I'm a huge fan of XKCD. Randall Munroe has created some pointed (and poignant) comics over the years.
Today's comic like a slap-upside-the-head. Zombie Marie Curie says to aspiring girl scientist: “But you don't become great by trying to be great. You become great by wanting to do something, and doing that it so hard that you become great in the process”.
When was the last time I wanted to do something so hard that I became great?
I can't remember. Literally. Maybe going to graduate school in North Carolina.
My entire life, I have fallen into things. Fallen into English because I thought I was good at it and comfortable. Fallen into QA because I followed an impulse to answer an add asking for liberal arts majors to apply.
I can recall many times when teachers and friends spoke out and said “You would be great at this”. Such as my high school math teacher, who nagged me to go to an engineering camp for girls because “you have a creative brain. You would be good at this”. J's most recent pep talk, when he talked about a children's book I wrote many years ago, but never illustrated.
But I can't remember the last time I made a conscious decision to want to do something, then followed through the tough parts to become great at it.
I have a decision to make. On the surface, the choice is simple and should be automatic. But the more time I give over to thinking about it, the harder it becomes to determine which is the correct path. The decision is this:
I am in the process of negotiating my salary for an interesting and challenging QA position. It would be a great opportunity.
Except that I don't think I want to do it.
Today's comic like a slap-upside-the-head. Zombie Marie Curie says to aspiring girl scientist: “But you don't become great by trying to be great. You become great by wanting to do something, and doing that it so hard that you become great in the process”.
When was the last time I wanted to do something so hard that I became great?
I can't remember. Literally. Maybe going to graduate school in North Carolina.
My entire life, I have fallen into things. Fallen into English because I thought I was good at it and comfortable. Fallen into QA because I followed an impulse to answer an add asking for liberal arts majors to apply.
I can recall many times when teachers and friends spoke out and said “You would be great at this”. Such as my high school math teacher, who nagged me to go to an engineering camp for girls because “you have a creative brain. You would be good at this”. J's most recent pep talk, when he talked about a children's book I wrote many years ago, but never illustrated.
But I can't remember the last time I made a conscious decision to want to do something, then followed through the tough parts to become great at it.
I have a decision to make. On the surface, the choice is simple and should be automatic. But the more time I give over to thinking about it, the harder it becomes to determine which is the correct path. The decision is this:
I am in the process of negotiating my salary for an interesting and challenging QA position. It would be a great opportunity.
Except that I don't think I want to do it.
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