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“At least I galloped! When did you?”
–”Equus” by Peter Shaffer
Did you know tech columnist David Pogue used to be a Broadway accompanist?
Listen to his rendition of “I Write the Code” and others in this highly amusing TED Talk.
What happens to a dream deferred?
Does it dry up
like a raisin in the sun?
Or fester like a sore–
And then run?
Does it stink like rotten meat?
Or crust and sugar over–
like a syrupy sweet?
Maybe it just sags
like a heavy load.
Or does it explode?
–Langston Hughes
“If one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams and endeavors to live the life which he has imagined, he will meet with a success unexpected in common hours.”
–Henry David Thoreau
“There is a time for departure even when there’s no certain place to go.”
– Tennessee Williams
Every once in awhile as I’m pursuing one of my 101 goals in 1,001 days I will find myself hopelessly bored or uninterested with a next action.
When you find yourself feeling that way, it’s important to take a step back and ask: why am I really doing this?
A seemingly trite illustrative example from my own life: two of my goals are to watch every movie starring Robin Williams and Johnny Depp, respectively. I’ve had “The Survivors” (with Robin Williams) and “Corpse Bride” (with Johnny Depp–his voice, anyway) sitting in my “To Consume” box for nearly a month now.
I started watching both of these movies, wasn’t particularly interested, and yet felt obligated to watch them through to the end, so I kept staring with annoyance at the DVDs and thinking of all the other movies I would rather be watching.
Now, the original point of these two goals was that I enjoy these two actors’ work, and wanted to enjoy it more. Watching a film that I don’t like just to check it off this list is therefore contrary to the entire point of the goal.
Once I looked at it from this perspective, I immediately stuck both of these DVDs in their Netflix sleeves and sent off for two other movies. And if I don’t enjoy one of them, I’m sending them back a lot sooner!
Update: This viewpoint was reinforced by Tyler Cowen in a recent EconTalk podcast.
We all have specific news items we like to follow, and others that we are content to quickly glance over (or perhaps not read at all).
Head over to Google News and click “Edit this personalized page” in the upper-right corner.
In just two minutes of dragging-and-dropping, you can:
The next time you think you’re confronting a challenge that you just can’t overcome, watch this video of a performance by percussionist Evelyn Glennie by clicking here…
… and then realize that she’s deaf.
“My personal view is that engaging enemies is sacrificing velocity for friction.”
– Chris Brogan via Twitter
The best networking advice I’ve ever received was from my high school college advisor.
He said: “Always send Christmas cards.”
Given how infrequently we receive anything that’s not a bill in the mail these days, holiday cards are really memorable. The younger you are, the less likely your same-age peers are to send cards, making you stand out even more.
(To-date, I have *never* received a physical holiday card in the mail from a peer. I continue to receive many from my male friends’ mothers, however.)
Holiday cards are also the perfect excuse to catch up with old acquaintances, teachers, co-workers, etc. and make sure they have your latest contact information and basic demographics. (Got married, had a kid, moved to Ethiopia, etc.)
ALWAYS write a personal message inside the card, and make it equally about you and about the recipient. End your card with a question and an invitation for them to contact you.
For example:
[Their Name],
[Generic pre-printed holiday message.]
The cats and I are back in Portland, OR for awhile, at least until a new adventure presents itself. Business is keeping me really busy, but I get to do what I love, so I can’t complain!
Where has post-college life found you? Have you seen anyone from high school lately?
If you’re ever out my way, please give me a ring! I’d love to see you.
Happy Holidays!
Marina
marina@marinamartin.com
It’s never too early to start writing those cards — break the task up by writing a set number per week between now and mid-December.
Preparing for sending holiday cards is also a great way to update your current address book. Scour your Facebook profiles, alumni magazines, and make some calls if you need to in order to track everyone on your list down.
If you can’t find an old classmate’s current address, and you know where their parent or other relative lives, mail the card there with a request for them to let you know their current whereabouts.