Earlier quoted context omitted.
Is it working out?
Well, the trade exchanging one Boss' Nephew for one Smelly Weirdo is actually turning out to be an improvement.
That's a trade we all should make in a heart beat.
Why do we work so hard?
161–170 of 200 posts
Re: Why do we work so hard?
#162Re: Why do we work so hard?
#163I wish I wanted to work a lot. I just kind of force myself to do it, even if it's something I'm excited about.
For me, I never actively sought out working a lot, it just happened: I managed to get into a position where something I'm good at is really useful to other people, and in return (besides cash and appreciation) they let me do even more of what I'm good at, as well as actively support my development in areas I could become very good at, but aren't yet (in return for to even more cash and appreciation).
Retrospectively, I pretty actively engineered my path into this position, even if there never was a very conscious plan. Plenty of small improvements, plenty of listening to my gut, plenty of being wrong and then trying to learn from that. But yeah, that's easy enough to say in retrospect, not something 10-years-ago me would have found very actionable.
Re: Why do we work so hard?
#164Earlier quoted context omitted.
Dude, this doesn't sound like fun at all. "Social power and influence" to what end? With whom are you getting this power and influence? Are these relationships even genuine? > "this attracts them to you, and having a more admirers increases your social power and influence, which gives you more opportunities and better chances of success in your future efforts." Reminds me of those "social climber" jokes about kids in…
Perhaps my explanation didn't adequately convey the subtlety of this phenomenon. I am not saying that successful people are all social climbers. I am just saying that successful people naturally attract the support of people who want to learn from and take part in their success, and this greater popularity in turn increases their chances for future success. It's what you might call a virtuous cycle, or a snowball eff…
This isn't a secret, most people are aware of people whose "friends" are simply those who have skills or knowledge they want. In the context of what's important in life though, this drive for status and financial success might require examination. Especially when the people around you will disappear when there is nothing left to gain. If those are the majority of relationships in your life, it would be easy to lose sight of all the other awesome things in life aside from status and money. More importantly, you might realize the age-old problems with solely pursuing those things.
"You can't get everyone to genuinely like you, unless you're a snake, but then it's just an illusion. If you're lucky, (in this day and age) those you don't get along with will be polite.
Having all the money in the world is pointless if no one else has anything left to trade.
Re: Why do we work so hard?
#165I worked hard -- or, long -- because I had a shit personal life and neighbors who made it miserable to be at home. And, I was taught early and thoroughly that there was nothing I could do about such things.
Let me tell you, it is a terrible way to live.
Working hard and smartly and with fun, which I occasionally got to do, was something different and immensely satisfying.
But, if you are "working hard" because life sucks. Get your life in order. The sooner the better, not just for you, but ultimately, for your career.
Anyone who says you can't. Or that you have to "pay some sort of dues"? Fuck them.
As I overheard in the cafe, the other day -- my paraphrase may not be as snappy as the original: There's one choice where the outcome is 100% certain: Not choosing. Making no choice, taking no action, no chance.
The young-ish fellow was advising another young fellow on whether to ask a girl out.
As someone who's ended up spending his life alone -- and, is that "not by choice", or, per the above, precisely by choice. Let me tell you, there is no more important choice.
Family, friends, lovers, work and interests that matter (however, and, big or small). There is no more important choice. "Work hard" on those.
Re: Why do we work so hard?
#166You are fettered," said Scrooge, trembling. "Tell me why?" "I wear the chain I forged in life," replied the Ghost. "I made it link by link, and yard by yard; I girded it on of my own free will, and of my own free will I wore it. -Dickens
This is a good quote, but I'd argue the author could work this way for years and not make himself a chain. He seems more concerned with whether we could do better.
Re: Why do we work so hard?
#167Earlier quoted context omitted.
Doesn't sound moralistic at all. It sounds like an appeal to analysis of sources of information. I don't see how you can go wrong. We went from Eisenhower to Kennedy in a few years. I think this, and the fact that people move too much are largely the whole story. See also Peter Whybrow for more on this.
>>> the fact that people move to much ??? I'm really curious about what you mean by this. Would you please elaborate?
I am echoing Peter Whybrow from the BookTV presentation of his book "The Well-Tuned Brain".
Moving disrupts your (organic, on the ground) social network.
Re: Why do we work so hard?
#168Earlier quoted context omitted.
>>> the fact that people move to much ??? I'm really curious about what you mean by this. Would you please elaborate?
I don't want to speak for ArkyBeagle but I think, when young adults move, they often move for work - so you show up in a city where what you're there to do is work, the people you know are through work, you don't have the balanced social structure of family, friends, and work, so you don't end up spending healthy time relaxing with family and friends, you just... work. That's my guess.
That is better than I could have summarized it. I would say that for children, it may be even harder.
Then again, I moved a child from what seemed a very good but isolated (for her) situation and she developed much more of a network after the move.
Re: Why do we work so hard?
#169Earlier quoted context omitted.
That works great until you realize that other people often have different value systems. What you're super proud of may be deeply offensive to another person. Just think about how saying "I'm a Googler, and proud of the work I do" might go over for a CS student vs. how it goes ever for the journalist who's struggling to make a living because Google has commoditized the news business. In practice, what usually happens…
I think it's interesting you're describing values systems in terms of particular jobs. Like, I work as a writer, and I do value the work that I do, but I don't think of that as my values - my values are: sound, well-researched information; kindness; humor; creativity; taking care of important resources; starting good conversations... It is difficult to believe that any of those values are "deeply offensive"to anyone…
Devil is always in the details. At a high level, we're all human, and we all want life, liberty, connection, meaning, and the pursuit of happiness. It's just that means very different things for different people, and as folks get older, they tend to define meaning for themselves in ever more specific terms. The more specific you get, the more likely your definition will come into conflict with anothers'.
Re: Why do we work so hard?
#170Earlier quoted context omitted.
Similar story here, been doing the crazy startup founder hours for half a decade now, haven't really lived much outside of the office in that time. Feeling also trapped: if I drop out, then I'm somewhat giving up on all of the people who over the years I had to convince to join me in a vision that I'm becoming tired of. It'd very likely lead to the collapse of a source of fulfillment, purpose and income for many peop…
> What's something someone with a strong entrepreneurial, technical and managerial background (and very good pedigree) can do for maybe 20 hours a week and still pay the bills? I would love to drop out of the race for a few years and smell the roses. Consulting. Small business. Almost anything really. How hard is it to make some $5k per month if you have a skill that you can charge $100+/hour for! About a week and a…
Plus taxes.