January 6, 2012

Idealist vs. Realist

Idealist a.k.a. Optimist. Dreams are meant to be followed. Look at Steve Jobs' life. He never took "no" for an answer. Instead listening to critics, he decided to create products that people didn't even know they needed (wanted). What are your lofty goals? Are you going towards or away from your target? Idealists don't settle. They work hard for what they want. Sure, the percentages are against you, but isn't that the fuel that becomes added motivation? Idealists know hard work beats talent, when talent doesn't work hard.

Realist a.k.a. Pessimist. The glass is half full. In our current economic state, stability is hard to obtain. There is as much underemployment as unemployment and it doesn't seem to be getting any better. Do you take the lesser paying job because it's your best option? Do you put your dreams on hold until things get "better?" Most of us can't afford to take as many risks now. If you have a job, be thankful. It's about putting your needs before your wants and making more logical/rational decisions vs. emotional ones. This is about survival.

So which one are you? It's more of a decision between "wants" vs. "needs" when it comes to your career. A serial entrepreneur is a perfect example of both. He/she dreams big, but is very systematic when it comes to making financial decisions. There's no wrong or right way, just two sides to look at. Think of your career as a spectrum...where do you fall?

 
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3 comments:

  1. Eric Johnson MBAJanuary 10, 2012 at 11:55 AM

    Great thoughts! Thank you Scott. I feel most people to put dreams on hold until things get "better" or they wait for "the perfect circumstances" which of course do not exist. I'll be sharing this with my clients, as they seek to finish the projects that matter most to them! :)

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  2. Coach ScottJanuary 10, 2012 at 2:15 PM

    Thanks for your comment Eric! I think smart entrepreneurs do a little of both, but I don't think you can only be on one side unless you're the next Steve Jobs or Walt Disney!

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  3. AnonymousJuly 10, 2012 at 12:42 AM

    You can meet a million optimist's in a row, but you need only one to make your smile go away. While you are an optimist, you can be so positive in what you want, forgetting what you need. To be a true optimist, it takes to ignore everything, critics, gossip, "nature law", sometime even physics. So to get a little of what you want, you need to break everything. And success awaits you in the very end.

    Having an idea, which differs from common ideas makes you a solo player. I am pure idealist, I try to ignore everything to get to the last station, but you know. Sometimes it can cost you a friendship, family and other social human needs.

    So you sit there, in the dark room, generating and working on that one idea that you believe in. Sometimes just to do it. And test it. And when it's working, share it or sell it.

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