Should I Pursue My Passion or Chase Money?

Every now and then during our seminars I meet someone who asks me,

“Yogesh, should I pursue my passion? I want to but everyone tells me that I should first make money and then pursue my passion.  I am very confused, can you help me out?”

I have myself had this question in different phases of my life. I have asked myself this question over and over again. And the best way I have found the answer is to try out both.

I have chased my passion and also chased money. I have experimented with everything, because the only way to figure things out is to try them.

I know people who have spent their life only chasing money and become very wealthy. I also know people who have pursued their passion, faced massive rejection and risen in their filed to reach the top. I also know people who have chased their passion, failed and given up.

Passion vs. money is a battle fought in the minds of lots of people.

One of my favorite movies is Gully Boys, it’s the true story of a young guy, growing up in a slum who wants to be a rap singer and the challenges he faces. The rejection he faces and eventually how he makes his dream a reality.

I was listening to Becoming by Michelle Obama’s on Audible, a wonderful audiobook about her journey growing up. She was born in a regular middle class family and throughout her life she wanted to pursue being excellent and becomes a lawyer after going to Princeton.

But how along the way she doesn’t feel passionate about being a lawyer.

She wasn’t feeling fulfilled with what she was doing. Even though she was making money, she wasn’t feeling satisfied from within. She was confused and wanted to do something else with her life. And how she finally figures things out with the help of Barrack Obama.

I have worked in industries where I have worked only for money. So for instance I entered the construction business for money – but eventually I wasn’t enjoying what I was doing and quit. I wasn’t passionate and it affected my health.

I have realized that over time, after making several mistakes that we have one life. And the best way to make the most of this life is to pursue your passion.

I am a realist and like to look at the world the way it is. Money is very important, you need money for everything. Daily needs, require money.

If money is tough at the moment, get a job or start a business, selling stuff, where you need to work just enough to pay your bills, buy food, pay rent – so even if you work 8 hours a day, you still have 16 hours.

Even if you spend 8 hours, sleeping, eating, travelling, you still have another 8 hours to pursue your passion. Don’t give up on your passion and dreams, because then life will become meaningless.

You will lose the spark to live.

So basically do something, anything, to make enough money to pay your bills, while you have a lot of time to pursue your passion.

That’s how many people have done it. So many great actors have worked as waiters. Sandra Bullock, Jennifer Aniston and so many others worked that way.

Jim Carrey worked as a janitor. The list is endless. They worked just to make enough money, while they pursued their passion.

Pursuing you passion is going to be tougher. You will need to make a lot more sacrifices. While your friends, might make a lot more money in the beginning. They might be able to afford a lot more things in the beginning. You will be facing rejection, you will be struggling – but that’s the path you need to choose.

You need to decide your own journey. When you look back at your life, you should have no regrets.

You shouldn’t tell yourself, “What if I had tried? What if I had pursue my dream? What if I had gone away from the path everyone takes?”

And you know, once you pursue your passion. You will grow more. Every moment you will think of improving what you are doing. I know surgeons, who love what they do, and the best part of their day is when they are in surgery.

I know architects, whose most exciting moment is when they are designing something revolutionary. I know lawyers, who love what they do and enjoy the thrill of fighting a case in court.

It doesn’t matter who you are, if you pursue your passion, you will rise much higher. You will feel happier. You will feel fulfilled. You will feel at peace with yourself. You will have no doubts. You will attain happiness by pursuing what you were meant to do.

I believe in a higher force. I believe this higher force has each given us a beautiful gift. And it is our responsibility to make the most of this gift.

To work towards polishing the gift we have. To work towards helping the world with our gifts. If you have been given the gift of dance, song, design, writing – anything, go ahead share it with the world.

Even when I wrote Succeed The Happionaire Way, I had just one mission to help people convert their passion and goals into reality. I myself have been able to reach where I have reached, just because I love what I do.

It doesn’t feel like work. I enjoy seeing people change. I love watching people grow and benefit from what I do.

I am writing this from my heart, because of the same passion and desire. I want everyone to discover their inner powers. I want everyone to discover their inner potential. That’s what The Happionaire Way is all about.

If you want to be truly happy, you need to do what you are meant to do. It’s true.

A lot more money will eventually come your way, once you master your field. Today anyone you see who has pursued their passion, faced failure, got up again and again and again, has eventually risen to the top. They earn a lot more than they would have had they done anything else.

And at the end of the day, never work for money. Work for having an impact. Work for changing lives. Work for leaving a mark on the world. Money is a byproduct of doing all of that.

Whenever I do something, I don’t care about how much money I will make. All I care about is the impact it will have.

Change your way of thinking about money. It might be hard for you in the beginning, it isn’t your fault. Schools and society have trained people that way. I used to think that way too.

But instead of thinking about, “How will I make money?” ask yourself, “How can I impact people’s lives with my talent?”

And you will get different answers. You will get inner peace, satisfaction and happiness.

The type of questions we ask, the type of people we spend time with and the type of information we feed our mind – defines our future.

Most people think about money in a very limited way. They think money is limited. They think wealth is limited. That thought process guides their behavior. Since they think this way, they are always chasing money.

Wealth and nature is infinite in every way. If I was to hold an apple in my hand and ask you, “How many apples am I holding?” – what would be your answer?

My answer, would be infinite, because that apple has seeds and each seed had the potential to give infinite apples. It involves work, it involves effort to plant the seeds and take care – but eventually you can get infinite apples.

We all have the potential – but not everyone will realize that potential. Not everyone will have the courage to face the challenges. Not everyone will have the courage to work harder than others. Not everyone will have the courage to face the rejection. Not everyone will have the faith in themselves to continue.

And that is why not everyone will rise to the top. That is why not everyone will succeed. That is why not everyone will be truly happy.

Everyone can be truly happy – but not everyone will be. That is the reality of life.

I hope, you, who have spent your time reading this, not only think about your happiness, your passions – but actually takes action on it.

It doesn’t matter where in your life you are right now. You could be 16 or 65. It is never too late, because all you have is the present moment. The past is gone, the future is uncertain, but now is what you have.

Now is what I have. And what you do with your now is important. Even if you are 65 now, you are young. Imagine a 90 year you, looking back and thinking, “What if I had pursued my dream when I was a young 65 year old?”

Go ahead, make the most of now. Take action, because nothing changes till you don’t take action.

And do remember, I am always there to be of help with anything you need. All you need to do is ask.

Best of luck!

Yogesh Chabria