Hi, Mike – You have offered the following advice: Consider quitting. Makes sense. However, having read your bio, various interviews, and your self-authored articles & MB missives, I haven’t found an example of you quitting an ongoing job. There is definitely a lot written about you intentionally taking jobs with questionable futures and, of course, being repeatedly fired. From these instances, it seems the message inferred would be don’t be afraid of failure rather a message of empowerment to quit. Could you give us an example of when you’ve quit a job? Quit as in no safety net, no job waiting in the wings, no pre-planned retirement-esque sabbatical. Please tell us a story.
In a way, I would think quitting would not be in your nature. Six years of college doesn’t speak to quitting. Neither does being an Eagle Scout. Your talent for piano and singing speak to a dedication to training. You stand by your principles and opinions despite being challenged. You chose a career in entertainment which absolutely requires decades of perseverance in the face of adversity and rejection. It appears you are a loyal friend, faithful boyfriend, and devoted son/brother/uncle who doesn’t cut and run when temptation presents itself or when the going gets tough… or success blindingly bright. And you certainly don’t quit us, your fans, when the cameras stop rolling. So, when is quitting advisable?
Also, what’s wrong with being earnest? What is your interpretation of earnest? I had always thought of it as a sincere trait until someone called me earnest during a successful job interview. For some odd reason, I was offended. In my mind, it suddenly connoted naiveté. Still irritates me years later.
Thanks in advance for any light you can shed on the quitting topic….and here’s hoping your answer isn’t “I’ve quit answering Bashful’s posts.”
Be happy, be rested, be safe, Birthday Girl Bashful
[quote]Hi, Mike – You have offered the following advice: Consider quitting. Makes sense. However, having read your bio, various interviews, and your self-authored articles & MB missives, I haven’t found an example of you quitting an ongoing job[/quote]
Bashful, Good question. My @#$% computer has shut down on me three times now when I've tried to post something to this thread...so I'm taking that as a sign. Extreme earnestness = Eddie Haskell and makes me nervous.
Mike almost sweats practicality so him quitting without some type of contingency plan does seem out of character...but that being said I also know that sometimes you have to quit what you're doing to recover yourself.
A good question from a birthday gal. "Happy Birthday".
I think when Mike said something like "quit earnestly", he meant "THINK about quitting more than just once." And by thinking about it in EARNEST, if it means that you are abandoning your principles for an easy route out, then it means not quitting in earnest, so therefore "DO NOT QUIT”. So although one may be challenged to quit come turbulence, you do not “quit in earnest” unless the battle/cause is won. Then you think about quitting earnestly, but you do not quit. Because there are always some dirty jobs to do and quitting is not one of them. Ha ha Mike, please come correct me on "quitting in earnest".
Good to have you gal and here's a pearl for ya birthday present. Now earnestly, where's my piece of chocolate cake?
I think what Mike wants to say is never to stick to your comfort zone but rather consider taking another path which may possibly lead to a better chance of success.
I like your thread. I'd be interested in what Mike has to say about earnestness, but perhaps I'd better not say so. It might be construed as being earnest.
I'm not sure exactly what McDonald meant when he wrote to 'be wary' of it. It is true that there are plenty of examples of people in this world who have done/do terrible things from a position of sincerity. It's also true that many put on a face of sincerity when it suits them.
Perhaps he (Mike) thinks of earnestness negatively because it can connote a kind of disconnect from actual thinking, or continuing to think.
Perhaps he'll tell us.
As far as the quitting goes, my doctor wants me to quit my job. I've no doubt my health would improve, but I'm not sure my spirit would.
Anyway, I like your thread. Have a piece of cake for me.
[quote]think what Mike wants to say is never to stick to your comfort zone but rather consider taking another path which may possibly lead to a better chance of success.
Just my humble opinion,
Cynthia[/quote]
And a good opinion it is, Cynthia. I do believe Mike has said that he really doesn't like to quit despite what he said about quitting.
And yeah, Mike, what is it about "earnestness" that you find so offensive? I'm really curious.
An example of "Quitting in earnest" comes to mind, the recent quitting by Morgan Tsvangirai of Zimbabwe.
Here’s a man, who took such a tough and difficult call in the face of adversity facing both his people and himself. Unless every level of office can function with a democratic and a free voice, justice cannot prevail under the grip of menacing machette* or under the backing of military gvns*.
Sometimes, calling quit in earnest, is a wise decision until another opportune time and place arises. While calling “quit earnestly”, Tsvangirai has neither quit on his people nor on himself. It is just a wise cautionary pause - to let his people breathe and to secure for another time and opportunity, but never quite “Quit”.
Yes, never quite quit easily as in "quit earnestly" or "quitting and earnest".
It is about being passionate and doing a very dirty job(s). Right dirty boy Mike?
"Hi, Mike – You have offered the following advice: Consider quitting. Makes sense. However, having read your bio, various interviews, and your self-authored articles & MB missives, I haven’t found an example of you quitting an ongoing job. There is definitely a lot written about you intentionally taking jobs with questionable futures and, of course, being repeatedly fired. From these instances, it seems the message inferred would be don’t be afraid of failure rather a message of empowerment to quit. Could you give us an example of when you’ve quit a job? Quit as in no safety net, no job waiting in the wings, no pre-planned retirement-esque sabbatical. Please tell us a story."
Hi Bashful
The story will have to wait. But the answer to your question is a point of clarity. I don't advise quitting - my advice is to CONSIDER quitting. The mere act of seriously considering a change of scene can be liberating. Not daydreaming or fantasizing, but seriously weighing your options and honestly exploring options.
"In a way, I would think quitting would not be in your nature." It isn't.
"So, when is quitting advisable?" When you've tried every other way of getting what you want, and failed.
"Also, what’s wrong with being earnest?" Not a thing, if it's genuine. Trouble is, earnestness is easy to fake, and the bedrock of endless mischief. We are taught to value it, and to portray it whenever we wish to be taken seriously. However, all con men rely upon earnestness. All salesmen project it. All TV hosts aspire to it. All newscasters embrace it. But really, there is nothing inherently "good" about being earnest. Which is why we should be wary of it. And look past it.
I like the consider quitting statement. If you are not liking things at your work place you should "consider quitting". By looking at all sides of taking that action you can then decide...Is it really that bad or can I make some changes within and continue to stick it out. I have had several employees talk about looking to leave and though that will add to my aleady overworked life I realize they have to do what they feel is necessary. And in the long run...if they are not happy where they currently are...maybe the organization (or me as supervisor) will be better off without them if they are only adding to the misery of those around them. Lori
All this talk of earnestness has reminded me of a time in college when I had to read Oscar Wilde's The Importance of Being Earnest. Try as I might, with all earnestness, to get thru the story, I simply could not muster the attention necessary to fully comprehend the social farce.
So I Cliff's Noted it
Now, so many years later, I STILL don't understand that story...but I do understand the importance of earnestness
Thank you for the point of clarity. I hope the fact we have to wait till later for the story means there is a book deal in the offing. I anxiously await the opportunity to learn more about your observations and opinions especially if conveyed uninterrupted for pages and pages in your own writing style. Now, that is something to look forward to! I’ve always thought you’d make an excellent editorialist in a national publication.
And a sincere, genuine, earnest thank you to everyone for the good wishes. Jenny and Becca(sue), the cake is on the kitchen counter (better there than on my hips!) and the champagne is in the frig next to the whip cream.
Thanks again, Mike, for taking the time to answer. Bashful
Yeah Mike...My folks always said to me "Never be a quitter". That is portrayed as weak. You can be honest with YOURSELF enough to know when you need to leave/quit. If you are drowning in a sea of BS. I left a "government" job after 19 years due to health reasons and feeling like I couldn't make an impact/difference any longer. Sometimes management gets their heals so dug in that they can't see the forest thru the trees. If you feel that you have an important message or goal that you feel passionate about it should be worthwhile for someone to listen to. Kinda like you originally with DJ. A lot of people are afraid to quit due to a long list of obligations...which I understand. But sometimes it is worth the risk to change. Kel
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Happy Birthday Bashful in DC, May you have many more.
