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markkur
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Once upon a time
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posted July 24, 2011 07:39 AM |
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Edited by markkur at 07:46, 24 Jul 2011.
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The Nature of Success?
"A kid in a Candy Store"
I have decided to share a discovery here at HC, one that I wish I had known years ago. I believe that those of us that may be a little further down the road in life have an obligation to share with those that will follow. As always, it Is entirely up to each individual…if the effort was necessary.
For the most of my life I have had one of the greatest gifts that a man may possess (beside a wonderful wife); a healthy and creative mind. It has been a valuable ally (most of the time) and has not gotten me into too much trouble as a rule. But there is one area of thought that has plagued me at times beyond belief and it centers in the realm of “Ideas”. My imagination has been both friend and foe.
The “kid in a candy store” is a very fitting illustration of what I have been like whenever coming up with ideas for my own personal dreams. Oddly, if I was at work for another (person or company), then hot on the heals of solution or creation I would be and never blink , but if it was only for myself?; and wanting to choose a new course in life, write a book, invent something to live my own life or even pick the simple notion of a dedicated interest or hobby, repeatedly I’ve struggled and failed. But it was not a failure due to a lack, it was a halt due to a flood.
This had bugged me for a very long time. What in the world was wrong with me? Why was it that I never seemed to have only one idea and could focus on it? Why did I always become over-whelmed with lots of very good imaginations and visualizations that were very clear and distinct only to become bewildered and take no path and decide on nothing in the end?, only to live a bit longer and then go through the whole Ferris-wheel-ride again. This happened many, many times.
Honestly, I was not smart enough it seems to ask anyone else, what they thought. To be fair to myself there were few that I felt that close to and I figured the ones close enough for rock and roll would think me mad. So I left it alone. Hindsight tells me that was a silly notion for so important a matter of life and life.
Out of the blue, one day when reading, I came across the answer. All of a sudden I saw exactly what had got in the way. It turns out I got in the way. Not by being me but not taking a step back and trying to approach something this important in a different fashion. I would imagine that there are many folks that have my nature and may stumble in the same way, whether there are any here at HC...I don’t know. But JIC...If you can see yourself in this, then read the following. <imo>If after reading, you understand what is meant...then you have good reason to hope. You have a chance to unlock your own mystery. Good luck.
“Great things are done by devotion to one idea; there is one class of geniuses, who would never be what they are, could they grasp a second. The calm philosophical mind, which contemplates parts without denying the whole, and the whole without confusing the parts, is notoriously indisposed to action; whereas single and simple views arrest the mind and hurry it on to carry them out.”
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"Do your own research"
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JollyJoker
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posted July 24, 2011 07:47 AM |
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Markkur, I don't think you are finished with your introspective journey. You always knew the recipe, for others, the job, and so on -, but not for yourself.
I think, the real question you have to ask and answer is, why you couldn't handle stuff for yourself the successful way, when you could it in the service of others.
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markkur
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Once upon a time
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posted July 24, 2011 11:51 AM |
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Quote:
I think, the real question you have to ask and answer is, why you couldn't handle stuff for yourself the successful way, when you could it in the service of others.
I could do task orientented things. What I was really meaning was fun stuff, creative things like writing a book or things that involved ideas. I would get far too many and see the good in each and not be able to choose. All would have their good purposes etc. The passion would get rolling on something to soon wind up set on something else.
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JollyJoker
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posted July 24, 2011 12:05 PM |
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Well, I understood that well.
What I mean is, the actual question is why you couldn't (or wouldn't) set yourself a clearly defined task?
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Smithey
Promising
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Yes im red, choke on it !!!
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posted July 24, 2011 12:21 PM |
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In my opinion being fixated on one idea and one idea only might lead to overcommitment and eventually to a time consuming loop which makes you into a blind man, blind to everything else...
Having a few ideas running is always a good thing, as long as you know how to seperate the great ones from "emotionally" nice ones. Limiting yourself isnt the solution, staying open and adoptive is, because most of the "geniouses" as you call them didnt start with the same idea for which they are well known today....
Keep in mind that A might lead to K, its just up to us to stay open to the possibility and when A isnt leading anywhere just drop it like its hot....
But all in all, nice thread  indeed some of us cant seem to focus, hell my girlfriend bought me a shirt that says "easily distracted" 
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JollyJoker
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posted July 24, 2011 12:38 PM |
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Err, male genetic flaw. 
Let HER put the shirt on, and try to read it. 
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Smithey
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Yes im red, choke on it !!!
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posted July 24, 2011 12:48 PM |
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She indeed wears it, thats her most effective way of proving her claim 
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Tsar-Ivor
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posted July 24, 2011 02:20 PM |
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All geniuses persue and do what they love, not for the sake of being remembered or invent something worthy, every one of them bent their will to their crafts,, because they loved doing what they do and were granted great enjoyment. It is a pure thing they had. (Also those who still live )
This is the nature of success:
"Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life."
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"No laughs were had. There is only shame and sadness." Jenny
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DagothGares
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No gods or kings
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posted July 24, 2011 02:36 PM |
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Why don't you pursue one idea after another, if there are so many great ones? Or rather: give me one good reason why a project should be confined to one idea.
It seems to me that you are crippled by your imagination and lack action, which seems like some sort of weakness to me, no offence. To me, you project and imagine and, in doing so, kill your drive, by not acting on it.
Just my two cents.
I'm sorry, if I offend. It's just that this thread baffles me.
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If you have any more questions, go to Dagoth Cares.
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markkur
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Once upon a time
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posted July 24, 2011 07:57 PM |
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Edited by markkur at 20:04, 24 Jul 2011.
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@JJ
Quote:
What I mean is, the actual question is why you couldn't (or wouldn't) set yourself a clearly defined task?
Well, that is the big question...boiled down. My answer is NOT a good answer but it is the correct one for my experience. If I had been able to reason clearly, then I doubt it would have ever became thread starter fodder (my view) Maybe better explained; A famous old-adage reversed to; "can't see the tree because of the Forest". If I were to guess I would have to veer towards some internal identity/ego malfunction. My drive to take good care of others was very powerful and automatic (took care of my brothers at the age of 12) while my seperate identity, the me, : felt that all of my ideas were sound and valid but w/o some strong internal focus...indecision reigned in the realm. Like I said though...a guess.
Btw, Never knew that "Forrest" did not mean "trees" once upon a time. The Normans used it to mean "land set-aside for the Crown's enjoyment" no Saxons, no peasants allowed...hence Robin Hood to follow.
@ smithey
Quote:
Limiting yourself isnt the solution, staying open and adoptive is, because most of the "geniouses" as you call them didnt start with the same idea for which they are well known today....
Keep in mind that A might lead to K, its just up to us to stay open to the possibility and when A isnt leading anywhere just drop it
Genius, Not as "I described" it, I just thought it a very good explanation as to "one way" that a Ford makes it to the top o' the heap" and someone like me, loaded with sound ideas...never hits that atmosphere
I would say folks like a G. Westinghouse or B. Franklin were a clear combination of both. I not trying to define genius but better understand the individual path that better nourishes ideas.
Quote:
But all in all, nice thread indeed some of us cant seem to focus, hell my girlfriend bought me a shirt that says "easily distracted"
Tees the #1 means of human communication in the world today. I once made a custom one for my little brother "I am Living Proof of Murphy's Law"
@Tsar-Ivor
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All geniuses persue and do what they love, not for the sake of being remembered or invent something worthy, every one of them bent their will to their crafts,, because they loved doing what they do and were granted great enjoyment. It is a pure thing they had.
Well shared<imo> you've described the "Ideal"...or the Goal. That is clear as a bell now. However I posted about the real-deal with me for most of my life, not the final-destination of truth and wisdom. Maybe I could better address my struggle with; No eogism at all but "too much possiblity" or (i need to be careful here) things came too easy for me and that somehow shut-down the single focus by self-leveling any idea, because it could NOT be a grand-idea or pursuit.
Quote:
This is the nature of success:
"Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life."
Excellent! I saw that wisdom first in City Slickers of all things, when J.Palance says his bit about "One thing".
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@DG
Quote:
Why don't you pursue one idea after another, if there are so many great ones? Or rather: give me one good reason why a project should be confined to one idea.
I agree in large part but that being the result of; the clarity of hindsight versus my RL experience of, in the moment, on my own personal journey with my odd obstacle to success . Hopefully, at minimum; I have provided some sort of explanation
Quote:
It seems to me that you are crippled by your imagination and lack action, which seems like some sort of weakness to me, no offence. To me, you project and imagine and, in doing so, kill your drive, by not acting on it.
That's not offensive at all DG. It is your "View" and one of "perspective". I too thought it a weakness espcially in the light of my "Strength" (a pillar to others) in most all other aspects in life. Another condition arises to further complicate and further paralyze this inaction or (as the quote I posted well-stated) procrastination. "Time" <imo>The more the Sand in the hourglass falls and this continues unchecked?... the deeper the freeze.
Quote:
I'm sorry, if I offend. It's just that this thread baffles me
Again DG...You don't offend. It's you don't see because you don't need to see this", (the vision here), because you already have it...it seems. That's truly a wonderful thing, but it does not make this thread un-important. That would be like me saying; since I play the guitar like Hendrix (and I do) I don't get playing like Mason Williams. We're on the same road in life but the view can be quite different on the inside as well as the far more obvious...outside.
@all Each are very good responses. To all others. Contribute to this discussion in any fashion you see a need. "Success" is no small thing and there are many facets to finding our way to our chosen destination.
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"Do your own research"
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Fauch
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posted July 26, 2011 03:43 AM |
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so what do you mean by success?
so, if I understand well, you have problem being dedicated to a task if you do it for yourself. the thing is, if you don't do it, you know that there will be no bad consequences for you, whereas if you have to do a work for someone else, and you don't do it...
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markkur
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Once upon a time
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posted July 26, 2011 12:29 PM |
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That's a fine question. You get a Gold Star from exterior forces. Our system here does not have the capability to reveal this high honor, so you'll just have to believe it's there.
I had a decent night's sleep for a change
Success concerning the general discussion in this thread would be best described "bringing your full potential to bear on a chosen target". In my case, that would be the desired "end-result"
As in all "Successes" in life; I would not define it by zero failures along the way. Many inventions or scientific break-throughs and completed quests of all types were usually accompanied by set-backs and challenges.(sometimes a great many)
<IMO> Both success and failure are final judgments. They only come into being when the end of trying has been reached. Much like an investment into the stock market. It can be viewed everyday as a loss just by watching the value but it is only in withdrawal that final worth is set in stone. That's not a great example because this is an inside job and we have a great deal more control.
As far as the "others and myself" fault-line, so to speak, the division is still puzzling to me. It think it was enhanced by another important facet in life but i will not take the conversation that way in this thread. I think it important to keep it on this track and that's not solely for my benefit.
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Fauch
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posted July 28, 2011 12:14 AM |
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so, what you want to do might not be so important to you?
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markkur
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posted July 28, 2011 05:38 AM |
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With a lot of interests and ideas, it's true that many things are not important.
One specific area that has been important is writing a book and in the past, I've started three different times (three completely different topics and several chapters finished) and then get lost in idea-land. 2 of the 3 were sampled by others and even well-received. I wish I could explain this better. It's like after a while, the shifter gets knocked out of gear and I start thinking about an entirely different subject and the countless links within that idea/topic. Not finishing something may qualify as meaning unimportantance to some but I have seen this in the the lives of many others and that's not always the case. However, maybe there is a threshold to when something is "important enough" and I don't care enough to get there.
Btw, you've been here quite a while. Have you ever seen a thread about writing/poetry/creativity? Sort of a creativity corner where folks can discuss the various arts in one spot?
Anyone else?
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