Follow Your Bliss in an Unsteady Economy?

Things are very up and down with the economy these days. I hear from people who have been downsized and others who have chosen to leave the corporate world and do something else.

When things get rough, people get creative. They get creative about finances and bringing in money and how to survive. That’s why this article on doing what you love in a bad economy really caught my eye. I don’t think it’s always realistic to do what you love, especially if you’ve lost your job and just need some money for your family.

But if you’re in a position when you have some savings, a downturn in the economy might mean that you can switch gears and do what you’ve always wanted. Often when people get let go from a job where they have put in so many hours over the years, they feel bitter about putting in so many years for someone else.

As Laura Waldusky said in the aforementioned article, “I’ve spent most of my professional life making money for other people’s companies.” She opened a jewelry shop after being in the corporate world and wanted to spend some time making money for herself instead of someone else.

Sometimes being let go from a company can give you the motivation to go after your dream when you normally would not. A blessing in disguise perhaps.

Have you changed careers and followed your heart? If you did, what has made the transition successful or not? What advice do you have?