Nowadays, many people are looking to start their own businesses, wanting to be their own boss and have a career that offers independence. When searching for a business idea or considering what to do, you might have heard the advice to "do what you love." However, there are also voices suggesting that it’s better to focus on what brings in the most profit. This leads to a question for those already in business or working independently: Which is more successful, working with passion or working for profit? Many believe that a balance of both is necessary. While this sounds good, it’s a simple answer that doesn’t hold up in reality.

In truth, the answer lies in one direction, but should it be driven by passion or profit? Let’s explore this further. Your initial thoughts may change or become clearer.

The Trap of Doing What You Love

Working or doing business with passion, loving what you do, and being told that passion leads to success can sometimes be true. However, when the money doesn’t come in as expected, and after years of effort, you start to feel exhausted, working with passion can lead to unhappiness!

Doing what you love does not guarantee success, nor does it mean that obstacles will not arise. These challenges can undermine the idea of working with passion, leading one to wonder why no one appreciates their efforts. Eventually, they may turn to seeking money instead.

The Trap of Working for Money

Focusing solely on profit, thinking that once you have money, you can pursue other interests, isn’t inherently wrong. However, many find that achieving the desired financial success takes longer than expected, and when wealth doesn’t come as hoped, they face numerous challenges, sometimes leading to failure and debt. Many appear to be on the verge of wealth but end up collapsing before they can enjoy it, prompting them to seek something more fulfilling.

Both approaches can lead to dissatisfaction, whether one is pursuing passion or money, creating a cycle of struggle.

So, which should you choose?

You must choose one path, but it’s not for me to decide; it’s up to you. You need to determine whether to prioritize passion or profit. Just remember, you must choose without deceiving yourself. Because if you deceive yourself, true success will never come.

Self-deception is more crucial than the choice itself.

The first form of self-deception is believing you are happy with something that isn’t true. Sometimes, people need to explore other interests and cannot remain fixated on one thing forever. However, if you want to succeed in what you love or in making a profit, you must not forget to refocus on what you truly desire. If it’s not right for you, it will soon fade away as you become interested in other things. If you push through despite your disinterest, you won’t succeed; this is a common issue and indicates that it’s not a true goal.

The second form of self-deception is thinking that something is right based on past experiences or beliefs, leading you to believe that this is your passion or that you must prioritize profit. When faced with obstacles, you might realize that it’s not right for you, but if a certain belief has been established, you may continue pursuing it even when it’s not improving. This means you may like it, but it’s not necessarily correct. This doesn’t mean your choice is wrong, but your actions may not be appropriate.

Choosing Correctly Means Acting Correctly

Stephen is someone who loves photography as an art form. Naturally, one would think he should become a photographer. The issue is that he enjoys artistic photography, but most of his work involves necessary events that he is hired for. When Stephen takes on these jobs, he shoots according to his passion, but if the client doesn’t appreciate the artistic style, they are often dissatisfied. Stephen has faced this situation multiple times, but he is determined not to alter his work to fit others' expectations because he wants to be an artist.

This choice isn’t wrong, but the outcome has been negative for Stephen. When people dislike his work, they don’t care about his artistic style; they just say, "Stephen takes bad photos."

One day, Stephen showcased his artistic work, revealing his true style. What do you think the outcome will be? It may not be disastrous, but if Stephen doesn’t take on general photography jobs, he might not have any other career options, and the negative criticism would likely not have occurred if he had taken a different approach. If he had changed his attitude towards general photography, he might have received more praise and satisfaction.

Have you ever noticed that when someone does something well and gains recognition, anything new they try is often viewed positively? This mindset is always present.

This example illustrates that when Stephen finally presents his artistic work, based on the appreciation he has already received, the results are likely to be better than before. Or at the very least, if he had never showcased his work before and it turned out poorly, it would indicate that his skills genuinely need improvement. However, at least it can be acknowledged that the failure didn’t stem from attitude or other factors, allowing for a clearer self-assessment of whether it’s suitable or if he can improve.

Choosing profit because you believe it will serve as a foundation for other pursuits.

This is also not true. If you are solely focused on profit for your business, thinking that it’s the right approach, I encourage you to study the histories of successful individuals who were inspired by profit and money. These individuals did not aim to accumulate wealth for its own sake; rather, they viewed it as a measure of success, like a score or a number. They preferred to have money rather than just spend it. Some may have sought to escape poverty or hardship from the past, but they didn’t pursue wealth merely to find happiness elsewhere. That was merely a byproduct of their success. This may be difficult for many to understand, but believe me, if you want to work for money, it should be about the joy of earning it, not just spending it.

Some People Can’t Choose

As mentioned, choosing either path is fine, but some people find themselves unable to choose. They want money and also want to pursue their passions. It’s similar when you have two desires; thinking you can succeed at both can be overly ambitious. However, seeking peace of mind isn’t wrong.

In reality, once you lean towards one side, the other often suffers. For example, someone may work a job for money to have time to play football in the evenings, which they love. If that job becomes demanding, they may have to sacrifice their football time, which isn’t what they wanted. Conversely, if they neglect their job to play football, they might eventually lose their job. Focusing solely on football may not lead to anything good either. Moreover, the subconscious pressure and dissatisfaction can lead to poor performance without realizing it. A simple example illustrates that not making a choice isn’t necessarily beneficial; sometimes, it’s just a sign of indecision.

In conclusion, I believe many still see this article as unclear or incorrect, thinking that balance must exist. In the sense that love and necessity can be separated yet coexist, this perspective varies. What I’ve written here points towards the pursuit of “success” on one side. If you are someone who believes in selflessness and does not seek any form of success, then this article may not be necessary for you. However, I must reiterate the question: “Are you not deceiving yourself in your choice?”

Note: This topic may not directly relate to management, but it serves as a starting point for business-minded individuals to shift their mindset and develop themselves for better business management, whether they are just starting or already established. I hope this serves as another valuable article for many.

SOURCE: www.sirichaiwatt.com