Chasing an Artist with a Deadline?
Turning your Passion into Profession
As a kid, I was a big fan of Mr. Bachchan’s movies, especially the ones from the 80s. These films were packed with action, comedy, and songs — classic commercial cinema.
But as I grew older, I started watching movies by actors like Nasiruddin Shah and Om Puri. I also came across critics who often criticized Mr. Bachchan’s movies for being too commercial. This made me question whether Mr. Bachchan was truly using his talent to its full potential as an actor.
In one of his interviews with the BBC, the host asked him a similar question, and his response really made me think. He said he didn’t see a difference between commercial and art films. To him, movies are made according to the audience’s taste, and commercial success is important because it’s not just about him — thousands of people working on the films rely on them for their livelihood.
He also mentioned that he did work with directors like Hrishikesh Mukherji from time to time, and if those films were successful, other filmmakers would be encouraged to make similar types of films.
His answer really struck a chord with me.
I started my career in IT in 2005, and by 2007, I knew for sure that working with data was what I loved. I was fascinated by data. In 2012, I took a course on “Machine Learning” on Coursera, after reading an article about how data science was going to be the “sexiest job of the century.” Later, I made the switch to become a full-time data scientist.
While I enjoyed every bit of my job, my passion for it blurred the boundaries between my personal and professional life. After a few years, this led to burnout. I had to take a step back, reflect on my journey, and make some changes based on my priorities. Now, I’m happy working as a data engineer.
But this experience has made me question whether it’s really a good idea to turn your passion into a career. And It’s not an easy question to answer.
Passion is something you deeply enjoy doing, something that excites you and makes you feel happy and fulfilled. It’s often connected to personal interests or hobbies that give you joy. For example, if you love painting and feel excited whenever you hold a brush, that’s your passion.
Profession, on the other hand, is the work or job you do to earn money. It’s something you do regularly, often after receiving training or education, and it’s usually your main source of income. For instance, if you become a professional artist and sell your paintings or teach art classes to make a living, that is your profession.
Choosing your passion as your profession can be very fulfilling, but it also has its challenges.
One of the biggest advantages is that doing what you love gives you a sense of purpose and makes work feel less like a chore. When you’re passionate about something, you’re naturally more engaged and productive, and this often leads to better focus and creativity. Because you’re so invested in your work, you’re also more likely to push through difficult times and setbacks. The personal satisfaction that comes from aligning your work with your interests can be incredibly rewarding, and you might even find that work becomes more enjoyable.
However, there are downsides to turning your passion into a job. One major risk is burnout, especially when the pressures of earning a living begin to take the joy out of what you once loved. Not all passions are financially stable either. Some fields, like the arts or starting your own business, can be competitive and may not provide a steady income. Over time, the demands of making money from your passion can cause you to lose the initial excitement you had for it.
It can also be hard to keep a balance between work and personal life when your passion becomes your profession. You might find yourself overworking because the lines between work and play become blurred. There’s also the reality that even though you’re passionate, it doesn’t guarantee success. Sometimes the market just doesn’t demand what you’re passionate about, and you may need to compromise or adjust, which can make the work feel less enjoyable.
Overall, following your passion can be very satisfying, but it’s important to be aware of the challenges. Balancing what you love with the practical aspects of making a living is key to staying happy and successful in the long run.
If you loved this story, please feel free to check my other articles on this topic here: https://ankit-rathi.github.io/tradevesting/
Ankit Rathi is a data techie and weekend tradevestor. His interest lies primarily in building end-to-end data applications/products and making money in stock market using Tradevesting methodology.
