What’s the line between being too attached to work, and being passionate?
In my current line of work, there’s times you’re on a project, and times you’re on the “bench.”
I really enjoy the bench, which seems like the obvious thing a lazy person would say. But I like the self-directed time. I like learning things that interest me. I like thinking about new angles and new potential experiments.
I don’t feel useless during those times.
So I’m still surprised when colleagues feel list distraught being on the bench for extended amounts of time. I don’t quite get it.
I can speak for myself, but my sense of worth isn’t tied in service of doing something for someone else.
I always think about race cars. That they brake when turning into a corner. They brake to get ready to go faster as they exit. You slow down sometimes so you can go faster in the long run.
