Chapter 1: The Essence of True Profit

Why do you work? If your only response is “to earn money,” you may find yourself limited in the overall rewards you can achieve in life. Profit extends beyond mere financial gain. It encompasses all the benefits derived from your existence. While money is indeed a form of profit, so is joy, providing service, engaging in meaningful activities, nurturing value-based relationships, pursuing knowledge, and maintaining energy and health. When your sole motivation is monetary, it becomes challenging to realize these other forms of profit.

My journey has taken me through various roles—street performer, actor, comedian, speaker, and author. These are all endeavors I passionately pursued, often without any monetary compensation initially. I focused on what brought me joy, and as a result, the financial rewards followed, along with many other fulfilling aspects of life.

Although I have never read "Do What You Love, and the Money Will Follow," I intuitively grasp its essence. The professions I've thrived in may not be the obvious choices for making money, yet they have provided me with a substantial income for years. There truly is no substitute for engaging in what you love; it generates the resources necessary for self-discovery and maximizing your contributions to the world.

My passion for making people laugh led me to perform at a public market in Vancouver, BC, where I relied on audience donations. This joyful endeavor eventually caught the attention of a Fortune 100 executive, leading to my first corporate gig and the beginning of my career as a sought-after entertainer and speaker.

Seek opportunities to do more of what you love. When you immerse yourself in activities that ignite your passion, people are drawn to you. If you feel trapped, lacking the time or resources to pursue your interests, start small. Dedicate just five minutes a day to writing, painting, drumming, or any other activity that excites you. By allowing your interests to flourish, you'll discover creative ways to integrate them into your life.

Don’t lose hope. Initially, it can just be a hobby, but if you continue sharing your passion with others, someone will eventually recognize your worth and compensate you for it.

It saddens me to see individuals spending a significant portion of their lives engaged in unfulfilling work solely to pay the bills. I genuinely wish everyone could find a way to do what they love for a living. While it may not be feasible for everyone, countless individuals suffer unnecessarily in jobs they despise simply because they are disconnected from their true selves.

But how can someone be unaware of who they are? Interestingly, as people age, many drift further from their authentic selves rather than closer. This phenomenon often stems from early experiences of being seen and loved unconditionally for who we are. Those who lacked such affirmations may need to reconstruct their thinking to reclaim their authenticity, courageously reconnecting with their essential interests and seeking supportive communities.

Regardless of your upbringing—whether it was nurturing or challenging—it's possible to rediscover activities that bring you joy. The key is to experiment and explore.

Currently, I'm engaged in a personal experiment by publishing on Medium. After decades as a performer and presenter, the pandemic interrupted my corporate engagements, prompting me to ponder my next steps. Writing, a long-held passion, is what I'm embracing now. While the outcome is uncertain, I feel compelled to engage wholeheartedly in this new chapter.

What about you? What activity could be worth your time to explore further? At the very least, find a hobby that excites you. Connect with others who share your interests, allowing them to see and know you in moments of joy. That is the fundamental secret.

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