DWYL is a proverb sold by Hollywood, fiction, non-fiction, speeches, news, parents, older friends who are successful, etc.
The fundamental problem is that most work is scut work that very - very - few people enjoy. Throwing trash out. Handling DMV paperwork. Roofing houses. The list goes on. The dreams we have are far, far different: CEO, fashion model, rock star, game designer, writer, race car driver. That list goes on.
Regrettably, this is a place where supply and demand become actualized reality: when everyone (or lots of people) wants to be a rock star, the market won't support it. Worse, certain professions don't have a average high demand on good days (writer). But, what is the right choice under DWYL? Pick the thing you want to be. Then, chances of that not working are high, so then you wind up with an unwanted job. "I don't deserve this". Or, underpaid.
I saw this many times in college and high school. We - my friends and I - all had bought into the DWYL ideal. Zero of us attained it, to the best of my knowledge today. We found other things along the way that satisficed us. I still remember my old friend who has worked in a (nearly) minimum wage job at a department store for maybe ten years (I hope he has broken into management). He was going to be a rock star, so education wasn't useful. It was a waste. The conflation of DWYL and real life rarely work out.
I don't advise anyone to DWYL. I advise a grim analysis of the job prospects and likely outcomes, and determining choices based upon that. If you're willing to be paid minimum wage and have to struggle through your life and have to ask your spouse to support you and work full-time - go on - be the Creative Writing major focusing on "fine art" writing as your profession.
The author points up another aspect: Work - all honest work - has dignity. Bringing home value for value has inherent worth, whether you shovel poop at a zoo or become a director at a Fortune 100 company. Selling DWYL as an ideal removes dignity from unlovable and unwanted work.
Count the costs: sometimes selling all you have for the pearl is worth it. Inform your choices and prepare for the financial and life costs.
There's a joke - a successful musician is one who only has to be a part-time barista.