Oh boy. This. I found this on my Facebook feed as well and was not very pleased when I read it. I did react negatively to it but our author was very clever with the last paragraph and tied in criticism of the article with being unfaithful to the self. So I found this very circular--if you disagree with this article, you are just fulfilling one of the harsh truths I mentioned, thus proving that the harsh truths exist. And I'm not even going to begin to try to get into the "They don't like you because you're a creator" comment; that's overly simplistic. But instead of whining about the last paragraph, I will acknowledge my chief point of disagreement with the article. Despite its title, it really should be called "How to make yourself marketable." Wong starts with the premise that your quality as a person is only a function of your quality to other people which I do not find true at all. While one's social atmosphere will undoubtedly inform how one feels as a person, the idea that self value is derived exclusively from the ability to have a skill that other people enjoy is arguable at best. For example, I write prose on occasion. I know that it's not very good and I've never actually shown anybody what I've written, but it means something to me and it contributes to how I feel as a person. Am I more marketable as a result? Certainly not. But that does not mean that my self-value is somehow diminished. In fact, I would argue that how one feels as a person is more accurately a function of what one does that is not marketable. In other words, the greatest amount of self-value is derived from that which is anonymous and not driven by foreseeable profit. To apply these thoughts to the issue of love, I find that love is not a product of one's ability to market himself or herself as a person with unique qualities A, B, and C, but more of a jigsaw puzzle idea. Love is more accurately found not as a result of public advertisement but placing oneself in the proper community at the start. In this instance, the metaphorical "dirt" of Wong's argument truly is what matters. Well, that's my two cents and a little more. Thoughts?
I think you and Wong are saying the same thing, you just don't know it. The dirt is important. It holds the nutrients and water and such that makes the tree grown, and that's what the tree turns into fruit. Your internal self is what creates your external actions. The things you DO don't just happen, they're a reflection on the you that nobody can see, the you that you have to talk to in your own head all the time (man I hope that wasn't too many yous). The Bible says your faith is shown by your works. Whether you're Christian or not, the principle applies. You can't say you're a charming, lovable person if all you do is sit in your room and never talk to anyone. Even if it's true, it doesn't matter if you hide it. That was the point of the article. Throw yourself out there and get blasted to pieces. At least the different pieces can make a pretty awesome mosaic.
I understand that and Wong's statement is perfectly valid if self-value is to be derived from successful marketing of oneself. However, I disagree with the basic premise that one's interaction with others determines one's self-value. The dirt, in my argument, is self-value since it is the purest expression of an individual. In other words, because how a person outwardly expresses himself or herself is guided by the goal of servicing other people, it will not be the most honest portrayal of who that individual truly is. The most pure form of self-value comes with accepting and being content with who you are internally, not your position in a social system.
My understanding of Ayn Rand ends at the mostly partisan endorsement of her work, I have not read her works (I started Atlas Shrugged when younger, grew bored of it, should probably re-read it to understand its context). So is your connection between this article and Ayn Rand pejorative? And I disagree as to the money grubbing aspect you claim this article encourages. In fact, Point 4 >#4. What You Produce Does Not Have to Make Money, But It Does Have to Benefit People
I think the point that was made regarding the speech is equally true for this article. Some people may watch that clip and read the article and find them both incredibly motivating, but many others will just wonder why Alec Baldwin and David Wong are being such asshats about everything. I'm the kind of guy who could use a bit more motivation in my life, but I sure as hell got fired up watching that speech. I'm not sure what that says about me as a person, but I feel a bit better about myself nonetheless.
I saw this on my facebook a bit ago. That video is a must watch, especially if you are overly frustrated with work. New perspectives are always great.