Popular Mechanics - USA (2022-05 & 2022-06)

FROM THE EDITOR

WORK THAT

MATTERS

I

F, WHEN I WAS A BOY, someone

had told me that I would be a maga-

zine editor when I was grown up,

I would’ve probably given them a

strange, confused look. While English

was definitely one of my favourite

subjects, I never considered a career

in media or working on magazines. I was

obsessed with sport, and I think all I really

wanted to do was play county cricket in

England, and then represent South Africa

playing for the Proteas.

I also loved animals, so a plan B was to

maybe become a vet, or perhaps a game

ranger... Which young person in South

Africa doesn’t dream of one day being a

game ranger?

I didn’t quite make it to the top level of

cricket, I didn’t have the heart, stomach,

or grades to become a vet, and I quickly

realised that being nice to tourists all the

time wasn’t one of my character strengths,

so game ranging was out of the question.

My trajectory into the world of magazines

was unexpected and a little unintentional,

but I soon realised how much I enjoyed

the work, and how it suited my personality.

And here I am, almost 18 years later, having

enjoyed a career that’s taken me along many

of the back routes of Southern Africa, on

several overseas trips, exposed me to the

most interesting people, and given me the

opportunity to drive hundreds of new cars,

and try out countless clever gadgets, devices,

power tools and inventions.

Another thing my job as editor of Popular

Mechanics has shown me is there are more

professions out there than I could ever have

imagined. I look at my younger friends

today and marvel at the types of work they

do – their occupations most definitely

never occurred to me when I was younger.

This issue’s short feature on ‘How to be

good at what you do’ focuses on the owner

of a skateboard-making company. His work

4 MAY / JUNE 2022 popularmechanics.co.za

Follow the editor

on Instagram:

marksamuel.za

MARK SAMUEL

Editor

resonated with me, because it also entails

creating something tangible, that brings

joy to others. If my work has taught me

anything, it’s that I value being a part

of something that’s worthwhile, that

brings enjoyment to others. I realise

that’s arbitrary, and that ‘worthwhile’ is

subjective, but that doesn’t really matter,

because that’s how I view it. Oh, I also

thrive on the meticulous side of my work,

ensuring a story reads well, and is highly

accurate and grammatically correct.

If you think you do something that’s

a little different, or you simply want to

share the ins and outs of your career

with others, please drop me a note at

[email protected].

I’d love to hear from you.

PH

OT

OG

RA

PH

Y:^

MA

RK

SA

MU

EL