Passion vs. Paycheck: Which Should Drive Your Career?

If I remember correctly, some years ago, the former president of Ghana said with his own mouth that teachers can never be millionaires in Ghana. Everyone was surprised but that was the hard truth. It’s no news that teachers in Ghana are being underpaid. Right from preschool to the university, teachers are not receiving their works worth. And the fact that our own president said that meant that they’re not even planning on changing that. Now, no one wants to be a teacher anymore because teaching doesn’t pay in my country.

Walk into a preschool in Ghana and ask the kids what they want to be in future. No one would mention that they want to be a teacher and even if someone should, he or should would end up getting laughed at. If even our kids know this then how about adults. But here is that case that we need teachers to educate the next generation or future leaders.

Career choices is very important in everyone’s life and most people take a lot of time to even decide on the career path they want to follow due to how delicate the issue is. For some careers, you might be lucky to have the chance to branch into something else if you don’t have the passion for it anymore but for others , you’re stuck with it for life.

Everyone wants to work at some point in his life, whether for himself or for someone, but the main goal of all this is to make money in order earn a decent living. But then, the question for the day is, does what earns you a living make you happy? Are you happy doing what you do or you just need the money?

For me, I’d say it goes both ways. One should choose a career path for passion and for the money. But not everyone gets things that way and that’s fine. If you can, I’d advise you go for what you’re passionate about which also pays. Because it’s just in human nature to give in more when doing something you’re good at or something that has your heart. That doesn’t mean that you can’t develop the passion for something you once weren’t passionate about along the line. Everyone has his own journey.

At the end of the day, make sure your bills are being paid, make sure you’re happy, make sure you’re earning enough and your works worth and make sure you’re working in a place you are love and are being valued. Whether for passion or for money, at least there’s a purpose.

all images belong to me.