Do you know what will make you happy for the next ten years? How ’bout five? four? three?!
If you’re anything like me, then you’ll truthfully answer no (if you’re not, then you’ll lie and say yes). None of us can predict what will make us happy in the years ahead of us. How could we?! We live in a constantly changing world where we experience new and fascinating things every single day. Look at the divorce rate, a lot of people thought they would be happy forever right? Look at the economy, a lot of people thought they were financially set for life right? In fact, look at yourself right now, did you know yesterday that you would be sitting there reading this? No matter how hard we try to foresee the future, at the end of the day we’re all ‘just human’.
As a kid did I know I would come to love computer programming, especially since I barely had access to one (born in poverty)? No. In high school did I know I would come to love hip hop dancing, and that it would be a major part of my life? No. When I started dancing did I know that me and my friends would eventually turn it into a company that helps people on a daily basis? No. Did I know that I had this entrepreneurial drive in me where I would come to love business, marketing, and connecting with people? No. Did I know that I would also come to love photography, graphic design, writing, and anything/everything related to art? No. Did I know that personal events in my life would make me seek out and eventually love self improvement, philosophy, and psychology? No. Just last year, did I know that I would start my own blog (and write on it six times a week)? Hell no!
Well then, what do I know? First of all, I know that I like to ramble on about what I don’t know (self-obsessed?). But, most importantly, I know that I will never, ever know what’s going to make me happy in the future. I know that I can find myself being happy in situations I never thought would make me happy (happy being single and not rich), and sad in situations where I thought I would finally find happiness (finally fitting in and going to college).
I know that my happiness will never be derived from one thing in my life.
So… how am I supposed to know what one “career” I want down the road? Pick what makes me happy right? I just proved that I don’t know what going to make me happy tomorrow, let alone for the next 40 years of my life. How do you possible expect me to properly respond back to you with anything other than pure gibberish when you tell me “Pick a career which fits everything that makes you happy in it and pursue it”. Uhmm… “Hi, my name is Arsene Hodali and I’m a computer programming-hip hop dancing-community helping-website designing-psychology interested-philosophy reading-photography loving-entrepreneurially sound-self improvement enthusiastic-book reading-thought provoking blogger.” Quiet a mouth full right? And, at most will only earn me a few laughs (not what I’m looking for; laughing at me, not with me).
Well, I think I’ve finally found an answer that’s short and sweet.
“Hi, my name is Arsene Hodali and I do whatever excites me.”
If blogging excites me tomorrow, I’ll be a blogger. If photography excites me tomorrow, I’ll be a photographer. If website design excites me, I’ll be a website designer. If dancing excites me, I’ll be a dancer. If learning something new excites me I’ll be a student. If traveling excites me, I’ll be a traveler. You get the idea. As Mavis Leyrer said:
“The object of life’s journey is not to arrive at the grave safely in a well-preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, totally worn out, shouting, Holy shit, what a ride!!!
I’m going to make sure that whatever I do, I end every single day worn out, shouting “Holy shit, what a ride!!!”
I’ve already figured out I don’t know what makes me happy, but I do know what makes me excited. How? Well, am I constantly thinking about it? Am I sweating for no apparent reason? Am I biting my nails uncontrollably? Am I moving around so much that I can’t sit still? If the answer’s yes, then I’ll know I’m excited about it. I’ll know it’s what I have to do that day.
What makes you excited? What makes your heart beat uncontrollably fast and raises your body temperature up a notch? Found it? Do it. Forget answering that age old question of “What makes you happy”; you don’t honestly know. Just take it one step at a time, figure out what’s going to excite you today, and do everything in your power to accomplish it. If it still excites you tomorrow, even better, you have another day to be as excited as you were yesterday (if not more).
Now, what if you find yourself doing something that doesn’t excite you? The excitement of being an entrepreneur unfortunately involves the boredom of being an accountant. What I do is ask myself whether the excitement out-weights the boredom. Being an accountant for one week is reasonable if you’re an entrepreneur for a year. Being a salesman for one day is reasonable if you’re an artist for six days of the week. As long as your excitement out-weighs all else, you’re good. Remember, end each day totally worn out (if you’re not worn out you didn’t give it your all), shouting, Holy shit, what a ride!!!
Hi, my name is Arsene Hodali and I do whatever excites me. WHAT DO YOU DO?