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I wanted to be a Special Force Soldier, I worked my butt off trying to be a better swimmer, road marcher, language and arms proficiency, but at the time in 1989, there wasn't a need for a 1 eye blind SF Sergeant. I was born with a Lazy Eye , and have 20/400 vision in one eye, essentially legally blind in that eye in most states I can understand where Mike Rowe is coming from when he compares people and their passion, and to going to America's got talent, and realize no you really don't. All to often we see soldier struggle in a given field, that maybe should be in another. yet there are too many obstacles to move that person in the right direction. Your thoughts?
Military Career
Civilian Career
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 4
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As usual, Mike Rowe's got a lot right...but there's a catch.
"Passion" is an overused word; we should probably say, "want". Sure, everyone would like to be a Space Shuttle Door Gunner (because of the "look", the hot gals/guys who dig it, the fact that they make blockbuster movies about it)...that's not "passion". Of all the "genuine article" people I've known in those "amazing" careers, two things are usually true; first-they didn't just "want" to be there, they couldn't accept anything less at ANY cost. Second-the cost they paid to be there was usually enormous. It takes years of dedication, training, endurance and commitment to do all of these things...and more often than not-luck. I knew a guy who got seriously injured right after BUDs; end of his career. I knew a guy who lost his wings within a year of earning them (along with his wife and eventually, his career). We've all heard about the guys who "just barely" miss making the NFL, or the "promising" young people who "burn out" early.
On the other hand, mediocrity is its own poison. Doing something because it is "secure" is a great strategy for making a comfortable, predictable living over time. It can also be a ticket straight to self loathing and an early grave.
If someone can look at themselves in the mirror and say, "I'm happy with my life", then whether or not they needed to be 007, the "Port-a-Potty King of Missouri", or "Employee of the Month" to get there is really immaterial. On the other hand, if the guy who just did a HALO jump drinks himself to sleep or the guy with his own welding business is on his third divorce...can you really call that "satisfaction"?
I think (because I've certainly not mastered this equation) that satisfaction comes from balance. If you have money and security, but no self-respect, you're just as bad off as being dead broke doing something your proud of. Perhaps that's why I've always been a "Jack of All Trades"; I've dug ditches for wages, flown planes, sailed on warships, wired housed, plumbed golf courses, pumped gas into planes, sold equipment, waited tables, clerked hotels, led convoys, carved wood, painted landscapes...heck...I even did some theater once!
That "balance" seems to be having a permanent, emotional connection to someone; family, kids...settling on a base "identity"; are you a tradesman, academic, adventurer, healer, educator, protector, etc. Finally, establishing a set of core values you measure yourself by in both; are you loyal, honest, courageous, skilled, dedicated? If following one forces you to compromise the other, then you change course.
I can't say that I "love" what I do to make money now; frankly, it's as far from my "passion" as I can get. Still, I have the woman of my dreams and my son. I have an "identity" as a modern-day "protector" defending not only their future, but hopefully the "code" that makes that future meaningful. If I could do that traipsing about the globe looking for "adventure", I would...but the truth is that I have to find the adventure in the challenge of living.
In my mind and heart, so long as those "limitations" are choices based on realities...rather than "excuses" based on fear, I've got nothing to feel bad about :)
"Passion" is an overused word; we should probably say, "want". Sure, everyone would like to be a Space Shuttle Door Gunner (because of the "look", the hot gals/guys who dig it, the fact that they make blockbuster movies about it)...that's not "passion". Of all the "genuine article" people I've known in those "amazing" careers, two things are usually true; first-they didn't just "want" to be there, they couldn't accept anything less at ANY cost. Second-the cost they paid to be there was usually enormous. It takes years of dedication, training, endurance and commitment to do all of these things...and more often than not-luck. I knew a guy who got seriously injured right after BUDs; end of his career. I knew a guy who lost his wings within a year of earning them (along with his wife and eventually, his career). We've all heard about the guys who "just barely" miss making the NFL, or the "promising" young people who "burn out" early.
On the other hand, mediocrity is its own poison. Doing something because it is "secure" is a great strategy for making a comfortable, predictable living over time. It can also be a ticket straight to self loathing and an early grave.
If someone can look at themselves in the mirror and say, "I'm happy with my life", then whether or not they needed to be 007, the "Port-a-Potty King of Missouri", or "Employee of the Month" to get there is really immaterial. On the other hand, if the guy who just did a HALO jump drinks himself to sleep or the guy with his own welding business is on his third divorce...can you really call that "satisfaction"?
I think (because I've certainly not mastered this equation) that satisfaction comes from balance. If you have money and security, but no self-respect, you're just as bad off as being dead broke doing something your proud of. Perhaps that's why I've always been a "Jack of All Trades"; I've dug ditches for wages, flown planes, sailed on warships, wired housed, plumbed golf courses, pumped gas into planes, sold equipment, waited tables, clerked hotels, led convoys, carved wood, painted landscapes...heck...I even did some theater once!
That "balance" seems to be having a permanent, emotional connection to someone; family, kids...settling on a base "identity"; are you a tradesman, academic, adventurer, healer, educator, protector, etc. Finally, establishing a set of core values you measure yourself by in both; are you loyal, honest, courageous, skilled, dedicated? If following one forces you to compromise the other, then you change course.
I can't say that I "love" what I do to make money now; frankly, it's as far from my "passion" as I can get. Still, I have the woman of my dreams and my son. I have an "identity" as a modern-day "protector" defending not only their future, but hopefully the "code" that makes that future meaningful. If I could do that traipsing about the globe looking for "adventure", I would...but the truth is that I have to find the adventure in the challenge of living.
In my mind and heart, so long as those "limitations" are choices based on realities...rather than "excuses" based on fear, I've got nothing to feel bad about :)
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I agree with this to an extent! We all have passions, and you should do those passions if they make you happy. When it comes to employment, you have to be honest with yourself and keep things in perspective; can you make a career out of your passion? If you can then go for it! If you can't make it a hobby. My thing is, your career does not have to define who you are; it is only a small percent of who are and what you do. If you are going to do something be passionate about how you do it, don't half ass it! I have always lived with the value, if someone is going to pay me to do something their going to get 100% of what I have to offer.
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I am one of the very few lucky/blessed to be paid reasonably well for doing what I consider I do best which just about anyone else would consider a "passion." If you can find solid employment doing something you like: that's great. The fact you enjoy it will deflect some of the negativity that comes with any job. I've had my days where I just didn't want to be a musician anymore, and that's when I had to remind myself what was it about being a musician that I enjoyed so much.
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