a career you love

I appreciated Nvidia’s founder talking the other week about what it means to work in a zero billion dollar industry. It means really believing in something no one else can see, but trusting that if you do your part eventually others will

It’s possible for other projects to be sexier, more lucrative, and more attention getting, however their purposes are less unique than yours.

When pursuing a 1-of-1 vision, you aren’t going to be the most popular or celebrated person. You’re going to be an oddity that the most in-the-know people — who are especially aware of social status and trends — will dismiss. But even though these cultural influencers shape the opinions of others (you pay attention to them, after all), they are not

Following your own ideas and instincts is how we create genuine confidence and craft in our work. True satisfaction is achieved by liberating ourselves from desiring the approval of others. While others might triumphantly social climb into various inner rings, it’s only from pursuing our own path that we find lasting fulfillment.

I’ve finally come to realize that we should feel lucky when the universe gifts us a 1-of-1 purpose. It’s not something to lament or fear. It’s something to relish and embrace. When you’re called by a vision few others can see, trust that if you do your part, one day others will too.

I felt like I wasn’t being true to myself, basically, and that was the most painful part. I was so far down the rabbit hole of doing something I didn’t believe in and it was my whole life. Whereas with consulting, you’re always in and out. So even if something’s really whack, it ends. If it’s your job, it never ends.

I felt like there was still a lot of room to create a consulting practice that was not just a coldblooded commercial thing, but had an intellectual curiosity to it, and that produced reports that were relevant to a general public, not just to clients. To use consulting as an information-seeking and research process, but not necessarily an art

I’ve learned that I can’t be very productive working on things I don’t care about or don’t like. So I just try not to put myself in a position where I have to do them (by delegating, avoiding, or something else). Stuff that you don’t like is a painful drag on morale and momentum.