Do What You Love

You know that old Mark Twain quote—

“Find a job you enjoy doing, and you will never have to work a day in your life”?

I think about that often.

For me, it’s about putting my thoughts into writing, building my website, learning new skills, chasing speaking opportunities, and constantly investing in ME, Inc. Truthfully, none of these things have paid me what I want yet, but the fulfillment they bring is priceless. Traveling, learning, writing, speaking, and growing—it’s the stuff that makes me feel alive.

For most of my life, I only knew work as “find a job that covers the bills.” Joy or passion rarely factored in. That is—until I met my Daniel and saw firsthand how someone could actually turn their passion into a source of income. It shifted my whole perspective.

Now, I don’t just want a paycheck. I want a new way of working—one where I can wake up excited, aligned, and free because I’m doing what I love and getting paid for it.

Have you ever looked back on your life and realized that you’ve always had an admiration for other things? For me, it was traveling, writing, and speaking. Probably similar to me, in your early twenties, you even tried to chase that dream. I completed a travel agent certification program and landed my first “real” role as a reservation agent for a travel wholesale company. That’s where I got my very first passport—and soon, I was flying off to the Caribbean Islands, Mexico, and Central America. I discovered my love for traveling even more than I ever imagined.

But then life shifted. You may have had a similar experience. The September 11 attacks changed my life overnight. Suddenly, the path I’d worked so hard to build disappeared. And with bills waiting—rent, utilities, car note, car insurance—I felt the pressure. “Doing what you love” had to take a back seat. I needed stability and speed.

So I pivoted. You may have faced a similar decision, choosing a profession that promised higher earning potential. I let temporary circumstances reroute my life. And before you knew it, this pattern carried on for nearly two decades—chasing careers that kept me financially afloat, but not necessarily connected to my passions.

Have you ever thought to yourself—if you had accepted the struggle earlier and focused more on growing yourself, how different might life have looked? If death is inevitable, why not “go for broke” and do what you love?

One of my favorite sayings comes from Dave Ramsey: “Live like no one else so you can live and give like no one else.” Trent Hamm, a contributor on The Simple Dollar, once unpacked that phrase beautifully:

“If you live in a challenging way right now, you’ll be able to enjoy incredible opportunities and advantages later. Almost every person who has accomplished something great in their life went through some very challenging period (or periods) to get there: executing obsessive hours of practice, living in poverty or near-poverty, spending countless late nights building up a project, and so on.”

When you think about it, some of the most well-known success stories followed that exact path. Steve Harvey, Tiffany Haddish, and Tyler Perry—all experienced homelessness or near-homelessness. Yet the common thread is clear: they “went for broke” with their talent. They poured every resource, every ounce of time and energy into mastering their craft. Eventually, preparation aligned with opportunity, and their “lucky break” appeared. Seneca, the Roman philosopher, said it best: “Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity.”

Now, when I looked at Daniel—someone who has chosen that “go for broke” path and is genuinely doing what he loves—I can see the difference. Three traits stand out clearly: self-discipline, patience, and faithfulness. Watching him reminds me that those same traits are available to me and to you as well.

Self-discipline

Daniel’s personal training runs on autopilot. No matter where he is, whether in Thailand, the United Arab Emirates, or Ghana, he weaves training into his daily schedule like clockwork. When we visited Labadi Beach in 2019, I accompanied him to the beach. The workout was brutal and challenging, but the heat from the sun made it almost unbearable. By the time we got back to our Airbnb, I was sprawled out on the floor, hot and miserable.

Then I noticed him—just sitting there, staring into space. Naturally, I asked what was on his mind, maybe expecting something deep or reflective. Instead, he looked at me and said he was thinking about how he was going to train again that evening. Really, babe?!

But that’s when it clicked. He’s built a habit of making those daily intangible deposits—consistent effort, discipline, focus—that will one day reap very real, tangible rewards. Watching him in that moment reminded me that success doesn’t happen by accident. It’s the little deposits, repeated daily, that compound into greatness.

Stephen R. Covey, author of The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, refers to this as the inside-out approach. It means that private victories must come before public victories. You have to make and keep promises to yourself before you can make and keep promises to others.

Watching Daniel’s consistency reminded me of that truth. His daily training isn’t just about physical fitness—it’s about the inner discipline he’s cultivated. Those private wins, the ones nobody sees, are the very thing that set the stage for the public victories everyone will one day celebrate.

And that’s the challenge for you too: to show up for yourself first, to make those small, often invisible deposits every single day—because those are the very deposits that compound into the life you’ve been dreaming of.

Patience

In the words of my husband, “it’s not easy.” And isn’t that the truth for any of us trying to do what we love? He has been fighting an uphill battle since 2007, chasing his dream of playing professional football. After years of playing amateur ball in the United Arab Emirates, he finally got what looked like his “lucky break.” While we were vacationing in Thailand for my birthday, he received the call—an invitation to play for Al Jazira Football Club in Abu Dhabi.

But here’s the thing about dreams: they rarely come without obstacles. Visa issues kept him from joining the team in Holland for pre-season. By the time he returned, the coach had already formed his squad, and he was moved down to train with the second division. Later, he signed with another club, Al Fujairah, only to face a different roadblock—the Ghana Football Association refused to release him as a free agent. He even had to stand before the Players’ Status Committee to fight for his freedom.

And yet… he never lost his calm. His patience amazes me. Watching him reminds me of Habakkuk 2:3:

“This message is about a special time in the future. This message is about the end, and it will come true. Just be patient and WAIT FOR IT (emphasis added). That time will come, it will not be late.”   –Habakkuk 2:3 (Easy Read Version)

Friend, I’m sharing this with you because perhaps you’re in your own season of waiting. Maybe you’ve been planting seeds that haven’t sprouted yet, or doing the work without seeing the reward. Let Daniel’s journey encourage you: the delay is not the denial. Your “special time” is coming. Be patient. Stay faithful. Keep showing up. Because one day, all those private victories will blossom into the public victory you’ve been dreaming of.

Faithfulness

Despite setback after setback, my husband never stopped believing—believing in himself, believing in the game, and most importantly, believing in God. That unwavering faith is what fuels him. He stays in a constant state of preparation—mentally and physically. For him, all roads lead back to football. It’s not just a sport, it’s his life. From what he watches on TV, to what he scrolls on social media, to how he spends his free time—it all connects to the game.

And he doesn’t just stop at routine training. He’s committed to growth, always searching for new grounds to stretch himself. Here’s an example: our first New Year’s Day together, we went on a desert safari. Picture it—miles and miles of golden sand dunes as far as the eye could see. My first thought? “Wow, this would make a stunning backdrop for a photo.” His first thought? “These dunes are perfect for training.”

That moment reminded me—and I want to remind you—that perspective shapes everything. Where one person sees scenery, another sees opportunity. The question is: what are you choosing to see in your own life?

Similar to bamboo tree farmers, who faithfully water and nurture seeds for years without seeing a single sprout, Daniel has nurtured his talent for years without seeing any immediate or “noteworthy” returns. And yet—he’s not shaken. The lack of visible results doesn’t stop him from expecting a breakthrough in the future.

If I’m honest with you, these are the very traits I’ve struggled with the most. Patience. Faithfulness. Self-discipline. Watching him has been both humbling and convicting, because embracing this new way of working means I also have to accept the truth: it may take months, or even years, before the true fruits of my labor show up.

But here’s the part I want you to hear—delay is not denial. Regardless of the struggle, you and I must both remain committed to the process of growth. That means immersing ourselves in preparation, even when no one’s watching, even when the results aren’t instant. Because one day, like bamboo that suddenly shoots up after years of hidden growth, your breakthrough will come. And when it does, you’ll be ready.

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