The power of doing a job you love vs. doing one just to pay the bills
Most of us, at some point in our careers, face the same question (or at least this is what I asked myself):
Am I working to pay the bills, or am I doing something that truly fulfills me?
It’s a dilemma that touches both the head and the heart.
On one side, there’s the need for security, financial stability, and predictability.
On the other hand, there’s the longing for purpose, meaning, and the excitement of waking up energized by the work we do.
Believe me, I did love my Recruitment years, but in the end, I recognized that I was not excited when Monday morning arrived.
When work is just about paying the bills
There is nothing wrong with taking a job for financial reasons. Stability matters. A steady paycheck keeps life moving, covers responsibilities, and offers peace of mind.
But over time, a job that doesn’t connect with your interests or values can feel heavy.
Motivation dips. The workday feels like a countdown to the weekend. You may start noticing a sense of emptiness, or worse, burnout.
Without a sense of purpose, energy leaks away, leaving you stuck in a cycle of “working to live” rather than “living through your work.”
When you love what you do
On the other side of the spectrum lies work that excites you.
A job that aligns with your passions or values doesn’t just give you a paycheck but it gives you energy.
It challenges you in the best ways, sparks creativity, and helps you grow.
Of course, even work you love comes with challenges: deadlines, stress, or the uncertainty that sometimes accompanies following a passion. But the difference is that your “why” sustains you. You’re more likely to bounce back from setbacks because the work feels meaningful.
Why purpose matters
Research shows that people who find purpose in their work are more engaged, more resilient, and often more successful in the long run.
Purpose fuels persistence and innovation. It turns “just another task” into a contribution to something bigger.
It’s not about having the perfect dream job, it’s about feeling that your work matters.
Bridging the gap
The reality is: not everyone can immediately leap from a paycheck job to a dream role.
But there are steps you can take to move closer to purpose:
Find small sparks of meaning in your current role. Maybe it’s helping a client, mentoring a colleague, or improving a process.
Use your current job as a stepping stone. It can fund the education, experiences, or network you need to move toward something more aligned.
Experiment on the side. A passion project, freelance work, or volunteering can bring fulfillment and, eventually, open new doors.
At the end of the day, a job you love fuels your life, while a job without purpose only funds it. Financial stability is important but so is fulfillment.
Even small steps toward aligning your work with what excites and inspires you can transform not only your career, but also your sense of well-being.
If I could go back in time, I’d definitely do things differently. Not because I regret the path I’ve taken (far from it) but because I now see, with hindsight, what a ride it has been (and trust me, it wasn’t always flowers and roses, as we say in Italian 🌹).
I would still choose the same destination: becoming a Coach. But I’d probably take it step by step instead of throwing all my hopes into one basket and saying, “Let’s go!”
Please don’t get me wrong, I’m just being realistic here. The journey was/still is tough, but I couldn’t ask for a better job today. I LOVE, truly love what I do, and I wouldn’t trade it for anything… well, maybe just for one other dream job: being a full-time traveler (my second passion ✈️).
