From the Editor
Don't Follow Your Passion. Follow Your _______________
I left the title blank at the end for a reason. You can fill it in with the word of your choosing. For Mark Cuban, that word is "effort."
In fact, Cuban says that following your passion is some of the worst advice anyone could give or get. Just because you are passionate about something doesn't mean you can make a living at it.
Remarking about his own passions, Cuban said:
"I used to be passionate to be a baseball player. Then I realized I had a 70-mile-per-hour fastball. Competitive major league pitchers throw fastballs in the range of 90-plus miles per hour."
(He felt similarly about basketball but only had a 7-inch vertical. So, instead of playing, he bought the Dallas Mavericks.)
Cuban's advice is if you really want to know where you destiny lies, look at where you apply your time.
"Time is the most valuable asset you don’t own," Cuban says. "You may or may not realize it yet, but how you use or don’t use your time is going to be the best indication of where your future is going to take you."
He backs his assertion with this reasoning:
- When you work hard at something, you become good at it.
- When you become good at doing something, you will enjoy it more.
- When you enjoy doing something, there is a very good chance you will become passionate or more passionate about it.
- When you are good at something, passionate and work even harder to excel and be the best at it, good things happen.
Perhaps Steve Jobs got the cart before the horse when he said, "You've got to find what you love. The only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven't found it yet, keep looking."
According to Cuban, it's the other way around. Putting in the effort will lead you to your passions, a job you love, and success in whatever way you define it. In his mind, effort trumps passion every time.
(Do you agree or disagree? Reply with a comment.)
Photo by Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America - Mark Cuban, CC BY-SA 2.0
Paul Chaney
Top Pick
Why Now Is a Good Time to Start Freelancing
Companies are implementing employment freezes and hiring freelancers to fill the gaps. That means now is the perfect time to consider freelancing as a career. There are other reasons, too, like more flexibility, unlimited earning potential, and greater job security (you are your own boss).
Not ready to jump in headlong? Forbes says...
forbes.com"If you want to transition to working for yourself slowly, freelancing is a great way to test the waters. As a freelancer, you can experiment with different product and service offerings to see which ones are more profitable than others."
Podcast
FA50 Podcast: Interview with Carol J. Alexander — How to Pick a Marketable Niche
My guest on the latest Freelancing After 50 podcast is Carol J. Alexander, a freelance writer and content marketer. Carol shares her freelancing journey, talks about the importance of finding a marketable niche, and discusses the need for self-care. It's an informative episode you don't want to miss! (Here's a tip: Have a red and blue pen handy.)
anchor.fm
Resources
Doing the Work You Love — It's Not 'What' But 'How' That Matters
In his book, "So Good They Can't Ignore You: Why Skills Trump Passion in the Quest for Work You Love," author Cal Newport agrees with Mark Cuban's assertion that following your passion isn't all it's cracked up to be. He says not only does passion have little to do with how most people end up loving their work, but it can also be dangerous, leading to anxiety and chronic job hopping.
Newport prescribes another approach:
amazon.com"Passion comes after you put in the hard work to become excellent at something valuable, not before. In other words, what you do for a living is much less important than how you do it."
Opportunity
Do the (Side) Hustle
Not ready to jump into freelancing full-time. Maybe a side hustle is right for you. LinkedIn says 93% of Americans have a second job.
Website hosting company Nexcess offers a free side hustle playbook to get you started. In it, you'll learn how to:
- Pick a niche product (or service).
- Make a business plan.
- Find customers and start earning.
(In case you remember the 70s, this song may inspire you to get motivated.)
Freelancing After 50
News
Freelance, Side Hustles, and Gigs, Oh My!
Gone are the days when a person worked for a company their entire career. Now, freelancing, side hustles, and gig work is the norm.
The American Opportunity Survey found that 36% of Americans identify as independent workers, a trend that McKinsey calls a "seismic shift."
mckinsey.com
Jobs
In-demand Jobs for Older People
Yes, Virginia, companies do hire older workers. (Ageism be damned!) Here are 15 jobs you may want to investigate. Some, like nursing, are part- or full-time; others are freelance and side gigs.
usnews.com
Marketing
Get Listed as a Service Provider on LinkedIn
LinkedIn is where I hang my professional hat most often for good reason: It's the land of freelance job opportunity. Now, there's a new(ish) way for you to showcase your services — Open for Business.
If you are a service provider, it's certainly worth checking out. I did.
linkedin.com
Trivia
Stop Cooking Chicken in NyQuil *or* Why Cough Medicine Isn't a Good Marinade
There's a new social media trend making the rounds: cooking chicken in NyQuil.
You heard me right. Videos popped up on TikTok and Instagram purporting that people are doing just that... and the FDA says stop!
And we thought mixing Mentos and Coca-Cola was a bad idea.
cnet.com
Quick Hits
Before we wrap up, here's a few quick hits from around the web worth reading:
- Freelancers Today Have More Options Than Ever Before (Entrepreneur)
- Freelancing Provides Far More Job Security Than a 9 to 5 (Medium)
- Know When To Outsource to and Hire Freelancers (The Tilt)
And Finally...
I would love to connect with you via social media. LinkedIn is my social network of choice. Also, visit the Freelancing After 50 website, podcast, and online store featuring "greypreneur" products like t-shirts, caps, and tote bags.
If there's a topic you would like to see covered in the newsletter or podcast, reply to this email and let me know.
Finally, if you like the newsletter, become a subscriber and share it with your 50 and older freelancer friends. Thanks!
Paul Chaney