Productivity and Fascination
I’d like to think that any effort we put into learning something is because there was some level of awe and wonder when we first discovered it. Especially something we have enough interest in to develop a career, or an education, around it.
And it’s that basic intrigue that keeps us going through all the busy-work and boring parts that come with any job or education. In my mind, the most dangerous scenario is losing that intrinsic ‘wow-factor’ relating so something I build my life around.
This principle can be applied to nearly all aspects of life, love, and friendship, but I’d like to narrow that scope to ‘career’ for this particular conversation. Having just recently started my own business, the side effects of a potential burn-out are more frightening than ever. Being my own motivator comes with a wonderful sense of freedom, but an equally sobering sense of responsibility. It’s more important than ever to avoid that feeling of “I just don’t want to work right now.”
While I don’t pretend to be an expert on the human psyche, there’s one thing that, more than any other, has helped me keep on track and renewed my professional energy. Let me start with a little back-story.
Finding the Fascinating
As I’ve mentioned before, I majored in physics back in college. Often times people look at me with blank stares when I mention this, but there were a few very concrete reasons why I chose to study physics. First and foremost, the idea that we can predict and evaluate with extreme accuracy the processes and behaviors of nature was quite possibly the most intriguing idea I’d ever thought through. All the ridiculous mathematics and proofs that came along with it were not enough to deter me from the core concept that what I got out of them was absolutely fascinating.
After I finished this long and boring equation, I got something concrete. Something meaningful. Was it completely applicable to my life? No, not really. Was it practical? Not all the time. Was it even something I could show to anyone else and they would agree that it was amazing? I only wish. But I loved it. I didn’t always like the process, but I loved the outcome.
On the Current SItuation
I got into web development because it had that same level of intrigue. The fact that I could make a couple keystrokes, and immediately have something that I, and anyone really, could use and interact with was mind-blowing. Do I like everything about web development? Of course not. I’ll be honest, I have a terrible time with internal organization: naming of layers in Photoshop/Fireworks, organizing my CSS files, etc. It’s not exciting. It’s not sexy. Sure the outcome is way better, but the process is not.
So let me boil all this down to something concrete. What is it that causes burnout in my work cycle? It’s forgetting that I absolutely love the outcome. It’s thinking of client work as just ‘something that needs to get done.’ It’s not remembering why I started doing this in the first place. In order to get me though the mundane, I need to remember to find the fascinating.
The Take Away
If you love CSS, be proud of yourself for your hack-free layout. Even if nobody else will be. Remember to pat yourself on the back every now and then. You’ll be amazed how confidence improves your motivation. In every part of a project, find the one thing that you really enjoy, and savor it. Don’t let the things that excite you pass by too quickly. Taking pride in that one little gem will give you the energy to get through that next stack of emails that need to be send out. Trust me.
