themadpeacock

If you spend any time with serious  hobbyists you will begin to realize that there are a few distinct types.

1. I want to get discovered, quit my day job and go pro.
2. Perhaps when I retire my hobby and passion will become my job, I will go pro but on my terms and use the income to supplement my retirement.
3. I never want to go pro, I do this for me, and outside influences would turn it into a job, kill the joy.

I know photographers, great photographers who sit in each group. I know a hobbyist who turned pro and is living the dream so it really does happen and others who will never share their incredible photos with the world and that’s our loss.

My two hobbies are art (photography & a little drawing) and programming. My art dreams fluctuate between number two and three. My programming definitely falls into group three, I did it professionally once, took me years to fall back in love with it.

Should we all challenge ourselves to make a living from our passion? Should we cook for more than just our family? Lovingly tend other peoples gardens not just our own? Open that chocolate business? Make games not just play them?

I recently finished paying for the family SUV, its now 100% ours so it immediately began falling apart.

So off to Simi Valley Ford I went this morning to get it repaired.

The visit was pleasant enough and relatively unremarkable; the service rep came out to meet me as I drove up, asked what the problem was, did some basic checking around the car and organized for the shuttle bus to drive me home.

There were two customers needing a ride, the shuttle driver got destinations from each and off we went.

The three of us had a very pleasant conversation about our cars; how long we had had them, did we like them, was this our first time using Simi Valley Ford, how long we had lived in the USA (the other customer and myself both being obvious foreigners), the weather etc.

And as I got out of the car the nice shuttle bus driver introduced himself as the manager of the dealership; gave me his card and insisted I call him if there was ever anything he could do to improve the service I get from his team.

As a company or team leader it is easy to get so wrapped up in “the business” that you don’t get time to walk the proverbial factory floor.

Today I experienced first hand how nice it is to meet the boss; to know that he cares about the level of customer service every customer is receiving from his organization.

I must not fear
Fear is the mind-killer
Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration
I will face my fear
I will permit it to pass over me and through me
And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path
Where the fear has gone there will be nothing
Only I will remain.

Ten credibility points if you can tell me what that’s from without googling it. Read the rest of this entry »