Seth Godin is one of my favourite bloggers. I have his blog on my rss feed reader (google reader) and I frequently enjoy his short, thought-provoking posts.
Today he posted a piece entitled The wealthy gardener where he mentions that he was asked at a talk how to make a lot of money blogging. Seth says he wouldn’t be surprised if at another talk on orchid growing somebody asks how to make a lot of money growing orchids.
He says
Sure, people make money growing orchids. Some people probably get rich growing orchids. Not many though. And my guess is that the people who do make money gardening probably didn’t set out to do so.
The lesson he says is
the benefits kick in best when you don’t set out to achieve them.
This is a very different counsel from the one we read more commonly – that the way to get what you want is to set it as a clear goal, visualise it, then pursue it relentlessly.
I like this message – I think you should do what you feel passionate about – and sometimes, sure, that activity might bring a decent income.
What do you think?
Heroes Not Zombies 
I think that’s just grand. I like your post. It’s good article indeed – love doesn’t questions why does it love, but loves and that’s the most beneficial.
Thank you once again.
Hope to see you on my http://arthiker.wordpress.com/
[…] 15, 2008 by bobleckridge Yesterday I posted about Seth Godin’s comments about making […]
This is a lot of what Dr. Wayne Dyer, Louise Hay, and others are about — embracing the positives more rather than fighting the negatives, letting life flow more naturally rather than pushing against it, and basically, lighting a candle instead of cursing the darkness. Dyer says let go of our “driveness” and Hay basically says our “driveness” comes from a place of self doubt, self hatred, or guilt, which in return affects our health and well-being. My blog is all about this change from the iron will concept to unbending intention. It is a much nicer place to be, and it brings so much more fulfillment.
I have been a Doc for many years, and have never paid any attention to what I made.
Once we had a consultant who told me my income was in the 25th percentile. He had analyzed the situation and said it was because I spent too much time thinking about my patients, and not enough thinking about what kind of income producing tests I could order.
I considered it a high compliment.
I don’t think he got it.
Dr. B