Don?t Be Too Passionate About Your Work
Of course, she then offered me a six-month process, costing thousands of dollars to get me back on track. However, I must say she was ethical in her approach and suggested I get a medical check up to rule out any physical or mental-health issues.
I agreed and decided to go for the best and reserved a week at the Mayo clinic. I signed up for the concierge service that included all of the latest, cutting-edge medical studies - even genetic-code analysis. For a week, I was probed, hypnotized, acupunctured, MRI'd by the top scientists in the world. On the final day, I sat in the office of the Chief of Medicine awaiting the news.
The doctor was direct, "Hesh we have found a genetic flaw in your chromosome makeup. I am sorry to say but you lack the correct DNA to have a fully functionally passion gene." He pushed the box of Kleenex across the desk expecting me to burst out and become teary eyed. Instead, I laughed.
"Doc, for the first time in my life, I did not have to question why I am different," I said with excitement. "I've lived my life with constant anxiety and guilt, never understanding why I was different than all my fellow business-school graduates (Harvard class of '84). I had the grades to get in, but I was never as successful as my classmates."
I finally understood why; it had nothing to do with an unwillingness to take risks. No, I lacked passion for anything and everything, because of a genetic fluke. I asked the doctor if, with the many millions of dollars invested in identifying the human genome, I could expect a cure in my lifetime?
"Sorry Hesh," He said apologetically, "Compared to all of the life-threatening genetic illnesses of the world, extensive research into your disease is just not going to be a priority." And then he hit me with a question that he thought would put an end to the discussion, "Hesh can you honestly disagree?"
"Yes, I can," I shouted. "If you could help people like me, we could then change the world for the better. It would take only decades rather than a millennium."
The doctor convinced me to return to my room. I had the concierge arrange for a massage, and I had a few imported beers while I waited. As I relaxed, I realized that I had not considered all the ramifications of a cure for being passionlessness.
Imagine a world run amok with people of passion. It would be hard to sit next to anyone on an airplane. Now, you can expect some quiet, if you stare out the window. The person next to you usually gets the hint and does not engage you in conversation. But with a world of passionate people, we would not be able to hide as we were harangued about the latest and greatest business since Amway.
In retrospect, I have come to realize that the world may have just the right amount of passionate people. We don't want to play with the cosmos. We could end up like the Chinese that tried to enforce one child per family, but never realized that most families would want only males. Now 30 years later, they have a lot of lonely single guys in bars in Beijing.
The same could happen with the passion gene. We would have a world full of very passionate people. And we all know that there is an inverse correlation between being passionate and being able to laugh at oneself. We would all be so serious about our goals and dreams that I would be out of a job as a humor columnist.
Hesh Reinfeld writes a syndicated business humor column. You can read additional examples of his columns on his website: http://www.heshreinfeld.com Or contact him at hesh1@comcast.net
 Google News Updated : Fri, 10 Oct 2008 23:49:19 GMT Emptying the Pac-10 notebook - ESPN
ESPN - USC is a perfect 8-0 vs ASU this decade, last losing to the Sun Devils in 1999. Over the 8 wins, USC has averaged 39.8 PPG. The Trojans are going for their 400th victory at the Coliseum. Trojans sense an opportunity with Arizona State USC, ASU to avoid second Pac-10 loss Publ.Date : Fri, 10 Oct 2008 22:31:02 GMT Wall Street, markets continue roller coaster - Bizjournals.com
Bizjournals.com - A roller coaster week on Wall Street ended with the Dow Jones Industrial Average down 128 points Friday after bouncing back from almost 700 points down in the day. Video: Wild Swings Drive Morning Trading Worst Week on Wall Street Ends Down Publ.Date : Fri, 10 Oct 2008 21:29:25 GMT John McCain, Barack Obama on healthcare - Los Angeles Times
Los Angeles Times - How workable are the presidential candidates' health reform plans? Here's a summary of their proposals and a list of online resources for more information. In this economy, don't count on comprehensive health reform Fact Check: Would Obama fine businesses that don't offer health care? Publ.Date : Fri, 10 Oct 2008 23:27:40 GMT Two Banks in Midwest Fail - Wall Street Journal
Wall Street Journal - By JEFF BATER WASHINGTON -- The Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. on Friday announced the closings of two banks, bringing to 15 the number of federally insured banks that have failed this year. Two banks fold, bringing total to 15 failures this year Regulators shut small banks in Mich., Ill. Publ.Date : Fri, 10 Oct 2008 23:14:00 GMT Notes on a Milk Scandal - Wall Street Journal
Wall Street Journal - By JOSEPH STERNBERG | FROM THE WALL STREET JOURNAL ASIA It's a question I'd never expected to spend much time thinking about. France pulls tainted Chinese food Tainted milk prompts new Chinese standards Publ.Date : Fri, 10 Oct 2008 18:28:15 GMT Conflict Resolution Marked Career of Nobel Laureate Martti Ahtisaari - Voice of America
Voice of America - By Andre de Nesnera Conflict resolution marked the career of former Finnish president Martti Ahtisaari who has received this year's Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts to secure peace in various regions of the world. Video: Ex-Finland President Wins Nobel Peace Prize Martti Ahtisaari gets a deserved Nobel Peace Prize for a (failed) plan Publ.Date : Fri, 10 Oct 2008 21:23:27 GMT GOP Alleges Nonprofit Voter Fraud - CBS News
CBS News - (CBS) This week Sen. John McCain and his running mate, Gov. Sarah Palin, went after one of the nation's leading voter registration groups which focuses its efforts minorities and low-income families and now being investigated for voter fraud. McCain Campaign Calls for Investigation of ACORN-Obama Ties Voter fraud accusations mar presidential campaign Publ.Date : Fri, 10 Oct 2008 23:21:41 GMT Amazon Associate Store |
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