I’ve had a pretty strange year. In some ways it’s been fantastic and in other ways it’s been not so fantastic, but, as they say, I guess that’s life.
I’ve been doing a lot of thinking this summer, probably to much thinking which won’t surprise those who know me, about what exactly it is I’m doing mainly with my work but also with my life. I don’t have any answers for what I should do (and, to be honest, don’t expect to have any clear ones) but I’m starting to see what it is I don’t want to do, or shouldn’t do as I’m not very good at it.
In short, what I’m good at is helping people figure out stuff. What I’m not so good at is doing that stuff. Sure, I can and have delivered (as the jargon has it) and I have no shortage of ideas for things to do, but actually doing them is not always my strength.
The problem, I think, is over the last couple of years I’ve been around people who do stuff – the types who have a notion, figure out a plan and put it into practice – and I’ve come to realise that while what they’re doing isn’t necessarily hard it takes a certain attitude or personality, one which, if I’m really honest to my myself, I don’t really have.
This had been worrying me over the summer but I’ve come to the decision that it doesn’t really matter. You don’t have to be good at everything and I know I’m good at something (I wouldn’t be where I am if I was completely useless!) The trick, I think, is to keep things simple, play to the strengths and enjoy it.
The straw that broke the camel’s back was FailCamp, an idea that is ostensibly simple to execute but which for some reason I’ve been unable to kick into action. Whatever the reason for my failure here (and yes, I’m fully aware of the irony) it’s clear that I don’t do this sort of thing. I still maintain that DIY-type events like this relatively easy to do but I am clearly not the right person to lead that process.
FailCamp Birmingham is still there and it still could happen. Initial reaction to the concept was positive and there’s even some funding out there from the city to help things along. If you think you’re the sort of person who can see something like this through then by all means get involved with making it happen. And I’ll definitely attend and help out.
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Gonna say publicly what I also said privately … Pete: you *are* someone who “does stuff”. You've done more for this region and this community than most, (yes – 'starting stuff' counts too), and we'd all be far worse off if you didn't. Sorry to burst your bubble there, Pete, but you're just gonna have to face facts. You, my friend, are one of those “doing” types. Urgh. How awful.
I don't wanna get all 'self improvement' on ya so I'll just say “self-fulfilling prophecy” and leave you to it. Oh and read 7 Habits by Stephen Covey.