You know you’ve stumbled across something good when you keep thinking about it days after reading it. So many I work with (myself included) do not speak up against things we disagree with yet we know we are the majority. Seriously wrong when the ‘majority’ do not have a voice.
1. Revolutionary Road, DeCaprio and Winslet, if you haven't seen it, you should. What you're talking about is the immediate financial cost of changing course, which is easy to calculate (job, car, house etc). Revolutionary Road is talking about the emotional cost of not changing. That is a cost which is only apparent years into the future.
2. The book Bullshit Jobs. (from wiki) In Bullshit Jobs, American anthropologist David Graeber posits that the productivity benefits of automation have not led to a 15-hour workweek, as predicted by economist John Maynard Keynes in 1930, but instead to "bullshit jobs": "a form of paid employment that is so completely pointless, unnecessary, or pernicious that even the employee cannot justify its existence even though, as part of the conditions of employment, the employee feels obliged to pretend that this is not the case." While these jobs can offer good compensation and ample free time, Graeber holds that the pointlessness of the work grates at their humanity and creates a "profound psychological violence".
The author contends that more than half of societal work is pointless, both large parts of some jobs and, as he describes, five types of entirely pointless jobs:
1. flunkies, who serve to make their superiors feel important, e.g., receptionists, administrative assistants, door attendants, makers of websites whose sites neglect ease of use and speed for looks;
2. goons, who act to harm or deceive others on behalf of their employer, e.g., lobbyists, corporate lawyers, telemarketers, public relations specialists, community managers;
3. duct tapers, who temporarily fix problems that could be fixed permanently, e.g., programmers repairing bloated code, airline desk staff who calm passengers whose bags do not arrive;
4. box tickers, who create the appearance that something useful is being done when it is not, e.g., survey administrators, in-house magazine journalists, corporate compliance officers, quality service managers;
5. taskmasters, who create extra work for those who do not need it, e.g., middle management, leadership professionals
Thank you Ryan for writing another deep thinking piece. Like Becky I found myself re-reading and thinking about how everyone is different in their interpretation of 'dreams' or 'happiness'.
As someone who has diversified across my career, I have chased a number of 'dreams' which some worked and one that at the time didn't come off - to start and build a business from scratch. At the time I thought it was my 'dream' and while it didn't pan out how I thought, ultimately I learnt valuable lessons that get me to today, and that perceived failure made me a better person. Even the last 4 years in a recent position while challenging and outsiders might have said 'why bother?' ultimately have led me to the next adventure.
My wife spent 30+ years in a trade (hairdressing) and was 'chained' to the chair so to speak, but had a dream of being in aviation. At 49 she fulfilled that dream and has loved every minute of it, and is an inspiration to our kids and I everyday.
We have taken the approach to love whatever we do in life.
I identify a lot with the line "we are learning again the true values of light and warmth and food and shelter, which for so many years we have taken for granted". This is one of the reasons I like escaping to walk or ride long distances - food and shelter and water must be sought out and cannot be taken for granted. I am also very happy to know another person who like myself has never bought anything that I couldn't pay for in full! Except education of course!
It is a seemingly wonderful idea, but how does one balance the action required to embrace this freedom with the realities of modern responsibilities; family, children and community? In your reading have you discovered if it is possible to not only break the shackles of 'ownership' or 'decision points' but also balance the requirements of, for example, parenting?
Clift and Johnston took their two children with them and had a third whilst living on the island. A community of like minded expatriate artists also developed around them whilst there. So it can/could be done. Part of my reason for making a change was the realisation that my value to my family and community was diminished by persisting in a job that gave me no meaning.
This has reminded me of echart tolles writings. He proposes that life, real life, is suffering and It is not until we completely accept this, that we are truely free. Perhaps this is what they found on the Greek islands. Both freedom, life & suffering in all its forms.
I've known you most of my life, yet each time I read your pieces, I wonder if I even know you at all.
Those "Lollobrigidia moments" have most definitely presented themselves over the years, and fear of the unknown what if's and failing have always stopped me from taking the leap.
Personally, I've lacked the courage and application to take the same leap, perhaps because of the "keeping up with the Jones's", either way, until that moment comes, I'll enjoy broadening my horizons through reading your words.
You are are welcome to follow along! I am sure the capacity for change is in there! The trick is to remember that the Jones' are really only trying to keep up with you.
The so called career, material possessions, wealth are for consumption to our ego which we won’t let go even though knowing of our mortality …We even want our children to follow certain path and thereby satisfy ones’ ego… The man who is willing to forgo his ego will only achieve something worthy in the end… for survival very little is needed ..
My Lollobrigidia moment came when I was 22 and working for a Shopping TV channel in the UK. I was setting up for a “Create and Craft” show (an hour-long, live event where we would sell paper and decorations to make greeting cards to bored housewives and the elderly). As I began using my University education to assembled the assorted paper products on the counter, I started making small-talk with the invited guest, a friendly and obese woman from the Midlands. She began telling me about the French castle she had just bought from the earnings flogging Craft goods. As she began detailing how difficult it had been to tear down the old, Renaissance wallpaper so she could paint the place purple (her favourite colour) I was called to other side of the studio by my producer. He asked if there was any way I could get the aforementioned guest to take a shower before we went live as her BO was filling the studio and making the presenter gag.
You know you’ve stumbled across something good when you keep thinking about it days after reading it. So many I work with (myself included) do not speak up against things we disagree with yet we know we are the majority. Seriously wrong when the ‘majority’ do not have a voice.
Thanks for the kind words Becky. I wonder if in healthy work environments speaking up is easy and actually encouraged? Or am I being naive?
I have two comments for you.
1. Revolutionary Road, DeCaprio and Winslet, if you haven't seen it, you should. What you're talking about is the immediate financial cost of changing course, which is easy to calculate (job, car, house etc). Revolutionary Road is talking about the emotional cost of not changing. That is a cost which is only apparent years into the future.
2. The book Bullshit Jobs. (from wiki) In Bullshit Jobs, American anthropologist David Graeber posits that the productivity benefits of automation have not led to a 15-hour workweek, as predicted by economist John Maynard Keynes in 1930, but instead to "bullshit jobs": "a form of paid employment that is so completely pointless, unnecessary, or pernicious that even the employee cannot justify its existence even though, as part of the conditions of employment, the employee feels obliged to pretend that this is not the case." While these jobs can offer good compensation and ample free time, Graeber holds that the pointlessness of the work grates at their humanity and creates a "profound psychological violence".
The author contends that more than half of societal work is pointless, both large parts of some jobs and, as he describes, five types of entirely pointless jobs:
1. flunkies, who serve to make their superiors feel important, e.g., receptionists, administrative assistants, door attendants, makers of websites whose sites neglect ease of use and speed for looks;
2. goons, who act to harm or deceive others on behalf of their employer, e.g., lobbyists, corporate lawyers, telemarketers, public relations specialists, community managers;
3. duct tapers, who temporarily fix problems that could be fixed permanently, e.g., programmers repairing bloated code, airline desk staff who calm passengers whose bags do not arrive;
4. box tickers, who create the appearance that something useful is being done when it is not, e.g., survey administrators, in-house magazine journalists, corporate compliance officers, quality service managers;
5. taskmasters, who create extra work for those who do not need it, e.g., middle management, leadership professionals
Thank you Ryan for writing another deep thinking piece. Like Becky I found myself re-reading and thinking about how everyone is different in their interpretation of 'dreams' or 'happiness'.
As someone who has diversified across my career, I have chased a number of 'dreams' which some worked and one that at the time didn't come off - to start and build a business from scratch. At the time I thought it was my 'dream' and while it didn't pan out how I thought, ultimately I learnt valuable lessons that get me to today, and that perceived failure made me a better person. Even the last 4 years in a recent position while challenging and outsiders might have said 'why bother?' ultimately have led me to the next adventure.
My wife spent 30+ years in a trade (hairdressing) and was 'chained' to the chair so to speak, but had a dream of being in aviation. At 49 she fulfilled that dream and has loved every minute of it, and is an inspiration to our kids and I everyday.
We have taken the approach to love whatever we do in life.
I've read this about five times and sent it on to the same number again.
Thanks for your support, Jane! It is much appreciated.
I identify a lot with the line "we are learning again the true values of light and warmth and food and shelter, which for so many years we have taken for granted". This is one of the reasons I like escaping to walk or ride long distances - food and shelter and water must be sought out and cannot be taken for granted. I am also very happy to know another person who like myself has never bought anything that I couldn't pay for in full! Except education of course!
Alex this is why you are going to be my first podcast guest...as soon as I am comfortable with the tech!
It is a seemingly wonderful idea, but how does one balance the action required to embrace this freedom with the realities of modern responsibilities; family, children and community? In your reading have you discovered if it is possible to not only break the shackles of 'ownership' or 'decision points' but also balance the requirements of, for example, parenting?
Clift and Johnston took their two children with them and had a third whilst living on the island. A community of like minded expatriate artists also developed around them whilst there. So it can/could be done. Part of my reason for making a change was the realisation that my value to my family and community was diminished by persisting in a job that gave me no meaning.
This has reminded me of echart tolles writings. He proposes that life, real life, is suffering and It is not until we completely accept this, that we are truely free. Perhaps this is what they found on the Greek islands. Both freedom, life & suffering in all its forms.
I think the suffering can be accepted if the pay off is great enough. Suffering at work for merely a monetary reward does not seem to be enough.
Yes agree.
I've known you most of my life, yet each time I read your pieces, I wonder if I even know you at all.
Those "Lollobrigidia moments" have most definitely presented themselves over the years, and fear of the unknown what if's and failing have always stopped me from taking the leap.
Personally, I've lacked the courage and application to take the same leap, perhaps because of the "keeping up with the Jones's", either way, until that moment comes, I'll enjoy broadening my horizons through reading your words.
You are are welcome to follow along! I am sure the capacity for change is in there! The trick is to remember that the Jones' are really only trying to keep up with you.
Brilliant. Kudos - makes me want to re-read Miller’s « Colossus of Maroussi »
I will have to chase that up.
The so called career, material possessions, wealth are for consumption to our ego which we won’t let go even though knowing of our mortality …We even want our children to follow certain path and thereby satisfy ones’ ego… The man who is willing to forgo his ego will only achieve something worthy in the end… for survival very little is needed ..
My Lollobrigidia moment came when I was 22 and working for a Shopping TV channel in the UK. I was setting up for a “Create and Craft” show (an hour-long, live event where we would sell paper and decorations to make greeting cards to bored housewives and the elderly). As I began using my University education to assembled the assorted paper products on the counter, I started making small-talk with the invited guest, a friendly and obese woman from the Midlands. She began telling me about the French castle she had just bought from the earnings flogging Craft goods. As she began detailing how difficult it had been to tear down the old, Renaissance wallpaper so she could paint the place purple (her favourite colour) I was called to other side of the studio by my producer. He asked if there was any way I could get the aforementioned guest to take a shower before we went live as her BO was filling the studio and making the presenter gag.
Sounds like you were underqualified.