Writer, Agilist, Elder Geek
Your fandom lets you develop business sense, a sense of customer service, and entrepreneurship. If you think I'm done talking about the professional advantages of your hobbies, it won't surprise you that I'm not done yet.
Fandom teaches you courage.
That may sound strange to some people – until you think about what fandom actually involves.
Nearly a year ago, I moved to Mac.
I recall it quite clearly when it happened. I was planning a new Windows Box purchase as soon as Windows 7 came out. Then I had a virus on my computer, which I managed to fix. My wife and roommate of the time, both Mac users, had long been suggesting I use a Mac.
So after having blown an evening dealing with my first virus infection in years (apparently due to a PDF vulnerability), I began reflecting on the advantages of having a Mac:
* All the basic software I need.
* Great service and support.
* Much less viruses and such targeting it – and good onboard security to boot.
* Long lifespan.
This all added up though to one, important thing – less frustration.
I'm a busy person. I'm a PM in technology, and thus no longer being a programmer, a computer crisis is not a Valuable Learning Experience. I can't imagine what computer problems are like for people who don't have an IT background, though I can guess from the amount of times my friends and I play tech support.
But Mac is relatively frustration-free. Mac is fast, slick, sexy, and gets the job done.
That's what I wanted. That's why I got a Mac. It's also a reason I hear for a lot of people using a Mac.
You're not happy with your job. You don't like what you do. Worse, nothing out there in the job market that appeals to you. The final kicker is that of all the jobs you've heard of none may appeal to you. You've got all this energy and skills but nothing out there is what you want to do.
So let me suggest, my fellow progeek, that maybe it's time to invent an entirely new job.