job. And I am grateful for each passing month that I continue to do so (if you’d like to know more about how we accomplished that, you can find detailed information here). Somewhere along the way, I made a conscious decision that I would only pursue projects that I wanted to pursue. If I wouldn’t do it for free, I wouldn’t do it for money.
Probably, most significantly, is my approach to speaking. Despite an ever-increasing schedule, I continue to not charge a fee for my presentations—asking only for travel and accommodations to be covered. Most public speakers tell me I am crazy and that goes against every rule in the book.
“Set a fee,” they tell me. “Nobody will take you seriously if you don’t. A set fee allows you to offer a ‘discount’ to help close the deal with a potential client.”
But I see it very differently. Because I do not have a speaking fee, I can never be bought. I am never obligated to speak or attend an event just because somebody is willing to pay the price. Instead, each request is considered and weighed individually. Is it a good opportunity to promote minimalism? Is it an organization I believe in? Is the opportunity worth the investment? And while financial compensation is typically offered (or requested for long-term commitments), it is never the deciding factor. If I wouldn’t do it for free, I won’t do it for money.
I have adopted this approach to speaking, but also to every project I choose to pursue.
Our time should not be governed by the amount of money promised, but by the desires of our heart.
As I continue to pursue this approach, I have identified some specific thoughts towards life that must be present in the person who adopts it.
1. Hard work is not to be feared.
If the inherent joy found in work is not appreciated in somebody’s life, this approach will always crumble. We must appreciate work for the sake of work, not just for the financial compensation that arises from it.
There is something to be appreciated about working hard. We were designed to enjoy the process. We find fulfillment in it. It is satisfying to lie in bed at night with a tired body that has been both active and productive.
2. Work is not always enjoyable.
With any job, there are aspects of work that are frustrating and difficult—even with the greatest dream job in the world. I am not encouraging anyone to relinquish perseverance or to refuse pushing through the difficult parts of work.
For example, I love writing, but the process can be very difficult at times. I am able to persevere because the work results in something I am proud to have produced. Even though I would do it for free, I know there will be difficult moments along the way.
3. Life pursuits can not be purely selfish.
Those who believe they will find enjoyment entertaining only selfish desires will never survive under this approach to work. Ultimately, we must see our lives and work as opportunity for contribution—an opportunity to offer our talents and skills to a community of people who need them.
If you are entirely self-seeking in your approach to life and only enjoy pursuits that benefit your own self, this approach to doing what you love will only suffice in the short-term. Lounging each day on the beach for the rest of your life is not the answer.
4. This approach rings more true for those willing to live with less.
Because I have adopted a philosophy that says, “I will only do it for money if I would do it free,” I have turned down several, significant money-making opportunities. But I don’t mind because I have learned to enjoy less. As a result, my needs and views of money have changed dramatically over the past 6 years.
I am certainly not against being compensated for work, but pursuing riches is no longer a driving goal of mine. I don’t need the money and I don’t want the money.
Instead, I want to live a deliberate life that focuses on my strengths and passions and invites others to rethink the role of possessions in their life.
5. This approach does not necessarily require a new job.
I think, at first reading, this sounds as if I am urging everybody to quit their soul-crushing day job and try to monetize their passion. But that could not be further from the truth. Instead, I would push people to reconsider their views on their current employment.
I have a friend who works at a bank providing agricultural loans to local farmers. He’s really good at it. He helps farmers think deeper about their budgeting and their business plan for success. Then, he equips each of them with the resources they need to plant seed in the spring and bring in the harvest in the fall. This, I believe, is important work. And while some days, he probably wishes he could leave it all behind and golf every day instead, maybe, in actuality, if he looked a little bit deeper, he would realize that he really does enjoy his job.
It is fulfilling for him to help farmers succeed at what they do. Maybe, he would do this for free if given the chance. And just maybe this ideal is a little bit closer to reality than he originally thought.
Ultimately, I offer this philosophy not as a presciption for your life, but as a description of mine. Our seasons of life differ. But I still hope it has spurred new thoughts in yours.
Chris says
I’ve been working through similar thoughts the last few weeks. I’m coming at it from the 2 Cor 9 perspective…community of believers coming together to meet these basic needs of food, clothing, and shelter. Plenty said about not being lovers of money, and my desires for money and stuff have been and continue to be more and more replaced with desire to live fully into the kingdom of God. Luke 16:16 talks about forcing our way into this kingdom and right before talks about Pharisees that were lovers of money and focused on themselves – self righteous – completely missing this kingdom of God thing. As a means of getting back to the pre-fall, Eden, when everything was “good”, and things are made new again as described in Rev 21, I think it would look like this simplifying process with a community focus of loving others with basic needs met along with loving and spending time walking with God in the cool of the day. The river of life described in a few areas of the bible seems to hint at this source of life coming through Jesus to feed us and overflowing in us to spread life throughout the world overcoming the evil present. We now have access to a restored relationship to God through Jesus, but the fully restored relationship is yet to come. The bible talks about doing his will and being prepared for when this time comes (or maybe consider as it is coming). As I focus more and more on him and this kingdom, the things of this world grow strangely dim as the old hymn goes. Boiling it all down to this focus of loving God and loving others as He provides all we need and so much more. I’m still trying to figure out what this looks like for me regarding career, house, where I need to be, what I need to be doing, etc. Prayer > discernment.
Kelli Crocker says
I love the idea you are encouraging, and I do think it is a priveledge to be able to do what you love. Usually, people are married or without children who have this opportunity.
It is very risky to live off the corporate grid for a variety of reasons. In today’s world, health insurance is a huge benefit for working a corporate job. Individual health insurance is unaffordable now. I am 48 years old and was just diagnosed with breast cancer, and my insurance, short and long term disability benefits and life insurance give me peace of mind during this great challenge. I have been in business for myself for years but if I had to rely on walking dogs or writing or modeling while going through breast cancer treatment, I would be totally destitute during treatment when I can’t work and broke after a $15k per year deductible.
I think it’s entirely possible to do work we love, but there are real disadvantages to being “free,” too! Freedom is not free. Neither is American medical care.
Mary says
I am so sorry you have to battle cancer. My sister is cancer free 12 years after her battle with breast cancer.
You make some very good good points. I am 55 and I am miserable in my job. Insurance is why I stay. I feel trapped but I don’t know how to do anything else. I have what a lot of people want, job security, benefits, and decent pay. I don’t want to be a burden on my adult children. So, I keep on day by day. My soul wants free but I think that is a fantasy for me.
Orion says
Maybe once I pay of my student loans I can do that, but sitting around playing ukulele and writing incomplete stories is not going to pay the bills. Hopefully I should be able to get a job that is enjoyable once I graduate, even if I have to work a second one in order to make enough to afford living expenses.
Tiffany says
Very interesting read here, Josh. Your mentioning of “seasons of life” echos my current affairs of purchasing habit. I have never been a big spender and now our children, one by one becoming an adult, I realize our purchasing power has increased. What really contributed to our “wealth” fund is the fact that we realized:
1. Eating out is not always a perk – we ate out often due to both my husband and I work long hours and sometimes just for convenience, we would take kids out to a simple dinner – $60/meal is an average cost. If we do this 2-3 times a week, well, $180-$200 / week, close to $800 a month is gone from our savings. We elected to make a great effort to ensure we cook and eat at home. We promised to be each other’s sounding board and refusing to go along the other person’s desire to go out to eat just for the being convenient.
2. Kids are not picky – our children, God bless them for being good natured for the most part. There are times when eating left-overs is a challenging endeavor, we learn to find ways to compliment the meals with small added side dishes. We have reduced food waste tremendously.
3. What kids want is not really what “we” think the kids want – just a month ago, I saw my 15-yr-old son wearing a jacket that he has outgrown. My motherly instinct is to run out and get him a new replacement (estimate price tag $35 for decent jackets). It’s a good thing I learned to ask, ” Honey, I think your jacket may be a bit small, I’d like to get a new one for you. What do ya think?” My son replied, “I kind of like this jacket, it feels right (although the sleeves are now 3/4 long on his arms, and the length barely reaches his belt)… wanna wait a few weeks to see?”
I agreed. In a couple of weeks, it will be summer, he will not need that jacket until we arrive autum. In this case, he just help me realize the true meaning of “Instant gratification” syndrom is not only the shortcoming of today’s children, but also the parents – we just have a better justified reason for it.
Finally, I started writing down on the list of “things” I really would like to own last week – and it has been almost 8 days, I only came up with three items: a new mattress, a decent spring jacket and a nice work shirt.
As of right now, I am still debating the justification of the spring jacket.
It is quite interesting to note that my want list is pitifully short – the desire to own something that is new is frantically reduced at my age comparing to 5, 10, even 20 years ago. I still remember my parents told me, “What you own, own you”.
For that, I call for a great walk in the park to celebrate.
Vanessa Rodda says
Love the jacket story… I would have felt the same and tried to do the same! A good point.
Prathap Kumar says
Very much pleasing to see many people posted saying “Helping others as their passion”.
May be this is what our final destiny gonna be :-)
Future generations gonna be blessed. :-)
Love is what we all thirsty for.
Prathap Kumar says
After reading this I am able to understand how money infatuates People’s Greediness.
Inflation is the key factor in it.
Erin Landells says
Hi Joshua,
Very interesting post. I agree with your comment about ‘seasons of life’. I think perhaps these are stages we go through. I like Dr Martin Seligman’s definitions of a job (do it for the money), career (do it for the career progression and advancement opportunities) and calling (would do it whether we were paid or not). I know I can see these stages reflected in my own career. I’m passionate about helping people find their niche – and at the very heart of my philosophy is that people can make a living doing the work they love. There are so many opportunities these days that simply did not exist before. But it is scary to reach for them!
http://www.findmyniche.com.au
Warm regards
Erin Landells
Beth says
This is amazing! I especially liked what you said about your decision making regarding speaking, that you couldn’t be bought. I am mentally filing that one away! Thank you! You are helping me!
Lisa says
I am in my 40’s and recently decided to leave office work behind and become a dog walker. I couldn’t be happier! Although I get paid much less than my previous work, I am extremely happy as i get paid to exercise and be around animals. I am also a minimalist and live simply so money isn’t a motivator for me. I supplement this income with a side job (I model for art classes) which pays well and I really enjoy it. The sense of freedom I have now is priceless and I have the energy to pursue the things I enjoy, including doing more volunteer work.
Lil' VEE says
Bravo, Lisa! I made a similar decision and couldn’t be happier! I left a high-paying, super-stable government gig to become a social worker. After 18 years of slugging it out with some truly awful human beings in the quasi-corporate world, working with at-risk kids is a cake-walk. The side effects have been amazing… I’ve lost weight, found energy, and am much, much happier. It is the best decision I’ve ever made.
Helen says
Well done, Lil. I admire those who will take a less well paid for career (if they are able to do so), which will serve our community more. Thank you.
kquotes says
I also think that as a society we need to be less afraid of taking chances and thinking if it doesn’t work that we will have failed and we need to know that every day we gain more experience and knowledge of ourselves and the world. love quotes