If It Doesn't Make Dollars It Doesn't Make Sense

Let's talk money. Not in a serious, Wall Street kind of way. More like, "where did all my ice cream money go?" kind of way.

We've all heard it. That saying. "If it doesn't make dollars, it doesn't make sense." It's a bit harsh, isn't it?

Is it Really That Bad?

Some folks get all high and mighty about it. They say it's greedy. They claim it's all about selling out. But honestly?

Is wanting to, you know, eat, really so terrible?

Think about it. You spend hours knitting a scarf. It's beautiful. It's a masterpiece! But if you can't sell it, are you just drowning in yarn?

The Dreaded "Passion Project"

Ah, the passion project. That thing you love doing! That keeps you up at night!

But is your passion project paying your rent? Probably not. Unless your passion is printing money. In that case, call me.

Seriously though, it's tough. Balancing the thing you love with the need to, you know, survive.

We've all been there. Staring at our bills. Wishing our hobbies magically paid for themselves.

So maybe "If it doesn't make dollars, it doesn't make sense" isn't a bad thing. Maybe it's a gentle (or not-so-gentle) nudge.

A nudge reminding us that even artists need to eat.

Or maybe I'm just justifying my love of spreadsheets.

The "Starving Artist" Myth

Let's debunk a myth. The "starving artist" is not romantic. It's stressful.

Ramen noodles for dinner every night? Nope. Living in a drafty attic? Pass.

True artists are resourceful. They find ways to make their art sustainable. They sell prints. They teach classes.

They understand that art and commerce don't have to be enemies. They can be friends!

Think of Andy Warhol. The king of pop art. He understood the power of commercialism.

He embraced it. And he ate more than ramen, I bet.

So, maybe it's not about selling out. It's about smart selling.

The Volunteer Dilemma

Okay, okay, I know what you're thinking. What about volunteering? What about charity? Those don't make dollars!

And you're right. In the traditional sense. But think about the impact.

Volunteering can build skills. It can open doors. It can even lead to paid opportunities down the line.

Plus, good karma is priceless. Though it doesn't pay the electric bill. Sadly.

Even non-profits need to be sustainable. They need funding. They need grants.

They need to make sure their efforts actually help people. Not just make them feel good.

So, even in the world of good deeds, there's a kind of…sense-making.

The Unpopular Opinion

Here it is. My unpopular opinion. "If it doesn't make dollars, it doesn't make sense" is… mostly right.

I know! Gasp! Blasphemy! But hear me out.

It's not about being greedy. It's about being practical. About ensuring your efforts are sustainable.

About being able to afford that extra scoop of ice cream.

It's about valuing your time and your skills. It's about understanding your worth.

It is also about creating value to the world, and get value back.

And sometimes, that worth is measured in dollars. Don't be afraid to ask for it.

Unless you're knitting scarves out of gold. Then maybe you don't need my advice.

"The best things in life are free. But the second best are very, very expensive." - Coco Chanel

So, next time you hear that saying, don't cringe. Smile.

Remember that it's not about selling your soul. It's about feeding your soul.

And maybe, just maybe, buying yourself a little happiness along the way. Because after all, it's not a bad thing to get paid for being happy.