Do What You Love Versus Love What You Do
While some may use these phrases interchangeably, they don’t always mean the same thing.
Depending on your personal interpretation, the difference could be subtle or profound. But, more importantly, how does either sentiment affect how you feel about your small business?
I Want to Know What Love Is
The rock band Foreigner first pondered the definition of “love” in 1984. And, while I hope they eventually found their own meaning…let’s break down how love might be defined in the work world.
As a business owner you can love:
the industry you’re in and the products/services you provide
the people you work with - be they employees, customers/clients or vendors
the tasks you do and the satisfaction that comes from doing them
the concept of owning a business and the freedom and financial benefits it provides
This means that there are a lot of different ways one can love his/her business.
(We covered the idea of Work Love Languages in a previous blog. Check it out here.)
Loving WHAT You Do
Let’s say your company makes light bulbs.
You love the fact that your family has been in business for over four generations and that you are carrying on an amazing legacy.
You love that you are able to provide for your family and that, over the years, you have built strong community ties.
BUT, you are indifferent to the delicate design of the light bulb and not personally moved by the art of light bulb making.
Does that mean you can’t say you love your business? No.
This is why I like the phrase “love what you do.”
You can take a big picture approach and a broader definition of love (see list above) and apply it to your own life and business.
That’s how I view my own work. I would not spend my days making spreadsheets because I love doing that particular task, BUT I do love what these spreadsheets accomplish for clients. I love what I do - helping clients meet their marketing goals.
Meanwhile, our marketing communication business provides me the income and freedom to do what I love like travel or cultivate hobbies. To me, this is the distinction between the two phrases and it works well for me.
TIP: As a couple in business, you can divide up the things about the business that you love to do and make them your official roles in the company. We cover this in more depth in this podcast episode but the idea is that your role should be built on the Three Ts.
Time for + Talent for + Take Joy In (love) = Ideal Role
Doing What You LOVE
On the flip side of the WORK/LOVE coin is finding something you love and turning that into a business.
This might apply to a baker who opens a bakery or a musician opening a music school. You are driven by a passion and are building a business around that.
This can work for so many people but there can be a down side to this approach.
My stepdaughter is an amazing photographer. We have several of her images hanging in our home. It was an artistic endeavor that allowed her to express herself. She briefly took on some paid projects - weddings, corporate head shots, etc. - but found that turning her creativity into commerce wasn’t a good fit. It was turning a much loved hobby into drudgery for her.
According to an article on Shopify.com, “A common pitfall for those who turn their hobbies into businesses is that the thing that once brought distraction from work and stress can suddenly become work and stress. When your craft is a hobby, you only answer to yourself. Expectations from customers, vendors, and retail partners can add pressure.”
Reference: https://www.shopify.com/blog/hobby-to-business#
That’s not the case with everyone. Some people choose this path and thrive. These small business owners are using their hobby/passion to meet a need in the marketplace. They have also identified their ideal customers and invested in the tools/systems they need to make it work.
TIP: In some couple-owned businesses, one partner might take on the passion-part of the business (i.e. designing jewelry) while the other takes on the business-part (i.e. managing the books).
This can be perfect for some couples. But be sure to be check-in with each other on how the other is feeling. One might feel overwhelmed at the workload and responsibility to create everything while the other might feel unfulfilled doing the less glamorous parts of the business. Honest communication is key.
“Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life”
Which is Better?
Whether you love what you do or do what you love , it’s important to remember that you WILL have set backs and failures along the way. It’s OK to complain about a client, hate a particular project or dread the occasional Monday morning meeting. That’s normal.
But I’ve see some couplepreneuers feel guilty over those emotions. How can we feel that way when this is our dream? Simple. You are both human. But, as a couple in business, you have the benefit of having a partner who can help you work through those issues. It’ll help when you’re feeling Hot Blooded.
