Bob picks apples for a living. The thing is, Bob hates picking apples. But he decides to be the best possible apple-picker he can be, hopefully earning him a promotion one day. And one day, Bob does get that promotion. Now he’s no longer picking apples. Now he’s managing other people who pick apples. Now he works longer hours, but he also gets paid more. But as it turns out, Bob is no better off in this new scenario. Call it what you will, it’s still apple-picking. So Bob decides to try a new career direction. He becomes an orange-picker. After all, orange-picking pays 10% more than apple-picking, and offers a better benefits package. And if Bob can just hang in there with his new orange-picking company for five years, then he might qualify to . . .
Apples, oranges. I don’t have to tell you that Bob isn’t going to be any happier as an orange picker. Getting paid more to do something you don’t enjoy doesn’t make you enjoy it more. If you don’t like picking apples, the trick is to quit picking apples. Following your life’s passion tends to open doors you never even new existed–but first you have to commit to the adventure. Bob can keep picking apples, hoping that other opportunities will arise, but let’s face it: picking apples is hard work. Who has the energy to discover and walk through new doors when he is exhausted from picking all those apples?
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