Milestone Reached: 10 Years Working Full-time In My Passion

“If you do what you love, you’ll never work a day in your life.”

– Marc Anthony

I’ve always found this quote to be intriguing and optimistic.

The notion that working in your passion should feel so fulfilling that it overshadows and numbs any pains or losses that you’ve endured from doing the work itself. Furthermore, that your passion is one in which you can make enough of a living to satisfy your basic needs and (hopefully) more—live comfortably.

It’s a fascinating idea, but it generally doesn’t become a reality for most of us; even those of us who absolutely love the work that we do.

I do think there is a form of this optimism that is true and obtainable. A world in which you can be completely fulfilled by your work while still appreciating the challenges that you face and overcome.

Challenge builds character and expands knowledge.

Challenge is a catalyst for problem-solving, a skill that has a positive cognitive effect on aging adults.

Challenge invites innovation, a realm in which we foster creativity.

And challenge can feel painful. Setbacks and failures can take a deep emotional, physical and/or financial toll.

At last, challenge can coexist when working in your passion and doing what you love (even when “living your best life!”)

Today marks 10 years since I have been able to work in my passion and do what I love full-time (previously, I had been moonlighting in my passion for 7 years). While my specific adventure within the land of music, creator rights, technology and innovation has changed over time, my focus has always been rooted in a passion for empowering music creators.

I am now 2 years into my current adventure at The Mechanical Licensing Collective as Head of Third-Party Partnerships and 7 years into my adventure at UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music as a part-time music industry professor and I can say that doing what I love is work, but it is work that I appreciate.