There’s an old philosophy that says, “Do what you love, and you’ll never work a day in your life.” Unfortunately, far too many people don’t live by that mantra. It’s estimated that about 50% of people don’t like their job due to everything from working too much to not getting paid enough. 

You might think you’re stuck in your current job or that you’re on a narrow career path without much room to change. However, if you’re feeling stuck in your career, that should serve as a sign to you that it’s time to change. If you want to find a career that inspires you and provides fulfillment, allowing you to do what you love, take a look at your passions. 

Yes, you can turn passions and hobbies into a viable career. Let’s take a closer look at how you can make it happen, and you’ll “never have to work a day in your life.” 

Choose a Nontraditional Path

If you’ve been feeling stuck at your job for a while, it might be time to choose something completely nontraditional based on your passions. For example, if you love animals, you aren’t limited to becoming a veterinarian or a pet sitter. You can even explore careers related to a particular animal you love. If you want to work with horses, you could pursue a career as an equine therapist or even ranch manager. However, if you’re passionate about local wildlife, it may make more sense to seek out work at a zoo or with a particular conservation group.

You can use existing experience, as well as hard or soft skills, to promote yourself in a potential job opening, even if you’ve never worked in a particular industry before. Aside from animals, there are plenty of other nontraditional careers that align with unique hobbies — like law enforcement, welding, or early childhood care. You might even consider going back to school or educating yourself on AI or other emerging technology that can lead you down an interesting career path. This will help incorporate 

Think about your passions and how you can use them to advance yourself in a career path you might have never considered before. It can be the easiest way to find a job you love quickly. 

Find a Company That Matches Your Values

Even if you end up choosing a more “traditional” job, you’re more likely to feel fulfilled and happy if you work with a business that has the same values as you. Often, people are unhappy at work because the company they work for has a toxic environment or values that don’t line up with their own. 

If you want to find a company you’ll love working for, you can get a sense of its culture by: 

  • Looking at the leadership;
  • Finding out what customers/clients are saying;
  • Talking to current employees;
  • Asking questions;
  • Looking at different career paths within the company.

When you’re passionate about something, you’ll want to work for a business that shares that passion. Just because a company seems to offer the job you want, don’t automatically jump in before doing your research. You could end up working for a business that’s simply going through the motions without any passion or drive, and that would leave you feeling stagnant and uninspired very quickly. 

Branch Out on Your Own

Sometimes hobbies are better left as that — something you do in your free time. However, if you’re truly passionate about a hobby and can see how it would work for you as a career, consider starting your own business.

Starting a business can be a little scary and overwhelming. You’ll have to come to terms with the fact that you’ll take a pay cut for a while, and not all businesses are successful. You’ll also have to wear many hats. You might have strong skills in certain areas, but a business owner also has to deal with everything from marketing to finances.

However, if you’re truly passionate about something, starting your own business provides flexibility, a better work-life balance, and the ability to align your career with your values, needs, and wants. We’re in a unique period of time when it comes to the working world. Remote jobs have become more common than ever. New skills are needed due to technology continuing to advance, and this will only become even more prominent. You can start a business from anywhere without necessarily having to leave the comfort of your home. You can even work with other people around the world if you go fully remote.

Finding a job might be the easier route, but you have the option to take the road less traveled. If you can’t seem to find anything that fully lines up with your passions and values, consider it a sign to start something unique of your own. You don’t have to waste your life or live with regret in a career that doesn’t provide fulfillment. While you don’t necessarily need to love everything about your job, you’ll be much happier and more productive if you’re passionate about what you do.

Keep these ideas in mind as you consider different career paths. Let your passions guide you to find a job you truly love, so you’ll be excited to go to work each day.