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I don't actually feel the need to change the world. There are some things I enjoy tinkering with, and I've been involved in a couple of minor political causes,

I don't actually feel the need to change the world. There are some things I enjoy tinkering with, and I've been involved in a couple of minor political causes, but I clearly don't feel the same urge that this person does to get out there and remake the world. And so I am not likely to quit my job (which pays quite nicely, doesn't overstress me, and brings me the security to relax at the weekends and in the evenings) and go change the world. I don't feel bad about that.

evilswan 15y ago
...and neither should you. If you're happy where you are then you already have more than most.
rdin 15y ago
I agree, quitting isn't for everybody. But one thing everybody can do is at least consider other options that fit with their risk profiles
Mz 15y ago
People who feel some overwhelming need to Change The World are basically projecting: Their "world" (internal mental landscape, personal life, whatever) is in desperate need of an overhaul. (Edit: I know because this was me, say, 20 to 30 years ago. Then I fixed my personal crap. I no longer feel like lecturing everyone else about what they "should" be doing.) I won't even read the piece. I skimmed it. This is the closing line: You should quit your job. But, sadly, you probably won't. (It feels like a kick in the gut to even read that much.) That and the title tell me all I need to know: This individual has poor boundaries and feels entitled to screw with other people and their lives due to his dissatisfaction. Thank you so much for not being like him. You have absolutely nothing to feel bad about (so I am glad you don't). The world would be a better place if more people were, like you, basically happy with their lives and trying to do some little things to make the world better rather than trying to promote their own Final Solution and running around lecturing people on how they should live. As a general rule of thumb, I will read things that are titled "Why I did X" and won't read things titled "Why you should do X". He knows nothing about me or my life. It is hugely egomaniacal (not to mention delusional) to presume he knows what's best for me. Peace.
- danielharan 15y ago
  Oh, so you are projecting your pattern of 20 or 30 years ago on everyone else and lecturing us about how we're just selfish for changing the world? I've seen plenty of people who have fixed their personal crap -- at that point they realized they were far more passionate about helping others than continuing to advance their careers.
- Tichy 15y ago
  It is better for me if other people are content with their shitty jobs, hence I also feel like applauding the commenter above. Just keep consuming what society feeds you. It's only for your best, trust me.
- kore 15y ago
  While I agree with some of your sentiments about the author, it feels like you're doing a bit of the same by claiming that everybody who wants to change the world are doing so only because they're projecting. I say so with some defensiveness because one of my greatest goals in life is to do just that, to make a difference, as cliche as it is. And yes, I've quit my old job so I could pursue it. We all look around this world and see things that aren't quite right, that we'd like to see changed, and I'm no different. I'd like to be able to do something about it though, big things, not just sit idly by. All too often in life I've been happy just coasting along, taking the easy road in front of me, pursuing good grades in earnest, working hard, and making a good living at interesting jobs. That brings me no closer to my goals in life though, that's not my dream. Some of us have dreams that can be achieved while working 9-5, that's great, but if you have a dream that's important to you, that requires you to quit, do give it some thought. You only have one life.
  - talkingquickly 15y ago
    "Some of us have dreams that can be achieved while working 9-5, that's great, but if you have a dream that's important to you, that requires you to quit, do give it some thought. You only have one life." I think that pretty much sums it up. I Agree on the preference for "Why I did this" rather than "Why you should" but I'm guessing the author was trying to make the point that there seem to be an awful lot of people who fall into the "I'll pursue my dream sometime" category. For them - and I assume they are the authors target audience - an article with a title which is a direct call to an action already in the back of their minds, is one they're likely to read. Perhaps a better title would have been "If this describes you, quit your job"...but that isn't quite as good as link bait!
Tichy 15y ago
So your goal in life is essentially to relax?
- AndrewDucker 15y ago
  Good Lord No. I also want to make life better for my fiancee, and make sure that I'm in a secure position for raising children. If my job was making me unhappy then I'd move to a different one. And I've quit jobs before when the management were doing things I disapproved of. And I give money to charity, and (as I said) get involved in occasional political things (like the voting reform referendum earlier this year).
  - Tichy 15y ago
    In a reasonably ideal world, most normal jobs are actually useful, too... It's not as if only charity work is worthwhile.
- smashing 15y ago
  You come across as judgmental to me. If there were more people who's goal was essentially to relax, how bad would things be?
  - Tichy 15y ago
    I did not say that relaxing is bad. I just wanted to clarify if that was the ultimate life's goal. Although I can't help thinking that to be dead would probably be the ultimate relaxation. So if relaxing is your goal, why bother?
  - deleted 15y ago
    [deleted]
- fabjan 15y ago
  Mine is, or I don't really know. What's the problem?
  - Tichy 15y ago
leftnode 15y ago
Yup, I read Guy Kawasaki's "Art of the Start" where he says you should make a startup and change the world. It's incredibly frightening to think that, and I wouldn't recommend it for anyone. Very few people change the world in the sense the author means (Mark Zuckerberg, Larry/Sergey, loads of scientists, etc). But if you can set out to change someones world, I think you'll find your work more interesting and rewarding.

evilswan 15y ago

...and neither should you. If you're happy where you are then you already have more than most.

rdin 15y ago

I agree, quitting isn't for everybody. But one thing everybody can do is at least consider other options that fit with their risk profiles

Mz 15y ago

People who feel some overwhelming need to Change The World are basically projecting: Their "world" (internal mental landscape, personal life, whatever) is in desperate need of an overhaul. (Edit: I know because this was me, say, 20 to 30 years ago. Then I fixed my personal crap. I no longer feel like lecturing everyone else about what they "should" be doing.) I won't even read the piece. I skimmed it. This is the closing line: You should quit your job. But, sadly, you probably won't. (It feels like a kick in the gut to even read that much.) That and the title tell me all I need to know: This individual has poor boundaries and feels entitled to screw with other people and their lives due to his dissatisfaction. Thank you so much for not being like him. You have absolutely nothing to feel bad about (so I am glad you don't). The world would be a better place if more people were, like you, basically happy with their lives and trying to do some little things to make the world better rather than trying to promote their own Final Solution and running around lecturing people on how they should live. As a general rule of thumb, I will read things that are titled "Why I did X" and won't read things titled "Why you should do X". He knows nothing about me or my life. It is hugely egomaniacal (not to mention delusional) to presume he knows what's best for me. Peace.

danielharan 15y ago
Oh, so you are projecting your pattern of 20 or 30 years ago on everyone else and lecturing us about how we're just selfish for changing the world? I've seen plenty of people who have fixed their personal crap -- at that point they realized they were far more passionate about helping others than continuing to advance their careers.
Tichy 15y ago
It is better for me if other people are content with their shitty jobs, hence I also feel like applauding the commenter above. Just keep consuming what society feeds you. It's only for your best, trust me.
kore 15y ago
While I agree with some of your sentiments about the author, it feels like you're doing a bit of the same by claiming that everybody who wants to change the world are doing so only because they're projecting. I say so with some defensiveness because one of my greatest goals in life is to do just that, to make a difference, as cliche as it is. And yes, I've quit my old job so I could pursue it. We all look around this world and see things that aren't quite right, that we'd like to see changed, and I'm no different. I'd like to be able to do something about it though, big things, not just sit idly by. All too often in life I've been happy just coasting along, taking the easy road in front of me, pursuing good grades in earnest, working hard, and making a good living at interesting jobs. That brings me no closer to my goals in life though, that's not my dream. Some of us have dreams that can be achieved while working 9-5, that's great, but if you have a dream that's important to you, that requires you to quit, do give it some thought. You only have one life.
- talkingquickly 15y ago
  "Some of us have dreams that can be achieved while working 9-5, that's great, but if you have a dream that's important to you, that requires you to quit, do give it some thought. You only have one life." I think that pretty much sums it up. I Agree on the preference for "Why I did this" rather than "Why you should" but I'm guessing the author was trying to make the point that there seem to be an awful lot of people who fall into the "I'll pursue my dream sometime" category. For them - and I assume they are the authors target audience - an article with a title which is a direct call to an action already in the back of their minds, is one they're likely to read. Perhaps a better title would have been "If this describes you, quit your job"...but that isn't quite as good as link bait!

Tichy 15y ago

So your goal in life is essentially to relax?

AndrewDucker 15y ago
Good Lord No. I also want to make life better for my fiancee, and make sure that I'm in a secure position for raising children. If my job was making me unhappy then I'd move to a different one. And I've quit jobs before when the management were doing things I disapproved of. And I give money to charity, and (as I said) get involved in occasional political things (like the voting reform referendum earlier this year).
- Tichy 15y ago
  In a reasonably ideal world, most normal jobs are actually useful, too... It's not as if only charity work is worthwhile.
smashing 15y ago
You come across as judgmental to me. If there were more people who's goal was essentially to relax, how bad would things be?
- Tichy 15y ago
  I did not say that relaxing is bad. I just wanted to clarify if that was the ultimate life's goal. Although I can't help thinking that to be dead would probably be the ultimate relaxation. So if relaxing is your goal, why bother?
- deleted 15y ago
  [deleted]
fabjan 15y ago
Mine is, or I don't really know. What's the problem?
- Tichy 15y ago

leftnode 15y ago

Yup, I read Guy Kawasaki's "Art of the Start" where he says you should make a startup and change the world. It's incredibly frightening to think that, and I wouldn't recommend it for anyone. Very few people change the world in the sense the author means (Mark Zuckerberg, Larry/Sergey, loads of scientists, etc). But if you can set out to change someones world, I think you'll find your work more interesting and rewarding.