Money is a great driving force. Let’s say that you are really good at doing two completely different things: pottery and astrophysics. You simply adore throwing pots, choosing the perfect glaze, and seeing the final product of what you make—but the pay is less than what you would like to live on. You are a whiz at physics and have the opportunity to take a post at some lab studying the stars and the pay is phenomenal! But here’s the catch, astrophysics bores you to tears. Which job do you take? Did you choose money or fun? Be honest.
I learned a valuable lesson fairly early in life. I was faced with this choice in high school when I was choosing colleges. Do I get my degree in art, something I’ve loved doing since I was little? You would think the answer would be, “of course!” Everyone in my family knew that I was going to go to art school and be a college art professor. That was always the plan. Imagine their surprise when I decided to go to school to become a chemist! Yep, you read right. Why would I do that?
When I was growing up, all I wanted to be was an artist. When I got to high school and could choose what classes to take, I took every art class that was available. Painting, drawing, photography, you name it—I took the class. I was researching art schools early. I had it all planned out.
Then I took a chemistry class.
I LOVED it. It was fun! I loved the math, the nerdy science jokes, making cool things in lab. And I was good at it. Then I got to thinking. Wouldn’t I make more money if I went into the sciences instead of being a starving artist? Think of all the pretty things I could buy! The nice house! All of the geekery! Yes, my pupils turned into dollar signs. I’m not proud of it, but I admit it.
So I scrapped the art school applications and went to college for chemistry. The dumbest part of it all was that I didn’t even take art classes for fun. I bottled up that part of myself and packed it away—the thing I was most passionate about.
When I graduated from college with my chemistry degree, the doubts about my plan hit hard. College was fun; I loved every minute of it. I didn’t regret one second of what I did, but I had wished that I did more. Even so, I promptly packed off to Washington D.C. to start in a Ph.D. program in (you guessed it) chemistry! Graduate school was okay to start with, but after the first year, I was completely depressed. I hated the program. It was dry and boring. It was beyond dry and boring. I hated going into the lab every day, descending into the windowless basement and spending my days in front of a dry box. But I didn’t know what to do about it.
Then one day a new dean of graduate studies came in and kicked out anyone who didn’t have a B average. That included me. And I got out. It was wonderful! Sort of. I spent the next month moping over my failure, unsure what to do next. I spent a lot of it playing video games. Finally, I went to a temp agency to get a job. Something—anything—that would pay money.
I landed a job stuffing envelopes at a non-profit. It was a three-week assignment at most. One day they needed some graphic design and I volunteered. This was the major turning point in my career. Over the next few months, they gave me more and more design work. What began as a temporary post turned into a permanent job.
Lady luck was on my side. From stuffing envelopes to redesigning magazines and building websites! The company paid for me to take classes at the local college where I was able to expand my art repertoire even further. I was very fortunate to have things work out after all. I was finally doing what I love to do and I was making money doing it.
I’d like to say it’s been happily ever after since then, and it mostly has, but there have been many mountains to climb. I know I haven’t gotten as many job interviews because my degree is in chemistry, not in design. Never mind that I’ve been running art departments for most of my career – or that I’ve won awards for my design. There are companies that are emphatic that any graphic designer they hire MUST have a design degree. Here’s a tip: recently, I’ve taken my college major off of my resume and only have my degree listed. I feel like I’ve gotten my foot in the door a lot easier lately.
So it’s been difficult at times, but take it from me, it is FAR more important that you are happy and get to do what you are passionate about every day and get paid less for it than to dread getting up in the morning because you dislike what you do.
Stephanie Lewis
Stephanie is a graphic designer who has managed art departments in the non-profit and corporate worlds. She is currently Work(ing)Awesome(ly) at home with her company Studio Lewis Graphic Design.
Nice article! Now I just need to figure out what I really love doing.
James, I am in the same boat as you! I need to figure out what I really love doing.
My only fear is that once I start doing that which I really like doing for a living, I might come to hate it. There is something about doing things when you want to, versus being forced to do it to pay bills!
Stephanie, your story is a feel good story! Finding a job in what you like to do and actually enjoying it.
I am definitely not where I want to be career wise. Plainly speaking I do not like my job. But it is true I did choose money. I was content with my last job, but did not pay well and I was getting restless because I knew how to do everything. It was getting boring.
So I decided to get a salary boost. I wanted to match it to what I should be making and like you by dropping a few things of my resume, I overshot my goal and got a crazy increase in salary.
I have written my saga about my salary 30% salary increase on my blog, which I think might be of use to those looking for the money.
However, I am ready for doing something that keeps me happier and I actually enjoy doing.
This was an interesting post Stephanie. I believe at times we are forced to chose a high remunerating job vs our passion by the environment we live in. This includes our family, peers and everything that surrounds us. I personally believe that during teenage levels thats still OK because you are not pretty clear about the outside world.
Yes once you grow as an adult if the passion thing strucks hard there is a work around. I wanted to be a speaker / a writer but I ended up in the not so similar job. What I have worked out is trying to use those creative things in the current job. Apart from this I have started a blog where in I test waters to understand whether communicating really is a passion or just wishful thinking. If this small experiment pays for itself I would be on my way to more experimenting. Else I am satisfied working time being.
What do you think about this approach?
Himanshu, I started a blog for a similar reason. I am using my blog to write about things that interest me and to finally discover through it, what I find most interesting.
I skimmed through your blog and realized that you might be doing something similar. How long have you been at blogging?
Wow, what a experience!
Thanks for sharing, it’ll help lots of people!
I just had a conversation along similar lines with some of my colleagues at work today. For some of us, it appears that we aren’t quite sure *what* exactly would make us happy. Guess you need that turning point to find that thing again?
Thanks for sharing. Good to know there’s always time to rethink the choices we make.
That is a story with a happy ending.
I feel that when the time comes to choose what course to enroll on most of us make somewhat misguided judgements. Maybe through chasing money or just lack of information on getting a job in the real world.
I also have always loved art and grew up wanting to be several things including a cartoonist. However I ended up wasting a year of my life in sixth form studying French, Maths and god knows what else that I had no intention on ever pursuing in my adult life.
One day I decided to walk out and enroll at an art college studying Graphic Design. Don’t honestly remember how I managed to decide that was the right course but 2 years there followed by a 3 year degree course and I found myself as a self employed Graphic/Web Designer.
If I am totally honest about my design education, I believe I could of got a whole lot more out of it than I did. Most of my skills have been through my own exploration and doing things outside of the education environment. They do not prepare you very well to find a real design job in the real world at university.
Through partly luck and a lot of determination I am one of only a handful of Graduates on my course that actually work in the Design industry.
Great post by the way.
Great read Stephanie!
It’s so true that you should follow what you love. If you’ve watched any of the ted.com videos some of the pros always talk about doing what you love and the money will come with it.
Hard concept to actually put into practice but if you have a long term vision then it’s worth it!
Thanks
Thanks for sharing that meaningful part of your life. I think most of us experience wanting to have a job that pays well though we really don’t love the tasks. We particularly have this feeling while in school. But like what your story taught us, it’s really more rewarding to work on something you genuinely love.
I was good at art and math in high school but loved art. Despite my guidance counselor’s discouragement, I studied art at Syracuse University, thank goodness! I’m now a successful freelance illustrator and love my work.
I always say the starving artist is a myth. It’s sad that high school students are discouraged from studying art in college.
I think it is great that you have found your calling, but I think your attitude towards companies wanting college grads with a design degree, is misdirected. For people that did go to school and get their degree you are essentially devaluing our education. And while experience is also very very important, I think it is fair for companies to put value on people having a degree in the field for which they are hiring. You made your choice and you have to deal with that, but I also made my choice and got a degree in Graphic Design. No hard feelings, I respect you for doing it without a degree and I hope you can respect me for getting my degree. Best of luck.
I too have a super useful degree in biochemistry … and have ended up as a web developer and designer. Every time I’ve ever had a job interview … I’ve had to explain the path of biochemistry to web development. LOL
But like you … I’m doing something I absolutely love, something I wake up every day and think “I get to be creative today and MAKE something”! I get to constantly be learning and trying new things … and yeah, I’m not making as much as I would have had I gone on to med school (as was the original plan) … but man … I’m 1000% certain I’m happier than I ever would have been if I had stayed on that path!
Thanks for sharing your story … from one chem geek to another
Great story! So many people say “do what you love” rhetorically as if people were clueless to the idea. This was a really great example. Thank you for sharing.
There is nothing like the feeling of knowing that you’re waking up everyday to do what you absolutely love. It doesnt end up being just work anymore. It becomes a passtime and the hours fly by.
If you can find a profession that truly fits you and your passion like a glove, then you’ll truly have a happy worklife. If finding a job based around your passion is too difficult, start your own business. Chances are there are others out there who are just as passionate about your interests as you are.
Great post!
JB
I’ve always preached this to others, but I will add…Only do it if you are paid a FAIR salary. A graphic artist can and should make a decent to excellent living. Don’t ever sell yourself short. Many designer’s earn far more than a Chemist.
Hi Stephanie, I had an experience similar to yours, but I got also a PhD!
Then many things happened and now I feel very lucky that I can do the job I love: freelance web design and development.
Part of the fortune is due to my husband who supported me in every decision I made. As you said, it’s not about money, it’s about thinking every morning that you are enjoying what you do and thinking every evening that you’re pleased with what you’ve done.
Thanks for sharing!
Remember: You only have one life.
The issue with choosing one’s passion is that with time that can also change. I use to really enjoy photography when I was a kid, my dad even bought me an SLR camera in my high school days. Though that passion died when I entered collage, and it turned to technology. I been in the IT industry for almost 8+ years developing software, though it has been challenging and fun for the most part, there is always a part of me which wants to explore other horizons… To me that is seems is that if we don’t get enough monetary gain from the “thing” we are passionate about, it won’t last long. I believe passion and money need to be accompanied side by side to make oneself content and keep going…
I don’t get it. It sounded like you loved chemistry every bit as much as art, but it was just the school you were going to that was boring. Maybe you could’ve pursued chemistry with the same fruitful outcome if you’d stuck with it and just found a better environment in which to learn.
In my counrty, a significant number of people not doing their jobs because of economic conditions. I saw an example of this situation closely. A friend of mine who graduated from law school and lived in the same situation. Graduated from law school and has also completed an internship program. Meanwhile, in university was interested in dance. Herks expect him to establish his own business, but it did not happen. Modern dance began to take the exam again. she loves dance. But I could not earn money from dancing. She could not leave Profession of lawyer . We have to work in an office while trying to keep one hand behind the shool.
Hi!
Very nice post ^_^ I am also in the same situation.
I am actually doing a PhD (3rd year and would take 3.5~4 to finish) in Signal Processing, but my love is somewhere else, into something more creatives.
I really enjoyed my studies for years and I am very eager to learn new things everyday, but going to the lab is a real pain.
I am starting to look into whatever I could find and I got an internship in a magazine website design team.
I am doing simple image cropping/correction and creating banners once a week. It is not so creative yet… that is the best day of my week!!!
I thought it was crazy but I guess not so! In the country I am (foreign student), we have to look for a job 1 year before graduation. So, I am actually looking for jobs, but my CV gives me hard time finding any in what I would like to do.
I must keep going to school, looking for next year job, and get refused often, I am getting a bit depressed but still I try to keep learning any stuff not that could help me later and that are not related to my studies.
During my 3 years in PhD I crossed my professor around 10 times, so he is not aware of anything, but I guess he noticed that my researches are not going that well recently lol
I am quite afraid to tell him that I quit, and anyway don’t want to do it before finding something else.
Am I doing the right choice… I don’t know yet, but now I really know that I could not work in a lab my whole life.
really nice article …. am also an artist but couldnt study arts….. but i used to draw in school….i like math and drawing …. but now am studying Business Information System and try to organize my time between studying and drawing …. your artical influenced me…. keep going =D
Hi
Thank you for the advice. I love web development and spend most of my free time playing around with it .
A month ago the opportunity came up to go and work full time doing web development. This would mean I would be doing something I love vs something I will make a lot of money from.
The big thing is it meant that I would be leaving a Managment Consultant role. The MC role meant working with the top clients, exposure to their strategies and designing them, travel all over the world, big promotions and a lot of top training courses. Though it meant being on the road 45 to 50 weeks a year, long hours (12+ hour days) and working most weekends.
When reading this article I asked myself passion or long term money (both roles pay the same, it is possible to get an MC salary for Web). While MC will have a lot more money in the long term, web will mean I will be doing what I love and will feel awesome coming into work each day, especially as it will feel like I have spent some time awake away from work.
Dale
I just want to chime in on this article.. its exactly what I’m going through right now, except I’m *just* at the turn of the transition. I recently graduated with a b.s. in biology because I was on the pre-med/health track throughout college. Now upon graduation, I’m working a dead boring 9-5 office job doing nothing all day, not using my degree at all!
Going for something in the health field was something my family wanted me to do, but not me, hence the lack of motivation to really continue that pursuit. A person can only be pushed so far. Through out elementary up through high school like you, I ALWAYS elected to take the available art courses and thoroughly enjoyed them. I was so into the web and even made my own website in high school, albeit it wasnt fancy at all. and I picked up some photography as well.
Now I’ve enrolled myself in a web design & development program and just started my first HTML class this week -and LOVED the class. It makes me excited to be learning about this stuff, school isn’t such a drag anymore (compared to my science class days) — and I actually look forward to it, even if its night class after a whole day of work. I can’t wait until I finish the program to be able to really put these skills to work! I recently began interning at a start up doing some marketing, and volunteered to create some graphics, which has become a regular thing now so I think I’m on the right track!