At some point in our lives, we may find ourselves at a crossroad. Passion or profession? Should you choose a stable, secure profession and die of boredom? Or pursue your passion which could turn into a pipe dream?

Lunching with the GM and the head of operations a couple of days ago, our discussion turned to our kids. The GM related with pride her son’s recent recital at the UP conservatory of music. Her son, according to her, was earning enough from giving music lessons and doing other related stuff to live on his own.

The head of operations then told us his daughter’s story. From a very young age, she yearned to be a fashion designer. He gave her his full support, even sending her to a top-notch fashion school abroad. On her third year, his daughter told him that no matter how hard she tried, she knew she would never be as good as some of her classmates. Because of this, she decided to stop her studies and come home. She went to teach at a local school, a career she eventually learned to love.

I could very well empathize with their situation. My son has loved the arts, especially music, since he was a child. He took up marketing and majored in advertising, hoping to vent his artistic talent through this medium. Sure enough, he found a job after school, but he was not happy. A few months ago, he asked my permission to work part time so he could devote more time to his music. His worried mother and I reminded him that a musician’s life was not easy. He could not be dissuaded, however, and we had no choice but to throw our support behind him.

At a crossroad
At some point in people’s lives, they may find themselves standing at a crossroad. Passion or profession? Which path should one take? Should you choose a stable, secure profession and die of boredom? Or should you pursue your passion, which could turn into a pipe dream?

It depends.

If you are a talent whose lucky star rose early, then pursuing your passion will not be a problem. Just look at the successful young artists shining in the field of music, dance, drama, cinema and other arts, at the number of young TV newscasters who’ve made a name for themselves early, and at those young sports professionals who excel in their chosen fields.

If you are a talent still waiting in the wings, but with the financial muscle (such as rich parents) to back you up on your way to the top, again, pursuing your passion will not be a problem. Many late-blooming artists and sportsmen had to lean on their parents (or other people) before they hit it big.

But what if you are an undiscovered talent with no financial backup? Which path should you choose? A comfortable existence without passion? Or a life of passion without a comfortable existence?

From a practical standpoint, the most logical thing to do would be to look after one’s physical needs first. And once financially secure, you can then cultivate your passion. In the HR field, for example, a group of top HR professionals have done just that, forming a band to show off their artistic talents outside office hours.

A number of successful professionals have also indulged in their passions outside of their professions. Many exercise their writing skills in regular editorial columns in newspapers and other publications. Others display their dramatic prowess by joining drama groups. In a way, these people have followed Maslow’s hierarchy of needs -- i.e., taking care of their physiological, security, acceptance and other needs first before moving to self-actualization.

The flip side
At the other end of the spectrum, however, are the hordes of struggling artists barely eking out a day-to-day existence, giving everything up to perfect their art or skills and hoping to gain recognition and fame. How many sportsmen have given up their careers and comfortable lifestyles, hoping to become the best in their field and win that elusive gold? Regrettably, not all can be an Onyok Velasco. Many have fallen by the wayside -- forsaken, destitute and heartbroken.

But should you forsake or delay your dream for security? Must you be secure first before you can pursue your passion? Or can you have both? Consider the stories of these three people:

My former boss was a lawyer by profession with a passion for singing. Although he had a good voice, he knew from the start that he would never become rich as a professional singer -- he just did not have the looks (if you know what I mean) -- and he knew his singing voice would not last forever. For him, the chance to sing in public (and get paid for it) was already a measure of success. So, he sang in local clubs or nightspots in the evening and pursued his law degree by day, his singing even helping to defray school expenses.

After graduation, he joined the HR profession and later became an HR manager. But to this day, despite his high position and good pay, he has not given up his passion. Three nights a week, he can still be heard singing at a local club.

A friend became an engineer due to his engineer father’s insistence. However, his real passion lay in dealing with people, not machines. So even as he worked as a cadet engineer, he often got himself involved in HR activities. He was a director in the Labour-Management Council, the chairman of various employee committees such as sports, recreation and socials. To enrich his interaction skills, he read books on behavior and social dynamics, and he attended (sometimes begging to sit in) as many behavioral seminars and workshops as he could.

His people abilities caught the attention of the HR manager, who offered him the vacant position of personnel relations officer. From there, he rose to become the HR director of a large multinational company.

A nurse’s story
Now, the following story is one that I really like.

At an international resort hotel where I worked a few years back, we had a nurse who loved cooking. She took up nursing to be able to go abroad and help her parents. Unfortunately, at the time, there was no external need for nurses, so she wound up working in our clinic.

This nurse loved cooking so much she would give all kinds of excuses to visit the kitchen and watch the kitchen staff work. And unable to bear it any longer, she asked for a transfer to the kitchen. She was willing to start at the lowest level, even if it meant a demotion and a pay cut.

Unfortunately, her request was disapproved because of her unrelated background and lack of experience. However, the executive chef, sensing her passion, offered her a deal. During her off-hours, she could come to the kitchen to observe. If after six months, there was an opening in the kitchen, she could compete with the other applicants and, if she hurdled the tests, he would endorse her transfer.

In the next three months, the nurse studied hard. She devoured all the books the kitchen staff gave her. She attended all kitchen lectures and workshops. She observed, asked questions and immersed herself in training. On the fourth month, there arose a vacancy. She took the qualifying exams, together with fresh HRM graduates and experienced staff from competing establishments. Of course, she copped the position.

But her story did not stop there. In the next few years, she rapidly rose through the ranks. On her second year, she became a chef-de-partie (supervisory level). On her fourth year, she was a sous chef (section manager). Now, eight years later, she is working abroad, just as she had envisioned originally -- but as executive sous chef with the same hotel chain, her dream fulfilled. A long way to go for a nurse with a passion for cooking!

I know of other people who went the same route, who refused to relinquish passion for profession. They compromised profession in pursuit of passion -- and emerged winners. What can be gleaned from their stories and struggles is their possession of certain common denominators -- patience and perseverance to pursue their passion, and the determination to succeed.

So, do you have what it takes to chase your passion and succeed?