Soooo...this teacher of mine said I could never go to the best class in the high school because only the best were going. I wasn't the best but I was stubborn: really, only the best? Teacher, you don't really know inspite of being my teacher several years.
I went to that best class after taking the exam. And i was the only one from my colleagues to do so. Take that...teacher!
I worked in a coal mine for several years (no other alternatives at that time). One day I tokk the chance to get out for good and do something else. My work colleagues said I will not find anything else (tough economic times, thougher than this one in my country). Well, I learned computers and never loked back. I'm working now as a web developer (10 years since I started).
I'm mingling now with theidea of changing my career again, becoming a filmmaker. I know I can do it and nobody can stop me, that's for sure!
If you are going to do something, go all the way. I can't promise that you'll succeed, but you'll be better off for recognizing the obstacles you create for yourself through doubts, the obstacles others create for you for no good reason, and for sticking to what you believe.
Bulletin board material.
Reminds me a little of what my mentor told me after accomplishing what I thought was an impossible task, "I didn't know that I couldn't do it, so I did it."
I'm reminded of the Latin phrase "Age quod agis", literally "Do what you are doing."
It has been my experience that half-hearted attempts to learn/do things end up taking twice the effort of making an honest attempt and getting real results.
That reminds me that I saw a wolf slinking out of a graveyard in semi-urban shoreline Westbrook, CT, just the other month.
Apparently, wolves are moving back down from the wilds.
I know it was a wolf by the distinctive walk & size, as it crossed in front of my car.
I might have followed the wolf, but (a) I was driving, (b) it was a wolf, and (c) it was a dark and misty night with the mist hanging over the graveyard. OK, I'm a coward. ;-)
You know, the whole "X is not for mere mortals" crap gets old. Yes, writing multithreaded apps in C is probably a bit harder than following the "blog in 30 seconds with framework Y" tutorial, but it doesn't require supernatural abilities.
Anyone can accomplish anything with sufficient motivation. Writing something off as a task for "programming gods" is just an excuse to not even try it. You too can be a programming god, and there is no better feeling than when you solve a hard problem.
I've found that is a pretty good philosophy. I'm not sure what my personal phrase is, but I often find myself telling other people in meetings & conversations, "Now wait a minute. Nothing is impossible lets just think about this a little."
Maybe thats what it is? I don't tell myself that nothing is impossible, I just never admit defeat. I think thats what it takes, just don't even think about giving up or giving in.
Just do it (whatever it is) until you're done. And the move on.
I push myself through a large project by convincing myself that I never finish anything, and that I don't want to be like a wannabe entrepreneur, who just starts a bunch of things because they seem interesting but never commit hard work.
Into someone's back garden. I assume it lives there. I used to have foxes living in my garden in Oxford, so it's not that unusual (especially in large British cities).
Save for their fox talk, which sounds like a thousand babies being put to death in the fires of hell. (That's how they talk in London at least. Perhaps Oxford foxes have more couth?)
I'd like to know too. I tried following a fox in the street on the way home last night as well (the same night!) but I lost him amongst parked cars and garden walls :(
I worked in a coal mine for several years (no other alternatives at that time). One day I tokk the chance to get out for good and do something else. My work colleagues said I will not find anything else (tough economic times, thougher than this one in my country). Well, I learned computers and never loked back. I'm working now as a web developer (10 years since I started).
I'm mingling now with theidea of changing my career again, becoming a filmmaker. I know I can do it and nobody can stop me, that's for sure!
Thanks for this post, John.