If it ain't broke don't fix it, or meeting new challenges?
What do you guys think: once you've learned 90% of what you CAN learn from the job (dancing), is it time to move on and try something new, even if the income is good? You know, for your emotional and mental health, and for the sake of growing 'as a person'?
Just something I've been pondering. Most jobs allow space for 'advancement'. I guess we make our own advancement in terms of higher earnings...
I don't have a cogent theory on this, just wondering what your thoughts are?
Re: If it ain't broke don't fix it, or meeting new challenges?
Yes and No. I think it's important for someone to continue to challenge themselves in order to grow and develop as a person. Ideally you would be able to find this type of mental reward in your job. However, that's not the only way to gain new skills. I happen to think that the time spent on hobbies, volunteer work, and family time is even more rewarding. I'm lucky that I'm able to earn full-time income on a part-time schedule. Instead of spending that extra time stuck in a rut of watching t.v and hanging out, I think it's important to find something productive to do. Take some classes at the community college, read some books, give some of your time to the local animal shelter/habitat for humanity/planned parenthood/red cross (some of my favorites), train for a marathon, grow a garden, babysit the neighbors' kids, get a part-time office job.... heck, anything! There is so much to learn in life that isn't necessarily dependent on growing a traditional career.
Re: If it ain't broke don't fix it, or meeting new challenges?
I guess I just don't look at dancing as a learning experience in any significant life-impacting way- I am 100% in it for the money and convenient flexibility. It's true that in the 14 months or however long I've danced (not that long), I have learned some things I wouldn't have expected. I've also changed in certain ways, or my attitude has. But I think you can compartmentalize certain aspects of your life as 'growth' potential, while realizing your learning potential in other areas will probably eventually max out. I think there are all sorts of ways to value various things you do- the value of dancing for me has always been instrumental ($$, free time when I need it) and not so much intrisic (that is to say, I don't find much within the job in and of itself to be especially valuable- but maybe that's me...).
If that made any sense at all? Possibly it did not and I completely misunderstood the question. I'd say- fill your life with what matters most to you in all cases. You can always grow and learn in other areas and keep dancing as a little thing on the side to help you when you need it. I guess it could get boring if it's 'all the same', but I wouldn't worry about stagnating if you're still making good money- and in my brief experience I thought you sold dances better than just about any dancer I've ever seen :)
Re: If it ain't broke don't fix it, or meeting new challenges?
Quote:
Originally Posted by mollyzmoon
and in my brief experience I thought you sold dances better than just about any dancer I've ever seen :)
Yea no shit, Scarlett is a machiene lol. Seriously peeps this girl was selling dances non stop over a 13 hour period of time. When she wasnt on stage she was dancing. My body ached just watching her.
Back to the OT... I dont know exactly how I feel about it. I mean just like any job you will eventually learn all you can from it.. and as long as you enjoy it and can still make money... I dunno... I guess for you you have gone as far as you can... unless you can make yourself a Robin Ann Rich or Alena Downs lol. Your a co-feature.. traveled a large portion of the world. You need to do what makes you happy.
Re: If it ain't broke don't fix it, or meeting new challenges?
I agree with jessica. Its what you can do withyour free time that is so great. I create my own new challenges by what I do when I'm not at work, so I continuely feel rewarded in my life.
Re: If it ain't broke don't fix it, or meeting new challenges?
How do you know you learned 90% of what there is?
I don't think anybody knows how much they don't know.
Re: If it ain't broke don't fix it, or meeting new challenges?
I'm thinking along the same lines as others it seems. Here are my thoughts. Your job is for money. You make good money. Job "ain't broke, don't fix" it. BUT, I do think that one needs to be emotionally and mentally stimulated. Go and do the hobby thing. Or learning thing.
Re: If it ain't broke don't fix it, or meeting new challenges?
I think it's important to feel fulfilled by what you do, whatever it is. Fulfillment from dancing might come entirely from the amount of money earned for some women. For you, it sounds like you need a little more, some kind of challenge. If you don't think you can be challenged by dancing anymore (or by switching clubs) then you should add in something else.
Maybe you could take on another part time job that you find more challenging or fulfilling and dance less, or get into something you've always wanted to do like traveling or taking art classes. Whatever will make you happy.
One of the reasons I started dancing was simply to see if I could be good at it. I've always liked to do things just to see if I could, so I understand where you're coming from.
Re: If it ain't broke don't fix it, or meeting new challenges?
Quote:
How do you know you learned 90% of what there is?
Me? I don't think I said I had.
It was a hypothetical number chosen to convey the idea of "having learned enough that the job has become routine, new challenges are fewer and farther in between, but there is still some room left to grow". But, you know, all efficient-like, because it really wasn't necessary to type all that out.
Thanks for your slammin' answer, though.
Other girls, thanks for your input. It's not so much about me, just a general thought. About patterns, getting stuck in routines... things that contribute at least in part to most of us dancing.
Re: If it ain't broke don't fix it, or meeting new challenges?
I think I know what you're saying. Once you feel like you've mastered something -- or at least gotten "good enough" -- is it time to move on to something else, or should you, can you, sit back and rest on your laurels?
It's up to you, really. If you want to coast, by all means coast. You've earned by dint of all the hard work you put in to get as good as you are. But the fact that you even ask the question would seem that you're restless.
Interesting thread, BTW.