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Why I'm in total agreement with you that happiness does not arrive in the shape of a Vanity Fair article and 300 million dollars, I don't nesscessarily agree th

Why I'm in total agreement with you that happiness does not arrive in the shape of a Vanity Fair article and 300 million dollars, I don't nesscessarily agree that their drive is because they're lacking something or have Great Inner Pain(TM). I have a great driving force that I suspect many people here share. Making things. I NEED to make things. Not want, or would like to, or enjoy, I NEED to. I wake up and start thinking about what I can make today, I do chores and I'm thinking about how quickly I can get them done so I can make things. There's no motivation to make things for a reason, just that I have to, like a clock has to tell time and a fridge has to keep things cold... It's my raison d'être in life. Just like those things, if I'm not making things I'm broken. I'm building a few things because I want other people to notice them, to use them, because the more something is used the more made it is, the more worthwhile forming ether into substance was. So gradually I'm coming to need to make things other people want, and this NEED is what drives me, what makes me happy.

phlux 16y ago
This is exactly what I was going to reply with! IMO, if I were in Jake's shoes - I'd be able to look back at what I had BUILT; Twitter, Square, and be content in those accomplishments. But that doesn't mean "OK, done here - good game." -- Everything I build I see as a stepping stone to the next thing I am working on, that everything prior serves as foundational experience from which to build upon. Even though I am not a developer, I am a builder. I design systems and networks and datacenters and hospitals -- I am not the ONLY designer/builder that works on these projects, but I can see my contribution clearly. And I am satisfied with my ability, and driven to add more value at every opportunity. I haven't made 300 million yet, but I keep on moving. Keep on going, no matter what. Finally, I try to learn from the experiences of others - avoid their mistakes, emulate their wisdom.
erikpukinskis 16y ago
This reminds me of what seemed to be the fundamental misunderstanding of The Social Network. Zuckerberg himself commented that he didn't build Facebook to get into the exclusive clubs or achieve fame, power, or money... he just wanted to make Facebook. Many non-makers seem constitutionally incapable of understanding that someone might want to make something just for the thrill of seeing it come into being. And as a maker, I have a hard time seeing how that could be a hard concept to grasp.

phlux 16y ago

This is exactly what I was going to reply with! IMO, if I were in Jake's shoes - I'd be able to look back at what I had BUILT; Twitter, Square, and be content in those accomplishments. But that doesn't mean "OK, done here - good game." -- Everything I build I see as a stepping stone to the next thing I am working on, that everything prior serves as foundational experience from which to build upon. Even though I am not a developer, I am a builder. I design systems and networks and datacenters and hospitals -- I am not the ONLY designer/builder that works on these projects, but I can see my contribution clearly. And I am satisfied with my ability, and driven to add more value at every opportunity. I haven't made 300 million yet, but I keep on moving. Keep on going, no matter what. Finally, I try to learn from the experiences of others - avoid their mistakes, emulate their wisdom.

erikpukinskis 16y ago

This reminds me of what seemed to be the fundamental misunderstanding of The Social Network. Zuckerberg himself commented that he didn't build Facebook to get into the exclusive clubs or achieve fame, power, or money... he just wanted to make Facebook. Many non-makers seem constitutionally incapable of understanding that someone might want to make something just for the thrill of seeing it come into being. And as a maker, I have a hard time seeing how that could be a hard concept to grasp.