Love Story I want to make money doing what I'm passionate about.

Q: I've heard people say, "Do what you love." That can be discouraging if you don't know what you'd love to do. How does someone like me proceed?

A: We understand there's more to the choices people make than doing what they love. In fact, a recent study by Roper Starch Worldwide found that 29 percent of American adults choose work that pays well even if they hate the work. Personally, we learned from interviewing hundreds of people while writing Finding Your Perfect Work (Tarcher/Putnam) that many don't choose a business based on work they love. We've determined four productive "paths" people take: building on a passion; following a sense of mission, which often grows out of a desire to right a wrong; drawing on a talent; and capitalizing on an asset, such as equipment or contacts.

We strongly advise against doing something you dislike. While some may be able to sustain a job they dislike due to the structure an employer provides, entrepreneurs lacking passion typically lack motivation. Also, those who force themselves to do something chronically unrewarding may become ill. Thus, you should score your business idea at least 7 on a "likability" scale from 1 to 10.