On "Turning a Passion into a Profession": I found this to be extremely true. I was a passionate artist and writer for several years, but never a professional. I became a professional went I knew my life and future depended on it.
I am a professional programmer, which is a creative career. I wrote and drew daily. It was just fun and I enjoyed it. Five days after learning about programming I was a pro, not because I made money at it, but because it was an all consuming passion and I saw it as my ticket out of poverty. It took a year of 50-60 hour weeks, outside of my job, to learn enough to start making money and two more to pay the bills, but I was a pro days after learning about programming.
(Note: That kind of intensity is not sustainable long term. When I started I new my end goal, an entry level position as a programmer. Once I achieved this manageable goal I cut my work load to 30-35 hours a week and got back to a balanced life. DO NOT ATTEMPT a 90-100 hour work week long term. It is very dangerous.)
On "Turning a Passion into a Profession": I found this to be extremely true. I was a passionate artist and writer for several years, but never a professional. I became a professional went I knew my life and future depended on it.
I am a professional programmer, which is a creative career. I wrote and drew daily. It was just fun and I enjoyed it. Five days after learning about programming I was a pro, not because I made money at it, but because it was an all consuming passion and I saw it as my ticket out of poverty. It took a year of 50-60 hour weeks, outside of my job, to learn enough to start making money and two more to pay the bills, but I was a pro days after learning about programming.
(Note: That kind of intensity is not sustainable long term. When I started I new my end goal, an entry level position as a programmer. Once I achieved this manageable goal I cut my work load to 30-35 hours a week and got back to a balanced life. DO NOT ATTEMPT a 90-100 hour work week long term. It is very dangerous.)