Taking your passion and making a career out of it is the dream for many, but it stays an abstract dream for the majority. There are a lot of factors involved, but if you are in a position where you can and might take the leap, it's worth knowing what's on the table.
Evan Ranft's video is an interesting insight into his journey and mindset, but there are always variations in the experiences of people who choose to pursue their dream career, in whatever field that might be. I have written about my own experiences on a few occasions, but as I get older and I have worked for myself for more years, my interpretation of the decisions I have made and their outcomes, have changed.
I worked a full time job I hated for nearly 4 years and then I went to university as a mature student and worked a part-time job I hated for another 4 or 5, in more or less the same field. There was no creativity and it wasn't a difficult job, albeit with a high skill ceiling. I was desperately unhappy and unfulfilled, and despite looking at many other career options out of university (and interviewing and getting several job offers), I didn't like the way the future looked. So, I decided to work for myself and pursue what I wanted.
It was more difficult than I ever anticipated, particularly in the first few years, but I wouldn't swap it for anything. You have to be prepared for hardship, dedication, missing out on other areas of your life, and long hours, but the rewards are hard to quantify. I have a lot of friends who work in investment banking and earn eye-watering yearly incomes, but with every passing year, I become more sure that I wouldn't swap careers for one moment.
