Focus vs. Well Rounded
By Merritt N. Shaw
August 28, 2013
I was talking with my husband today as we lie together on the couch, about an interview I
heard on NPR with Conan O’Brien. He talked about how children know subconsciously
what they will be like when they get older. He was saying that he knew that he was
leaning toward being a comedian when he was eight years old because all the things that
he does as a talk show host/comedian (girl growl, pulling a string to move his hips,
hissing, wacky off-beat stuff) were things that he did when he was young. He said there are
kids who just know innately that they will be a good athlete, or do well in science or being
a goof ball.
heard on NPR with Conan O’Brien. He talked about how children know subconsciously
what they will be like when they get older. He was saying that he knew that he was
leaning toward being a comedian when he was eight years old because all the things that
he does as a talk show host/comedian (girl growl, pulling a string to move his hips,
hissing, wacky off-beat stuff) were things that he did when he was young. He said there are
kids who just know innately that they will be a good athlete, or do well in science or being
a goof ball.
This made me start thinking about what makes someone that way. Are we nutured into that
way of thinking or is a pre-disposition, whether we are athletic or not or smart or not. I
think it’s both, but why are some people prone to focus on one thing in life and be an expert
in the field and other people like to do many different things and not become an expert.
way of thinking or is a pre-disposition, whether we are athletic or not or smart or not. I
think it’s both, but why are some people prone to focus on one thing in life and be an expert
in the field and other people like to do many different things and not become an expert.
For example, I want to teach my children to be well-rounded. Not to focus on one thing
because that could get boring, but if a person likes that one thing, it could be something that
sustains him for the rest of his life and he would love what he does, but he will not have
options.
because that could get boring, but if a person likes that one thing, it could be something that
sustains him for the rest of his life and he would love what he does, but he will not have
options.
What does successful mean? Is being someone like a Steve Jobs or a Mark Cuban,
successful business men who behave badly or who drop out of college (usually considered
the successful route), considered successful?
successful business men who behave badly or who drop out of college (usually considered
the successful route), considered successful?
The American Dream is life, freedom and the pursuit of happiness. But what is happiness?
Is it money? Is it making the most money you can make, having the best material things and
being in debt up to your ears, or is it having just enough to be comfortable and not having
the pressures and stress of a high stacks job. I say it’s the latter. I would take going on little
three-day, weekend trips with the family over a high stakes, well paying job any day! Lots
of people have made the decision to leave the “great job” to spend more time at home or
with their family. That is the key to happiness. Doing the things you love to do. Now if we
could just get people to love doing the things that need to be done.
Is it money? Is it making the most money you can make, having the best material things and
being in debt up to your ears, or is it having just enough to be comfortable and not having
the pressures and stress of a high stacks job. I say it’s the latter. I would take going on little
three-day, weekend trips with the family over a high stakes, well paying job any day! Lots
of people have made the decision to leave the “great job” to spend more time at home or
with their family. That is the key to happiness. Doing the things you love to do. Now if we
could just get people to love doing the things that need to be done.
So, I question myself of how I should raise my children. Should I raise them to become
something that will bring them lots of money or should I teach them to focus on what they
love to do? Do what comes naturally to them? Let me clarify. They are not allowed to lay
around the couch and watch TV because, “that is what comes naturally to them,” but if they
love science or love skate boarding even though you may not think that will lead to
anything “successful,” I think it’s important to cultivate and support the things they love to
do, but they also need to learn from other people, and their parents, the things they could
possibly love to do.
something that will bring them lots of money or should I teach them to focus on what they
love to do? Do what comes naturally to them? Let me clarify. They are not allowed to lay
around the couch and watch TV because, “that is what comes naturally to them,” but if they
love science or love skate boarding even though you may not think that will lead to
anything “successful,” I think it’s important to cultivate and support the things they love to
do, but they also need to learn from other people, and their parents, the things they could
possibly love to do.
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