Main Course of the Week#
I once read an article that had a good quote:
The work within eight hours determines our social role and professional status... while the life outside of eight hours determines what kind of person we can become.
In a day of 24 hours, the ideal situation is to work for 8 hours, rest for 8 hours, and have 8 hours for personal activities.
The 8 hours that can be freely arranged represent the difference between individuals.
In order to make good use of these 8 hours, I have done many things, such as learning knowledge from other industries, exchanging experiences with peers, and cultivating new hobbies. The most important thing is to do a project that does not care about the results.
What is a project that does not care about the results?#
- The word "project" is easy to understand. The book "Get Things Done" has already defined it perfectly - a series of planned actions made for specific results. This means that the attitude must be serious and the process must be well thought out.
- Not caring about the results means not caring about specific rewards. It means that the original motivation for doing something comes from a deep love within, rather than a desire for external praise from the beginning. This means that the initial motivation is purely driven by interest.
- Therefore, a project that does not care about the results is something that is driven by interest and planned seriously.
- Isn't it contradictory to be driven by interest and plan seriously? Not really. Being driven by interest means that there is no ultimate goal, while planning seriously means having specific objectives. For example, in a painting competition, I paint a picture to win a prize and gain more business opportunities. This is the purpose, and painting is just a means to achieve the purpose. The goal is to meet both my own and the competition's standards before the deadline and complete this painting.
Why should we do projects that do not care about the results?#
There are several benefits to doing projects that do not care about the results:
- The first benefit is long-lasting motivation. Motivation comes from interest, and interest is a driving force that is completely driven by the inner spirit. This kind of power will last much longer than money, personal relationships, and honor. You won't even feel like you are "working hard" to do something. I have always believed that "working hard" is a pseudo concept when it comes to projects driven by interest. When doing such projects, you don't feel like you are making an effort. It's actually similar to playing a game. Once you feel like you are making an effort, it means there is resistance. You will feel that it's difficult and subconsciously believe that you can't do it. This resistance is purely a psychological effect. The essence is that your interest in this matter is not strong enough at the moment.
- The second benefit is that this kind of project produces works rather than just commodities. Commodities bring more monetary rewards, accumulated experience, and more business opportunities in the market. These are what should be accomplished within the 8 hours of work, and if you continue to do them, it's just overtime. The rewards brought by works not only include these, but the most important thing is that the works will shape you and guide you to find the most suitable path for yourself. It is also the so-called basic choice being greater than effort.
- The third benefit is the unimaginable progress. After completing one or two projects that do not care about the results, which took me from three months to a year, I have gained at least one or two additional skills during this time. Although the level may not reach the market standard, it is a progress from 0 to 60 points. This will greatly motivate myself to find ways to do better.
This website is one of my projects that do not care about the results, but my initial interest was to develop my own website so that I can easily showcase my case studies and CG artworks to others. Then I gradually discovered that my interest in writing is much greater than coding and web design, and I don't consider becoming a programmer as a career. So, let's keep it simple and focus on writing. There is no purpose, and the goal is to choose a topic I like and write an article about it every week, with no word count requirement. As you may have noticed, each article has three sections.
- Main Course of the Week: Discussing the understanding and opinions on the chosen topic.
- Creative Fragments: What I have created recently and any insights or experiences.
- Weekly Highlight: Sharing any valuable content that I think is worth sharing.
The most well-known project that does not care about the results that humans have done is launching the Voyager spacecraft. This website is also my "Voyager spacecraft". What is yours?
Creative Fragments#
This week, I took on a commercial activity related to trendy toys. The progress is going smoothly and it is expected to be completed next week. If it turns out well, I will consider organizing and sharing it.
Weekly Highlight#
- I recommend an article in which the author briefly introduces their work experience in different animation companies in China and abroad. They also analyze the outsourcing and subcontracting models of CG animation, the copyright supply and development of derivative products in Japan, and the Hollywood model of animated films. Regarding the current situation in China, the article believes that outsourcing or subcontracting has created the basic conditions and capabilities for animation companies, laying a solid foundation for future original animations.
- A Brief Discussion on Doing Animation and Being Done by Animation