# Discovering Ideal Job Beyond Salary

Daily writing prompt
If the salary was the same, what job would you be doing right now and why?

Hello dear friends,

I hope this Blog finds you in a cheerful mood.

Today’s writing prompt question is very interesting:

“If the salary was the same, what job would you be doing right now and why?”

At first glance, it sounds like a simple question. But when I thought about it, I realised that it is actually a question about our dreams, passions, priorities and the meaning we attach to work.

For most of us, choosing a career is strongly influenced by salary. We need money to support our families, pay our bills, educate our children and build a secure future. But what if money were no longer the deciding factor?

Would we still choose the same profession?

Imagine waking up tomorrow with one wonderful assurance: Whatever job you choose, your salary will remain exactly the same.

Suddenly, many of the usual questions disappear.

No more worrying about promotions, increments, bonuses or comparing your salary with someone else’s.

The question then becomes:

“What would I actually enjoy doing?”

That is when our heart begins to speak.

As the saying goes,

“Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life.”

Of course, this famous idea may sound a little idealistic. Every job has difficult days. But there is certainly truth in the thought that meaningful work makes life’s struggles easier to bear.

Having spent many years in banking, I know that a profession is much more than a monthly salary.

A job teaches us discipline, patience, responsibility and the importance of dealing with people. It gives us experiences that remain with us long after we leave the workplace.

If I were asked this question during my working years, I might have chosen something connected with writing, teaching or creativity.

Why?

Because I have always believed that knowledge becomes more valuable when it is shared.

Teaching gives us the opportunity to influence another person’s life. Writing allows us to express thoughts, preserve memories and perhaps touch the heart of someone we may never meet.

And creativity gives us something equally precious—the freedom to create something that did not exist before.

Today, my answer would probably be different.

If the salary were the same, I would choose a life centred around writing, painting, reading and teaching through my experiences.

I would love to spend my mornings writing, afternoons exploring art and evenings reading or interacting with people.

Perhaps I would call myself a writer-teacher-artist rather than giving myself a conventional job title!

The wonderful thing is that retirement has taught me something important: sometimes we don’t need to change our profession to discover our calling.

We can simply make more room for the things we love.

There is an important distinction between earning a living and living meaningfully.

A well-paying job can provide comfort, but it cannot automatically provide happiness.

We may earn a large salary and still return home exhausted and dissatisfied. On the other hand, someone doing meaningful work may earn less but feel deeply fulfilled.

As Steve Jobs famously said:

“The only way to do great work is to love what you do.”

Perhaps that is why some people continue working even when they no longer need the money. They are not working for the salary; they are working for the purpose.

This prompt is worth asking ourselves honestly.

If money were completely removed from the equation, what would we choose?

Would you become a teacher, writer, musician, artist, chef, gardener, photographer, social worker—or perhaps something completely unexpected?

And if you would still choose your present profession, that itself is a wonderful answer.

Because it means you have found something more valuable than money.

Ultimately, this prompt isn’t really asking us to change our jobs.

It is asking us to discover what we value most in life.

Salary pays the bills. But purpose gives us a reason to get out of bed.

Success may give us recognition. But meaningful work gives us satisfaction.

And money can buy many things, but it cannot buy the feeling of saying at the end of the day:

“I enjoyed what I did today.”

Perhaps the best career is not the one that makes us the richest, but the one that makes us feel that our time was well spent.

So, let me ask you the same question:

If the salary were exactly the same, what job would YOU be doing right now—and why?

BE HAPPY… BE ACTIVE… BE FOCUSED… BE ALIVE

If this post inspired you, show some love! 💙
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 www.retiredkalam.com



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126 replies

  1. What a beautifully reflective post! It speaks directly to the heart of what gives life true depth and purpose.

    ​If salary were no object, I would choose to be an Archivist of Human Stories traveling to quiet towns, sitting with people from all walks of life, and preserving their wisdom, memories, and unspoken life lessons.

    ​Like your blend of writing, art, and teaching, it’s a role driven purely by empathy, connection, and the joy of sharing knowledge.
    ​Thank you for such an inspiring read, Kalam! Keep sharing your wonderful light.

    Liked by 6 people

    • Thank you so much for your beautiful and thoughtful words! 🙏❤️
      I absolutely love your idea of being an “Archivist of Human Stories.” What a meaningful calling—to travel, listen to people’s experiences, and preserve the wisdom hidden in ordinary lives. Every person carries a story worth remembering, and you’ve captured that beautifully.

      Liked by 4 people

  2. very nice .

    Liked by 4 people

  3. Such a lovely way to spend retirement years Vijay. I also worked as a uni banker in the oldest bank (established in 1851) in our country and I enjoyed it.😘

    Liked by 4 people

    • Thank you so much for your warm words! 😊
      It is wonderful to know that you also enjoyed your journey as a banker. There is something special about looking back at our working years with gratitude, especially when the profession gave us not only a livelihood but also valuable experiences and lifelong memories. Now retirement gives us the freedom to explore our passions and enjoy life at our own pace. Wishing you many more happy and fulfilling years ahead! 😘

      Liked by 3 people

  4. But the world tells us to find high paying job. Wonderful reflections, Verma

    Liked by 2 people

  5. Beautifully reflective post and I wanted to think a little before responding. I think I’d like 2 part time jobs. One for exploring and writing. But the other would be doing exactly what i do now – teaching. My reasoning is thus:

    If we had a universal salary, worldwide we would have the opportunity not just to follow our dreams, but to reach our potential. However I work with too many students who have had their dreams shattered and don’t believe in themselves. As a teacher, I want to help them overcome their barriers and reach their potential

    Liked by 4 people

    • Thank you for such a thoughtful response. I love the idea of having two part-time jobs—one that feeds your curiosity and creativity through exploring and writing, and another that allows you to continue doing what you clearly value: teaching. 😊

      Your point about a universal salary is particularly meaningful. If financial pressure were removed, people might have greater freedom to discover their talents and pursue their dreams. But your insight as a teacher goes even deeper—you recognize that opportunity alone is not enough when someone has lost confidence in themselves.

      Liked by 3 people

  6. Vermavkvさん、こんばんは。いつも有難う🙇‍♂️
    「もし給料が同じなら、今どんな仕事をしていると思いますか?その理由は?」今といっても、今は後期高齢者の身ですから、働いていた現役の時代としてのり答えです。
    「新聞記者」、記者と言っても、テレビの記者ではなく、あくまでも紙の新聞を発行する新聞の記者です。支局の地方記者がいいですね。地元、地域に密着した喜ばれる記事を中心に取材し、紙面に反映させたいです。もちろん、もし、そこに地で事件とかが起きれば、もちろんそうしたことも他紙に先駆けて積極的に取り組みます。事件だけではありません。どのよう事案・分野のものであっても、地元をカバーする意味からも積極的に取り組みます😁
    通常は地域に密着した話題などを掘り起こし発信していきたいです。
    自身、30代のころ、商業新聞ではなく、政党の機関紙とされるものでしたが、それは日本でも唯一の、商業新聞に勝るとも劣らない紙面づくりをしていた日刊紙です。もちろん党員でなければできないことです。今はその党を離れて40年以上になります☺️
    その機関紙には地方版もあります。居住していた北海道、その全域がエリアの地方版です。その紙面に多くのトップ記事が載っています。時には、エリアが北海道以外に広がる社会面に大きく掲載されたこともあります。
    それは、オホーツク海岸で見られた光る流氷の記事です。それで通信員賞を受賞したこともあります。本来は居住する自治体域が要するに管轄、守備範囲ですが、それは明文化されたものではありません。所属する党支部の活動の一環だからです。その記事は隣町のものでした。
    そのような地域外のものはさておき、地域内においてのものが取材対象です。
    トップ記事になったものに、全校生徒45人ほどのへき地小学校で、子どもたちが、先生や校長、用務員さんまでも含めた学校ぐるみで作り上げた版画カレンダー、それを取り上げたものです。カメラを向けると子どもたちが出来上がったカレンダーを校長先生の合図で一斉に掲げてくれました。そんな写真とともに掲載されました。
    こうした経験もあり、ぜひとも地方記者をやりたいです😁

    Liked by 3 people

    • Thank you for sharing such a fascinating and heartfelt perspective. 😊 Your choice of becoming a local newspaper reporter makes perfect sense, especially after reading about your wonderful experiences as a correspondent.

      I was particularly touched by the story of the small rural school with only about 45 students and their handmade print calendar. Such stories may never make national headlines, but they capture the real heart of a community. The image of the children proudly raising their calendars together must have been unforgettable. 📰📸

      Liked by 2 people

  7. Wonderfull reflection my dear friend,it makes think about your choise in life ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐👏👏👏

    Liked by 3 people

  8. I love this. A very inspirational idea to be own. But I think about political parties and about their promises. They may be united as they have no difference in deciding their pay and perks.

    Liked by 2 people

    • Thank you for sharing this interesting perspective! 😊 You make a very thought-provoking point about political parties. They may strongly disagree on many issues, yet when it comes to deciding their own salaries and perks, they often seem remarkably united! 😄

      Perhaps that is why the idea of equal opportunity and fairness is so important. Promises are easy to make, but what truly matters is how sincerely they are translated into action.

      Liked by 2 people

  9. Sir V, you ARE a writer-teacher-artist! It’s great that you’re flouting conventional labels. You are basically being and doing you, not fitting into a pre-determined box by a corporate entity. That’s my takeaway from this post. My dream job, then, is not a what but a who. Who do I want to become? That is the question.

    Liked by 2 people

    • Thank you so much for this thoughtful reflection! 😊
      I love your idea that the dream job is not a “what” but a “who.” Perhaps the most meaningful career is the one that allows us to become the person we truly want to be. Labels may define professions, but they cannot define our curiosity, creativity, or purpose. After retirement, I have realised that writing, teaching, painting, and creating are not separate boxes for me—they are simply different expressions of who I am.

      Liked by 2 people

  10. If salary were the same, you’d choose writing, painting, reading, teaching—a writer-teacher-artist. And here’s the beautiful part: retirement taught you that you don’t need to change professions to find your calling. You just make more room for what you love. That’s not waiting for permission. That’s wisdom. The real question isn’t what job you’d choose. It’s what you value most. And you’ve answered it: purpose over paychecks, meaning over money. 💙

    / Love & Hugs / Khadija 💕🤗

    Liked by 2 people

    • Thank you so much, dear Khadija, for these beautiful and encouraging words. 💙💕🤗
      You have expressed something very close to my heart. Retirement has indeed taught me that a calling does not always require a new profession.
      Sometimes, it simply gives us the freedom and time to make more room for the things we have always loved.

      Liked by 2 people

  11. “Hi! How are you? I hope you can help me promote my blog and get a lot of likes and comments. I also want more subscribers because this makes me happy and encourages me. Wishing you all the best!”

    Liked by 2 people

    • Hi! 😊 I’m doing well, thank you, and I hope you are doing great too.
      I completely understand how encouraging it is to see readers liking, commenting on, and subscribing to your blog.
      Keep sharing your thoughts, stories, and creativity consistently. The best way to grow is to connect with fellow bloggers, read their work, leave meaningful comments, and build genuine friendships along the way.

      Liked by 1 person

  12. I have a feeling Vijay, that you would find happiness in any job you take on, despite it being financially lucrative or not. There is a way in making any task enjoyable if you find a way to have fun! When I was a receptionist for a small ad agency I might answer the phone in different voices/tones to keep entertained (always professional) and at the Coffee Shop sometimes give a different variation of my name to keep day never dull.

    As the wonderful Julie Andrews said in Mary Poppins, ““In every job that must be done, there is an element of fun. You find the fun, and SNAP the job’s a game!” —Mary Poppins

    Liked by 2 people

    • Thank you so much for your kind words! I absolutely agree that happiness often depends less on what we do and more on how we choose to do it. Your stories about changing your phone voice and even giving different names at the coffee shop made me smile! 😊 That little sense of play can certainly make an ordinary day memorable.
      And Julie Andrews said it perfectly—“Find the fun, and SNAP! The job’s a game!” Perhaps that is one of the secrets of a happy life: finding a little joy even in the most routine things.

      Liked by 2 people

  13. Such a inspiring reflection, Vijay! I love your description of being a ‘writer-teacher-artist’—it’s a wonderful reminder that retirement isn’t about stopping, but about making more room for our passions and sharing what we’ve learned. Salary certainly pays the bills, but finding joy in what we do every day is what truly enriches life! 🎨📚✨

    Liked by 2 people

    • Thank you so much for your beautiful words! 💕🎨📚
      I completely agree—retirement is not about putting life on pause; it is an opportunity to make more room for the things that give life meaning.
      After spending years working for a living, it feels wonderful to have the freedom to write, read, paint, learn, and share whatever little wisdom life has taught me.

      Liked by 2 people

      • You’ve captured the true essence of retirement so beautifully, Vijay! It really is a whole new chapter for creative freedom and sharing that hard-earned wisdom. Wishing you so much continued joy in all your writing, painting, and learning adventures! 🎨✨

        Liked by 2 people

        • Thank you so much for your beautiful and encouraging words! 🎨✨

          I truly believe retirement is not an ending but the beginning of a chapter where we finally have more freedom to explore the things that have always lived in our hearts. Writing, painting, reading, and learning have given my days a renewed sense of purpose and joy.

          Liked by 2 people

          • That is such a beautiful perspective, Vijay! Viewing retirement as a canvas for quiet passions rather than an ending is so inspiring. Painting and writing really do give a whole new dimension to daily life. What project or piece are you currently working on that’s bringing you the most joy right now? 🎨📖✨

            Liked by 2 people

            • Thank you so much for your lovely words! 🎨📖 You are absolutely right—retirement has given me a canvas on which I can finally paint with my own colours.

              At present, I am enjoying both writing and painting, but writing continues to surprise me the most. Every morning brings a new thought, a new story or a new question about life. I am also spending more time with my sketches and paintings, where I can express things that words sometimes cannot.

              Liked by 2 people

              • Thank you so much, Vijay! 🎨📖 It’s so inspiring to hear how retirement has opened up that creative space for you. Having every morning bring a new story, question, or painting is such a beautiful way to live. Keep creating—I can’t wait to read and see more of your work!

                Liked by 2 people

                • Thank you so much for your kind and encouraging words! 🎨📖❤️

                  Retirement has indeed given me something very precious—the freedom to explore the creative side of myself that was often waiting quietly in the background during my working years. Now, every morning feels like a fresh canvas, with a new thought, story, sketch, or painting waiting to emerge.

                  Liked by 1 person

  14. Well reflective rounded post. Thank you!

    Liked by 2 people

  15. Wonderful and very thoughtful posts Verma! My dream is to be a writer and have my day job be working at a local bookstore. I find fulfillment in being a part and actively contributing to my local writing and literature community. I have often wrestled with the idea that this dream of mine will make being financially secure a tad difficult. I just can’t bring myself to let those dreams go! I want to be a part of soemthing worth while.

    Liked by 2 people

    • Thank you so much for sharing this heartfelt dream. ❤️ I completely understand your dilemma. Financial security is important, but so is having something in life that makes you feel alive, useful, and connected to something meaningful.
      Your dream of being a writer while working in a local bookstore sounds beautiful to me. You would be surrounded by books, readers, writers, and conversations about literature—a wonderful environment for someone who wants to contribute to a writing community.
      And please don’t be too quick to let those dreams go.

      Liked by 2 people

  16. *Daily Juice*

    _Lights may be turned off everywhere; but no one can turn off the light that is in you, except yourself. The understanding of you is the foundation of living an outstanding life. It’s not what is outside, but what is inside that takes one to the top._

    _Form follows thought, and the shape of your life is a product of that thought. Structure your time so you can structure your thoughts, for they provide the structure for your life. Don’t let anyone who has done nothing stop you and make you belittle the dreams in your heart. God wouldn’t have put a dream in your heart if He had not already given you everything you would need to fulfill it._

    _If you would doubt anything, doubt your doubt, not yourself, God nor His word. Refuse to allow the pressures and challenges of life dictate and becloud your thinking or allow yourself to be defined by someone’s inability to see your worth._

    Liked by 1 person

    • Thank you for sharing this powerful Daily Juice. 🙏✨
      I especially loved the reminder to “doubt your doubt, not yourself.” So often, it is not the lack of ability but our own self-doubt that becomes the biggest obstacle between us and our dreams.

      Liked by 1 person

  17. So true. I was looking at a high paying job as a young man but decided to do what was my passion, even though it didn’t pay much. I retired after an enjoyable career, and through years of saving and investing the money followed!

    Liked by 2 people

  18. A thoughtful post. It reminds us that when money is removed from the equation, we discover what truly gives our lives meaning. For me, writing, learning, and helping others would be the work closest to my heart. ❤️

    Liked by 2 people

  19. Well written . Really enjoyed reading it.
    Someone said to me in past “my well paying job was a golden cage” and that stayed with me.

    Liked by 2 people

    • Thank you so much! I’m glad you enjoyed reading it. And that phrase, “a well-paying job was a golden cage,” really does stay with you. Sometimes security and comfort can quietly come at the cost of freedom, creativity, or peace of mind. A golden cage may still be a cage—and recognizing that can be the first step toward finding what truly makes life fulfilling. ❤️

      Liked by 2 people

  20. So well said, writer-teacher-artist… Writing has always been it for me, from a very young age. It, however, didn’t feel like a feasible career in my younger years, but I’ve just started on it this year. Full-time writer, and yes, it needs to pay the bills as well for now. But like you said, everything is hard, so I’m choosing a hard that also makes me feel very fulfilled!

    Liked by 3 people

    • Thank you so much for sharing this! ❤️ I can truly relate to what you say about writing being there from a young age, even when life makes us believe it isn’t a practical career.
      I love your way of putting it—“choosing a hard that also makes me feel very fulfilled.” That is such a powerful philosophy. E

      Liked by 1 person

  21. Nice post Mr Vijay, I have a deep passion for writing and if the salary was the same regardless I’d probably be a well established writer and poet. I’m a lover of all things arts or any skill that are hands on. Takes time to hone a skill and that makes it much more valuable

    Liked by 3 people

    • Thank you so much for your kind words! 🙏🏻
      I completely agree with you. Writing and poetry are not merely hobbies; they are passions that grow deeper with time.
      And I love your thought that a skill becomes more valuable the longer it takes to hone.

      Liked by 1 person

  22. Thank you for sharing this important question I love this question very well yeah but this plug make me to feel at home but if today in the world

    Liked by 1 person

  23. Job is important in our life but without it you can’t end it because money is everything

    Liked by 1 person

    • Absolutely, a job is important because it gives us financial security, independence, and a sense of responsibility. Money is certainly necessary for living, but I believe it should be a means to support life, not the whole meaning of life.

      Like

  24. But if you remove 🌄 money in the world I will let that be a footballer because I love 💞 sports on my off days that’s what keep me busy with friends I’m happy to share this with you but this site makes me feel at home because I spoke My mind 😄

    Liked by 2 people

    • Thank you so much for your kind words! 😊🙏 I’m truly happy that you enjoyed the blog.
      Your encouragement means a lot and inspires me to keep writing and sharing. ❤️

      Stay happy and keep smiling! 🌷

      Like

  25. Such an unfeigned and amazing writeup dear Sir,
    It was so relating & thoughtful
    Absolutely, well said!
    My workplace would’ve then been, a random garden or park, sometimes, painting, catching up with my thoughts, Journaling, Spending time with students(teaching), writing down poetry. The life would’ve been simpler and meaningful by not counting minutes or days, for the work to end, for the salary to get credited. Mind would’ve been unfettered from these thoughts.

    Liked by 2 people

    • Thank you so much for sharing such a beautiful reflection. 🙏 You have captured something very profound—the difference between working for a living and living while we work.
      A garden, a park, a canvas, a journal, poetry, and the company of students… perhaps these are not merely activities but ways of keeping the mind free and the soul alive.

      Liked by 2 people

  26. This question really made me pause. If salary were no longer the deciding factor, I think many of us would discover that the career we chose is not always the life we truly wanted.

    For me, the deeper question is: If money were already taken care of, what would you wake up excited to do every morning? That answer can reveal something about our purpose that a payslip never could.

    Liked by 1 person

    • Absolutely! That is such a meaningful way to look at the question. ❤️
      A salary can tell us what our work is worth in the marketplace, but it cannot always tell us what our life is worth to us. When financial pressure is removed, our real interests, passions, and sense of purpose often begin to speak more clearly.

      Like

  27. Good insightful composition. You have explained Job vis-a-vis salary very well.
    For me, I would have taken road safety activist job, working sincerely for saving many lives on roads in India and abroad.

    Liked by 1 person

    • Thank you so much for your thoughtful words. I truly appreciate your perspective. 🙏

      Choosing to be a road safety activist is a wonderful and meaningful answer. Saving lives, creating awareness, and making our roads safer would be far more than just a job—it would be a purpose and a service to society. Every life saved because of such sincere efforts would be a priceless achievement.

      Liked by 1 person

  28. Hi,how are you sir?I am good could you clarify my doubt if the salary is same will you be able to manage your expenses. Lead your family to a good life style….

    Liked by 3 people

    • Hi! I’m doing well, thank you for asking. 😊

      Yes, if the salary remains the same, managing expenses and maintaining a good family lifestyle is certainly possible—but it depends on our priorities, financial discipline, and expectations.
      A good lifestyle is not always about spending more. It is about managing what we have wisely, avoiding unnecessary expenses, saving for the future, and making sure our family has the things that truly matter—health, education, security, happiness and peace of mind.

      Liked by 1 person

  29. Yeah I totally agree with you. A job should not become a daily headache which is for many of us. Luckily we have found our solace in writing and other art skills. Thanking God for the different perspectives he gives to each person. This post clearly resonated with my thoughts. Thank you Verma Sir.

    Liked by 1 person

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    Like

    • Thank you so much for sharing such a heartfelt testimonial. It is wonderful to hear that Mr. Bernard Bertossa was able to support you and your husband throughout such an important journey with patience, responsiveness, professionalism, and genuine care.

      Buying a home and arranging the right financing can be a complex and sometimes stressful process, so having someone who listens carefully and remains available through every change and question makes a real difference

      Like

  31. Follow the Seph Schlueter 🇺🇸 | Prayers Move Mountains 🙏 channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VbCeq01GJP8QxIYfOy3r

    Liked by 2 people

  32. Content is gold and through this one can express, teach, share, develop, create. But there should be an option to earn for time invested.
    Invite you to post at https://metrotalks.com a micro blogging platform where you can earn for your contents.

    Liked by 2 people

    • Thank you for sharing this thoughtful perspective. I completely agree—content is indeed a form of wealth because it allows us to express, learn, teach, connect, and create. When we invest our time and creativity in meaningful content, having an opportunity to earn from that effort can be equally motivating.

      Thank you also for introducing me to MetroTalks. I’ll certainly explore the platform and see how it can complement my writing journey. Wishing you and the MetroTalks community continued success! 🙏

      Liked by 1 person

  33. Thanks for sharing.
    Stay connected and keep sharing.

    Like

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