I believe that if you're good enough at something you love, someone will pay you to do it.

In every child’s life there comes a time when they will be asked to stand in front of the class and make that big announcement: “When I grow up, I want to be…..” The first time a child actually says it, usually in Kindergarten, parents and other adults smile and cheer them on. However, the older the child gets, the less encouragement they receive for careers that take them off the beaten path. But, why should unusual ambitions have to be abandoned and replaced by traditional beliefs? Are those who forge their own way not praised above all others? It is my belief that if you are good enough at something you love, someone will pay you to do it.
World-renowned director, producer, and writer, James Cameron (known for his work on the blockbuster hits Terminator, Titanic, and the newly released Avatar) was once asked, "What's the best advice to someone who wants to be a director?" To this he responded, "Be a director."
Cameron knew instantly that the art of storytelling combined with the technological beauty of cinema, was the business for him, But that was not enough to gain him the support of his father who eagerly awaited the day when Cameron would continue his families line of engineers. However, three Oscar awards and countless film festival honors later, Cameron is able to face his father and be proud of the work he accomplished on a road that required much skill and planning.
When Cameron was asked why he succeeded when other did not, He answered, “Perhaps they made that leap of faith and either made it at the wrong time or never had the skill to back it up.” Aggressiveness and the ability to spot an opportunity are undoubtedly traits to which Cameron could credit much of his success. He is a living monument to the idea that all those who are willing to work hard and perfect their trade will be able to find a market for their skills. That market may not be Hollywood or the Louvre, but somewhere, it exists.
Some say that in order to be successful you must be good at something useful. But what is the definition of success? Although my argument appears to ignore the economically challenging times and the monetary value of a secure career, I must insist: What is a society without new discovery? Even the politically charged and overly militaristic civilization of ancient Rome welcomed art and exploration. (Granted, they stole it from the Greeks, but they still valued it tremendously.) Doing what you love on any level is the definition of success. Choosing a career just beyond the bright red safety tape is risky. Challenges will await an explorer around every bend, but to give up a dream that you are willing to work for is to succumb to the fatiguing regret of having to live with a chance missed.