Have you ever been told that to be truly happy in your work, you should follow your passion?
That passion could be photography, video games, or cycling. Whatever it is, there's probably a way of turning it into a career—if you work hard, play your cards right, and experience a little luck.
But here's the thing: following your passion might not be the best advice you've received. Not because passions are bad, but because work and passion don't always mix well. Two big reasons stand out: money—and the risk of turning something you love into something you dread.
Money doesn't always follow passion
Let's get the obvious out of the way—yes, you can make money with your passion. Some people make a great living as photographers, athletes, streamers, or artists. But for most people, the reality looks different.
Jobs tied to popular passions like food, creativity, or gaming often don't pay particularly well. Meanwhile, roles in fields like big data, cloud infrastructure, or financial services—things that don't tend to make it onto the “my passion” list—tend to pay a lot more.
The problem is: if your job doesn't pay enough, you might not have the time, energy, or resources left to actually enjoy your passion.
It's not about giving up on your passion entirely—it's about being strategic. You can choose a role that supports your life goals, gives you financial breathing room, and still leaves time and energy to pursue your interests on your own terms. Or you might build skills and experience that open doors to future opportunities, some of which may surprisingly align with your passion.
For example, you could become excellent at project management, then land a role managing projects in the esports industry. Or you could work in tech support, then specialize in creative software you love. Sometimes the path to enjoying your passion isn't by chasing it directly, but by positioning yourself well in the market.
Turning a passion into work can ruin it
Let's be honest—LinkedIn is full of people who want to sell you the dream of “making your passion your paycheck.” The reality is, turning something you love into a job can easily make it feel like… well, a job.
Take gaming, one of the most popular examples. It's fun to relax, play a few rounds, or get lost in a story-driven RPG. But when you try to make it your career—maybe by becoming a streamer or competitive gamer—you end up adding layers of pressure. Suddenly, you're managing social media, designing overlays, grinding specific content to keep viewers entertained, and worrying about your next paycheck being tied to your follower count.
Not quite the same vibe as playing to unwind after work.
And it's not just gaming. I've seen it happen across countless hobbies. A friend of mine used to make beautiful Christmas wreaths for fun. People loved them, orders started rolling in, and within a year she was spending ten-hour days in her cold garage fulfilling orders. She didn't even put one on her own door that Christmas.
The WhatPulse angle: know your habits, protect your joy
At WhatPulse, we see it all the time—people are surprised by how their computer habits evolve. Maybe your side project turns into 60-hour workweeks. Or you find yourself spending way more time in a video editor than actually filming. That's why tracking your digital activity can be such a useful mirror.
Are you spending your energy on what actually fulfills you? Or are you burning out chasing a dream that's slowly draining the joy out of your passion?
It's not about avoiding your passion—it's about protecting it. Keep your passion something you look forward to. Something you enjoy because it's free of deadlines, KPIs, and external pressure.
And who knows? With the right setup, you might find ways to mix career and passion without sacrificing either. Just don't let a random LinkedIn quote decide your life direction.
Conclusion: Passion is great—just don't turn it into homework
Following your passion sounds romantic, but it's not always practical—or enjoyable. By building a solid career that gives you stability and freedom, you might get the best of both worlds: a fulfilling job and time to truly enjoy your passion.
If you want to make more intentional decisions about where your time goes, tools like WhatPulse can give you clarity. Because sometimes, the best way to protect what you love is by not forcing it to pay your bills.