was quite the sensation. With that headline, how could it not be? Might as well write a piece on Why Mothers are Overrated.  She's right, of course, in this sense: Just because you love something doesn't mean you can make a business or a living out of it. On HBR.org,  before creating a vocation out of an avocation.  These problems are pretty self-evident. But Dorie's fourth observation, "You're skilled at your passion -- but hate the work that surrounds it," struck home for me.  My friend, an avid fly fisherman, got it in his head to open a store devoted to serving these passionate sportsmen and women. His location was great -- not an Orvis in sight to compete with. He knew the equipment backward and forward. He had work experience in retail, although not on the management side. And he had enough cash and two investors to fund his startup for at least two years.  But what he didn't have was an innate sense of how cash flow works, or any inclination that he should bone up on the subject. Running a small business without positive cash flow is like a doctor trying to keep alive a patient whose vital signs are failing one by one. The flatline is not long in coming.  It turns out my friend had a great business, which he discovered  he sold out to one of his investors -- someone who had his own passion to grow a small business using proven business principles. My fishing buddy was skilled as his passion, but hated the work around it.  Have you talked yourself out of following your passion? Are you still happy you did?
Follow your passion is pretty much common advice these days. But before you make that momentous jump, consider why an avocation may not be a good vocation.