Comments on: Money and Power and Swimming with Sharks http://docucinema.com/500_words/2009/07/money-and-power-and-swimming-with-sharks/ Tue, 09 Mar 2010 06:09:13 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Lee Schneider http://docucinema.com/500_words/2009/07/money-and-power-and-swimming-with-sharks/comment-page-1/#comment-197 Lee Schneider Fri, 17 Jul 2009 19:02:55 +0000 http://docucinema.com/500_words/?p=366#comment-197 Thanks for commenting! It's all about balance, I think, and doing the type of striving that results in happiness. I wrote the blog because I realized I was doing a lot of striving that wasn't resulting in happy outcomes - it was just serving to get me nuts. But in finding the the balance I realize that for me the "right kind" of positive effort is ok. Getting away from calling it "striving" has helped me personally, anyway. Thanks for commenting! It’s all about balance, I think, and doing the type of striving that results in happiness. I wrote the blog because I realized I was doing a lot of striving that wasn’t resulting in happy outcomes – it was just serving to get me nuts. But in finding the the balance I realize that for me the “right kind” of positive effort is ok. Getting away from calling it “striving” has helped me personally, anyway.

]]> By: Shannon http://docucinema.com/500_words/2009/07/money-and-power-and-swimming-with-sharks/comment-page-1/#comment-194 Shannon Fri, 17 Jul 2009 04:46:01 +0000 http://docucinema.com/500_words/?p=366#comment-194 This is a good topic. I have done nothing but strive my whole life - gotta reach this goal or that goal, or just pay the bills. It's most definitely gotten in the way of my creative voice and burned a bridge or two with my impatience. Yet, for people like me, there's something instinctual about striving. It's so ingrained that you can't stop, even if it's only benefiting someone else and not yourself. I've tried not striving - "giving" control to some higher power, using the power of positive thinking and karma and letting the world come to me. I have an admirable friend who has successfully lived his "simple is better" life this way. But to me, it's like being buried alive while the rest of the world dances on my grave. I mean, just how long do you have to not strive to get the results you strive for? When I'm not striving, I'm giving up. When I'm not striving, I'm failing. When I'm not striving, I'm dead. I think the key, though, lies in the focus of your strive. If what you are striving for does not make you happy, it's time to strive for change. This is a good topic. I have done nothing but strive my whole life – gotta reach this goal or that goal, or just pay the bills. It’s most definitely gotten in the way of my creative voice and burned a bridge or two with my impatience.

Yet, for people like me, there’s something instinctual about striving. It’s so ingrained that you can’t stop, even if it’s only benefiting someone else and not yourself.

I’ve tried not striving – “giving” control to some higher power, using the power of positive thinking and karma and letting the world come to me. I have an admirable friend who has successfully lived his “simple is better” life this way. But to me, it’s like being buried alive while the rest of the world dances on my grave. I mean, just how long do you have to not strive to get the results you strive for?

When I’m not striving, I’m giving up. When I’m not striving, I’m failing. When I’m not striving, I’m dead. I think the key, though, lies in the focus of your strive. If what you are striving for does not make you happy, it’s time to strive for change.

]]> By: Lee Schneider http://docucinema.com/500_words/2009/07/money-and-power-and-swimming-with-sharks/comment-page-1/#comment-185 Lee Schneider Fri, 10 Jul 2009 17:30:04 +0000 http://docucinema.com/500_words/?p=366#comment-185 More and more, for me, it's about merging the paycheck and the value. It's a process! But when it happens, it's really worth it. Thanks for commenting. More and more, for me, it’s about merging the paycheck and the value. It’s a process! But when it happens, it’s really worth it. Thanks for commenting.

]]> By: Lee Schneider http://docucinema.com/500_words/2009/07/money-and-power-and-swimming-with-sharks/comment-page-1/#comment-184 Lee Schneider Fri, 10 Jul 2009 17:29:10 +0000 http://docucinema.com/500_words/?p=366#comment-184 Thanks for commenting, Ingrid. I'll keep you posted! Thanks for commenting, Ingrid. I’ll keep you posted!

]]> By: Lee Schneider http://docucinema.com/500_words/2009/07/money-and-power-and-swimming-with-sharks/comment-page-1/#comment-183 Lee Schneider Fri, 10 Jul 2009 17:28:32 +0000 http://docucinema.com/500_words/?p=366#comment-183 Contamination by the environment is a very real thing. It's hard to do this unless you are among like minded people. Contamination by the environment is a very real thing. It’s hard to do this unless you are among like minded people.

]]> By: Leigh Spencer http://docucinema.com/500_words/2009/07/money-and-power-and-swimming-with-sharks/comment-page-1/#comment-182 Leigh Spencer Fri, 10 Jul 2009 16:18:04 +0000 http://docucinema.com/500_words/?p=366#comment-182 well said. For me, with budget cuts, the tasks at my (day) job have come to a screeching halt. My job is apparently salvaged, but the down time has given me clarity that the paycheck is not worth it. Whether it's the size of a paycheck or just the regularity, I have to continute reminding myself it is just a distraction from what is ultimately valuable. well said.

For me, with budget cuts, the tasks at my (day) job have come to a screeching halt. My job is apparently salvaged, but the down time has given me clarity that the paycheck is not worth it. Whether it’s the size of a paycheck or just the regularity, I have to continute reminding myself it is just a distraction from what is ultimately valuable.

]]> By: Bob Ellal http://docucinema.com/500_words/2009/07/money-and-power-and-swimming-with-sharks/comment-page-1/#comment-181 Bob Ellal Fri, 10 Jul 2009 13:49:55 +0000 http://docucinema.com/500_words/?p=366#comment-181 Hi Lee, I like the Taoist tone of this article--not striving, yielding to force and allowing it to beat itself. That's where I am at this point in my life. That being said, years ago I worked in the corporate world as a writer. I don't think these principles would've worked too well. Constant pressure, long hours, impossible demands--all justified by a much larger paycheck than I ever had when I worked in publishing. You don't strive--you get fired. You yield--people think you're a pushover and start walking all over you. And the networking, jockeying for a better position--anytime anyone asked you to lunch it was for information purposes--is there an opening in your unit that might benefit me? After a while, I started doing the same thing. Contaminated by my environment. Always looking for more. It was insanity. I could never go back, no matter how much they paid me. Bob Hi Lee,

I like the Taoist tone of this article–not striving, yielding to force and allowing it to beat itself. That’s where I am at this point in my life.

That being said, years ago I worked in the corporate world as a writer. I don’t think these principles would’ve worked too well. Constant pressure, long hours, impossible demands–all justified by a much larger paycheck than I ever had when I worked in publishing. You don’t strive–you get fired. You yield–people think you’re a pushover and start walking all over you.

And the networking, jockeying for a better position–anytime anyone asked you to lunch it was for information purposes–is there an opening in your unit that might benefit me? After a while, I started doing the same thing. Contaminated by my environment. Always looking for more.

It was insanity. I could never go back, no matter how much they paid me.

Bob

]]> By: Ingrid http://docucinema.com/500_words/2009/07/money-and-power-and-swimming-with-sharks/comment-page-1/#comment-180 Ingrid Fri, 10 Jul 2009 11:10:52 +0000 http://docucinema.com/500_words/?p=366#comment-180 I can't wait to hear your results! I can’t wait to hear your results!

]]>