Paul McGowan writes:
Satisfaction? Don’t feel badly, the Stones apparently couldn’t either. But is satisfaction the end game? And what happens after you achieve it? Are you ready for more? Something better?
I don’t know about you, but I tend to categorize my achievements into three groups. The first is short, repetitive tasks with known outcomes, like mowing the lawn, washing the car, shoveling the driveway. Upon completion there’s a great sense of satisfaction.
Then there are the medium difficult tasks, like completing small projects at work, installing a new piece of hi fi gear, writing a daily post, attending a meeting. After completion there’s a medium sense of satisfaction, but really, the feeling’s more like wiping your brow and moving onto the next one.
And then there are the big projects, like building a hi fi system, working on any long term project, writing a novel, climbing a fourteen thousand foot peak, designing a new power amplifier. After completion you have a momentary burst of great satisfaction, sometimes elation, but often these feelings turn to a sense of loss, like when you’re vacation is over.
And I think building a home audio system you’re proud of is more like the third, than the second or first. You achieve a level of performance you had always hoped for, and soon, you’re wishing for more.
Life and its many achievements have often been characterized as a journey–the travel itself to be enjoyed as much or more than the accomplishments and objects along the way. Yes, it is wonderful to achieve audio nirvana, but don’t feel badly if you then want more.
It’s good to remember the journey can be as much fun as the destination.
