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Understanding People - Quote of the Day

Today's quote comes from Albert Schweitzer (1875-1965), a respected organist, theologian, physician, philosopher, and medical missionary in Africa.

"Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful." - Albert Schweitzer 

I think Schweitzer is coming through loud and clear on this one.

Many people feel that happiness can only be measured by how successful you are -- say, how much money you're making, how many material possessions you own, etc.

But if you're happy with what you're doing to begin with, the money and goods are just icing on the cake. That's precisely why so many people have outlets outside of their regular jobs through which they can flex their creative muscle and do the things that truly matter to them.

Let's face it. Most of us aren't lucky enough to work in jobs that grant us the creative latitude we so desperately crave. We're told what to do and how to do it, are expected to follow corporate protocol, and are told we have to put the needs of shareholders above all else.

That's why it's so important to do things on the side, like freelancing and volunteer work, that give us a bit more control over what we're doing and are more likely to bring us a sense of personal fulfillment.

This also underscores the importance of choosing a field that fits your skills, interests, and personality. Choosing a career solely on the basis of how much money you can make is ill-advised. Look around you. Some of those who work in the poorest paying professions -- teachers and social workers being among them -- seem happy with their jobs, even though they're not necessarily raking in the big bucks.

Of course, you ought to choose something that pays decently enough for you to live on. It's all about striking the right balance between a vocation that brings you fulfillment, keeps you motivated, and gives you financial security.

My real passion in life is writing. I love putting words down on paper. I love expressing myself in written form. I love looking up definitions for words I've never stumbled upon before. I knew from a very early age that writing was my calling.

I work as a copywriter for a large corporation, but my title is a major misnomer. I'm more like a glorified proofreader who merely tweaks pre-existing copy. I work with seasoned employees who have been with the company (and in the same department) for 20+ years. They are hard-headed, stuck in their ways, and not receptive to creative input from employees, let alone younger ones like me who haven't even been with the company for 5 years.

The job pays well, which is why I've stuck around, but I often remind myself that this job is really a stepping stone for something better -- one that will give me the freedom to use my writing chops a lot more freely than my current position.

Thank goodness for blogs like this one and the article writing websites I contribute to on the side. My day job is so stultifying that if it weren't for my side projects, I would go bonkers. It's those projects -- ones where I have some control -- that make me the happiest.

Do you love what you do? Do you agree with the quote?



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