How to see a job through to completion.
Dear Baby:
A friend of ours is entering the first grade. He hates it. He has a hard time leaving his mom everyday.
I understand. I don't love going to work. At best, it's mildly diverting. Most of the time: It's dull.
But I've collected some thoughts on work, and these thoughts have helped me for years, and here they are:
*Sometimes, you just have to do the tap-dance. I assisted a second-grade teacher who did not believe that learning needed to be a continual source of amazement. This second-grade teacher would look a kid straight in the eye and say: "Occasionally, life requires you to learn and perform a tap-dance, whether you want that or not. Just do the tap-dance." Truer words man never speak.
*It's important to bribe yourself. Entire tomes have been written about the importance of "intrinsic motivation." Earnest tomes--with PhDs in the offing. When this is the case, you know the movement is likely wrong--or over-simplifying things. I believe strongly in *extrinsic* motivation. Bribe yourself with new books, new sweaters, new jeans, new books, new books. Whatever it takes, Man.
*Mild displeasure is different from repulsion. Maybe I shouldn't quote Dan Savage to you, because you're a baby, but Mr. Savage changed my life. He was writing about sex. He said that, when there's something your partner wants to try, you have an obligation to participate--if the act in question doesn't repel you. In other words: When you feel a lack of interest in the proposed act, so what? Be generous. It's only when you find yourself shuddering that you really need to say no to your spouse. So much of life fails to fill us with delight, but, also, it's not repellent. It's fine, when you think about it. This can help when you're at work.
And then, one hopes, you'll have a passion to explore in the pre-dinner hours that will keep you buoyant. Something fun and endlessly interesting that might--one day--make you some money.
Good luck to you. Look! Look!
And that's all I have to say about work.
Dear Baby:
A friend of ours is entering the first grade. He hates it. He has a hard time leaving his mom everyday.
I understand. I don't love going to work. At best, it's mildly diverting. Most of the time: It's dull.
But I've collected some thoughts on work, and these thoughts have helped me for years, and here they are:
*Sometimes, you just have to do the tap-dance. I assisted a second-grade teacher who did not believe that learning needed to be a continual source of amazement. This second-grade teacher would look a kid straight in the eye and say: "Occasionally, life requires you to learn and perform a tap-dance, whether you want that or not. Just do the tap-dance." Truer words man never speak.
*It's important to bribe yourself. Entire tomes have been written about the importance of "intrinsic motivation." Earnest tomes--with PhDs in the offing. When this is the case, you know the movement is likely wrong--or over-simplifying things. I believe strongly in *extrinsic* motivation. Bribe yourself with new books, new sweaters, new jeans, new books, new books. Whatever it takes, Man.
*Mild displeasure is different from repulsion. Maybe I shouldn't quote Dan Savage to you, because you're a baby, but Mr. Savage changed my life. He was writing about sex. He said that, when there's something your partner wants to try, you have an obligation to participate--if the act in question doesn't repel you. In other words: When you feel a lack of interest in the proposed act, so what? Be generous. It's only when you find yourself shuddering that you really need to say no to your spouse. So much of life fails to fill us with delight, but, also, it's not repellent. It's fine, when you think about it. This can help when you're at work.
And then, one hopes, you'll have a passion to explore in the pre-dinner hours that will keep you buoyant. Something fun and endlessly interesting that might--one day--make you some money.
Good luck to you. Look! Look!
And that's all I have to say about work.
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