Do What You Love

Image credit: Vogue

Kylie Madsen scrolled faster and faster through the endless list of bland jobs. She knew she needed the money, but who wanted to work such jobs on top of school? She looked up at her husband, Dallin, and could tell he was thinking the same thing.

“Do what you love” is a quote that often flows through people’s lips; but do they really mean that? We as a culture scoff at someone who posts shamelessly, “how cringy,” we say. But how much more do we gain out of life if we decide to give up on fear and other’s expectations, and simply share what we love?

A huge growing career is an increase in “influencers.” There are people all around the world dedicating their lives to creating their passions and sharing them with the world. But why?

Influencers can make a lot of money. In fact, Influencer Marketing Hub said that “In 2022, the market expanded to a whopping $16.4 billion industry."

There has been a huge rise in paying influencers to market for brands, because influencers are influential; it’s in the name.

Influencer Marketing Hub said, “Once considered as something that’s just nice to have, influencer marketing is fast becoming an essential component in a brand’s marketing arsenal. 93% of marketers have used influencer marketing in their campaigns, and it’s now considered as a key advertising strategy."

Kylie and Dallin Madsen pose for a picture to add to their "About Us" section in their website: Topcast Marketing.

Topcast Marketing was started by Kylie and Dallin Madsen, seniors in college. Their description on their website says, “With Dallin's background in financial investments, small business management, and sales, and Kylie's expertise in UX Design, Branding, and SEO, we have a unique perspective and diverse skill set that allows us to approach marketing strategies from multiple angles, along with paring up with a team of trustworthy marketing professionals to make your business pop."

They saw a chance to use their passions to earn money, and dove right in.

Kylie is passionate about many things: extraordinary solutions through an intentional process, the gospel, her husband and family, the outdoors and music and UX design. She was looking for part-time jobs with her husband one day, when they decided to instead start their own marketing agency: Topcast.

The opportunity to create and work on one’s passions creates more passionate people.

Gaining income isn’t the only reason people decide to share their passions on social media.

Forbes magazine said, “in the not-too-distant future, a similarly widespread prerequisite will emerge: social influencing. Whether an aspiring politician, singer, marketer, realtor or small business owner, the ability to build a social brand will determine whether many are positioned to succeed in their careers. It’s important to note here that having a massive number of followers or visibility isn’t necessary. As we are now seeing reflected in the rise of micro and nano influencers, simply being able to leverage social media to engage a relevant audience will serve people well."

Addie Ross recently started an Instagram dedicated to rating French Toast.

Ross said, “I get really excited to create new posts about French toast. I love eating it, and I love sharing so that others can experience the same joy of eating delicious French toast. I want to give the best French toast recommendations to help others feel as passionate as me.”

Do influencers really influence their following? Highervisiblity said, in an article about Gen Z's trust of influencers, “Our study has revealed that over 1 in 4 (26%) Gen Z trust influencer reviews more than product page reviews."

Some simply choose to share their passions because they find joy in doing so.

Lindsay, who created her own “bookstagram” account on Instagram and had over 20,000 followers, said, “I’m totally comfortable sharing my passions with others. I actually started sharing my passions in order to find people who were passionate about the same things. I don’t feel like I’m pushing products, I just post my honest reviews of books I read and if other people want to pick them up, that’s great. I don’t get compensated for the vast majority of my posts, so I just feel like I’m a regular person putting their thoughts out on the internet.”

Doing what you love is a wonderful way to find happiness, but sharing what you love can bring true elation.