Playing, Working, or Both? Part 4

Turn Your Play Into Your Work.

For Kevin Carroll, playing meant actually playing! He took a good look at his life and remembered what it was that set him free… an old red rubber ball he found on a playground. He’s spent his life helping adults learn to play again. And, it’s landed him some pretty fantastic jobs which he calls Play because he loves them so much.

Discover your inspiration and chase it for a lifetime.

- Kevin Carroll, Kevin Carroll Katalyst

For me, play means creating. Cooking, decorating, drawing, designing, building a website; if I am creating something, I’m in my element and I am happy. When Kevin started talking about Work and Play I grinned, leaned over and whispered to a friend “Does that sound like me, or what?!?! What do I tell you when you ask what I’m doing?”

“You say ‘I’m playing with WordPress.‘”

Exactly. I may have been hired to build the site, and I may have set hours to accomplish the task, but I’m having the time of my life because I’m creating something. And, when it’s done I’ll feel the pride of a child who’s presented his mother with his first watercolor painting.

I feel very fortunate to have a husband whose job (which he loves!) supports us so that I don’t have to work. This allows me to use my extra time at home to chase my inspirations. In a single day I can cook up a fancy dinner, design a website, and plant a flower garden. But, my work as a web developer is where I can have fun and make some money.

I would rather fail at my dreams of being a writer than succeed at being a lawyer.

- Gretchen Rubin, The Happiness Project

What is Your Play? Can it Work for You?

Now that you’ve got a good idea of what it is you love and you’re making time for it, it’s time to consider whether or not that thing can support you. Even if there’s a chance for a part-time income, why not make it doing what you love to do? It is true that people who love what they do are happier, and their businesses thrive because their clients and customers can see the difference… people who love what they do perform better.

For More Inspiration, Read:

Rules of the Red Rubber Ball: Find and Sustain Your Life’s Work

The Red Rubber Ball at Work: Elevate Your Game Through the Hidden Power of Play

You didn’t think I’d link to my favorite books without using affiliate links did you? Gotta find some way to turn the things I love into profits.