Should You Take a Job That You Love or One That Pays?  

Are you stuck at a job you detest because of perks, name recognition, and respect? You are not alone. Most Kenyan workers drag themselves to work daily in positions that don't provide contentment. 

The lucky few work at a professional job they genuinely love, so they do not feel the weight of daily work demands. They enjoy every aspect of the work process, enhance their performance and get well paid. 

But what other options do you have?  

Let's compare the money vs. passion work setup to see where you best fit. 

Advantages of Working at a Job You Love 

Life is short. Why wouldn't you want to work at a job that fulfills and motivates you? 

Here are some of the benefits of working for passion. 

1. You will be more productive and driven to excel: More productivity leads to more efficiency at work. The trickle effect is that you also achieve work-life balance important for your emotional, physical, and mental health.

Read Also: Me and My Money: Should I quit My Job Now?

2. You become an inspiration to others: It's only the brave that follow their dreams. And your career choice might encourage someone who yearns to chase their dream and succeed as you did. 
3. You push against the odds to succeed: Working for passion may include being your own boss, with no one to instruct you. In this case, you challenge yourself to reach the heights you envision.
4. Your confidence improves: What could be better or more exciting than doing what you enjoy? You make use of your unique talent, hobbies, and passions, which boosts your confidence.
5. Your motivation continues to soar:  If you are happy with your daily tasks, you also become self-motivated to do more and better. Compared to someone who works at a job they hate, yours is more rewarding. 

Read Also: How Long Should You Stay in One Job Before Leaving?

The Drawbacks of Choosing a Career You Love 

 Earning a living by doing a job you love also has its drawbacks. For example;

1. You might never take much-needed breaks: For most people doing a job they love consumes them until they forget self-care. It's not strange to work 24/7 because you are self-motivated or want to see tangible results. But then, at what cost? You can suffer fatigue, stress, and illness.
2. You might find it hard to maintain a work-life balance: With the aspects of your work on your mind every waking moment, other life aspects might suffer. Think about your relationships and friendships. These are likely to be on the back burner due to the nature of your job. 
3. You might take home less pay: If you start, it may take a while before you properly earn from your natural talent. But again, some reasonable compensation may not be easily available, making you struggle to pay for things like medical insurance.
4. Finally, passions change: You could find yourself changing your mind about your present job. It means you might start all over again, affecting your stability and ability to earn a decent income.

Read Also: How to Change Your Career When You Don’t Know What to do Next

Advantages of Working in a Well Paying Job 

Many people dream of earning huge incomes. Choosing a profession just because of the money might provide your wishes but is that all there is to it?

 Here are some of the benefits of working in a career just for the money;

1.  A good-paying career could provide financial stability: You no longer have to worry about paying bills and meeting your needs and wants because you have an assured good paycheck at the end of the month. 
2. High motivation levels because of the benefits accompanying your work:  Working at a job that gives you good pay helps you to achieve mental satisfaction because you have no worry about achieving your set financial and life goals.
3. Money and position attract massive respect: Who wouldn't want recognition from their fellow staff, family,  or community because they hold a high position in a company? Or because they have some ‘change’?
4. A well-paying job could also mean job security: Many good-paying jobs come with a sense of permanence where employees feel safe and are unlikely to be fired, laid off, or sacked. Job security eliminates the risk and concern of a job ceasing to exist.

It's reassuring to know that you'll have a job waiting for you every morning without fear of losing it.

Read Also: What to Do If You Lose Your Income Mid-Career?

5. You achieve happiness because of your job: Most people in stable, high-paying professional careers have a fulfilled and satisfied mind because they can now meet their needs and desires. You can vacation, pay bills, and fulfill any other dreams and responsibilities without breaking the bank.
6. You can take care of your education and health needs effortlessly:  A key parameter of good pay and benefits is that you can comfortably pay for your health/ education and family without straining.

Read Also: Stability: How to Budget and Save A Lot Early In Your Career

The Drawbacks of Working at a Well-Paying Job 

Some professional jobs can be so demanding and stressful that it doesn’t make sense. Other disadvantages include:

1. Lack of work-life balance: Most high-income earners are where they are because of their hard work. But this can translate into aspects like not joining your family at dinner or upcountry holidays. Hence one side of life suffers.
2. An increasing workload and work hours: Nothing comes for free, so some companies who pay handsomely may also demand too much from you. The targets they set for you may translate into increased work hours, overtime, or a heavy workload. 
3. A well-paying job might limit your chances of growth: There is almost little room for advancement in a high-paying career. At some time, the career gets stagnant. If one has all satisfactions at once, he/she completes his/her vigor to consume more; similarly, if one obtains all requirements from a single work, his/her energy to grow decreases.
4. Work pressure may lead to stress and anxiety: Some of the highest-paying jobs are connected with high levels of stress and tension. There are no margins for mistakes.  Job-related stress is more exhausting than anything else, resulting in physical and mental distress.

Read Also: Money, Wastage & Me: Regrets, Lessons From 10 Years of Employment

How to Prudently Choose Between a Career for Money Vs. Passion 

One of the biggest dilemmas most people encounter between working for money or passion is that working at something you love and simultaneously pay well isn't easy. 

So how can you choose between the two options and not have regrets?

The most sensible thing would be to flip at both sides of the coin and consider; 

1. A career that can sustain you even when you face challenging times: The earning potential of your job. For example, ask if your passion has the chance to create excellent pay along the way or if it's something that will make you struggle forever. If you can not pay for your necessities with a career you love, you would consider it merely a hobby.
2. Your primary motivation for the job: Could it be that you want more time for leisure, which you can't find in your 9 to 5 job? If you want to escape life responsibilities that are part of your professional career, it can be equally hard to maintain your passion and earn from it.
3. Finally, what if you can work both jobs? Because sometimes, you can. If your career is not demanding, you could make a side hustle out of your passion. You have to be careful not to compromise your office job because you are so engrossed in your hustle. 

Read Also: How to Start a Side Hustle When You ‘Don’t Have the Time'

Conclusion

It is true that money is one of the most important factors in today's world, but when it comes to picking a career for the long term, a critical appraisal of oneself is highly suggested to determine if the job would add value to your future growth.

Before accepting a high-paying job offer, you should determine whether to consider future and long-term benefits or to live in the moment with a job that pays well despite the stress, anxiety, long working hours, no or few weekends, no family life, worsening health with increasing strain. A person who wants to balance their personal life with a steady income, on the other hand, will not take a large compensation package. 

The decision is all yours!

‍