LISP writer Paul Graham has written an essay called “How to do what you love”, giving some practical advice.

There are three main points, for me, in the essay:

1. Do not feel guilty about not doing some boring jobs.

2. Have a habit of doing good work in your current job, whether it is your favourite.

3. Always produce in your favourite area, whether it is your current job.

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4.3.1 Do not feel guilty about not doing some boring jobs

Sometimes, I faced some boring work. When I wanted to get rid of it, I had a thought: “Someone has to do it anyway. If I do not do it, someone else will have to. That means I am wasting other people’s time. I will feel guilty about that.”

Now I do not think in that way. If I choose not to do a job, the number of people available for that job will decrease. That means the price to get a person to do the job will rise. Then the person who has chosen that job will get a higher salary. So, instead of wasting his time, I make him earn a higher salary.

If a job is so boring that it is virtually impossible to get any human being to do it, people will create a machine to get the job done.

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2008.06.30 Monday