Think Like A Kid Again (And Fuel Your Passion!)
An enduring image in Tom Sawyer is Tom manipulating the neighborhood boys into whitewashing a fence that is his responsibility. Through this, Mark Twain provides the well rehearsed maxim: “Work consists of whatever a body is obliged to do, and play consists of whatever a body is not obliged to do.”
How many times have we heard that at an employment seminar? If we can just market that non-obligated passion of our childhood, they tell us, we could have a dream career. Does anyone actually do that anymore?
Of course there is the ubiquitous example of Steven Spielberg. A young Spielberg caught the movie bug when he was a young man working on the cinematography Boy Scout merit badge. The rest of his life has been one playful merit badge requirement extension after another. Cynically, however, I figure most people loved films as a youth. Maybe Spielberg just got lucky.
But following your passions isn’t just a Hollywood trend. Brian Berg was taught to build card houses as a boy by his grandfather. Fascinated, Berg has since built a career for himself building card houses professionally. These are serious card houses, such as truck-sized replicas of state buildings. Berg tours the world building replicas of famous buildings all out of cards. And while card houses may seem “childish”, Berg is anything but childish. He holds a professional degree in Architecture and Design from Iowa State as well as a Masters in Design Studies from Harvard. The link between Berg and Spielberg is their childhood passions both fueled their careers and both of these gentlemen had the chops to dig deep for the foundation of their dream.
So what happens to the rest of us? I doubt most of us loathe our jobs, but I wonder how many of us are truly enjoying what we do.
Are the Bergs and Spielbergs of the world limited in number, or do you realistically think everyone with the correct gumption can carve out a life like these guys?
I’ll let you decide for yourself, but as I stare down this new year, I am going back to the roots of passion. Will you do the same?
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Tanner Mangum is a Tesla car owner (and wannabe writer about cars), drummer, and marketing director for the world’s first bamboo iphone case wallet.