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Advice from a webcomic artist
Feb. 9th, 2011 09:06 amSo, I read the webcomic Wondermark, and today David Malki has a section called Ask a Gaxian, where people ask a shapeshifting person-eating alien for advice with their real or made-up problems.
One person wants to know how to motivate himself to find a real job, when their ad hoc casual jobs pay just as well, if not better. Here's part of Gax's answer:
"[A]pproach job opportunities as if someone had asked you, “Will you accept this sum of money to learn _____?” Fill in the blank with the parameters of the work.
Will you accept this sum of money to learn how to deal with irate customers? This is a decent skill to have, as humans are miserable and unfortunately, you will be interacting with them for quite some time. Will you accept this sum of money to learn how to run some specialized device? To become familiar with a particular class of retail product? To meet and tolerate other humans, most of whom will be insufferable but a few of whom might be good to know as you collectively attempt to stay a half-step faster than the swiftly-advancing shadow of death?"
It's an interesting reframing.
One person wants to know how to motivate himself to find a real job, when their ad hoc casual jobs pay just as well, if not better. Here's part of Gax's answer:
"[A]pproach job opportunities as if someone had asked you, “Will you accept this sum of money to learn _____?” Fill in the blank with the parameters of the work.
Will you accept this sum of money to learn how to deal with irate customers? This is a decent skill to have, as humans are miserable and unfortunately, you will be interacting with them for quite some time. Will you accept this sum of money to learn how to run some specialized device? To become familiar with a particular class of retail product? To meet and tolerate other humans, most of whom will be insufferable but a few of whom might be good to know as you collectively attempt to stay a half-step faster than the swiftly-advancing shadow of death?"
Worthwhile link
Feb. 25th, 2009 07:00 amIt's wordy as hell but the lesson is pretty effective, IMHO
http://www.viruscomix.com/page474.html
http://www.viruscomix.com/page474.html
