A friend of mine who worked in corporate roles followed his passion a few years ago and went to cooking school. Shortly after graduating, he left the cubicles for the kitchen but couldn't really connect with the right opportunity.

About six months ago, he was hired for a position that perfectly combined his showmanship and love of food teaching cooking classes and doing new product demonstrations. He'd be perfectly happy if he wasn't so stressed about the salary reduction he incurred when he dropped out of the corporate world.

Author and career expert Beverly Kaye said at an event where I saw her present last week that you "can't be fully satisfied in life if you don't love what you do," but how can you be satisfied and love what you do when that's not enough to pay the bills?

The answer is: Financial insecurity can be a temporary condition, but your passion can be fueled indefinitely. My friend's love of cooking will drive him to find a good financial solution, but no amount of money could make him passionate about sitting at a desk and staring at a computer.

What do you think? Could lack of money cause your passion to wane? Could a hefty paycheck keep you tied to a job you can't endure?

While you're thinking that over, here's some more business insight we've collected for you to help you advance in your current role, find a new one, gain expert advice and learn what's happening in the marketplace:

Most popular in September:
Business Secrets Your Kids Won’t Learn in School
You’re Teleworking. Are You Camera-Ready?
The Ugly Truth about Your Looks and Job Search
Global Leaders Have Great Ideas Exclusively for You
Opening Innovation, Creating Opportunity

What you may have missed:
This is Getting to be a Drag
Scientists, Designers and their Role in Innovation
Six-Figure Hotline: Résumé Version Control
Creativity and Motivation: What Fuels Talent Today

The blog posts that keep on giving:
The Scam Artist All-Star List
Chief Eccentric Officer
Uncertainty Breeds Success
What You Said: Leadership
The Power of Innovation and Passion
Don't Expect a Recruiter to Meet Your Needs

Robyn Greenspan
Robyn Greenspan is the Editor-in-Chief at ExecuNet, where she is responsible for setting and driving the editorial content engagement strategy across the private business network's publications and expert-led programming. She is also a Huffington Post blogger. You can follow her on Twitter @RobynGreenspan

Add Your Comment

Lessons learned from and about six-figure leadership and executive career management

Rules of Engagement for Executive Insider

Leadership

Dave Opton’s Six-Figure LearningsPatty Azzarello's Business Leadership BlogJohn BaldoniRussell BishopWally Bock's Three Star Leadership BlogGeorge Bradt’s PrimeGenesisBuilding ChampionsCEO Blog – Time LeadershipCrucial SkillsScott Eblin’s Next Level BlogAdrian GostickLeadership FreakDavid LivermoreJohn MaxwellN2Growth BlogDaniel PinkTerry StarbuckerWorking Knowledge

Recruiting/HR/Search Firms

Allen Associates Executive Search BlogThe Asia Pacific HeadhunterAsk the HeadhunterBoston Search Group BlogThe Cynical GirlThe Executive Search Group BlogNorton Folgate: The Recruiting UnblogGESBlogGuerrilla Job HuntingAmitai Givertz’s Recruitomatic BlogHeidrick & Struggles BlogsHR BartenderRecruiting AnimalThe Recruiting Inferno

Career Management

Best Fit ForwardThe Career CatalystCareer ChaosCareerFolkCareer HubCareer Pro TalkCareerowners’ BlogCareer SolversCareer Thought LeadersCareer TrendCFO CoachDesign RésumésElite RésumésExecutive ActionsExecutive Career BrandExecutive Power BrandGet Hired Stay HiredJibberJobberJob Search NewsHire EffectInspired ChoiceKeppie CareersLessons Learned on the Road to KonaMy Executive Career CoachTalent CultureTim’s StrategyTotal Picture RadioPenelope TrunkQunitessential CareersUnbridled TalentSusan WhitcombWorkStrongThe Write SolutionYour Best Impression

Topics

robyn greenspan joseph daniel mccool execunet executive recruiters leadership executive job search executive employment networking job search the economy executive careers dave opton market trends innovation business confidence mark anderson executive job market search firms world business forum recruiter confidence index executive hiring world innovation forum most read search firm hiring index skills popular talent management culture hiring strategy