Do What You Love, The Money Will Follow: Discovering Your Right Livelihood

Why don't we do what we really love. Why do most of us choose 'the bird in the hand' over the 'many in the bush'. Sometimes, it has little or nothing to do with money. Maybe it has to do with something internal to ourselves- our fear of failure, or the unknown or rejection. In short, we need to question ourselves as to why we do what we do. The simple and short answer for most people is money. Whatever it is that we currently do either pays the bills, pays the most, or is what we felt at some point in time was the most, if not the best, we could get. It has nothing to do with our likes, our desires or our talents. Many people fall into a situation one way or another, or are lured into something by hook or by crook. Ask yourself if something like this even remotely applies to you: You spend your entire life judging your own worth based on the opinions of those you look up to, hold in high esteem/regard, and yet they have absolutely no respect for you, your ideas, your perspective, or even you as a human being. You spend a great deal of time doing things for the benefit of others, yet you yourself do not reap any of the benefits or rewards. You do what others tell you to do, and get only what they think you deserve, and not what you want, or more importantly, need. They could care less about your wants, or your needs, and all that matters to them is that they get what they want from you. You stay in toxic, hostile, life-draining situations out of fear, because you do not know what to do next, or because this is what you know, this is what is secure, and take the paycheck (always with a large serving of abuse), only to end up at the mercy of those who, quite literally, could not give two s---s about you. If it does, then Do What You Love is required reading for you. Marsha Sinetar's book, Do What You Love, The Money Will Follow seeks to answer the inter-related questions why we do what we do and why we do not do what we love by going deeper than the superficial reasons almost always given as answers to these questions. Too many people have missed the point of this book, which is unfortunate. Many readers and more than a few reviewers are too caught up on the money side of the proposition. Others see it as a choice between love with poverty and hate with plenty. Ms. Sinetar states right in the beginning that the money may not materialize immediately, and maybe not at all. For those of us who were not born with a strong character, it takes real courage to act on what we value. Those that are truly successful achieve not only because they love what they do and are good at what they do, they consistently achieve great things because they have the courage to act on their convictions. Which in the end is what this book is really all about- having the courage to act on one's convictions. The true purpose of the book is to force those of us who know what we love to do to look inward, and ask some very tough questions of ourselves.

I am a big believer in "do what you love, the money will follow." However if that's so, why do some many people do what they love and the money does not follow?The answer lies in 2 things.1. They want the money too quickly2. They don't think like a business owner. Marketer. Salesperson.For example, my motivational role model Jack Canfield, back in 1992 thought up an idea of compiling emotional stories about overcoming obstacles and living your dream, (that turned into chicken soup for the soul mega best-selling series). But what is most remarkable is that Mark V Hanson, who joined him, was the key to making the series into a MONEY MAKING PROPOSITION. You see I think that Jack was doing it for the love of helping people and then the money, while Mark was doing it for the money then the love. Don't get me wrong. Mark V Hanson is a great I guy. He is not at all a money hungry charlatan. He is interested in helping people change their lives. However compared to Jack, he is more interested in making money.The bottom line is do what you love, but if then money is not following, get a partner, a salesperson, someone to market your skills. Hope that helps. Zev Saftlas, Author of Motivation That Works: How to Get Motivated and Stay Motivated

... I used to run my own natural food store at one time. I did it for over seven years. Before that, I ran someone else's for over three years. That's over ten years of doing work that one loves. There was only one problem: the money did NOT follow! If it had, I would still be running my store. ... Now, don't get me wrong. Money DID follow; just not ENOUGH money to support a family. ... So, I KNOW that what this book says is true. The question is: HOW TRUE? Also, I am aware of the fact that if my heart had been totally, 100% involved in my natural food store business alone - and NOT also involved in MUSIC - I may very well have made MORE money running my natural food store. Or, it could have simply been a chapter in my life that had run its course and it became time to move on - or, at least, time to do something else for a while in order to get a break from it before going back into it with renewed vigor. You know? Who can say for sure?... Nevertheless, I strongly feel that the inspirational and vocational advice and stories given in this book are extremely valuable to read if one is looking for guidance and encouragement before making a career change or taking a bold step into the unknown. My recommendation: GO FOR IT!... I really love what the author writes on page 134: "I do not remember where I heard this statement, but I have thought about it for a long time. From watching myself overcome certain unproductive attitudes and habits, and from working with many people who have either overcome similar patterns or who have such excellent work habits that they are almost assured material success, my sense is that we have a lot of control over our incomes, expenditures and livelihoods - much more control than we give ourselves credit for - and that there may indeed be a connection between our mental control and focus and our ability to make money. As long as we have a clear idea of our goals and properly use the inclinations and in-born talents that we already have, I believe that the money will follow. However, while we wait it is essential that we protect ourselves from the cultural consciousness that says we are what we earn. We certainly are not. Only the individual with a healthy, wholesome self-view will feel inwardly rich when he or she is outwardly broke. This point came home to me strongly when I was interviewing people for my first book. One of the young men that I interviewed, an environmentalist who lived on less than $$$$ per year, had so much adoration and such an ecstatic response for life that I was stirred to try to see what he had that wealthier persons lacked. Essentially, what he possessed was a peaceful, full heart, a spiritually complete nature, and an ability to see beauty all around him instead of lack."... Enlightenment may not pay ALL the bills, but it DOES have its benefits - one being PEACE OF MIND, which is priceless. The trick is to be enlightened, to strive toward spiritual liberation, and to be at peace as well with

So wrote Henry David Thoreau in the classic "Walden." After reading Marsha Sinetar's book, you will understand why. Most people, for a variety of reasons, have been schooled away from listening to their "inner voice," which is there to guide us in the discovery of our inate talents and interests. This is the basis upon which we should be engaging in our "Right Livlihood," a Buddhist term to describe the work that we were destined to do, which is more than just earning a paycheck, but is fulfilling in a Maslow "self-actualization sense," and is in service to humankind. Ms. Sinetar's masterpiece is written from the perspective of someone who has looked within themselves and has asked themselves the tough questions about the quality of life they are living. She posits that to ignore that inner longing is to basically live in denial, and untrue to yourself. This incongruity, she argues, is the root of a great deal of dissatisfaction that people have with their lives. Hence the admonition, "to thine own self be true," which is the antithesis of the quote from Thoreau.This book was instrumental for me during a period of major depression that I was experiencing, that I credit it completely in helping me "find my way back," onto my unique path. Space prohibits me from sharing any details, but I will happily correspond anyone who feels that they are in the middle of a midlife, or carerr crisis.But first, buy this book, heed its admonitions, and prepare for a major change in your life!

A few years ago I was in a working situation, whereby I lacked congruence. At the time personal congruence - i.e. mind, body, spirit enthusiastically moving toward the right fitting goal - meant nothing to me. I just thought I lacked success. Working hard showed no reward. Somewhere I got this book. At first, I found the beginning a bit lukewarm, however, when I began to highlight later quotes,I soon realized that this Sinetar gal was onto some hot liberating insights. I gathered no reward from my hard work, because I was working hard in the wrong livelihood- not using my innate talents and momentum. As Americans we blindly accept the creed of the work ethic. Working smarter is a better creed. As someone said,"If hard work makes wealth andhappiness, than ditch diggers should be happy millionaires." Doing what you love gets youworking eagerly and joyfully. People see me now in my propercareer and always comment on my high energy level.I'm complimented for "working hard." It's more like I'm having a ball. The book helped.