Having a Great Career
Raymond Fur
4-17-13
Ted Talks
Larry Smith: Why you will fail to have a great career (15:15) This video features Larry Smith, a professor of economics at the University of Waterloo in Canada. Professor Smith gives a very passionate and very direct presentation telling his audience why they are not going to have great careers. He first distinguishes between great careers and good careers. He describes good careers as, “stressful”, “blood sucking”, and even “soul destroying”, but which may offer good pay. He describes that great careers are those in which you are happy working and are greatly successful. He then points out the general idea that the only people who achieve great careers are those that follow their passion. When talking about passion, he puts a large emphasis to his audience on what the definition of passion is. He points out that many people have “interests” and may think they are passionate about a topic. However, he states that a person’s passion is their deepest love. Passion is what you really want. He then gives the main reasons why people to not follow their passions. He says because people are too lazy, it may be too hard, or they think they will look stupid if they fail. Another point professor Smith made, was explaining the most commonly used excuse to not follow ones passion, as well as the most troubling to him. He says that the excuse people use most commonly is interpersonal relationships. He explains that many people say they want to follow their passion, however it is important for them to be good a good friend, a good spouse, or a good parent. He describes this as using loved ones as a shield to stop them from following passions. He described a situation where a person talks to his child about his new dream to become a magician. Professor Smith says that if you do not attempt your dreams, you are likely to shoot down your children’s dreams, and begin to give them excuses not to follow theirs. Professor Smiths main point he
4-17-13
Ted Talks
Larry Smith: Why you will fail to have a great career (15:15) This video features Larry Smith, a professor of economics at the University of Waterloo in Canada. Professor Smith gives a very passionate and very direct presentation telling his audience why they are not going to have great careers. He first distinguishes between great careers and good careers. He describes good careers as, “stressful”, “blood sucking”, and even “soul destroying”, but which may offer good pay. He describes that great careers are those in which you are happy working and are greatly successful. He then points out the general idea that the only people who achieve great careers are those that follow their passion. When talking about passion, he puts a large emphasis to his audience on what the definition of passion is. He points out that many people have “interests” and may think they are passionate about a topic. However, he states that a person’s passion is their deepest love. Passion is what you really want. He then gives the main reasons why people to not follow their passions. He says because people are too lazy, it may be too hard, or they think they will look stupid if they fail. Another point professor Smith made, was explaining the most commonly used excuse to not follow ones passion, as well as the most troubling to him. He says that the excuse people use most commonly is interpersonal relationships. He explains that many people say they want to follow their passion, however it is important for them to be good a good friend, a good spouse, or a good parent. He describes this as using loved ones as a shield to stop them from following passions. He described a situation where a person talks to his child about his new dream to become a magician. Professor Smith says that if you do not attempt your dreams, you are likely to shoot down your children’s dreams, and begin to give them excuses not to follow theirs. Professor Smiths main point he