Two things I really want to say to this. First, thanks for giving em a reference on the 10,000 hours thing. I’ve been citing that stat for about 3 years now, knowing in my head I didn’t make it up but not remembering where I DID see it – I know it wasn’t Gladwell, as I’ve been aware of it since before Outliers, but at least I can now say “Oh, yeah, Gladwell cites it too”. I believe that’s the same research that looked at Mozart and analysed his early works to show they were actually pastiche, and it was only after 10,000 hours he hit his original voice. Whcih reminds me where I cited the stat most recently – on Scalzi’s blog about how writers break through later than musicians – the 10,000 hours thing is an obvious reason for that.

Two, I just want to point out that I 100% agree the sex/cash duality isn’t untranscendable. The vital thing we have to remember, though, is that it is a duality most of us have to transcend rather than ignore. Everyday exigencies like bills and commitments mean we simply HAVE to do a day job UNTIL we can get the money to flow from the sex. Ditching it all for the dream is admirable – but what the 10,000 hours thing tells us is that it may also be delusional if we’re not careful.

The key is in your word “deliberate”. For many people bad luck (or lack of good luck) means they will never make the transcendence. For amny more it will never happen because they’ve shot for the wrong thing (a polite way of saying lack of self-awareness coupled with talents lying elsewhere). But a whole (and for our purposes significant) host more will fail because they sit in the evenings having got home from their day job and put in their 10,000 hours – but without it ever being part of a plan. These are the numerous talented people who blog religiously whilst no one reads it, who post on YouTube for no one to wacth. Who produce great art that no one sees. Everything we do towards that dream of getting the cash to follow the sex has to funnel into that goal.

If I just keep moving in the right direction, I know it’ll work, and work well.

Thanks for the words of wisdom everyone.

@ Joel – yup, emotional and spiritual sanity are guiding factors

@ Jeff – The hope and the dream are important, but futile without…action

@ Amy – yeah, Sex matters, but I also don’t minimize the importance of enough Cash to live well in the world. Lead with Sex and wrap Cash around it

@ Wayne – mission is important, but it’s also important not to be wed so much to a static mission that you miss the need to adapt it to what you discover along the way

@ Jeb – Yup, we’re all in good company!

@ Karen – Mhmm, I’ve just seen too many people doing okay pursuing both

@ Joe – And, I’ve gotta respect your take on deliberate practice…seeing as how it won you a gold medal in the Olympics!

@ Christine – “putting myself on that knife-edge between doing what I love AND being paid for it has become part of the experience of being alive.” I think I agree, just also have to make sure the high comes from pursuing your passion and not taking risks for the sake of experiencing the high.

@ Evhen – “neither” just might work, too

@ Brook – yeah, it was the “untranscendable” part that got me. Tension? You betcha! But, transcendable. Yes.

@ Jim – that WH Murray quote is one I keep returning to over and over

@ Martin – great point about escapism, it’s important to distinguish it from genuine passion. But, not always so easy

@ Wayne – Nice quote from Roger, thanks for sharing!

I think its not easy to make that transition over to what you enjoy doing without accepting that there are some sacrifices to make as a result (Brooke’s comment is case in point). I think there’s a way to do it, and that usually involves measuring what you make (boring job) to measuring what you can earn in the sexy job. Once they match (minus taxes, social security and all the other boring stuff you have to pay for), then you have to make a choice.

I did that in January, and I haven’t looked back. Thanks for the fun way of describing this process.

Cheers,

Jim

Again interesting article and some fine comments… cheers to all.

Martin

Funny, I found that quote by W.H. Murray 3 years ago, made a copy of it and pasted it to the inside cover of my planning binder so I would continually be reminded of the truth it conveys.

Thanks for another great post!