When someone asks me about making a living online, I always try to make it seem as hard as possible.
I want to turn away anyone who doesn’t have the determination to follow through.
I’m not saying it’s impossible to make a living following your passion, because it isn’t. What I do want to instill is that it takes hard work, and lots of it.
I’ve never worked a real day job in my life, so from the tender age of 18, I’ve always had to use my creativity to solve the problems in my life.
It’s an unconventional life, but once you get used to it, you’ll never want to give it up. There have been times when I’ve thought about working 9-to-5.
But do I really want a steady paycheck in exchange for my soul? No, thank you. Working fixed hours would completely destroy my soul at this point, which is why my grand plans of comfort always fall down like a house of cards.
Self-Employment
Being self-employed is tough, but worth it. Playing poker for a living for almost five years taught me a lot. When you have to use your brain to come up with creative solutions, it not only builds your character, but expands your wisdom.
When I started out I had no idea what I was doing. All I had was my mindset. I was willing to succeed.
I saw the people around me accept the norm and work 9-to-5. They hated it. Deep down they all wished they could do what they loved, but they were too scared to do so, and they are paying the price.
Revelation
One snowy, cold day in Sweden, it dawned on me. What would I think when I was lying on my death bed? Hell, what would I think when I was dead?
Would I look back and be proud that I lived an easy and comfortable life? Or would I look back regretting that I didn’t choose the harder, but ultimately more fulfilling path?
I’m betting on the latter. So when it comes to pursuing your passion. I’m not going to say it’s easy. I’m not even going to say that you’ll make it right away.
What I am going to say is this: if you’re willing to do whatever it takes to succeed, because you want to live the life of your dreams, then you will succeed. It becomes a matter of time.
Don’t go into this half-assed thinking you’re going to do this when you have time. It’s never going to happen if you think like that. It’s completely okay if you don’t want to pursue your passion at this time. That’s totally cool, as long as you’re honest about it.
If you want to do this, you have to give it 110%.
Overwhelm
When I first started playing poker, I wasn’t sure of myself. I didn’t really know if I could learn something new on my own. After a few years, my confidence grew. When I was about to start my blog, I knew I could make it, if the passion and drive was there.
In the beginning, I was overwhelmed as to what my passion really was. I soon realized that it was because I included the topics I wasn’t really passionate about. They were topics that I could possibly, sometime in the future like to do, but they were nothing more than figments of my imagination.
When I took an honest look at what I loved to do right now, that’s when I got some clarity. I could easily work for someone else, but I knew I’d be miserable following that path.
I love my freedom too much. I love writing (for myself), helping and creating. It’s not about what could be in the future. It’s about what is right now.
If you haven’t discovered your passion, now is the time to start. No one is going to do this for you. You have the power. You have the responsibility. If your desire is big enough, anything can be overcome. Any excuse is just an excuse, no matter how valid you think it is. There’s always a solution.
The questions is: how badly do you want it?
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Hey Henri!
Just gotta say your posts are always such a joy to read. 🙂
It is great that you have stuck to your guns and gone for what you really wanted. You mention many great points here that stuck out for me about doing what you love:
* It takes hard work
* You have to want it alot
I too have lots of topics I am passionate about but like you am trying to focus on what I love doing now. Otherwise you can find yourself going down a rabbit hole and not doing anything!
Jen
Great post Henri! it doesn’t matter how difficult it looks, following your passion will give you the best result sooner or later.
Thank for the great post.
Really great post Henri. Some people just don’t want to take on the hard work and what they perceive as ‘risks’. I agree with you and see no other life besides that of an entrepreneur.
What?? You don’t want to trade your soul away for money?? What kind of blog is this! j/k 😉
Great read as usual Henri – and especially this point:
“Don’t go into this half-assed thinking you’re going to do this when you have time.”
I think that’s a common excuse I see a lot of people make – they didn’t have the time. Why not? Usually because they didn’t make it a priority and make time for it. And whose fault is that ultimately? Harsh as it is, it comes down to choices – either make time for it, or it won’t happen.
Henri,
Every time you write a post, I feel like coming back for more, because your life is such an inspiration. You are a true icon, no doubt about it, a free-thinker and a leader. No wonder Maria Brophy, Srinivas Rao and Jen Smith think highly of you.
I have met innumerable people in my life, who are stuck in a rut. These people are waiting and waiting and waiting for the “right opportunity” to strike. That’s like waiting for lightning to strike…what are the chances?…buddy, it ain’t gonna happen anytime soon unless you’re willing to take the bull by the horns and make it happen.
The time for action is now. Not yesterday. Not tomorrow. Right now. Carpe Diem: Seize the Day. And make your life glorious. Life is short; time is fleeting. The 9 to 5 job is a rat-race. In a dog-eat-dog world, you need to be a hare, fleet of foot.
You took the words right out of my mouth. Your unconventional life and lifestyle too…a touchstone for followers like me. I think we can learn a lot from your example. Your creativity is like a breath of fresh air in a toxic and random world.
Henri, how did you get to be so wise?
Topi
I have no idea 😉
Great post Henri, thanks. I have an issue with thinking I’m special and I don’t need to do hard work for things to come to me =P
I gotta say Henri, I love your writing style and always have. I like what you said about being wiling to do whatever it takes. Here’s how I see it, if what you want out of life you’re not willing to do whatever it takes to get, then you don’t want it bad enough. It just doesn’t get any more simple than that.
What do you think?
That’s the simplest way you can put it in my mind. The people having trouble want to make it complex, so they can conjure up excuses and imagine obstacles.