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I think they're a human tendency to conflate initial ability in a field with enjoyment of that field, but they are really two different things. You're probably
by frankus 17y ago
I think they're a human tendency to conflate initial ability in a field with enjoyment of that field, but they are really two different things.
You're probably never going to get really good at doing something you hate, or at least you'll be miserable the whole time. But it's entirely possible to enjoy something you initially suck at, and sooner or later you'll likely eclipse those who have a bit of a knack for it but no passion.
Just remember that you have to actually enjoy working in the field, and not just the idea of being an expert in the field. As one famous bodybuilder put it, “Everybody wants to be a bodybuilder, but don’t nobody want to lift no heavy-ass weights.”
- CyberFonic 17y agoSeth Godin wrote a great little book "The Dip" - it's a bit more verbose than the above body building quote. Another excellent book is Steven Pressfield's "The War of Art" (no it's not a typo!) Generally anything worthwhile accomplishing takes serious effort. I've seen sources that suggest 10,000 hours. Eg. learning to play the piano well, sports, etc. Turning PRO is all about commitment - many people with great ability fall short due to the lack of persistence. Devil of an issue about choosing exactly to be a pro in.