Do what you love

Blog reader Dan left a comment Tuesday.
He loved the idea of doing what you love.
But, for Dan, an income has to come first.
I realize it takes time to find what you love to do.
Then more time to figure out how to make it pay.
He’s not alone. A lot of us went through a search.
I’ve driven trucks and ground optical lenses.
I’ve bagged groceries and shelved stock.
I once ran an alcoholic beverage warehouse.
In the Army, I ran the 7th Division hotel in Korea.
My guests were visiting celebrities and other VIPs.
Each one of those jobs taught important lessons.
One important lesson: They weren’t what I love.
They were jobs until I became the next Hemingway.
I gave up that dream. I didn’t have the gift.
God gave me another gift: A newspaper job I loved.
Now we own two publishing companies.
We publish books, newspapers and magazines.
I coach, consult, teach and speak publicly.
God gave me a great life with a wonderful mate.
Dan, you’ll find your passion. Keep looking.
Be patient. Learn all you can whatever you do.
Try my book "Your Life’s Great Purpose".
It will show you the way in your search.
For more about that, click here.
P.S. I’ll send info on our Great Book Sale today.

Love what you do

Sam McCuen has been our friend for more than 40 years.
We worked with Sam on a daily newspaper back in the 60s.
Saturday we went to shoot photos of one of his clients.
Afterward I said, "Go have some fun the rest of the weekend."
To which he said, "This is fun. I love what I do."
Sam and I both share that kind of passion for our work.
It’s never a job. It’s a calling. And it’s always fun.
Do what you love and you’ll never work a day in your life.
Seth Godin cites an example in his leadership book, "Tribes".
He was checking email in a Jamaican hotel lobby at 4 a.m.
Why at this early morning hour? He couldn’t sleep.
A late partying couple walked by headed for their room.
"Isn’t that sad," one said loud enough for Seth to hear.
"This guy comes here on vacation and he’s checking his email.
"He can’t even enjoy his two weeks off."
Seth’s unspoken response: You’re the really sad one, lady.
You come here on vacation to get away from what you do.
Other than sleeping, Seth was doing what he wanted to do.
My family may not understand why I write at 3 a.m.
That’s when my muse starts working.
It doesn’t matter that I’m not sleeping. I’m doing what I love.
If you don’t feel like that, I’m not going to feel for you.
I’m going to challenge you to go find what it is that you love.
Find a way to do it and get paid for it.
That’s why God placed you here in this life.
Find your purpose and join Sam, Seth and me.
You'll become a deliriously happy person, too.
To tell me I’m full of beans, click on "comment" below.
For more on succeeding in business and in life, click here.
P.S. Our big book sale is coming up. Details Thursday.