Down the Road

Photographs and stories by Jim Grey

Since 2007

Recommended reading

Jim Grey
5 comments on Recommended reading
1 minute

Welcome to Saturday, Roadies, and to my weekly roundup of the blog posts I enjoyed most all week. Grab a coffee (or a tea, as you prefer) and settle in.

A couple weeks ago I wrote of the pitfalls of making your passions pay. Brianna Wiest, writing for Medium, takes this farther, saying instead we should do what we are good at. “Do what you have to give. (…) Your gifts are not random; they are a blueprint for your destiny.” Read You’re Not Meant To Do What You Love. You’re Meant To Do What You’re Good At.

Speaking of doing things: Derek Sivers shares a technique for getting things done when you’re not feeling motivated. It’s the same technique I use when I’m feeling blue. If this technique shakes my blues, I’m good. If it doesn’t, I know I’ve got something more challenging that’s wrong and I need to figure out what it is. Read When you’re extremely unmotivated

Daniel Stern, writing for Curbside Classic, found an old bottle of Indian Head Gasket Shellac — and wrote well about the smells that bring good feelings to us. This one: of days spent happily under the hood of his car. Read CC Toolbox: Indian Head Gasket Shellac

Comments

5 responses to “Recommended reading”

  1. hmunro Avatar
    hmunro

    Brianna Wiest is a genius! Several friends have urged me over the years to quit my corporate job and become a photographer (one even accused me of “selling out”). But the thing is, I’m *good* at my corporate job, and it gives me the freedom and means to travel and take photos. I’ve also seen others take the leap of pursuing their passion, only to find that doing it full-time isn’t as rewarding — psychologically or financially — as they’d expected. So it’s refreshing to see someone challenge this myth that doing what you love automatically leads to happiness and fulfillment.

    I also loved Derek’s piece, because I’ve been in the same boat. He’s inspired me to make a list of the odious/boring little tasks I’ve been putting off, and to just do them already.

    Thank you, Jim!

    Reply
    1. Jim Grey Avatar
      Jim Grey

      I know people who want to strike out on their own, work for themselves. I wonder why more of them don’t seek to open dry-cleaning shops. They’re very useful. I don’t know of one in my neighborhood; it would be nice to have one here. It’s not a sexy business to be in, but I’ll bet one in my neighborhood would, ahem, clean up.

      Reply
      1. hmunro Avatar
        hmunro

        Excellent point, Jim! I’ll keep dry-cleaning in mind in case the writing thing doesn’t work out. ;)

        Reply
  2. sobershutterSteve Avatar
    sobershutterSteve

    I read the “pitfalls of making your passions pay” and “You’re Not Meant To Do What You Love. You’re Meant To Do What You’re Good At.” While I would have to grudgingly agree with both, I have to say that its far easier to say these things when said from the comfort of an office chair. Brianna writes from the aspect of a writer, pretty high of the creature comfort list. True, one should be good at what they do, however, greatness isn’t fueled by mere talent, its fueled by passion, and a will to succeed, and often times going against the social grain. That being said, I am an industrial mechanic, I am very good at it, it’s also intensely physical, hot and louder than the worst ex-wife. The missing piece here is my passion, I am not a very passionate person (which is another story) but if I were I would run screaming from my current job to anything that stirred my passion.

    Reply
    1. Jim Grey Avatar
      Jim Grey

      I think passion is overrated. But I say that as a fellow who is very fortunate to like what he does for a living. I think however that it is a shame to hate what you do and feel locked into it. I know a pharmacist who hates his work but feels trapped because he thinks he can’t afford the pay cut necessary to change fields.

      Reply

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