[RawGod]

I know there are some insightful people on the boards, so I thought I'd just put this out there. Maybe some of you are in the same boat as me.

One of my interests has always been a particular creative art which isn't so popular these days. It's an art form in which you toil alone and there is little fame and fortune for even the most successful. It gives you zero points with women. (Almost zero - if you are really successful, a small niche of women would be intrigued.)

It's not gardening, running an awesome Dungeons and Dragons game, or writing sonnets, but think something like that - there's just no money, glory or pussy in it.

I love it, but sometimes I wonder if it's worth it. I could change my creative outlet into something more popular, and potentially get a lot more social benefits from that. And maybe I'd learn to love the new hobby in time, too.

What do you think? Is it worth altering course to invest my time into something with more social leverage?

Think about Bill Clinton pulling out the saxophone on Tonight Live. If he'd pulled out an oboe he probably wouldn't have become president. When he was young he made the choice to study a "cool" instrument and it paid off. It seems arbitrary that oboe is not cool, but that's the way the world works.

I'm anticipating responses of "follow your passion", but I'm also interested in a defence of a more Machiavellian perspective - of putting your energy into something which will serve your greater purposes rather than just internal satisfaction. Anyone prepared to advocate that side?

[Checkmat]

I'd say it's fine as long as it's not to the detriment of your other valuable/marketable skills.

There are only so many hours in a week. As long as your entire life doesn't revolve around something worthless it's fine to have "guilty pleasures". I'm sure whatever you're doing with this hobby is equal to or greater than watching xyz hours of reality tv like most people do every week.

Especially if it's something you have to learn/acquire a skill.

[Dr. Howard]

the challenge of mastering anything is rewarding in itself regardless of what it is. Zen gardening for example, retarded in terms of practicality, but rewarding in terms of mastery.

[jamaicabound]

Could you expound, are you talking about a potential business your looking at which covers a small niche or simply a hobby of yours? From the business aspect it's amazing how much money can be made in a small niche and usually it's easier to rank SEO, gain a followership, etc in a small niche because the number of shops or resources out there is very small to begin with as is thhe comptetition.

As to your other point it sounds like your kind of bringing up the whole issue of should you adjust your interests to fit what others want. Someone did a thread on how to be cool the toher day and my response as well as most others was being cool is about being you and not apologizing for it so from that aspect do what you wanna do and it will give you results you want.

[Bad Hussar]

In a world were everyone tries to be the same being "uncool" is about the only way to be authentic. Things that currently have prestige or attract money will inevitably attract fakes. I've thought about this sort of thing a bit recently and the more I think about it the more I come to the conclusion that running counter to the general culture is the only way you can signal authenticity. Not that everyone who engages in popular activities is fake, just that an outsider really wouldn't be able to judge. It's only if you risk looking uncool in some way that your signaling means anything.

[w00t]

knitting?

[Switch]

I'll take the Machiavellian side. Personally, I don't find things very enjoyable unless they are going to benefit my life outside of that activity. Sure it's fun to play Halo every once in a while, but after 30 minutes, I can't enjoy it because I know deep down that it's not helping me outside of that specific activity.

But spending time playing guitar is just as fun, and I can play for two hours straight and know that breaking out a song at a party will earn me bonus points socially and deep satisfaction.

Investing time in an activity that will not bring you any rewards is a waste of time. I recommend switching to something that you can love just as much, but will also bring you monetary/social/pussy rewards.

EDIT: Think of soup. Do you think he'd be killing it out in NY he were a great flutist? Don't think so. If you can authentically become great at a 'cool' skill, and actually enjoy it yourself, why limit yourself to an uncool activity?

Also what is your 'art'? PM me if you prefer. It's killing me.

[Parlay44]

There's a scene or a circle for everything. Go explore it and see if you can both enjoy it and profit at the same time.

[RawGod]

Anyway, I always come back to the fact that I love my creative outlet. Can't give it up. One day there might be some exterior validation, but what will be will be.

[coolmike]

If people are making money off of Minecraft, im pretty sure you may be able to work magic within your niche.

The first thing you need to do is see if there is any sort of demand in your niche before investing too much time.

Heres a tip, go to the Google Keyword Planner and type in what your niche is and look at the traffic estimates. That should give you your answer right there.

[poutsara]

(07-07-2014 02:01 AM)RawGod Wrote:  

I know there are some insightful people on the boards, so I thought I'd just put this out there. Maybe some of you are in the same boat as me.

One of my interests has always been a particular creative art which isn't so popular these days. It's an art form in which you toil alone and there is little fame and fortune for even the most successful. It gives you zero points with women. (Almost zero - if you are really successful, a small niche of women would be intrigued.)

Not everything in life has to be about fame, fortune, or women.

Does this creative art inspire you to action or thought? Are you energized by your work and excited to spend the time on it? Is this something that, 30 years from now, you can and still will be a part of and continue to take pride in it? Does it help define you, even if this is only understood by you? If so, then whatever it is that you do, it is worth it!

[RawGod]

(07-09-2014 12:29 AM)poutsara Wrote:  

Does this creative art inspire you to action or thought? Are you energized by your work and excited to spend the time on it? Is this something that, 30 years from now, you can and still will be a part of and continue to take pride in it? Does it help define you, even if this is only understood by you? If so, then whatever it is that you do, it is worth it!

Yes, yep, yep, and yes.
Thanks, I'm going to keep it up.