(buzzfeed)

Very few people I know who do what they love to do managed to do it without paying some dues.

Whether it’s having day jobs that are awful (I am raising my hand) while building your dreams, putting in extra hours unpaid (a friend did this and advanced in his career three times as fast while making a big splash in the process) or even delaying luxuries to invest in your talent (the common theme I hear from artists and athletes and entrepeneurs alike)… there’s nothing wrong with paying dues.

There’s something wrong, though, with paying dues endlessly!

At some point in the stream of struggle you need to advance, and if it’s meant to be, you will advance.

Don’t think you’re a loser, don’t feel shame if you’re just getting started… just keep going.

So many people ask me how to get into the world of feng shui because they want to quit their day job and when I tell them that maybe they’ll need that day job a few more years, they think i’m being negative.  It’s not negative; it’s actually my best advice to have real greatness in life.  It has to grow as you grow, not because of tricks and shortcuts and “supercharged” marketing systems.

When it comes down to it, it’s all about how good you are at what you do and how well you can deliver a product to your audience, no matter what you do.  There’s immense pride and value in studying, practicing and organically growing your skill in my mind.

Even Oprah says to do what you have to do until you can do what you want to do… and she’s a trailblazing icon.  So, you know, there may be something to it! xoxo Dana