All posts tagged happiness

One day, I’m going to go to outer space

by Wells Riley on February 16, 2012 in Science Stuff with 1 Comment
Virgin-Galactic

I was watching Prophets of Science Fiction on Science Channel last night, and I saw some awesome renderings of Virgin Galactic‘s SpaceshipTwo and an animated video of the craft in action. I’ve known about Virgin’s celestial endeavors for ages, but haven’t really thought much of it. $200,000 for a single flight into low-earth orbit kind of puts a stop to any realistic hopes for space travel.

Seeing Spaceport America (the world’s first commercial ‘space airport’) currently under construction and Spaceship Two actually built, I couldn’t help but fantasize about space travel once again. I hadn’t really thought about it since middle school or high school, and I feel like now, more than ever, it’s no longer an unrealistic dream.

(Please forgive the horrible music… you might want to turn the sound off / down before hitting play)

I’m going to be alive (I hope!) for another 80-90 years (assuming medical science improves dramatically in the next 50 years or so, which I’m certain it will). In that time, commercial space travel will continue to evolve. I’ve never had a ‘bucket list’ and I don’t have any immediate plans for one, but I do know one thing. I’m definitely going to go into outer space before I die.

Man, just writing that down gives me butterflies. Can you believe that? Outer space. Capitan Picard would be proud, I think.

(Image credit Virgin Galactic. More images available at Discovery Channel)

Just thought I’d share that thought… If you were hoping for some design-related content, try googling “kerning”… can you see it?

Friday Fix: The Quick and Dirty Guide to Lifetime Job Happiness

by Wells Riley on June 3, 2011 in Uncategorized with 1 Comment

I read about this concept a few years ago, and the sheer simplicity blew my mind.

Life is scary. Finding a job – nay, a career – is a daunting task. It can be overwhelming. I usually find that breaking problems into chunks makes them seem less superhuman, and this is an example of that.

So what is this nonsense? Everyone wants a high paying job they enjoy doing well. This sweet-looking Venn Diagram is useless – or is it?

Using this diagram I was able to visualize that:

  • There are some things I enjoy doing well, but can’t make any money doing
  • There are some things I can be paid to do well, but completely despise
  • There are some things I’d enjoy being paid to do, but can’t do them well
  • There’s a lot of things a lot of people can do, but the ones that suit me represent a very small subset of the whole

Your dream job is out there waiting for you. Don’t freak out. Don’t break down. Don’t give up.

Break apart the problem, think about what you can be paid to enjoy doing well. Use the Diagram and find the coveted sweet spot. Why settle for a desk job in a cubicle farm when you could be astronauting, developing awesome apps, or starting your own company? The perfect balance of Skill, Happiness, and Income can never lead you astray.

Just a quick thought for your Friday. Have a great weekend!