I count myself lucky that I have the kind of job where I can listen to music during my workday. I've really started noticing how the music behind me affects my day -- If I choose the right playlist, I can be inspired to work harder, to focus more intently. Choose the wrong music, however, and I'm unable to concentrate. I'm thinking that this is true for just about everyone.
If you are in the position of being able to listen to music while you work, let me know how it affects you, and what you've found inspiring. While we all have a different taste in music, I'm sure, there could be certain songs that just get you rolling. I've got my favorites.
For me, a guy who listens to folk/acoustic/classical during the day, there is nothing that inspires me more than the song "Morningside" by John Gorka. If you like Dylan's acoustic stuff from his early years, listen to John sing about how important work is and how much "luck" we create by our work. Here is the chorus, although reading it pales in comparison to the beautiful medley that goes with it:
Don't want to waste what I have to give
In all of the time that I've left to live
Don't want to waste what I have to give
In any of the time that I've got left
I can do more than I thought I could
Work brings more luck than knocking on wood
There's random bad and random good
Work brings more good luck.
Within the song, there's a section which deals directly with a topic we've spoken about here on the forum. Tell me how you feel about these words and how they might be speaking to the person who wants to go directly from a PhD program to industry employment instead of a postdoc:
You ask the world
And the world says, no
It's the world's refrain
Mine says, go
You ask the world
And the world says, no
It's an old world refrain
Mine says, go
Thanks - An unusual topic here for the forum, and I truly expect to get few if any replies, but I'll risk it.
Dave