Earlier today, my friend Andrew tweeted the following:
Don’t create success. Create the conditions for success.
— Andrew Hedges (@segdeha) July 31, 2011
Doing some quick Googling, I’m sure it’s not exactly the most original quote ever, but it’s one that really resonated with me. It made me think about what I’m working on doing with my next Ignite NM talk, which I titled “Doing what you love: Making a hobby into a career”.
I owe a good deal to Andrew and a bit to dumb luck, but in a way, I’m doing what I am these days not because I went and made my own way, so much as I made myself ready for when the opportunities presented themselves.
In my case, I wanted to work on JavaScript full-time. I could have gone and become a contractor or consultant or something, but instead, I polished my skills. I worked on improving. I read and studied. I spent free time experimenting. I created the conditions for success such that when the opportunity presented itself, I was ready for it, and I couldn’t be happier.
Are you doing what you love? If you aren’t, why not?