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.
Angela Tavan says
I love reading your thoughts, Joshua. You always provide good food for thought. I am reminded of two things in this article: one is a biblical quote about doing whatever you do as if you were working for God (unfortunately I can’t remember where it comes from exactly.) The other was a story I read somewhere about someone working in a toll booth on a bridge and dancing and singing while doing so. The point being that it’s often not that the job is bad (after all, it takes all sorts of jobs to keep the world going) but maybe our attitude to it is bad because we think some jobs are more worthwhile, often because they are more profitable, than others.
Olivia says
This is something I struggle with a great deal. I am a doctor who is not happy in the job. Whenever I think about trying to make a living out of my creative passions I can’t help but feel guilty about not wanting to do a job that involves helping people (although most of the time in my job I don’t feel I’m doing that). Also, married to a freelance comedy writer (who does love his job) and with 2 young children, I don’t have a financial choice. No, I would not do my job for free, but for now I’m prepared to do it for what I get paid for it (much less here in the UK than in the US, btw!). I am very stuck career-wise, and philosophy unfortunately doesn’t trump feeding your family :(.
Adrian says
I live in the UK , I stumbled on your web site a few years ago , and have read all of your emails to me which have been a great influence on my life . However , over the last few years I was forced ( or coerced ) to give up my job by my employers as they could not accommodate my needs as a parent of a child who has a life long disability. This has made me think what or should I say who is important in life . We as a family survive on a small income ,( as most of my time is spent looking after my now young adult ) . I now am and have always done this for love , no regrets , no anger ( at my former employers) and not a lot of money .
I hope some day you will take a trip across the pond , Joshua.
Paula Forbes says
This has been the path to increased happiness for me. I had worked for a great company for 9 years and felt valued by them but I was miserable for the last 6 months I was there as it all seemed so pointless. I was accumulating more and more stuff to make myself feel better. I found my calling in aged care and started studying online and immediately felt better and started clearing out my home and donating the stuff to charity. I am great in Aged care I love it. I have never been so hot sweaty and tired! I still love it. It is less money and irregular hours and I have never been happier and my house has never been emptier.
E. S. says
I was off work for six weeks, recovering from an injury. Now that I’m back, I’m feeling more restless and unhappy than ever. But I don’t know what i would rather be doing or how to get from corporate-job-and-mortgage to simple-life-doing-what-I-love.
It’s bewildering, feeling like you’re in the wrong place but not knowing where to look for the right one.
I mostly try to find the positives in my current situation and put my energy into my hobbies. But lately, it’s falling short.
Peggy says
Hi E.S.,
It is difficult when you don’t know what you’d rather be doing, while you don’t really like what you are doing…
You could think about what are the positives (if any) of your situation and try to dwell on them, try to be content in the moment. It might just not be the right time for you to make a change. Sometimes things happen that way because there is something better going to happen for you down the line but not everything is in place for that to happen yet.
I didn’t like the last position I had when I was doing office work. I found it completely tedious. So, I decided to focus on the only thing I really liked, my coworkers. I thought I was blessed to be surrounded by people I liked. That helped until I was able to do something else. I hope this helps :)
Martha says
What if you don’t know what your dreams are? I wasted a lot of time and money trying to figure that out as a college student and now looking back, I wish someone had pulled me aside and said, “Look kid, get a good career first and then you can explore following your dreams.” Dreams are all well and good, but they rarely are the bliss that people think they will be. And dreams change over time.
Sally says
I planned to be a lawyer, my dad also actively encouraged this too. The idea was that this was the only way to be successful in life professionally and to have enough money to be truly happy. However, I realised at university (whilst studying law) that I was passionate about the environment and that I wanted to work as hard as I could to help save it. So that became my new career aim. I’m now in my first proper job, still very new, at an environmental NGO. And I am doing pretty much what I used to do for free, fighting to protect the environment. This makes me happy and I don’t get paid very much. No amount of money or possessions from being a lawyer could make up for that. So yes, at the beginning of my career I’m starting to follow your way of thinking in this blog post. I see no reason to not do work I would do for free. And I know what it is to work for free too, as I did an internship before this job! I hear about people who do not care about the companies they work for and I just can’t understand it. Everyone where I work is so happy and passionate about what we do. Even if I have a really difficult day working with other people who care always buoys you up. This is what work should be.
On your deathbed what will you be thinking? Oh I’m so glad I made so much money whilst being miserable or I’m so glad I spent my life doing something I love?
lisa says
I was only reminded of this two weeks ago. I used to be a nurse before my kids and would have gone to work for free everyday I loved it. Two weeks ago I used my old skills to help my dad with his medications for his cancer pain and was struck by how I miss that part of my nursing the care of people. My dad died 6 days later but I used my skills and knowledge to make sure he was comfortable and kept his dignity to the end. I know when I finally have the chance to go back to nursing I don’t want the paycheck just that feeling of care the reason I started that journey years ago. I still do that now for my twins with autism but my mum’s hat is on in that role too.
M says
This is so beautiful! You are such a blessing to so many people, including me! Thank you; I am grateful!
Phil Pogson says
Ah Joshua – there is another currency too. People’s lives are being healed, changed and revived by your work – most of this you will never see or hear necessarily.
This in itself is a ‘payment’ back to you for your hard work – and what a profound payment it is.
Peggy says
Hi Joshua,
I agree with what Phil says, that you never will know how many people you are touching with your work. You have certainly inspired me, directly by your writing, by sharing your blog with guest writers, and by highlighting simplicity articles. Thank you so much :)
Janice says
I enjoy your writing and agree completely, but like others, I haven’t been able to figure it out completely yet. I am a mid 50s single woman with four grown children and three grandchildren. I’ve endured the “rat race” of living in Southern California my whole life. When the grandchildren came on scene, their parents wanted a simplier way of living and moved to Oregon. I downsized by more than half, the “big house” is on the market, and I moved into a smaller house left to me when my parents passed. I’m a middle school math teacher, and sadly, no, I would never do this for free.”Downsize phase 2″ is in the works. Moving to Oregon and finding a job I love! Problem is, I’ve taught for 15 years, and really don’t want to be in the classroom anymore. Becoming a minimalist is definitely a process that takes time and good planning. I’m happier since completing “Phase 1”. It’s the financial support part that’s got me stuck.
Peggy says
Hi Janice,
Some thoughts on your situation…
I don’t know, but maybe Oregon has a lower cost of living than California?
Also, many of the minimalist or decluttering blogs favor buying only for needs, which saves money and does not “reclutter” your surroundings…
Maybe part time tutoring could use your teaching skills and provide some income? Also, if you think about what you actually like to do rather than what your resume says, it might lead you in another direction altogether… Around your age I got laid off from an office job (had worked for the company for approx. 25 years). I went to school for massage therapy and have been (mostly happily) doing that ever since.
I hope you find something to do that you enjoy :)
I hope I’m not being presumptuous in any way by writing this. My intention is to share my experience to possibly help your situation.