Work does not have to be academic to be a calling, or to be 'worthy.' Manual labour can be just as artisanal, in the right hands.

Motives do not have to be 'pure' (although, I would argue there are few purer motives than feeding your family,) for art to shine - otherwise there would be a lot fewer pretentious authors spewing forth out there. But pretentious authors still find audiences to feed and to be fed by. :)