After decades in the music industry, Pharrell Williams admits he never stops working: ‘If you do what you love everyday, you’ll get paid for free’

It’s easy to become jaded in a job that’s unfulfilling, especially when dreams of a more meaningful career clash with the need for financial stability. 

But successful entrepreneurs contend that chasing their true ambition inspires them to show up and work every day; those who really love their job, like musician Pharrell Williams, never plan on retiring. 

“I’m so blessed to call this a job. I’ve never stopped loving this job; I’ve never stopped being a student,” Williams said onstage after winning the Dr. Dre Global Impact Award at the 2026 Grammys. “So everyone here, I’ve just got to tell you, never stop grinding. And listen, never stop working.”

Williams has witnessed firsthand how passion plays a huge role in success; the now 52-year-old philanthropist and artist has been releasing, writing, and producing music since the 1990s, amassing more than three decades of chart-topping hits. With an estimated net worth of $250 million, the “Happy” singer’s years of musical prowess and business collaborations have resulted in a lifelong fortune. But Williams said he doesn’t think too much about the number in his bank account—what really keeps the Gen Xer working is his love for the job.

“Stop doing anything else but working. Work, man,” Williams continued. “I’m 52, I get to do this every day—I love what I do. And if you do what you love every day, you’ll get paid for free.”

Williams says the American Dream isn’t about making millions

Generations of workers have bucked their true calling for a tolerable job with a solid paycheck. With nearly half of U.S. citizens believing the American Dream is no longer possible, or never even existed, many are stuck in a lifeless, steady job rather than a profession that makes them happy. 

Growing up in Virginia Beach, Williams said he often heard the same rhetoric: that careers should be centered around stability and making money. But the Grammy winner wants to change that narrative. Chasing the biggest paychecks, he said, is a misnomer. 

“The American Dream is not about making the most money. In fact, the human dream and the consumers’ dream shouldn’t be about making the most money,” Williams said at the 2024 Web Summit. “It should be about spending the most time doing something that you love.”

The philanthropist pointed out that many young people are pressured to pursue high-paying careers in college, such as medicine and law, whether they want to or not. Some are able to switch tracks despite the chagrin of their family, Williams explained, but the vast majority “go after it, and they don’t get it.” After that, they might be stuck in a job they hate, prioritizing a paycheck over their true passions. Williams advised that professionals can avoid this identity crisis by working in a role or industry that interests them. 

“If you can find a vocation around something that you love, you now have a dream job. You will be the first one there, and you’ll be the last one to leave,” Williams continued. “To me, that is what we should be telling our children—that is the way that we should be leading society—for people to do what they love.”

‘Pursue a career that does not feel like work’

Williams is one of many leaders who have proved that sticking with a career you love can pay off. Walmart’s former CEO, Doug McMillon, who stepped down from the top role at the end of last month, spent four decades climbing the ranks of the now–$1 trillion retail giant. And during his ascent from being an hourly worker all the way up to chief executive, McMillon said he’s never “been bored one single day.”

“Pursue a career that does not feel like work. Life is too short to invest so much time doing something you don’t enjoy,” McMillon told graduates during a commencement address at the University of Arkansas in 2024. “I hope you find your spot quickly like I did, but if you don’t, my advice is that you shouldn’t give up until you do … If you’re in the right place, most days, work won’t even feel like work.”

Christian Toetzke, cofounder and CEO of global fitness race Hyrox, also said that he loves his job so much that it doesn’t feel like a chore. His best advice for professionals hoping to strike the right work-life balance is to actually enjoy their careers; that way, it’s never a drag to show up at the office. 

“I’m a massive believer in work-life balance, but the question is always how we look at this. And I’m a very privileged person because I don’t consider what I do as work,” Toetzke said on the Opening Bid Unfiltered podcast last year. “I do what I really love. It’s also my hobby. For me, work is not a punishment. It’s almost kind of a reward.”

This story was originally featured on Fortune.com