Discomfort Is a Sign of Growth

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Ever feel like you're both achieving something and incredibly uncomfortable at the same time?

I think we all know what that's like – you're facing your demons, building something new,writing that great story – and right as you're feeling great, you're also feeling a bit nervous, uncomfortable.

When this happens it's because you're stretching yourself, pushing yourself, and that's always a bit uncomfortable.  But it's also a good sign – because it means you're going beyond your boundaries and limits.  Like a good stretch you're limbering yourself up.

Discomfort, in short, is often a good sign that you're growing as a person (or a writer, or artist, etc.)

When you look for it, you'll see these moments of "pleasant discomfort" as you break your boundaries and limits.  Keep aware of these moments as you can start catching when you're growing (which may happen at surprising times) and can take advantage of them.

One reason it's important to do what you like in your life and career is that it improves your tolerance for these moments of "stretching discomfort" so you don't back down.  When you're driven, motivated, in touch, then when the discomfort comes its easier to power through.

Next time you feel you're walking on the edge?  It's probably a good thing.

– Steven Savage

News of the Day 10/12/2009

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Career:
A depressing must-read about the economic downturn's effect on Younger workers – It helps put things in perspective of just what the long-term impact of the recession will be in America (and to an extent, other countries). I will say simply if you're young, out of work, or both, you need to work hard on beating the odds, because times are tough and you need to be aware of the long-term impact of this recession on your career. All the more reason to pour your passions into something you like, really.


Economics/Freakonomics/Geekonomics:
Hotels still in trouble despite a bit of a recent uptick. Something to remember in a travel career. I'd also note that, much like apartments and houses, people can just double up more – or look for alternate housing if they travel.

Animation:
Voltron may be the next big giant-robot-animated-thing adapted to movies – Sounds like a plan for a big multimedia blitz. I just have doubts based on previous treatments I've heard of. I suppose if it does go big there will be some career opportunities.


Green Tech:
George Soros to invest $1 billion in greentech – Could stimulate the market and bring in other interests. I'm pro-greentech on both principle, and because I think it will eventually have a place no matter what – and that means career opportunities.

Mobile:
T Mobile stops selling Sidekick due to massive hardware failure – A big issue for them in a tough time. Read the article – this is really pretty bad. Not a resume target for awhile. Props to them for letting people drop their contracts though.

Technology:
Hey Android Developers (or hopefuls), a book review on a book on that very subject from O'Reilly.

Video:
Streaming video device maker ZillionTV is laying off staff. Looks like they don't even have a business model. My guess – eventually sell-off of technology and closure, or restructuring into something else. Not promising, and another one down in the video arena.

Video Games:
Must-read article: A look at Nexon America's plans. There's a lot to chew on here, from Nexon's plans, cultural differences in gaming, and more. I'm very curious as to how Dungeon Fighter will go over as it looks like a great game – now I need to get my Windows partition set up on my Mac . . .

– Steven Savage

The Grind

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"Any idiot can face a crisis – it's day to day living that wears you out." – Anton Checkov.

The above quote sums up one of the secrets of success – and one of the reasons for failure – in people's lives.

First, just because you can deal with a crisis does not mean you can deal with non-crisis issues.  You can rally your energies in the face of a crisis that's great – then again so can many of us, as adrenaline is a wonderful motivator.  In fact I find a surprising amount of people do well in a crisis (often better than they think).

However, dealing with crises is only part of life, and (hopefully) a small part of it.  Dealing with crises is important to survival, but crisis management rarely builds anything.

That's why the day to day living, the daily grind, is the thing you really have to cope with.

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