In one of my earlier posts ‘If You Want To Be Rich And Happy, Don’t Get A Job?’, I advocate starting a business over getting a job for various reasons.
Nevertheless, I understand that starting a business is just not everybody’s cup of tea. Some people are just more comfortable with a job than being their own boss.
So, if you’re a job-person, it’s perfectly fine to stick to being an employee. However, you should stick your job only if it meets one or more of the following three criteria.
1. If You’re Doing What You Love Doing
I’ve said this again and again on my blog, and I also said that I’m still going to say this again and again until you turn blue in the face.
I’m sure you’ve also heard this over and over again by all the highly successful people that if you want to be truly successful, you’ve got to follow your passion and do what you love to do.
You’ve probably heard this from people like Donald Trump, Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, Oprah Winfrey, Jack Canfield, Wayne Dyer, etc, etc.
Why do all these greats say the same thing over and over again? Simply because this is the single most important key to being the best in your field; achieving great success; and leading a truly fulfilling life.
If you do not find yourself overly enthusiastic in what you’re doing, it’s a sure sign that you don’t love what you’re doing. And it’s also life’s way of tapping your shoulder telling you that it’s time you break yourself free and seek your fortune elsewhere.
However, if you find yourself waking up every morning ever so eager to get to work, then stick to it, and hang on to it for your dear life for you’ve already found your true passion.
2. You Have Yet to Find Your True Passion
Ok, I’m not telling you to quit your job right away if you find that you’re not passionate with your current job. That’d be a bit too rash. After all, you still have bills to pay and a family to feed. So, before you find out what’s your passion, stick to your job.
Just don’t get too comfy with the steady paycheque though. This is merely a short-term strategy. If you remain too comfortable with that paycheque, you’ll forever be enslaved to a job that leads you nowhere.
The long-term strategy is still to unearth your real passion. Perhaps you might have already started to explore what’s your passion but have yet to find out or you’ve not started to even think about it. That’s ok. Just keep trying or get going.
I must admit it is not going to be an easy journey – finding your real passion. I didn’t discover mine overnight, too.
But in order to uncover it, you must first BELIEVE. You’ve got to believe that it is POSSIBLE to make a living, or even make a fortune, doing what you love doing. If you fail to believe in it, all opportunities will be never be open to you.
It will be a hard process. And it might even take you a long time to uncover it. But I can assure you that it’s a journey worth taking.
3. You Are Paid Based on Performance / Results
As said, the most important key to success is to do what you love. However, if at the same time, you could get a job that pays you based on the results you produce rather than the amount of time you put in, that’ll be perfect!
“Poor people prefer to be paid a steady salary or hourly wage. They need the ‘security’ of knowing that exactly the same amount of money is coming in at exactly the same time, month in, month out.
Rich people prefer to get paid based on the results they produce, if not totally, then at least partially.
Rich people believe in themselves. They believe in their value and in their ability to deliver it. Poor people don’t. That’s why they need ‘guarantees’.” – T. Harv Eker
When you work for a fixed pay, you’re in essence trading time for money; and time is limited, meaning it’s extremely hard for you to scale up your returns.
But when you’re paid based on results produced, the sky’s the limit! Just look at the millionaire bankers, real estate agents, stockbrokers, network marketers, movie stars, sports celebrities, and the likes. They’re all paid based on performance.
I know it may be harder if you’re in a job traditionally paid a fixed salary. But you can still try to devise a way to get paid based fully or partially on your performance and then negotiate with your boss.
If that fails, either you might want to consider moving into another field where they allow you to do so, or perhaps it’s time you seriously consider working for yourself as a self-employed, or start your own business.
Cheers~
P.S. Do you think there’s any other good reason why you should stick to your job? Please share your view in the comment section below.
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on Mar 11th, 2009 at 2:12 am
I’m sticking to my job because my passion is not yet bringing in enough for me to live on. I’m starting to dedicate more time to it, but I know it won’t happen overnight. I guess I’m in a transition at this point. I know what my passion is but I’m still working on turning it into a means of support.
on Mar 11th, 2009 at 4:10 am
Hi Frances,
I’m happy for you that you’ve found your passion and have already taken actions to pursue it. I wish you all the best in your endeavour.
Cheers~
Mark
on Mar 12th, 2009 at 2:12 pm
Hi Mark
Another couple of reasons off the top of my head:
1 You love the people you work with (including your boss). The social aspect of working in an organisation is really important and often overlooked.
2 Your job is part of a bigger life plan for something else, where you’re either learning some important skills, experience (or perhaps accumulating some capital) to enable you to move to what you really want to do.
I’ve not been ‘employed’ for 10 years now and could never go back to employment. I’d not be able to follow my passion nor give up the freedom I now have. I earn less money, but that’s not all there is to life.
Ian
on Mar 12th, 2009 at 2:35 pm
Hi Ian,
Great points! Thank you for your contribution. I love it when people come to share their ideas.
Cheers~
Mark
on Mar 13th, 2009 at 12:17 pm
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on Mar 15th, 2009 at 8:49 pm
I’m in a similar situation to Frances!
I do really like my crrent job – but i’d like to make something for myself – just not entirely certain of what that is
on Mar 16th, 2009 at 8:52 am
Hi Joe,
Glad that you do like your job. If you’d like to find out what and how to make something for yourself, maybe you might want to check out Jonathan Field’s book ‘Career Renegade‘.
Cheers~
Mark
on Apr 7th, 2009 at 7:07 am
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