It’s an unfortunate fact of life that too many people are stuck in a job they don’t particularly like, or in the worst-case scenario, one that they actively loathe. On the other end of that spectrum, you have the lucky few who have managed to turn their passion into a profession and are living the dream.

Japanese restaurant owner, supercar enthusiast, and social media influencer, Edouard Prunier, is an example of someone who have escaped the rat race and is now living and working on his terms. We recently caught up with him to find out how he did it and what advice he has for others looking to do the same.

“Fear of failure is the hurdle which prevents so many people from following their passion and making it their career,” explained Edouard Prunier. “I’ve failed more times than I can remember. At one point, failure defined me, but the crucial thing is that I never let it stop me from getting where I needed to be. I knew I had greatness within me and also knew nothing was going to stop me from realizing it. People might criticize and mock, and although the situation might seem untenable, you need to keep going and never stop believing. Failure is nothing to be scared of. Dreams don’t come cheap; you need to work at them.”

As someone whose father walked out on him when he was six, Edouard Prunier was no stranger to adversity from an early age. Yet, he acknowledges such early experiences as fostering within him a strong sense of resilience that helped him turn his passion into his profession. Prunier explained, “In the absence of a father figure, you could say I was determined to become my own role model. I knew I always wanted to live life on my terms and not be beholden to the whims or actions of others. So, I think resilience is essential if your passion and profession are to be two sides of the same coin.”

Edouard Prunier believes that it’s never too late to make your passion your profession. He added, “You may think your passion and profession are two different things and never the twain shall meet, but in this day and age, you can monetize anything. You just have to believe in it and believe in yourself.”