Advice

Sometimes, It’s The Questions

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When it comes to our careers it may seem we're always seeking answers.  We want to know where to work.  We want to know what job will fit us.  We want to answer the right questions in the interview.

Of course we want answers.  Answers tell us what we should do on the job.  Answers give us directions to take at school.  Answers comfort us in adversity – or at least let us know how bad the adversity is so we can face it.

Now of course I am all for answers, but I think it's important that we give Questions their due.

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The Two Sides Of The Geekonomy

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Those of us working in – or hoping to work in – the Geekonomy are always trying to understand it a bit better.  It's a bit of an obsession of mine, because I feel like there's "something" out there for us progeeks and profans to grasp, but I haven't fully grasped it yet.  I can get some idea of the form of the Geekonomy, but its still fuzzy.

I've said for awhile that the Geekonomy, that place where geekiness, fandom, and industry comes together, is information-driven.  Its computers and video games, anime and novels, and at least a bit self-referential as everything ties into each other.  The fangirl that writes fanfic also uses Facebook and debates publishing on Lulu.com.  The dedicated otaku uses Photoshop to do art, makes web pages, and buys manga at the bookstore.

Of course, this is leading up to a recent insight of mine.  Namely, that the Geekonomy has two sides that are intimately intertwined.

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Pro-Fan Pride: The Joy of Knowing

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What makes you great as a profan/progeek – or a fan/geek/otaku that wants to turn their hobbies into a job?

The fact that you know this.

Seriously.  You, from your love of anime to your disturbingly deep knowledge of sports statistics, have an idea of just what you want to do with your life.  Your fanfic, fanart, web pages, blog posts, reviews, what have you all give you a bloody good idea of just what you should be doing in your career.

Right now you're lucky.  Right now you have direction.  Right now you have something you care passionately, deeply, obsessively about and will push yourself to achieve.  It could be anything from finishing a video game to writing a web page.

But you care and you know what you want to do.

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