Not surprisingly, his mission meets with skepticism from students (although many are gradually converted to his way of thinking), parents and the school administration. Eventually, he loses his job-but not before a piece of his vision has been completed. Some of the boys have begun to think for themselves.
Dreamers and visionaries always meet up with naysayers along the way.
From the time he was a child, talk-show host Arsenio Hall dreamt of becoming the first black Johnny Carson. It was a big dream for an underachieving kid from a poor neighborhood who wasn't considered smart enough to succeed at anything. He proved them wrong. But once he succeeded, he found that he was held to a higher standard of conduct. To his surprise, he became a racial symbol. In that unsolicited role, whites accused him of being "too black" (whatever that means) and blacks called him "too white" (because they don't think he hired enough black staff for his show).
His lifestyle also met with some skepticism from well-intentioned friends, who criticized Hall for working too hard. These friends often encouraged the young comedian to stop and smell the roses. Hall, who says he feels most alive when working full throttle, doesn't appreciate the advice. "You go play Frisbee in the park," he tells them. "I love my work."
Among people who don't really enjoy their work, it's become popular to espouse the joys of a balanced life. What may be harder for these folks to recognize is that for mission-driven people like Arsenio Hall, work and play are closely intertwined. They enjoy their work so much, they do it for pleasure.
Chicago actress and playwright Marjie Rynearson, for example, spends many pleasant evenings and weekends at the theater, enjoying and observing the works of her colleagues. For her, professional growth, community and enjoyment all come together in her passion for theater.
The 59-year old actress waited a long time to put theater at the center of her life. As a young woman, she put her brand-new acting career on hold to marry and raise children. While her kids were growing up in Temple, Texas, family was her first priority. Even so, she found time to get involved in establishing and building a community theater, and later her own advertising agency.
Once the boys were grown, she returned to her first love: theater. But Temple, Texas, wasn't large enough to provide the kinds of opportunities she sought. So she moved to Chicago to pursue her career, after she and her husband, Bob, agreed to experiment with a commuter marriage.
Thus far, the experiment has lasted six years, amid friends' and acquaintances' gossip that their marriage is on the rocks. Rynearson took the talk in stride. "I'm following a dream that's important to me," says Marjie. "I'm not running away from my marriage."
Her move has obviously required some family accommodations. Bob has become passionate about sculpting, a creative activity that will serve him well in retirement. And Marjie's son, composer Ed Rynearson, has moved to Chicago with his singer-wife, Lisa, to work on a musical with her while the two pursue their own careers.
While dreamers like Marjie Rynearson may tax the flexibility and resourcefulness of their families, they also bring a compelling vitality and sense of adventure to those who can join in.
Succeeding at something you truly care about is one of the greatest satisfactions that work can provide. It won't guarantee that you'll be blissfully happy all the time. There will still be good days and bad. But the good days will surely outnumber the bad.
Also, when you start adding softer things like dreams, vision, values and feelings to your career equation, you prompt success. When you enjoy the daily activities of your work and find your career goals intrinsically meaningful, your path becomes clearer. You'll persist more in the face of obstacles because you're charting and pursuing a course that really matters and makes sense to you.
There is a danger, too. It can hurt to invest your talents and heart so fully in your activities because the stakes are higher. But the rewards will run deeper. When you do succeed, you'll value your accomplishments and yourself even more.
That's what Robin Williams' character was trying to tell his students when he whispered in their ears: "Make your lives extraordinary." Make his words your own.
A Burning-With-Passion Work Life
Rules
- Choose work you love.
- Commit to competence.
- Invest in training.
- Chart a course of action.
- Set goals.
- Cultivate a problem-solving mentality.
- Build and nurture support systems.
- Monitor your progress.
- Re-chart your course when necessary to take advantage of new experiences and learning.
- Keep setting new goals-and keep on truckin'.