A few days ago I heard someone on the radio say that one’s motivation is integral to fulfillment in one’s career. The key points that really stood out for me were:
- You should strive to make your hobby your career
- Doing the best job possible in your career should be your goal, not fame and recognition.
- If you set out in your career to be famous, you may make that goal, but you will be forever dependent on that fame for fulfillment
- Fame is extremely fragile, so dependence on fame makes your fulfillment just as fragile
- If your goal is to do the best you can do and you do it, then the fame will come from that.
These points really struck me hard, and they made me think of what I was doing in my career and in my blogging. And they made me think about this blog post from Misha over at Alert Logic way back in December of last year. Here’s what Misha said I said:
When I asked Michael why he blogged he thought for a few moments and said ?I like being famous?. It?s just that kind of unpolished honesty that makes guys like Michael more fun to read than, say, Bill Kristol of The Weekly Standard.
Now while there is nothing inherently wrong with wanting to be famous, you have to look at the next to last point above. Do you see why it is not a very good reason for doing what you do?
I know what I want to do with my career. I have said more than once that I like to speak to groups, that I like to be the person to whom everyone is listening. And I enjoy writing in my blogs just as much. Right now those things are my hobbies, but I fully plan on making them my career as I move forward (I’m only 35 – I have some time).
And while that type of career is naturally going to involve some degree of fame, I have come to understand that fame should not be my prime motivator. I should be doing what I love to do, and I should be doing it to be the best I can be, not because I want people to think I am a smart guy and because I want them to like me. If I do the best I can do, then the other stuff will come, and I will be fulfilled in my achievement rather than relying on the fickleness of the crowd.
Thanks for reading.
Vet
That was on a radio station? Impressive! And I fully agree, one cannot hinge one’s happiness on something that for many is simply unachievable. For instance, can everyone be famous? Nope, which means there are a lot of unfulfilled people if that is their key personal measure (key corporate measure…you know..? yeah, too much time at work…).
Personal happiness, and that comes from doing something that you love and enjoy. I’m not sure one should make one’s hobbies their career, since I think some hobbies are needed as a distraction to the career, or part of the work-life-happiness balance…but it’s not a bad thought to always keep in mind.
It really sounds like you enjoy the fame, but I don’t think that’s really your prime motivator, since you have other motivators. The fame is just a nice bonus high!