Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community - View Single Post - What would you tell your kids to do for a living?

DoubleF · 03-29-2025, 07:47 AM

I feel like most people understand the concept but butcher the explanation.

"Do what you love" is absolutely incorrect IMO. I certainly would not survive in my career if that was the mantra I lived by. IMO the more accurate mantra is "Do what allows you to derive satisfaction."

There are plenty of things that I dislike about my career but IMO that is probably normal for almost anyone. I don't currently consider whether to change careers because of the satisfaction I occasionally/often derive from my current role.

This is no different for someone who is a musician for their career. Do you think a guitarist loves the calluses on their hands? The frustrations of getting those lyrics and chords correct? Recording and re-recording? Nah. It's probably closer to those peak moments when everything comes together just right where you're soaking in the satisfaction from a great performance, that was possible do to do from all that hard work, right?

Same as an athlete. Practice sucks, injuries suck, workouts aren't that satisfying... but again those peak moments that give you satisfaction from a great performance is probably what keeps you going. You'd do it for the satisfaction, which is attainable only from the hard work. But you don't necessarily do it because you liked the hard work.

IMO the same concept applies towards other things than career. I don't enjoy cleaning, but I'm "happy to do it" so that I can derive the satisfaction of a well organized space. "Happy to do it" is not the same as "doing what I love". But, I guess I can "love" the satisfaction.

Same as a hobby. I don't have to strive for perfection, just satisfaction.

03-29-2025, 07:47 AM	#91
DoubleF Franchise Player Join Date: Apr 2014 Exp:	I feel like most people understand the concept but butcher the explanation. "Do what you love" is absolutely incorrect IMO. I certainly would not survive in my career if that was the mantra I lived by. IMO the more accurate mantra is "Do what allows you to derive satisfaction." There are plenty of things that I dislike about my career but IMO that is probably normal for almost anyone. I don't currently consider whether to change careers because of the satisfaction I occasionally/often derive from my current role. This is no different for someone who is a musician for their career. Do you think a guitarist loves the calluses on their hands? The frustrations of getting those lyrics and chords correct? Recording and re-recording? Nah. It's probably closer to those peak moments when everything comes together just right where you're soaking in the satisfaction from a great performance, that was possible do to do from all that hard work, right? Same as an athlete. Practice sucks, injuries suck, workouts aren't that satisfying... but again those peak moments that give you satisfaction from a great performance is probably what keeps you going. You'd do it for the satisfaction, which is attainable only from the hard work. But you don't necessarily do it because you liked the hard work. IMO the same concept applies towards other things than career. I don't enjoy cleaning, but I'm "happy to do it" so that I can derive the satisfaction of a well organized space. "Happy to do it" is not the same as "doing what I love". But, I guess I can "love" the satisfaction. Same as a hobby. I don't have to strive for perfection, just satisfaction.