This is a great article, Tom. Perhaps worthy of a book. The issue you bring up - procrastination is bigger than most people realize. We want things to be comfortable and easy. We don't want challenges. Instead, it seems we want to have an opinion about everything, rather than finding a creative solution that will take some real work to resolve. I was self-employed my whole working life and always stayed engaged because I always had a new problem or challenge to work through. I'm officially retired now and am taking on new projects all the time. What would it take to wake people up to this possibility? This is no small thing!
tom - this is one of your best pieces, imo. its so on point and articulates so much of what is happening today for too many. thanks for your thought leadership as always.
My advice...take up art-making. That is, if the idea excites you. Because you will never run out of twisty problems to solve. And if you do solve them temporarily, the victory can be hung on the wall, staring you in the face. Until a week later, when you'll decide that it's sh*t and you need to redo the whole thing or start over. People who are masters at this have all the same issues and conflicts as a rank amateur like myself. But they have up to a dozen pieces going at all times so there's no possibility of running out of problems to solve. Oh, what a diabolical way to keep oneself from getting bored! And, as a bonus, just imagine the angst you'll cause for your heirs, when they discover piles upon piles of works with your strange fantasies and meanderings brought to life, and have ponder what in the hell to do with them. God help them if you take up stone sculpting! Heehee
Tom, well put...but maybe consider this: There's no such thing as being "stuck," insomuch as we can't stop life...being stuck takes active attention, participation and, yes, even curiosity. Blaming boredom is not just an excuse but a creative decision. So, maybe it drills down to your more fundamental observation about the difference between "want" and "need?" Maybe people are bored or stuck because they want to be?
Great observation, Jonathan. And so why would someone stuck in the mud want to stay in the comfortable car and floor the accelerator (active attention and participation)? I think we know the answer.
This is a great article, Tom. Perhaps worthy of a book. The issue you bring up - procrastination is bigger than most people realize. We want things to be comfortable and easy. We don't want challenges. Instead, it seems we want to have an opinion about everything, rather than finding a creative solution that will take some real work to resolve. I was self-employed my whole working life and always stayed engaged because I always had a new problem or challenge to work through. I'm officially retired now and am taking on new projects all the time. What would it take to wake people up to this possibility? This is no small thing!
"What would it take to wake people up to this possibility? This is no small thing!"
This is what drives me, Robert. If you have an ideas, please let me know. :)
Happy Holidays!
tom - this is one of your best pieces, imo. its so on point and articulates so much of what is happening today for too many. thanks for your thought leadership as always.
Thank you JJ!
My advice...take up art-making. That is, if the idea excites you. Because you will never run out of twisty problems to solve. And if you do solve them temporarily, the victory can be hung on the wall, staring you in the face. Until a week later, when you'll decide that it's sh*t and you need to redo the whole thing or start over. People who are masters at this have all the same issues and conflicts as a rank amateur like myself. But they have up to a dozen pieces going at all times so there's no possibility of running out of problems to solve. Oh, what a diabolical way to keep oneself from getting bored! And, as a bonus, just imagine the angst you'll cause for your heirs, when they discover piles upon piles of works with your strange fantasies and meanderings brought to life, and have ponder what in the hell to do with them. God help them if you take up stone sculpting! Heehee
Perfect! 🎨
Tom, well put...but maybe consider this: There's no such thing as being "stuck," insomuch as we can't stop life...being stuck takes active attention, participation and, yes, even curiosity. Blaming boredom is not just an excuse but a creative decision. So, maybe it drills down to your more fundamental observation about the difference between "want" and "need?" Maybe people are bored or stuck because they want to be?
Great observation, Jonathan. And so why would someone stuck in the mud want to stay in the comfortable car and floor the accelerator (active attention and participation)? I think we know the answer.
So that is why so many folks over the years have said 'Oh jeez Ben WHAT is your Problem????'
Joking aside, your post makes a great point. Most folks never take on a problem, and only the rare and lucky few get two problems in a lifetime.
So What is a problem?
something that take won't let you alone, bugs your curiosity.
You become a dog with a bone.
18-24 months gnawing and trying to get a grip on it, to understand what you are dealing with.
18-24 months to test and improve an approach to that problem - to really get to grips with it
Until that great and final time when it just all comes together
18-24 months to improve that grip and relish the result, sharing with the world..
And there’s six years of engagement with reality! 😊
This is awesome, Tom. Thanks for sharing light on the the importance of curiosity.