Do You Truly Enjoy Your Career?

"Find three hobbies: one that makes you money, one that makes you fit and one that makes you smarter," says Naval Ravikant, founder of AngelList.

I would modify that the hobby that makes you money can't make you miserable. If you think about the financially successful people that you know, how many would you say truly enjoyed what led them to that success? The beauty of Ravikant’s proposition is that it does not require your life's passion or purpose to also be your money maker. Maybe your fitness pursuit is your biggest passion, or perhaps your knowledge building avocation fits into that category. It can take away the burden of finding the perfect blend of wealth-building and purpose. It cannot be something that you suffer through or despise. You have to feel a degree of satisfaction and accomplishment in your financial engine work. Otherwise, it will become all-consuming and will drain your willpower and your emotional energy around wealth-building.

For those of you who find yourself in a business or career that you are successful in but miserable at, or for those of you who feel somewhat satisfied but find yourself with no time to develop your fitness or knowledge-building hobbies, something needs to change. Consider whether you should get out entirely, reduce your time commitment or look for what is next.

Start with a simple time calculation. Take 70 minus your current age. Next, take that number and divide it by 45. What percentage do you get? For me, this comes out to 76% (70-36 = 34, 34/45 = 76%). That is the percentage of my prime career years that I still have in front of me. It means that I have the vast majority of my career still in front of me, even though I am dangerously close to 'middle-aged'. So, if I found myself in a miserable place, or one that consumed too much of my time and energy, I should and would start moving right away. I would consider going back for another graduate degree, taking an entry-level job in a different field, using some savings to manage the transition from my current lifestyle to a new one over the next few years. My point is this: at 36, there is way too much time left in the game to feel stuck or settled. 

If you are 52 years old, with your career remaining years at 40%, do you want to stay at the same place for the second half? 

Time is of the essence to reinvent yourself. To invest some real and honest time and money in developing a new path. Focus on developing your three hobbies with intent, and keep your financial engine hobby in its proper place.

This article is intended for general informational purposes and does not constitute a recommendation of any type. Please seek advice from your tax, legal, and financial professional prior to taking action. Securities Offered through Destiny Capital Securities Corporation, member FINRA/SIPC

Jarrod Musick, CFP, is the CEO and president of Destiny Capital. Musick serves his clients as their wealth strategist, with a primary focus on business owners. His passions include solving complex problems and building systems for our clients to allow them to focus on what matters most to them in their lives. Learn more about him at http://bit.ly/jarrod-musick