Man would rather have the void as purpose than be void of purpose.

Nietzsche

It was a cold winter evening in New York, one of those nights when it feels like the sun has drifted off backwards into the universe forever. For the past twelve months or so I had settled into the American way of life and work. The hours were longer, but there had been more intensity, competition and unfiltered enthusiasm than I had ever experienced before. This atmosphere leaked out of the offices and into the streets, the subways, the packed and sweating bars.

Compared to Australians, I found many Americans more straightforward, enthusiastic and earnest with how they worked and approached life. This earnestness was a sort of non self-conscious doing or being with no strings attached. Sitting at my desk, thinking about this, I pulled out a blank piece of paper and wrote ‘cynical’ on one end and ‘earnest’ on the other, with a long black line between the two.

Reflecting on how I saw myself at that point in time, I drew a dot close to 100% cynical. That was my attitude. I felt uncomfortable throwing anything more than I had to into my work. Everything was about damage control, clinging onto whatever gains I could get. I hated the idea of failure. Rather than put my hand up for new experiences, I felt overwhelmed enough living in a new country and wanted to keep my head down. I couldn’t say that I had strong interests or opinions. It was easier to poke fun at things than believe in anything. Camus would have described me as ‘bored’.

Why was I drawn to acting earnestly? Was it a cure for alienation and the banality of modern life? A subconscious counterbalance to my nihilistic perspective? Or just an exotic, intriguing, all-american personality trait of New York City that was growing all around me like wild mushrooms? Perhaps earnestness served as a beacon, an intuition about the future and what had not yet been realised in my life yet.

It’s unlikely that earnestness resonates as much as it did with me, at that very specific time and place. But in 2024, where everything is a dumpster fire and a meme at the same time, we could all probably be a bit more earnest:

• Act: It’s not what you do, it’s the fact that you do anything at all. Working towards anything requires action.
• Commit: I used to think it was a waste of time to take things too seriously. Instead, whatever you do, do it with your full heart. Don’t do things stingily. Doubt and compromise kills earnestness.
• Don’t hesitate: If you spot an opportunity, don’t look the other way, take it. “If you see evil, and don’t speak evil, you do evil.” – Nassim Taleb
• Motive matters: If you act from some sort of selfish desire or revenge, the action is spoilt isn’t it?
• Forget results: Doing your best doesn’t mean it’s actually that good. Results don’t matter when you honestly, earnestly apply yourself. Earnestness is not about being perfect. It recognizes perfection is impossible.