We think of these things being in opposition, but actually, trying to unite them is the whole point.
Writing, for me, is a pleasure. It’s an honor to get paid for it and that so many people will consider what I have to say.
The pleasure part keeps you looking forward to waking up every morning. It allows you to tackle your task with joy and vigor. The honor part keeps you accountable. It makes you want to do your work responsibly.
It’s been a few years since I updated my LinkedIn. Yesterday, I finally did it.
At the bottom of my introduction, a quote stared back at me, and I had to smile. It’s been there for as long as I’ve had my profile, and it just might be the only element I’ll never change:
“Reach that destination where the things that are pleasant and the things that are honorable finally become, for you, the same.”
— Lucius Annaeus Seneca