There are two types of work:
- Work that you do for fun
- Work that pays the bills
The first is sexy and fuels your creativity. These are typically side projects that you wish would one day turn into a long-term job that pays the bills.
The second type of work is the one you do to live. These are your standard projects and office jobs that support a commercial company. They’re not sexy but they’re reassuring and provide enough cash flow to do more creative work.
The difference between the sexy and the dependable types of work is what Hugh MacLeod calls the Sex and Cash Theory.
There’s always friction to create stuff that matters, at least to you, versus creating stuff that maintains someone else’s bottom line. Both nonetheless complement each other as an influence of skills. It’s all practice, anyway.
The end-goal for all creators is the fusion of sex and cash, to get paid for doing what you love. But even that sometimes runs its course. Whatever you end up doing, at work or on the side, make it a good one!
