Merlin Mann

Very thoughtful, very funny interview with Merlin Mann by Tina Essmaker at The Great Discontent.

“…there’s always this feeling of wishing or hoping that you’ll eventually arrive somewhere. But, I don’t know anybody who’s ever arrived anywhere. Everybody I know with half a brain is always a little bit nervous about how long they’re going to be okay doing what they’re doing.”

…

“…most of us are so stuck in this notion of how stuff should go that we want to find one of seven stories that matches our narrative. The fact is that most of us are wandering around, scared shitless, wondering what the fuck’s going to happen next. That’s as true when you’re 11 as it is when you’re in your 40s. It’s one reason that people feel very discouraged or disinclined to try new things—they feel like it’s not for them.”

…

“It can be very frustrating to keep sucking at something without realizing that it’s not the thing you should be trying to get better at…Part of successfully growing up is letting go of unrealistic ideas that stop us from recognizing something else we’re good at and might enjoy more than what we’re doing now.”

…

                                                    I do not know where i am going
                                                    I just know it is not that way!

                                                                          José Régio, Cântico Negro


It is honest and refreshing. If you happen to know really stupid people who fancy themselves as being more intelligent than others, even if they DO NOT know what it means, and with their contribution to the human condition being only farting, oh! yeah, you’ll like the interview.

via The Mann