On about my 20
th listen of
Linchpin by Seth Godin, I
finally caught this great quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson (missed it somehow the
first 19 times).
Since 2013 is my year of FOCUS…this seems appropriate for the next
to the last day of 2012.
 |
| Ralph Waldo Emerson |
If our young men miscarry in their first enterprises, they lose all
heart. If the young merchant fails, men say he is ruined. If the finest genius
studies at one of our colleges, and is not installed in an office within one
year afterwards in the cities or suburbs of Boston or New York, it seems to his
friends and to himself that he is right in being disheartened, and in
complaining the rest of his life. A sturdy lad from New Hampshire or Vermont,
who in turn tries all the professions, who teams it, farms it, peddles, keeps a
school, preaches, edits a newspaper, goes to Congress, buys a township, and so
forth, in successive years, and always, like a cat, falls on his feet, is worth
a hundred of these city dolls. He walks abreast with his days, and feels no
shame in not “studying a profession,” for he does not postpone his life, but
lives already.
He has not one chance, but a hundred chances.
Let's take a closer look at this contrarian view of career building.
If our young men miscarry in their first enterprises, they lose all
heart.
Setting a goal indicates a desire to reach it! If our eye is on the last
super buy at the outlet mall, we are disappointed and kicking our selves for
sleeping in 5 minutes too long before leaving home. We wanted it, we
didn't get it, we are disappointed.
To lose heart, however implies loss of
faith, in ones-self, in the process. We deserved it. We should get it. To lose heart implies: The
system sucks (and so do I).
If the young merchant fails, men say he is ruined.
The village clucks it's tongue at his wasted time, energy and focus.
If the finest genius studies at one of our colleges, and is not installed
in an office within one year afterwards in the cities or suburbs of Boston or
New York, it seems to his friends and to himself that he is right in being
disheartened, and in complaining the rest of his life.
Everyone knows! Everyone is looking down on your crumpled, bleeding body and
lamenting the sad tale that got you there. This is where the 'shoulding
starts.' He should have done this...She should have seen that... this phase can
take a week...or a lifetime.
A sturdy lad from New Hampshire or Vermont, who in turn tries all the professions, who teams it,
farms it, peddles, keeps a school, preaches, edits a newspaper, goes to
Congress, buys a township, and so forth, in successive years, and always, like
a cat, falls on his feet, is worth a
hundred of these city dolls. He walks abreast with his days, and feels no shame in not “studying
a profession,” for he does not postpone his life, but lives
already. OUTCOME? He has not one chance, but a hundred chances.
Perhaps the best focus is on collecting skills...instead of on collecting degree or job titles ...
