Should You Always Write About What You Love?

While I am not retracting my prior statement, being passionate in what you do is important, no doubt about it.

For 20 years, I built pools, spas, waterfalls, lagoons, caves, and grotto's in very expensive settings. Naturally, I did not earn enough in that field to even dare imagine having the kind of money I watched people spend on these large scale projects.

But, every job that I have ever worked on (as menial as the work may have seemed) I had convinced myself that my work was reflection of my passion to be creative, artistic, and always employed a mindset to deliver the highest quality service (their money could buy).

After all - it was their money which afforded me a decent living, and I maintained respect for that fact on jobs small and large. It didn't matter to me if they were 'piss poor broke' - slobs, or filthy rich snobs... my work ethic was derived from my artistic & creative passions, and my work ALWAYS reflected that.

However, subject only to a few rare occasions... my role in completing these tasks was obscured by the consumers ignorance (*lack of knowledge) and their self-righteous greed in getting what they wanted, period. Same with the contractor's in which I had made millions for over the years.

Very few truly appreciated (or perhaps understood) the extra care taken to ensure they received the highest quality results, simply because they wouldn't know the difference between a slacker (who does inferior work) from a true seasoned professional (like myself, for example).

I am a firm believer in Napoleon Hill's statement; "Always give more than that for which you are being paid." - Under the influence (if you will) that it reciprocates. *Not sure if that happens in this lifetime or the next, for in my experience, I have been taken to the cleaner's on more accounts than I care to mention, simply due to what I believe is to be considered; "The Willfully Ignorant" -who though may know better, care not.

Therefore, when I say remove your passion and set yourself aside, it is not to decimate the character of he/she who is passionate (as am I) - it is rather to save one the hardship (*suffering) of realizing 20 years later... whether by virtue of human ignorance (*unknowing and completely unaware) or by virtue of pompous greed and the erroneous desire to be 'willfully ignorant' (purposely being stupid, per se) as are so many consumers are in their quest to attain that which they want, need, or believe; they simple have to have...

In general, the greater priority favors superficial gains, over that which the "provider" of said services is supplying (be it a service, product, or goods) and based upon the number of sales and exchanges I have had in my life (*in excess of 2.5 Miliion dollars earned) from my goods & services... on nearly all accounts; they were under-appreciated.

I respect the fact, I was merely a 'paid pawn' in a bigger game of chess, a 'misfortunate prostitute for money' so to speak, and nothing more.

I clearly remember the 'few' who beyond the 'monetary reward' (or mere paycheck) who actually looked me in my eyes, shook my hand, and showed true appreciation for the (passionate) and high quality of workmanship I had delivered.

Thus, being passionate (having a strong and barely controllable emotion) and investing your all is to also have compassion (sympathetic pity and concern for the sufferings or misfortunes of others) and while we may possess both (in this example our writings) - it is unfortunate, and yet predictable; our passion will certainly reflect in that which we write about, and yet - the reader (more often than not) could care less. *Unless your a romance novelist, and even then; those readers are looking to fill a void or some form of personal stimulation... rarely should we expect credit for such.

In the consumer world, b2b, IMing, selling tangible products, goods, and/or services... it's a whole different ballgame, people only want one thing "TO BENEFIT" from that which they can purchase, borrow, steal, or acquire from you, as was so in my trade of 20 years.

So even if my passion was present and almost always outweighed the 'paycheck' - the majority saw fit that somehow passion can only be measured in 'capital' ... and I sir beg to differ!

Thus, if you are in IM as an active businessmen/women then by all means fire-up and fuel your passions... just don't expect 'the majority' to truly appreciate it on a deeper level, for it is rare someone will recognize the gifts you bear derived from anything less than financial motivation, be it true or not.

In closing, this is why I say - remove yourself (not necessarily your passion or compassion) but remain focused on "What the Consumer Wants & Over Deliver Value" and if you can inspire, encourage, or enhance the quality of another's life by systematically pursuing that which you are passionate about, I almost guarantee it will only be recognized (and truly) appreciated by the few wise souls who actually possess compassion for others... WHICH MOST DO NOT!

Hence, we're all passionate when it comes to preserving our freedoms, but in order to do so... it is almost always 'over-written' by the need for money, and as such; though I may not condone it, the 'paycheck' wins by popular vote... to which we are willing to prostitute our passions to acquire it!

All the Best,

Art