The Importance Of Doing Work You Love

Transitioning from a pharmacist to a career in technology was surprisingly easy and enjoyable for me. Now, before you assume that learning to code is a piece of cake (I wish it was 😅), let me share why this switch felt natural and fulfilling.

Discovering A Love For Coding

The reason the transition was smooth for me was simple: I found genuine joy in (almost) every aspect of coding. Learning new technologies, breaking down complex problems, and logically arriving at solutions excited me. Even debugging fascinated me. It became evident when I found myself dreaming about coding solutions or brainstorming while having dinner 🧠. Things that should have been irritating or ‘hard-work’ were, although challenging, an enjoyable challenge that I persevered through as a result.

Take my initial learning on FreeCodeCamp for example. I started with their ‘responsive web design' course which was 300 hours (no, that wasn't a typo). That would be enough to make any sane person log off and choose another hobby to pursue, but not me. During those 300 hours, I felt as though I was playing an addictive game. I'd eagerly come home from work, excited to indulge in coding 👩🏾‍💻. Admittedly, I might sound like a major geek, but I couldn't get enough of it.

The Impact Of Doing Work You Love

Coding opened up a new perspective for me—a realisation that a job could be much more than just a means to fund the life I desired. It could be something I'm genuinely eager to learn, do, and contribute to, making a positive impact in the process 🌅. Ultimately, being part of the life I desired.

As Nival Rivakant wisely put it, "Do work that feels like play to you but work to others." Embracing work that ignites your passion is crucial for several reasons:

💡Better Work: When you love what you do, you naturally put more effort and creativity into it, leading to better results.

💡Meaningful Work: Work that resonates with your passion gives you a sense of purpose and fulfilment.

💡Improved Happiness: Finding joy in your work enhances your overall happiness and well-being.

💡Inspiring Others: Your enthusiasm for your work can inspire others to pursue their passions or excel in their own jobs.

💡Improved Team Morale: Your positive energy and dedication can uplift the entire team and create a more productive work environment.

So therefore, when assessing the impact of doing work you don't love/hate, it can be detrimental to not only you but those around you.

Finding Work You Love

Now, the question arises, how do you discover work that you genuinely love 🤔? Here are some tips to help you on your journey:

1. Revisit Your Childhood Dreams: Reflect on what you aspired to become when you were young. A young, curious and naive mind often sees the world for all its possibilities. When I was little, I wanted to be a fashion designer and although I no longer wish to design fashion, from this I realised that I've always loved creating and designing. The ability to have an idea and engineer an end product is so gratifying. Ultimately, Childhood dreams often hold clues to your innate passions.

2. Take a Personality Test: Personality quizzes or assessments will enable you to gain insights into your natural inclinations and interests. There are a few good ones here and here.

3. Try Different Things: Don't be afraid to explore different hobbies and activities. Trying various endeavours can help you discover what truly resonates with you.

4. Choose to love your work: Identify one piece of your job you enjoy. It could be seeing the smile on a patient's face after you solve their issue or how you are able to develop yourself personally through the job. Focus on this one thing, enlarge it and use it to fuel your enthusiasm.

Conclusion

Embracing work you love can be a life-changing decision. The journey to finding work that feels like play may not always be straightforward, but the rewards are immeasurable.

Read more about career switching in this previous blog post 👉🏾 click me

Until next time,

Ruth