A few days back, I launched VenkatLife.com—a dream rooted in my love for storytelling, creativity, and emerging technologies like AI-generated films and imagery. The initial spark was electrifying. I envisioned crafting AI films that told powerful stories, frame by frame, pushing the boundaries of what machines and imagination could create together.
But then, reality hit.
AI filmmaking is hard. Each second of footage demands meticulous effort—every frame must be thoughtfully designed, refined, and synchronized. Add to that the high cost of maintaining subscriptions to various AI tools, and it quickly becomes an expensive side project. My work took over, and VenkatLife, once full of promise, began to collect dust.
And somewhere along the way, I lost interest.
That moment of self-reflection brought me to a deeper realization: Money is not just a medium of exchange—it’s a motivator, a compass, and in many cases, the engine behind creative ambition.
Why Do We Lose Interest in Passion Projects?
The truth is, we rarely lose passion. What we lose is energy—the momentum that sustains our excitement. And more often than not, this energy fades when there’s no tangible reward. That reward doesn’t always have to be money, but let’s face it—money adds direction, validation, and sustainability to a dream.
I started wondering: how many projects die simply because they don’t earn?
- A musician gives up producing tracks because Spotify royalties aren’t enough.
- A writer shelves a brilliant novel draft because traditional publishing feels out of reach.
- A filmmaker pauses production because rendering and post-production software is unaffordable.
These aren’t failures of creativity. They’re failures of sustainability.
The Money-Innovation Paradox
We often associate innovation with noble causes—curing diseases, saving the environment, exploring space. But if you peel back the layers, most innovation is financially motivated.
- Thomas Edison didn’t just invent the light bulb for the sake of humanity. He saw a business opportunity in revolutionizing home and street lighting.
- Steve Jobs didn’t build the iPhone to make life easier—he saw a chance to change the world and build a trillion-dollar company.
- Even AI itself—the very tool I tried to harness for filmmaking—is the result of billions of dollars in investment with the promise of economic return.
Money doesn’t taint innovation. It fuels it.
The idea of working for a “greater cause” is romantic. But it’s rarely how things get built. The need to survive, to grow, to earn—is what keeps inventors awake, coders caffeinated, and creators pushing through burnout.
Money as a Materialistic Goal—And Why That’s Not a Bad Thing
In a world where time is limited, money gives form to dreams. It transforms vague passion into a structured pursuit.
When a creator earns, they reinvest—into tools, talent, time, and quality. They stay in the game longer. They take risks. They innovate faster.
Materialistic goals, when balanced, aren’t selfish. They’re self-sustaining. The more we earn from what we love, the longer we can continue doing what we love.
And this is where my reflection turned into a decision.
The Future of VenkatLife.com: From Passion to Purpose
I still believe in VenkatLife. The flame didn’t go out—it just flickered for a bit.
Now, I want to reshape it—not just as a creative playground but as a platform that earns while it inspires. Whether it’s AI imagery, storytelling, creative consulting, or launching niche content products, VenkatLife must evolve into something that pays for itself—and more.
Because when money flows, interest stays.
And who knows? Maybe with the right monetization model, I’ll be back to making AI films one day—frame by frame, with full focus and zero stress about the bills.
We often hear “Follow your passion.” But I’d like to add something to that:
Follow your passion—but build a way for your passion to pay for your needs.
Because when your dreams can fund your life, you get to keep dreaming a little longer—and with greater impact.
Let’s turn passion into progress. Let’s make VenkatLife a story worth continuing.
Venkat