I'm reminded of an old book title "Do What You Love and the Money Will Follow" - even in that book I seem to recall there were examples of people that underwent hardship pursuing their passion. Some, were not able to sustain themselves financially - others found it necessary to let go of a good many other things in their life, to make space and direct more of their energies, still others worked at some other concern to provide their base income (or to bridge the gap) and pursued their passion in the form of a hobby. Of course the book cited specific individual examples - it is not possible to capture all the variations of experience, paths or outcomes of those that have followed their heart. It must be realized that the writing of that book was much like a "snap shot" in time - any number of different scenarios might have spun off from any of the circumstances outlined in its stories.
So I think it worth mentioning that one could gain insight from the stories of others, both of inspiration and heightened awareness around some of the challenges they faced on their journey - that has been called, (again I refer to a book title) "The Road Less Traveled". I really must read that someday - if for no other reason than I have on innumerable occasions been told I'm traveling it. Which brings up a question in my mind - will I learn more from reading a book that I presume was researched by someone that made such a journey or would there be more value in embarking on my own journey thereby gaining firsthand experience and perhaps a story to tell. Though perhaps entertaining as well as illuminating someone else's experience can only go so far. If what you are looking for is to duplicate their result, then there could be value in mimicking the methodology they used, certainly there can be found worthy guides, teachers, mentors with expertise in most any given area - still you can experience their pursuit but at some point, you might want to pursue your own experience.
Really a written account of another's experience is in many ways like a map left behind after they completed a particular journey (and if you read my previous post you know a little about my relationship with maps). So in general terms the "map" gives you an outline of how to reach a certain destination from a known starting point. It may also depict certain "landmarks" you could expect to encounter along the way (should you in fact follow the route outlined - otherwise you are apt to see something different). Which raises the question what do you want to see? How many times while engaged in a conversation about a planned trip have you heard ................. well if you're going to.................. you have just got to see.........................! Or, you went all the way to..................... and you didn't see..................? So here's the thing, what if I don't want to see.................? What if I do get around to seeing it and I conclude "well okay I've seen it - not really all it was cracked up to be!!" Does that invalidate the experience/opinion of the other person - well no, and in fact that would not necessarily be my intention - but just the same, my experience is every bit as important - especially to me! So what if while following "the map" I'll go way out on a limb and suppose I get lost, but in doing so I come across this beautiful "lake" and go on to have some variety of personally fulfilling experience. Now - said lake was not on the authors outline - might not have even showed up on his/her map and even if it did (it was not "the" destination - might have even been relegated to the "if you get to the lake you've gone the wrong way" subtext) - but how can it be said to have been wrong if I have such a life enriching experience?
This begins to point to the paramount importance of the needs, experience, guidance (calling if you will) of each person. The road less traveled was given it's name because it is in the literal sense accurate - it is so, because it is far easier to follow the well worn paths - there are energies and influences including pressures of conformity that discourage many from "their" path. It is easier to justify and rationalize not following one's own heart as it is simple to find many others who would readily support that choice as it assists to uphold theirs.
Consider though this idea (attributed to Jesus as recorded in the Gospel of St. Thomas one of the "Gnostic Gospels"): "If you bring forth what is within you, what you bring forth will save you. If you do not bring forth what is within you, what you do not bring forth will destroy you." If taken at face value this idea is rather compelling - though I'd hazard a guess it is not necessarily the catalyst behind many a life plan. Why is there so often a divide between what people love to do and what they spend so much of their time doing? Of course there are the realities and expense of living in this modern world - but many of those are created by expectations or beliefs that one must have, do and be, according to a corporate sponsored world view which results in scores of people showing up day after day to places they don't like with people they'd rather not be with - working at something they don't believe in - to be paid the money they require to buy the things they don't need.
What then of following the heart's path - I think it worth mentioning that to hold a romantic's view that it will be perpetual bliss & ecstasy would be certainly not my experience - still to ignore this innate yearning would seem to bring on a variety of angst that will be soothed by none other than what it calls for.
So my particular stand on the question posed in the title would be you can fail to pursue that which you love that which your heart calls for - but in the continued pursuit lies the success. It is not determined by whether money, property or prestige is acquired as a result of the pursuit it matters not if there are others doing it and they do it "better."
No I would say the only form that failure can take in this regard is "failure to begin" or allowing outside influences to sway the choice to continue - then one is engaged in a failure to self - which fortunately can be rectified in an instant by choosing again.
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