I am a believer in the philosophy of doing what you love and the money will follow. If you are passionate about something, you will enjoy doing it, and do it well. If you can turn a hobby into a career, it can only be for the good.
Along those lines, I am passionate about the following areas:
- Music – I started playing the trumpet in grade school, and I took up the guitar in college. I made the mistake of not playing music at all after graduating college, and it was many years before I played my guitar. In the interim, I was a passionate collector of vinyl records and CDs, and came close to opening my own CD store in the late-1980s.
- Stock market – In 1983 I worked at an office that had a communal subscription to the Wall Street Journal and several employees that actively speculated in the market. I was interested enough that I enrolled in Villanova University and obtained my MBA at night. When I finished it, I considered looking for a job in the money management industry. Instead, I stayed with my current employer, which had paid for much of my education, and advanced through the management ranks of that firm.
- Sex – Yeah, not much career opportunities here. Still, worth putting on the list. And I did once look into a franchise opportunity selling adult sex toys. I’m not sure how I would tell my daughters what their Dad did for a living.
- Physical fitness – I was always a heavy, out-of-shape nerd, long before nerds became geeks and, in some circles, cool. When I turned 40, I was badly out-of-shape and decided to do something about it. I’ve lost the fat, improved my strength and eating habits. I’m in the best shape of my life. I enjoy reading about fitness and helping people achieve their goals. I’ve considered opening my own gym, perhaps a franchise, or becoming a personal trainer.
