Ambition
I have ambition. I'm not sure why I have it, I'm not sure why it burns inside me like it does.
When I'm not challenged, when I feel like success is a given and I don't really have to struggle to accomplish my goals, I feel a pressure, a voice in the back of my head that tells me time is running out, my chance to change the world is slipping away. That is a terrible feeling, to feel like not only am I missing my chance, but the world could be little better if only I'd stand up and fight. I feel the regret of my future self looking back on a life where I took the easy path, a life squandered because I was lazy and timid.
And so I find challenges, I push myself, I fight and I struggle. And the pressure goes away. For a little while.
Posted January 14, 2006 11:42 AM
Comments
I love you.
Laura Katz, January 14, 2006 7:56 PM
You'll die anyway.
I'm just sayin'.
Jeff Atwood, January 15, 2006 11:01 PM
Jeff, he will probably die, but his contribution will live on _indefinitely_, potentially forever. The tragedy is that if he dies before realizing his ambition, that would Suck. Really bad. He's not saying his life's important. He's saying accomplishing his goal is. It is probably the most morally and ethically responsible post I've ever read on this blog. Something to print out and post up on a wall you see everyday.
The author of Logotherapy started off his sessions with the question, so, why haven't you committed suicide already? and work from the answer to arrive at the (personal/individual) meaning to his patient's life. The author barely survived a concentration camp, and says he made it through it just to finish his writings for the book, basically.
Ok? Now everybody shut up. Pimp My Ride's about to come on.
David Boudreau, January 16, 2006 2:17 AM
David: The sad thing about contributions in the IT world are that they do not live indefinitely but for the durance of the product life cycle.
Ralph Unden, January 16, 2006 4:12 AM
There are product lifecycles of innovations in IT that we've yet to see the end of, and that have been around ever since. Product lifecycles do not necessarily end when/because its inventor dies. You could say the wheel has a product lifecycle, contac lenses have a product life cycle, but they've been around for a little while. It could be a stepping stone to something revolutionary in IT, who knows. To do "documentish things" is not exactly limiting its userbase. But one thing you DO know- if he doesn't give it a shot then it's not likely to happen at all.
David Boudreau, January 18, 2006 12:11 AM
We interrupt this discussion with a question to Damien from Orville: Hi Damien, remember me? I remember you. We're still playing street hockey (as I recall you did basketball), maybe you still get over to the court sometimes?? Anyway, good to hear you're around and hope all's well.
Orville Dodson, January 27, 2006 7:01 PM
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