The man your friend cited apparently just leaped without much planning; (I'm just guessing). In my experience, that is why most "dream jobs" fail (when they do). Had he read, and used, my book with its call for doing complete step by step planning exercises, before you leap, he would have carefully assembled the necessary three parts to make his "dream job" succeed. And he wouldn't have had to watch his dream fail.
Now, let me make a useful comment or two about your friend saying this one example proved to him that you can't go after a dream job. A biologist was once walking thru Times Square in New York City, at high noon with a friend of his, on a summer's day. Suddenly the biologist said to his friend, "Oh, listen to that cricket!" The friend looked at the biologist like he was nuts. "How on earth could you hear a cricket in the midst of this busy traffic and noise?" Wordlessly, the biologist pulled a handful of change out of his pocket and tossed all the coins high in the air. As they bounced off the pavement, everyone whirled and pounced on the coins. "See," said the biologist to his friend, "we hear what we're listening for."
People who secretly think (whether they are conscious of it or not) that looking for a dream job is folly, will always be listening for stories that they think proves they are right ---- like the one you just cited. On the other hand, people who believe that a dream job is what you should at least start out looking for, will always be listening for stories that seem to prove that they are right. It all depends on what you're listening for.
Yet another excellent story, Dick. You're one busy guy! You just celebrated your 84th birthday. Congratulations. While your energy seems to know no bounds, one assumes that at some point, you'll slow down. What happens then? Have you got anyone waiting in the wings to carry on the work you do?
I received both copies of your latest question, but my reason for delaying in answering is simply that I have now come into a period where it is very difficult for me to find time to answer my emails. I am under some very heavy deadlines for my writing, and it is taking every waking hour I have just to keep up with those deadlines. This will continue through May 10th. I am hard at work completely rewriting Parachute, as this will be the 40th anniversary edition when it comes out August 17th.
[So, I guess the default answer to that last question is that Dick's too busy to answer!] Well, it was a treat chatting with you and getting the inside story on What Color is Your Parachute? It doesn't look like you're slowing down any time soon, Dick. Thanks and happy 40th anniversary!
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