Process And Goal

We are so focused on goals in our society. We always want results. I remember telling my grandpa that I could write software and that was cool. He said to me that it was great that I could write software, but if he wanted software written, he could hire someone to do it.

Other examples stand out too – conversations about how donating money is a waste of money. About how prayer is in-effective in helping out people who are sick (by the way I’m not religious). Conversations about how working for non-profit organizations is a waste of time because you’re volunteering.

I think that the common thread in all of these conversations is the idea that the only value created is the value that comes when the goal is reached – When the work is finished what material thing are you left with.

For me I’ve been finding that the value of a thing is in the doing of it. Sure I could buy a piece of software from a store or hire someone to build it for me, but then I would miss out on the wisdom and knowledge that come from me going down a path of creative discovery required to build the thing.

Donating money – sure I have less money in my bank account, but I can look myself in the mirror and be proud of the fact that I have ideals and that I act for those ideals. Sure there’s no correlation associated with people caring and thinking about one another and whether or not they whether difficult diseases, but maybe thinking about someone else is more for the person doing the thinking than for the person receiving the thinking. And maybe when you work because the work is exciting and not because the money is enticing the universe will reward you.

If money can’t buy happiness, what does? Hard work on things you love? That’s a good question.