QotD — Silverbob Edition

[E]verybody should have something they’re really good at.  If they do, they should do it.

Robert Silverberg, from the second half of the Block/Silverberg confab, which is as funny as the first half.

Along those lines, at my lunch with my friends yesterday, they asked if I had done any administrative work in my time at Mondoville. I assured them that I assiduously avoided such gigs (although I serve on committees, am the faculty parliamentarian, do strategic planning, and other such chores — I’m not a freeloader), as I am terribly disorganized (which they know) and unsuited to chairing committees, departments, and the like. On the other hand, I seem to do really well in the classroom. So I do that. And it suits me, and seems to suit the students. This may be laziness or lack of ambition, but I would like to think that there’s a virtue in understanding Silverberg’s comment.

I already do enough things I’m only kind of good at — music, writing fiction and poetry. I’m glad I found something I seem to do really well.

Getting back on the road, so blogging may be intermittent/nonexistent until tomorrow evening. Until then, as I tell my students, whatever you’re doing, do it well.