Good point the advice isn't often questioned. I take it as sort of synonymous with "Trust your gut" -- Someone who can dismiss an option on account of it not being right for them. They're really the ones following their passion.
Recently, I've been really into the idea of farming and listening to bluegrass music even though I grew up in suburban New Jersey, listening to Emo. I don't have to keep listening to the same thing.
I'm 100% on board about passions not being what makes money. I used to be a car salesman. I am good at it and I enjoy helping people find and buy a car. I also love cars. But the GAME is riddled with lying, lyers, cheats and cheaters.
So I left. My passion might leave me peniless and poor, or it might not. I might be poor today, but I blog about my life and HODL my STEEM and 10 years from now I have a nest egg.
Also as far as getting paid for writing, have you ever tried Zerys.com? I've made a few grand there over the years picking up writing gigs.