Discussion: dedication and commitment
in: ebuckley; ebuckley > 2006-04-20
Apr 21, 2006 6:40 PM
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Eric, just read your bit on dedication and commitment and (since you don't have a comment function there) figured I'd add a small observation here.
One of the reasons I've heard in the past from a couple of promising (and at the time fairly young) U.S. orienteers for not working part time or going to Europe while really taking a chance on training as orienteers was a concern (or maybe an excuse?) that doing so would hurt their future career. The idea being that they didn't want to have a gap in a resume.
I've always thought that as long as you can explain a gap, it isn't really an issue (well, "I was doing time" isn't a great explanation). I'm involved in interviewing people for jobs fairly often. If an applicant explained that they worked 50 percent and trained to try to be a great orienteer (or painter, or runner, or cyclist, or singer, or whatever), I'd certainly not hold that against them. In fact, it'd probably make me more interested in the person.
When I made that point to a couple of these promising U.S. orienteers, I would characterize the response as skeptical. But, now I can point to your cycling career and your current career as a positive example.
I should also point out, that I've had similar discussions with other promising orienteers who, as far as I could tell, understood what I was saying and maybe even got it.
One of the reasons I've heard in the past from a couple of promising (and at the time fairly young) U.S. orienteers for not working part time or going to Europe while really taking a chance on training as orienteers was a concern (or maybe an excuse?) that doing so would hurt their future career. The idea being that they didn't want to have a gap in a resume.
I've always thought that as long as you can explain a gap, it isn't really an issue (well, "I was doing time" isn't a great explanation). I'm involved in interviewing people for jobs fairly often. If an applicant explained that they worked 50 percent and trained to try to be a great orienteer (or painter, or runner, or cyclist, or singer, or whatever), I'd certainly not hold that against them. In fact, it'd probably make me more interested in the person.
When I made that point to a couple of these promising U.S. orienteers, I would characterize the response as skeptical. But, now I can point to your cycling career and your current career as a positive example.
I should also point out, that I've had similar discussions with other promising orienteers who, as far as I could tell, understood what I was saying and maybe even got it.
Apr 21, 2006 9:26 PM
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'O' has no 'pro payoff', does it? So why would you give up everything to do it? If its not money, or recognition, then it would be the same reason we do it, just because we like it, right?
Apr 21, 2006 10:27 PM
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Wow, you guys are fast. I changed the last paragraph a bit (doesn't change the message any, but has a more holistic ring to it).
The point of that post is that the "pro payoff" is an illusion. Such a tiny percentage ever realize that that it simply cannot be the deciding factor (or, if it is, the decision will always be to not try - unless one is already in poverty). But there's no problem being a full-time orienteer. Again, most full-time athletes are making very close to nothing, and yet they find a way.
As for why? Well, if you have to ask that, then you certainly shouldn't be considering it any further. It's either something you feel you must do, or it's a hobby. Neither attitude is superior to the other, but they certainly aren't interchangable, either.
The point of that post is that the "pro payoff" is an illusion. Such a tiny percentage ever realize that that it simply cannot be the deciding factor (or, if it is, the decision will always be to not try - unless one is already in poverty). But there's no problem being a full-time orienteer. Again, most full-time athletes are making very close to nothing, and yet they find a way.
As for why? Well, if you have to ask that, then you certainly shouldn't be considering it any further. It's either something you feel you must do, or it's a hobby. Neither attitude is superior to the other, but they certainly aren't interchangable, either.
This discussion thread is closed.