Stop Saying “Do what you love. Love what you do.” It devalues actual work.
That’s not actually the title of the Slate article, but it’s how they label it in the “share” facebook link. And the author has a good point: the pitch to people that they should pursue, at significant sacrifice, a job that they find enriching, can be harmful. It privileges those occupations which are “lovable” at the expense of respect for those occupations which are just plain work, and it drives down wages for those “lovable” occupations (college teaching being the prime example but presumably also such things as a freelance writing career) because too many people are trying to do them for the “reward” of “loving” the job.
Now, granted, many of the commenters observed that even what seem like tedious occupations can provide these intangible rewards, like a home care aide feeling the satisfaction of having made someone’s day a bit brighter. But that’s not the author’s point. Part of her issue is it makes these low-status occupations even more low-status than ever.
The bigger issue for the middle-class is one of decision-making: choose the “lovable” but low-paid, low-stability job or the practical but boring one? Or take the practical job and find your personal fulfillment outside your work life (say, by blogging), or by trying to find ways to make your job more interesting? When I decided to leave my dreams of studying history for the practical world, after all, I told myself, “I can always read as much history as I want in my off-time.” (Though I’d be lying if I didn’t admit that I’d be pleased as punch if I could change careers and work in public policy.)
And in the end, work, in itself, is honorable. There is dignity in performing an honest day’s work, even if it’s flipping burgers. Every spring, as college graduation rolls around and I read of the speeches to the new graduates, I cringe at the exhortations to do something fulfilling, as if putting in an honest day’s work, and saving for the future or supporting a family is unworthy if the work isn’t meaningful.
What about you? Are you Doing What You Love, or putting in an honest day’s work and finding meaning in the rest of your waking hours?
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