on working

There’s this metaphor in surfing: when you’re young and inexperienced you try to catch every wave. But with some experience you know when the right wave is coming and you surf it as long as you can. It holds true with clients for me. It’s mostly out of your control when the right thing comes in, so when it does you need to be able to see it and... See more

Imagine an alternative paradigm: A company develops a product that primarily creates well-paid, happy employees. As an externality, the public also benefits.

In this scenario we’ve reversed the flow of the river. As Dart Lindsley argues, ‘work’ is the product, and now we can start thinking about how to improve that product where employee engagement... See more

I’ve been there so many times, deep in the matrix of capitalism. Contorting my values and beliefs into a professional, ROI-shaped-object. It felt… not optional.

Chase your desired lifestyle, not your desired title. People are blinded by status and labels. Once you release the need for a specific title, there is almost always an easier path to living your preferred lifestyle.

Good work should do at least one of these things: fund the life you actually want to live, align with values you can defend at dinner parties, surround you with people who challenge you to grow, or teach you skills that compound like interest over decades. Great work does several of these at once.

We tell them that if they just find their passion, work will magically transform into endless joy, as if difficulty is just a symptom of being in the wrong job rather than an inevitable part of doing anything worthwhile. As if work were some unfortunate byproduct of insufficient enthusiasm rather than the very engine of human flourishing.

This lie... See more

"The 4 qualities of a great career:

1. I enjoy it


2. I'm good at it


3. I make good money


4. I’m around fascinating people

Answer in reverse order:

1. Where are fascinating people?


2. In what ways can I make money with them?


3. Which ones am I good at?


4. Which ones do I enjoy?"

You can carve out a very good career simply by being the most reliable person on the team. You would not think that always showing up on time, hitting every deadline, and responding quickly and professionally to all communication would be such a differentiator, but these traits are always in short supply.