“Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do.” — Steve Jobs
A generation ago, a job was something you did just to put food on your table. (And for some people, it still is.)
But thanks to the Internet, it’s possible now to make a living doing things you love. You can pay your bills by writing Python scripts for a living, or selling a product online, or – and this is true – drawing cartoon cats on demand.
(Just ask Steve Gadlin, the brains behind IWantToDrawACatForYou.com, and his nearly 19,000 customers.)
Today, we’re asking coLabbers what they love about their work – what gets them out of bed in the morning, what keeps them going when times get tough, what drives them to be their best. Here’s what coLab members are saying about why they do what they do.
“I love that I can move forward with my ideas and be able to realize if they work or not, at my own expense. High risk, high reward. It’s risky to be an entrepreneur but if you truly believe in what you do, It’s worth it … regardless of if it works or not. To quote Elon Musk, ‘When something is important enough, you do it even if the odds are not in your favour.’ So, what do I love about my job? I love the feeling of accomplishment after tackling hard challenges. But what I really love about my job is that I can take responsibility for the problems of the world and be part of the solution. It creates a deep sense of meaning and it’s what makes things worth it.” — Agustin Cisneros – Co-founder of Hustle Outlet
“I love the fact that I get to spend my days sitting right in the middle of the Skill-Passion-Demand matrix. I love what I do, I’m good at it, and people desperately need it. It’s the work fulfillment trifecta.” — Mike Straus, freelance writer
“My role as ‘Serendipity Architect’ (yes, it’s true!) at coLab isn’t defined and I’m continually changed to adapt, learn new skills, and pursue goals that seem very slightly out of reach. A key value my work creates is through mentoring; bringing value and meaning to others with advice and coaching. I’m surprised, delighted and inspired when I see my mentees reach new heights. I’m grateful to have a “job” that *never* feels like a job and has become a vehicle for so much creativity, fun, growth, and personal satisfaction in my life.” — Shane Austin – Co-founder of Okanagan coLab
Fun fact: From the time you’re 18 to the time you’re 65, you will have spent 94,000 hours of your life working, assuming you work full-time. And if you’ve got your own hustle, then you know that 94,000 hours is far too long to spend doing something you don’t absolutely love.
So…what do YOU love about what you do?
