Gifted Issues Discussion homepage Forums General Discussion Coffee shop 2

Started a new coffee shop, because we can.

What I am thinking is what motivates some gifted people, like Paul Allen and Bill Gates, and what makes them underachievers, as we all hear about -- hence obsessing about schooling here.

What makes them motivated.

I started working again a few months ago and thought I would do this flexible gig, decent money, work from home, pick up DD from preschool and sit on the parents' committee.

I went to a trade show a week ago, mostly to pick up freebies -- toys as promised -- for DD. See this company, not sure what made me stop and start talking. Bottom line, I said I would work for stock, they have very little money. But now I am getting excited and starting the plan.

I got that motivation. Yes, it would be nice to make a kazillion dollars, but it is the puzzle, the implementation that turns on inside, like a new toy. How do you teach that?

And maybe it is specific to personality. But I already see in DD that putting together the pieces, the analyst in her. Just like last week we were coming through the Lincoln Tunnel and she says, (about on-coming traffic) they are going to New Jersey. These cars have already spent time in New Jersey. We are now going to New York. Not something you expect a 3 year old to think about.

But I see her trying to figure out the globe and how it fits together, what are countries, states etc.

Now DH is a risk adverse physician. He can figure things out but it is a different gathering of knowledge. And the path of medical school gets you a job works for his personlity. Creating the job is not his strong suit.

Anyway, just thinking on paper. About that motivational spark. What drives it, how do you foster it.


Have a good day. Have moved myself to the beach and DD gets tennis and swim camp this summer while I ponder my strategy for my little company.

Ren

I think part of it is having the luxury to tinker. Even if a person is a tinkerer at heart, they need time to indulge the impulse.

Have fun with your little company, Ren

Usually Time and money - in Bill Gates' case, his parents supported him and provided him money for his tinkering.

But, not always - Ben Franklin was a tinkerer and had very little money (even ran away from home at about 16, I think) and had to earn his own way.

I do think there is an interesting equation of optimism vs. ability vs. desire to take risks vs. what exactly motivates a particular personality. I tend to think a lot of it comes from within. I think the best you can do is to give your child plenty of challenges and opportunities of all kinds and trust they will find something that lights their fire. I personally really enjoyed working for a couple very small start ups that could have folded at any time. I'm not sure I could live like that now as a parent though.

Enjoy your new opportunity! Sounds like fun.

Change of topic:

It's so quiet this week!! Is everyone off enjoying summer? Hope so!

Yup. We just got back from vacation.



I still may be pretty quiet (at least for me), since I have lots of catching up to do around the house.

Just got back from vacation too. Lovely time with out of town relatives. One funny story - niece, age 16, spent a few days with us before the rest of her family arrived in town. We were watching Hairspray, and she said, "wouldn't it be a great world if everyone just broke out into song throughout the day?" Switch to a few days later, when she is reunited with her family (of 6). We were all sitting around chatting, when all of a sudden, the entire family broke out singing the same song! I laughed and related niece's earlier comment. She said, "I guess I knew we did that, but I just thought that was normal, until now..."

Was it "reunited" by Peaches and Herb? That's what popped into my head...

I immediately saw the old Coke commercial "I'd like to teach the world to sing" . . .

That is funny Lorel.

Ren