The title of this post was cribbed from one by the same name by Chris Brogan. In it, Brogan ponders why he writes, why he creates, why he does things that oftentimes seem to have no direct monetary outcome. What did he realize?
“We go off all day to hunt the mammoths, but at the end of the day, we gather round the fire to tell stories.
One pays the bills (we eat the mammoth); the other feeds our hearts (storytelling). It’s a reasonable thought.
I was talking with my wife about this last night. I said, ‘I’m questioning why I’m throwing so much effort into my own website, the three others I’m providing content for, the podcasts, the video, and all the various projects I’m doing. It’s not like I’m being paid.’
But the truth is, I’m getting value. I get value in talking with you. I’ve met so many engaging people, and every time one of you risks delurking and sending me an email, I meet a new friend. I’ve met people who’ve helped me build websites, people who’ve joined with me on Advisory Board discussions about what we should do with our careers. I’ve met fascinating people with passions for their own projects, and whose sites I read religiously now.
I feel that every day I post something new is another micro resume. I’m telling people out there what I stand for, how I think, what matters most to me. Some days, that’s probably not going to land me a job. Other days, it’s something that people might relate to.”
On a related note, had a great lunch on Thursday with Heather Gold. One of the key points we agreed on:
In an increasing number of situations, the personal is the professional.
In other words, the person, the whole person, should be able to show up at the office. Not just the cookie cutter caricature that is playing the role, but the whole person and all of his or her skills and perspectives and even weaknesses. More thoughts on this from Heather here.
That’s a great line, telling stories round the campfire.
yup. agreed.
But… doesn’t hunting the mammoth feed the soul?
Nope. Hunting mammoth feeds your belly. Without a belly, there is no soul. Without a soul, there’s no reason to feed the belly. Damned dentist, damned surgeon. (Damned paradox).
Both great posts!
I definitely agree that “the personal is the professional” in more an more cases these days.
Reading the two posts made me aware of something I hadn’t really considered in full… I make my living with art, but I use the money to take on free projects that hols my interest, such as the TypePad Hacks blog. Which means I’m quite possibly the only guy out there who’s supporting his passion for tech support by selling his art. Heh. Isn’t it traditionally the other way round? You take a tech job to fund your art hobby?
Man, I always knew I was backwards, but sometimes the depth of it just cracks me up. If that’s not personal/professional ju jitsu, I don’t know what is.
Anyway, I think you’re both on to something here with the hunter/storyteller metaphor. Nice!
yes, indeed, john…you may be the only person out there selling his art to fund his tech support habit. heh.
Love it!
I think the hunt feeds something emotional, but in a different place than the creation. Cavemen could have lived off of plants or smaller creatures, I imagine, but still they hunted mammoth.
Then they came home and painted on the walls.
Maybe personal blogging is the modern day equivalent of cave paintings!