“Work is finding yourself alone at the track when the weather kept everyone else indoors. Work is pushing through the pain and crappy first drafts and prototypes. It is ignoring whatever plaudits others are getting, and more importantly, ignoring whatever plaudits you may be getting. Because there is work to be done. Work doesn’t want to be good. It is made so, despite the headwind.”
Ryan Holiday, Ego is the Enemy
Beyond the Quote (69/365)
Why do all of this work at all? Why show up when it’s raining and cold? Why push through writing tasks when Netflix is one click away? Why keep working when you’re getting praised and approved of for what you’ve already done? Why not stay indoors, become complacent, relax, and soak in the compliments you’ve already received? …Well, because that’s not how your best work comes to life—that’s why. And that task of bringing to life your best work, may be your most important calling on this earth.
What task could be more important? Work that manifests itself into the world from thought to reality, that comes uniquely through your potential, life experiences, and creative perceptions, should be considered one of the most sacred fulfillments of your life that there is. Your work IS your life. Your work IS your fulfillment. Your work IS your legacy.
Now, let’s talk about how you get there. The work that you set out to do certainly doesn’t start out good. In fact, it almost always starts out awful. Any work that you find where this isn’t the case, you should carefully consider continuing. Being able to do work more easily, that others find hard, might be a sign that you’re in alignment with your innate capabilities, aptitudes, and potential. And don’t worry, if you find that most of the work that you set out to do is all equally awful, you’re not out of luck—you just have to pick something and begin.
Here’s one of the keys to getting ahead in life: spend less time “searching for your passion” and spend more time building valuable skills. The more time you spend searching for something that “pulls you” or is going to make the work “easy,” the less time you’ll be spending building skills that make you better at doing work and more able to get done what’s hard.
This isn’t to say that you shouldn’t search for something that aligns with your capabilities, aptitudes, and potential. I do believe that when you search you find. However, this should not be the sole occupation of your time. If you can’t find a passion that “speaks” to you and everything you’ve tried feels “luke warm,” then just pick something!
All things being equal (as far as emotional appeal goes), choose to learn about work that’s going to give you the most valuable skill set. Or choose work that you have unique opportunities to learn based on your connections, location, or situation. Or just pick at random! Choosing not to work and build skills because you’re busy “searching” for your passion is nothing but an excuse. And it’s an excuse that can take away precious time that you could otherwise be investing. And let me make one thing clear: Your “passion” won’t come looking for you. So you can drop that notion out the window now. You have to engage with the world, experiment, and build skills to find your way.
What’s interesting is that when you become better at doing the work (with deliberate practice and patience), you’ll probably find that you’ll start liking it more. It makes sense right? We tend to like what we’re good at—at least a lot more than what we’re bad at. And so when you pick what to pursue, whether for a particular reason or at random, you’ll find that the more you dedicate yourself to the work, the better you’ll get, and the more you’ll like doing it.
You’ll start a positive upward cycle that could very well lead you to your life’s work. And it’s precisely the work that you find yourself doing alone when everybody else is out having fun or is cozied up scrolling through their timelines that will indicate that you’re on your way. Because your life’s task is greater than a night out; your mission is more powerful than passive entertainment; and your legacy is what’s being built right now. So, let’s get to work.
This post became the introduction for: 12 Cal Newport Quotes from ‘So Good They Can’t Ignore You’
Don't Let the Motivation Stop There...!
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