Three Reasons Why We Do Anything

Vocation, Altruism, and Avocation.

Each of the three reasons have unique sets of rules.  Let’s start with vocation. 

Vocation:

Vocation is one’s business and work life.  Business plays by the rules of commerce.  Business exists in a free society to profit by filling a need.  Profit, preservation of capital, and growth are essential for success in business.  Compromise any of those and you fail.  Achieve all three and you succeed. 

My first serious entry to the world of business was in 1971.  I was 21 years old when I founded Moss Hill Natural Foods.  Zeal and passion for the enterprise alone were not enough.  I lacked real world business knowledge and experience.  At the time, I naively thought that because I enjoyed natural foods that other’s would share my interest and a profitable business could be made by providing such foods in a local retail store.  6 years later I was proved wrong.  My initial desire to share the knowledge and rewards I enjoyed from eating natural whole foods was actually more of a desire to help people.  (Perhaps it should have been more charity or ministry than business)

Had I invested the money used to found Moss Hill into a business making chocolate chip cookies with lots of butter and sugar I could have been Mrs. Fields today!  But NO!  I tried to sell products that people didn’t really want. 

Avocation:

Avocation is what one does for pleasure and recreation such as with a hobby.  Avocation is subsidized by the profits from one’s vocation.   Fund and enjoy your avocation for sybaritic pleasure in pursuit of happiness as we all should.

My father-in-law Frank Krupp, was expert at wood working.  He enjoyed making furniture and children’s toys in his garage wood working shop.  That was his passion.  I still have the wooden train set he made for my son, Justin.  Frank made book shelves, chests, and tables that are in our family to this day.  His friends often encouraged him to sell his toys and furniture at local flea markets.  Frank bought a booth at the flea market.  He  didn’t sell much, and was discouraged.  Wood working was his hobby that he did for his own pleasure.  Had he determined to make it a business, he should have done market analysis, determine demand, create products to meet the demand, and outsource production for lowest cost.  That’s the business model.  For Frank, wood working was his hobby.

Altruism:
When I became seriously involved with church, I watched ministries try to operate like businesses.  Churches were selling books and tapes as a business enterprise.  Pastors enjoyed salaries greater than those of the average parishioner.  The motive for ministry became lost in motive for profit.  Support for ministry should be given freely as a charitable offering (gleaned from rewards of one’s vocation/business).  I watched Jim and Tammy Baker create ill fated businesses, theme parks, condos, sell books and tapes, ultimately to the demise of their ministry.  Sadly there were many others that similarly got caught up in profit making at the expense of their ministry.

Charity, giving, ministry, are to be funded from the profits of one’s vocation and freely given without expectation of return.   

Vocation/Business: Make money to fund avocation and altruism! 

Avocation: It’s a hobby!  Fund your hobby because doing so is personally rewarding. 

Altruism: Contribute and serve worthy causes giving freely with no expectation of repayment nor reward.   

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