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Passion or Paycheck? How Gen Z Can Balance Purpose with Financial Stability
We’re constantly bombarded with conflicting advice on how to approach our careers: “secure the bag” for financial stability or “follow your passion” for personal fulfilment. Both paths have merit, but the reality for most Gen Z professionals is far more complex. The pressure to choose between stability and purpose can feel overwhelming without the cushion of generational wealth. The truth? Long-term success often lies in finding a strategic balance between the two.
On one end, there are the hustle and grind gurus preaching about the proverbial “securing of the bag”, while on the other hand, there are those voices advocating the pursuit of passion and purpose. They both purport valid arguments and speak to very tangible realities, but sometimes the distinctions can be hard to decipher amid the noise. Thus, yet again, we’re left with the dilemma of CHOICE in the concrete jungle of ADULTHOOD.
For the average young person born to lower or middle-class parents, there’s always the questioning of career choices, especially when the weight of your family’s social mobility and future income potential is on your back. Do I further myself in the job/position/career that pays well, and affords me a good standard of living, but is void of any semblance of true passion and purpose? Or do I follow my heart and pursue the career that lights a fire within me and rejuvenates my soul, but boasts of an unstable and uncertain financial future? Which reality will serve me the BEST in the long run? Or do I need to find the right balance between both?
Moreover, before I go any further, it would be irresponsible to neglect the existence of outliers and exceptions to the rule. We all know or have heard about someone who followed their passions and made it BIG. Similarly, we also know that a person who stuck to a more pragmatic approach soared to the top of the corporate ladder and reaped the bounties of their labour. The lesson is that these individuals represent a select MINORITY. Frankly, the path for the MAJORITY of young people may not be one or the other but rather a combination of BOTH.
As someone deeply passionate about leading a purposeful life and following my dreams, I also temper that thinking with the reality that I may have to do a series of things that I am not super passionate about to get to the phase where all I engage in are passion projects. Oftentimes, the early stages of your career will take root in areas that you are intellectually inclined to but not necessarily tethered to at the heart. When you’re building a solid foundation for yourself and your family, stable finances and investments are crucial. True freedom to do as you please, whenever you please, COSTS. It’s not FREE and in most cases, it requires CAPITAL or a CUSHION.
Furthermore, it is highly unlikely that you will pursue your passion today and succeed tomorrow. Success in most passion areas, especially those that are unconventional, requires TIME. Now, YOU just might be an outlier, but the vast majority aren’t. Most individuals are not supported by the safe boundaries of generational wealth, and so, every step COUNTS. There is limited room for mishaps, faults, uncertainties, and leeway. Sometimes, it’s just about pursuing a career that gets them ahead and increases their income. FULL STOP.
I know your favourite self-help book got you hyped up to take a big leap of faith, but let’s allow good sense to prevail in the same breath. I’m all for BOLD gestures, but do you have a BOLD net to catch you when you fall?
Enjoying a Productive Day at My 9-5 With Some of My Best Peeps
From my observations, I’ve recognised that most individuals comfortably leading passion projects can do so based on their history. A history of making strategic decisions and career choices that allowed them the level of stability, comfort and freedom necessary to go all out on their dreams and passions. Many pursued and nurtured their passions on the side while still leading full-time careers that provided them with the financial freedom to have CHOICES. They didn’t just quit their current jobs cold turkey and plunge into the deep end without a life jacket. They had a vision and took calculated steps to accomplish it over time.
My aim in this article is not to advocate for abandoning your PASSION but rather to nurture and pursue it within REASON. I know you just saw someone on TikTok or YouTube telling you to quit your job or forget about your degree and go all in with your passion, but that reality is NOT for EVERYONE. Even those who consciously navigate that path are well aware of the PITFALLS, OBSTACLES and serious CHALLENGES that will inevitably befall them. It’s no bed of roses, and it’s not for the faint of heart. As Michelle Obama once said, “You can have it all, but not necessarily all at the same time.”
Dreams are essential. They keep us connected to our inner child. They inject us with joy and wonder. They imbue us with something to look forward to, but they can also hoodwink us if we’re not paying attention. Some of you may read this and say, “This doesn’t apply to me”, and that’s okay, but I hope this message reaches those whom it most definitely applies. Life can be cold, hard and unforgiving. You reap what you sow. Don’t venture blindly into waters that you’ve never swum in before. We glorify the risk-takers, but let’s also shine some light on the WISE STRATEGISTS.
Do what you need to do NOW to get to where you want to be in the long run. All honest work is good work. Rome wasn’t built in a day. See every day as an opportunity to lay down one brick in your future mansion. Create a strong foundation that allows you to be a bit more creative with your design later on. Don’t fall into the trap of FALSE HOPES and run behind narratives that aren’t yours. Lead with GOOD SENSE always and seek RESPONSIBLE advice when you need to. Your future self would be most gracious.
