Do What You Love To Do Is A Wrong Advice! Ask Why?

We often hear the corporate gurus or self proclaimed life skill coaches reiterating very loudly;

Do What You Love!

Marketing gimmicks, find it too snazzy a quote to print on the cushions, on the mugs, on inspirational stuff and more, and sell it in the name of self-motivation.

In short, it actually paints a picture of some unseen paradise, that may open up to us if we start doing what we love to do! Which may include; skipping office every day, smoking in the lunch room, sleeping at boss’s favourite couch in the recreation room, and eating a lot of pizza loaded with cheese for dinner, every night!

We all would love to do that, and much more nasty stuff, but, can we?

Therefore, it becomes clear that “Do What You Love” is actually a misleading advice! It is utterly wrong! It is not at all realistic.

Well, if you love someone dearly and want them to grow in life and career, never give them this advice – Do What You Love To Do

Asking me the reasons? Here I have the super believable ones!

1. It Is Purely Impractical Action

If we start creating a world, where everyone is doing only what they love to do, how exactly are we going to fill in for the jobs, that no one loves to do, but are utmost important to run the world and the economy. Also, Too much of stress on doing what one loves, can bring a sense of failure, or dissatisfaction, or frustration in those who actually are in the wrong jobs, against their liking.

2. It’s Grossly Insulting

A lot of people around us work too hard. No, I am not talking about only those in manual labour. Writers, programmers, property dealers, and marketing executives, all are extremely hard-working people. I agree that they don’t have torn hands and sore feet, but they put in the labour in their own way, which justifies their job. Toiling in the harsh sun, being awake till midnight, not being able to eat for hours and much more physical or mental toiling becomes an inevitable  part of such jobs. To tell such people that they should love it, is plain inhuman and mistaken. And to me it’s impossible to love every moment of these torturous processes without being a masochist. They do it, since it earns them their daily bread, and not that they get pleasure in getting tortured. For Musicians, and other artists, it may be another story altogether.

3. It’s Highly Discriminating

You would agree with me, when I say that not everyone is lucky enough to be placed on high profile jobs or rich comfortable positions. Everyone wants to be a CEO or a Chief, a lead singer, a successful start-up owner, or a rich businessman. And, let’s face it, majority of high position earners, earn it for various reasons such as, their socioeconomic status, their influential background or sometimes merely good looks. Not necessarily, they earn it out of pure skills and talent. And people who have nothing of these, are often stuck in the middle of the struggle. Hence, it becomes quite clear that “Do What You Love” discriminates people with lesser resources and boons, from those who are loaded with good luck. If they don’t have resources, and favourable situations, how exactly are they going to do what they love?

So you get the point, right?

Now that we know it isn’t a good advice, then what is the counter to that? What is the right advice?

I’d say, don’t do what you love, but, “Do What You Are Really Good At”

Because:

• Firstly, if you don’t do something you’re good at (even if you “love” it), you won’t be successful and happy, consequently.
• Secondly, the best way to find a job that will truly satisfy you is to focus on the one, that aligns with your core strengths

Do What You’re Good At, is in many ways quantifiable and evolved. It applies in almost every situation and it doesn’t have a minimum or maximum achievement goal.

If you are naturally good with people, consider becoming a PR rep, a tour guide, an airplane host and so on.

If you are good with managing things, opt for a business operation position, office organizing job, or a management role. You may not love it all the time, but you will have a strong hold on it, as you will sail through it with your natural actions. And hence the success.

The point is, it can be an easy out to just say, “Do what you love”! But in reality, it can ultimately lead to feelings of worthlessness, confusion, and desperation.

Hence, we must replace “Do What You Love” with “Do What You Are Good At”!

And next time when you see a mug that says the quote “Do What You Love”, take a moment to think about the person who printed it on the mug. Would they be loving their job, or are they simply good at it?