Steve Pavlina (who is the man) wrote an article called “How To Earn Your First Love Dollar“. In it, he poses the question,
“If you really commit yourself to the idea, can you earn $1 from doing something you love?”
He then goes on to say,
“Very often people who are stuck in the pattern of doing work they dislike will shun simple opportunities to earn small amounts of money doing something they love.”
Hm. Stuck in a pattern of doing work I dislike? Check. Shun simple opportunities to earn small amounts of money doing something I love? Well…I don’t know about shun, but – no - I haven’t actually presented the opportunity. Um. Check, I guess.
I give myself plenty of opportunities to get paid for work I am pretty good at, but don’t care about. And because I don’t care, I never push for more. I don’t care if I do it again or not, and I simply move on to the next ‘opportunity’.
What do I love? What do I care about? I love writing; I love helping people; I love this blog. And I love dancing.
Steve Pavlina, you have thrown down the gauntlet, and I will meet your challenge, sir! The goal? Make a dollar doing something I love. This is where you come in. If you enjoy the awesomeness that is PersistentIllusion, please donate a lil’ somethin’ somethin’.
If 100 people would donate a penny, or 10 people donate a dime, if 4 people donate a quarter, or if 1 person donates a dollar – I will have met my goal…making a dollar doing something I love.
And since I would never leave my beloved readers high and dry, after I make my love dollar I will post a video of me dancing. That’s right. Me. Dancing. This way I get paid a dollar for doing two things I love! Because efficiency is awesome.
Even if you don’t donate, I think this would be amazing to try in your own life. A dollar. For doing something you love. Can’t be that hard…right? I would lovelovelove to know how you earned your ‘love dollar’. Please come back and share what is sure to be a pretty interesting story!
As for me? I have already paid my husband a doller for doing something he loves. 
Success!
I have already made two dollars for doing something I love! Not only am I doing a happy dance in my head, I will be doing one in digital format. (You lucky readers, you!) But just because my quest is finished doesn’t mean I am not quivering in anticipation to see how you guys make your love dollar.
14 comments
Comments feed for this article
July 17, 2008 at 7:31 am
dreemwhrld
*cheers* here’s to (1) your blog and (2) your dancing. I do miss watching you dance (and dancing with you!).
hayden tompkins says:
You’ve got some smooth moves of your own, lady!
July 17, 2008 at 1:49 pm
sedgehammer
What an awesome idea! A love dollar! I’m going to go out and find mine RIGHT NOW!
hayden tompkins says:
WOOHOO! And please do let us know what happens.
July 17, 2008 at 2:19 pm
Connie
Anticipation…are your ready? I have sold homemade scarves and jewelry. I have a very hard time selling the stuff I love b/c so much of me goes into each piece I make, I tend to give stuff away! Are you still taking donations? Perhaps we could suggest stuff for you to do
hayden tompkins says:
Suggest…stuff? You can’t tell, but I am looking at you very warily right now. Whatever do you have in mind?
July 17, 2008 at 2:23 pm
froggywoogie
I am happy today: I discovered two great blogs just by logging into my WordPress account. Yours is one of them.
When I was on Blogger, I used to own a blog with the name “it’s all illusion anyway” and I had used this very same Einstein quote as subtitle.
I am saving you in my favorites as well.
This post really made me look at myself because even though I have a regular job with not so bad incomes I’m continuously broke and I keep wishing I’d do this and that if I could afford it. As a result, I feel empty because I don’t accomplish some desires. Thank you for this clever post, I’m going to brainly chew it again and again
hayden tompkins says:
I love how the internet brings like minded people together!
July 17, 2008 at 2:54 pm
daffy
Will you still remember me when you are rich and famous and even more fabulous.
)
What did your husband do….
) 
) ;o)
hayden tompkins says:
Of course I would! For it is you who has introduced me to the delights of hedgehogs.
“What did your husband do….” I do believe that information is protected by spousal privilege.
July 17, 2008 at 3:05 pm
Night Writer
In the words of English writer Cyril Connolly:
“I should like to see the custom introduced of readers who are pleased with a book sending the author some small cash token: anything between half-a-crown and a hundred pounds … Not more than a hundred pounds – that would be bad for my character – not less than half-a-crown – that would do no good to yours.”
hayden tompkins says:
Do I, mayhap, spy a new favorite author?
July 17, 2008 at 4:43 pm
Why Stats Don’t Matter « Persistent Illusion
[...] What matters, really matters, is that together – you and I, my love muffins - are dedicated to making real, sustainable changes in our lives. To living on purpose. To exploding our passions. To loving and serving the world. To knitting some hats. And maybe even, to making some love dollars. [...]
July 17, 2008 at 5:33 pm
johnnypeepers
Good luck on the fund-raising effort. I would throw a little jack your way but I am on hard times as of late. Peace be upon you
hayden tompkins says:
Oh, no – the fundraising is over. I raised 200% of my goal – yippee! I hope everything perks back up for you; I know it will.
July 17, 2008 at 9:50 pm
kibblesbits
Couldn’t resist!
hayden tompkins says:
Wow, thank you.
July 18, 2008 at 1:04 pm
Connie
Tapping finger to head…hmmmm…really I was just kidding!
hayden tompkins says:
Phew! That’s a relief. To be honest, I am very excited though. I get to pick music, rent a camcorder, and work out some smooth smooth dance moves.
Now if I only could get the bike store to ship me my bike, everything would be peachy.
July 18, 2008 at 3:36 pm
Have You Even Tried? « Persistent Illusion
[...] thank you Alltop. And thank you to those of you who donated. I was paid $23 (!) for doing something I love – writing this blog. ($21 of those dollars came [...]
July 18, 2008 at 6:56 pm
Kismetta
If I had a PayPal account, I would totally donate. I am sending you a LoveHuggle ™ your way instead
I think what you do is fabulous and inspiring – and your passion/love for this blog really shows through.
hayden tompkins says:
I totally :heart: hugs!
July 19, 2008 at 6:55 pm
Kip de Moll
“Oh, no – the fundraising is over…”
Is that why my donation didn’t go through? Or is my bank account empty again?
My heart is full, anyway. (and so’s my belly, maybe I should send YOU my brookies).
hayden tompkins says:
Brookies!
I don’t know about a donation – I didn’t see anything about it. I appreciate the thought!
July 28, 2008 at 11:34 am
David’s Food Fund « How To Get Your Novel Published
[...] The second type is even more widespread, I think. It’s the just because… style, like Cristi’s promise to dance for her readers if they donate a love dollar. [...]