My Introduction to the Hive Community and How I Followed my Passion

Hi #Hive,

Yesterday, I came across and read Hive account@dswigle's "Where is your passion?" post.

Her post got me thinking and reflecting on my own experience and I have decided that it may be the perfect opportunity for me to introduce myself and at the same time tell you how I followed my passion.
After crashing the Hive party almost a month ago, consuming content and posting some, I believe it is high time for me to stop being a stranger.

My name is Yohann, I grew up in France and at a very young age, I wanted to have a career in Information Technology (IT). The reason was simply because I enjoyed playing games on the computer. Fast forward several years and after passing and graduating my french baccalauréat, I had no clue what to do next. The passion for IT was gone and I had no other real interests. Being left with few options and no real desire for anything I decided to continue my studies in computer programming. Since I enjoyed it as a child, why not give it a try?

First Job and Start of My IT Career

A couple of years later and after a work placement in the United Kingdom, I obtained my diploma. Luckily for me the company I worked for in the UK decided to give me a full time job. This was the start of my IT career which took me to a few places over the span of 15 years. I worked in the UK, France and then the United Arab Emirates where I started back at the bottom of the ladder and gradually progressed to a very good and lucrative position. I enjoyed my journey learning new things along the way, interacting with brilliant minds, and being challenged, but the last few years were not so fun anymore. I wasn't happy at my job anymore and lost interest for it. Every day, upon waking up, I would dread having to go to work. Just like a lot of people around the world, I stuck to it simply because I had to in order to get a salary and keep my lifestyle, but I wasn't enjoying it anymore.

My Weekend passion: Flying

What to do instead? What is it that would make me happy going to work?

Here's what I knew:

• For the last 5 years, my passion was the only thing keeping me happy. Every Sunday morning I would look forward to the Thursday evening and the end of the work week (in the Middle East, weekends are Friday and Saturday), so that I could go flying over the weekend. Being free in the air was all I could think about and was my main subject of discussion with people around me.
• During a company incentive trip I realized that I wasn't meant to stay in an office all day long. I needed the outdoor and the contact with people!
• Early backpacking travels also showed me that I needed some freedom and sharing experiences with people. Nature in my surroundings was also very important.

It took a difficult moment in my life to make me decide that it wasn't worth wasting my time anymore.
This is when it clicked for me, I had to try and find a way to make my passion my job. It had to involve flying, people, nature and freedom.

My Work Tool: The Gyrocopter

My wife Hive account@discoveringarni and I decided to quit everything and move to her country of origin. I wanted to set up a business where I could fly local people and tourists over the beautiful landscape of the Philippines.
It was hard leaving a secured job and a good paycheck behind for the unknown. It took a lot of adjustments and few years but we were able to set up our own company where I now share my passion for flying with people by giving them information about gyrocopters and taking them for a flight. I can say I am now happy to go to work in the morning.
I have definitely taken a loss on the monetary side compared to my previous job, but I am much happier now and get my rewards from my passenger's smiles and appreciations.
See, even my friend Hive account@scubahead who introduced me to the Hive got hooked on flying in my gyrocopter. He actually posted a couple of hours ago about our gyrocopter trip to Mt Kanlaon. Check it out!

I don't know how long my passion will last. It may evolve overtime and get replaced by another one, in which case I'll have to reassess my situation but based on my experience, I would say passions should be an important part of someone's life. This is where one can possibly get true happiness.
I want to believe that people should find their passion and as much as possible try to make a living from it.

Because of the current situation worldwide, my gyrocopter is grounded but I can't wait to resume operations soon. In the mean time, I'm happy sharing and engaging with you on Hive 🙂

Feel free to ask me any question about my experience or my passion. I'll gladly answer. See you around.