A great career is built at the intersection of things you like and things that people value and are willing to pay you for.
But it takes a long time to arrive at that intersection.
When you are young, those two zones are far apart. You have things you like, and you have some limited skills that others value, but there is likely very little overlap.
To start closing the gap, you start working on both things.
You pursue the things you like in a professional and public manner. It could be blogging, podcasting, or starting a side business.
At the same time, you do what others value. You get a job, you find freelance work, you don’t worry about what it, you just find ways to make money.
As you work, both zones expand and converge. You get new opportunities that more closely bridge the gap. Someone is willing to pay you for a skill related to your hobby and you’re able to focus your job on the aspects you like more.
You continue moving forward and the opportunities that are available to you continue to be more aligned with your interests.
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