Work isn't Fulfilling, But It Offers Something Else That's Pretty Good
No Fulfillment to Be Had at Work
Early Career Questions and Curiosities
I love talking to people just out of college and starting in the working world. All the stresses and fears and hope they have. I had it all too. It’s stressful, but it shouldn’t be.
Workisms1 permeate our lives and make us think that work will offer us purpose. Phrases like, "Do what you love, and you'll never work a day in your life" seep into your world, and make it sound like you're going to operate in a world of never-ending bliss, pecking away at your keyboard if you can just find the RIGHT work.
So, when I speak to people struggling with these thoughts and the glimpses into the work world that don't quite match up, I always give them my candid assessments.
What's The Most Fulfilling Part Of My Job? None Of It
Interns always asked me in our discussions, "What's the most fulfilling part of your job?" And every time, I'd be like, "None of it."
Fulfillment is finding a sense of purpose and personal satisfaction. For many of us, we won't have a purpose at work. You could say that's just semantics, but I don't think many people feel fulfilled at work. Maybe you'll get more fulfillment if you go into health care, politics, or social work. But, anecdotally, people I talk to in those fields aren't always finding fulfillment either.
I get fulfillment from pursuing my passions and spending time with loved ones. I get joy out of meditating and reading, and running. I get satisfaction out of ranting and raving like I'm doing in this post.
I do not get fulfillment in writing emails. You’re probably the same.
I guess this is also an email. So… wait, I do get fulfillment out of emails? Why don’t you go ahead and help me feel fulfilled and hit this button:
So Screw Work, Right?
I see both young people just starting and older people who are getting beat down, saying, “Work is pointless.” We can’t get fulfillment, so give as little as you can, cut corners, automation is coming for all of us, and capitalism is gonna eat us up, so screw the working world and everyone who's in it.
"Screw Work" is easy. And honestly, the working world has hurt and kept out many good people, and they're right to feel that. "Screw Work" is a credo to take back some power and shield you from some pain. Sometimes you need that mode.
But it's short-term and numbing feeling. But, like anything that numbs you, for too long, it starts to hurt you.
Even worse, "Screw Work" doesn't fulfill either.
"Screw Work" is no way to live.
So What's The Alternative?
Ok, work’s not going to fulfill me. Saying "Screw Work" will level me bitter and won’t fulfill me. What else do you got?
Mastery.
Mastery is the highest level of expertise and proficiency in a particular domain or skill. It goes beyond mere competence and encompasses a deep understanding, refined abilities, and a comprehensive command of the subject matter. Mastery is the ability to consistently produce exceptional results and easily navigate complexities.
You can earn mastery with work, and mastery feels pretty damn good. When you've mastered your work and then deal with challenging problems, you get into a state we call "flow."
Flow2, a concept introduced by positive psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, is a state of deep engagement and complete immersion in an activity. Flow brings about a harmonious integration of one's skills and challenges, where time seems to fly by, self-consciousness fades away, and individuals experience a heightened sense of enjoyment and satisfaction.
Some of my most challenging days of work, the ones that rise like a wave to crush you, have been my absolute best days at work. Because after years of working and refining and honing, I see that big wave coming, and I lock in, put in all my effort, and just surf. You feel the power of the challenge and the greatness of your effort come together, and it feels amazing. And you not only survive the wave few others could, but you also did something beautiful with it. It makes for a really good day.
However, mastery takes time. Setbacks, failures, and plateaus often mark the path to mastery. Through consistent effort and a willingness to push beyond one's comfort zone, mastery is attained. Mastery paves the way for the flow state and the deep sense of satisfaction accompanying it.
On those days when I have great challenges and meet them with my skill, it feels great and like the work world is part of my life in a positive way. It feels like my contributions matter because only I could make those contributions.
That is what work can offer you.
Yeah, But I Am I Gonna Master THIS
My best friend is a plumber. You may have some negative associations with his work. That's cool. He loves his work.
I was talking to him the other week about his job and how someone was trying to offer him six figures on a job. He told his potential customer, no, it was a more expensive job if you're gonna do it right. He told to the guy with pride, "I'm a master plumber. If you don't wanna pay what I'm charging, that's cool; I know a couple of people who might help you for that price, but they're not gonna do it like I do it."
My friend's not a guy who fixes clogs. What he does is detailed, complex work. He’s an artist. He does plumbing for millionaires in wine country. He's a master of what he does, and he loves it. And he makes damn good money too.
But you know what came before him telling people him offering hundreds of thousands of dollars to kick rocks? Fixing clogs. And you know what he does now when he's at his best in his flow state working on big complex projects? Sometimes, it's also fixing clogs.
We Love Mastery
Mastery captivates our imaginations and sparks a sense of awe within us. People who have dedicated their lives to honing their craft with relentless passion and unwavering determination are revered by many.
In Jiro Dreams of Sushi, we witness the unparalleled dedication of Jiro Ono, a master sushi chef, as he pursues perfection in his culinary creations.
The breathtaking documentary Free Solo follows the extraordinary journey of rock climber Alex Honnold, who defies gravity and fear as he scales El Capitan without any safety ropes. Watch it for the queasy feeling you have the entire time you’re afraid he’s gonna fall, and for the awe you feel as he scales a sheer cliff in spite of your fear.
The Last Dance delves into the extraordinary career of basketball legend Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls during their dominant reign in the 1990s. As we witness Jordan's relentless pursuit of excellence, unmatched skills on the court, and unyielding desire to win, we are drawn into a world of unrivaled mastery.
These films highlight the incredible feats achieved through mastery and evoke a deep admiration within us for the sheer commitment, expertise, and artistry displayed by these individuals. If you don’t want to stand up and cheer watching these movies, then I don’t know what to say.
And let's be clear, these guys are amazing. But, dude, their work isn't inherently fulfilling. I'm being cheeky, but we're talking about a guy who makes sushi, a guy who climbs rocks, and guys who throw balls into hoops. These acts are as pointless as it gets. And yet, their mastery is transcendent.
Fix The Clogs, Embody Mastery, Be a Full Person
The work world is littered with the mundane and stupid. And as you're starting a career, it's easy to feel like this is all so mundane and pointless. But life isn't the 1994 film Reality Bites. The cynicism isn't that charming.
Who do you wanna be? The Reality Bites guy, who goes around saying, "Reality bites?" (I've never seen reality bites, I was too young for it, and I know it as a cultural touchstone for the 90s. He does go around saying "reality bites," right?) Or do you wanna be Jordan, Jiro, Alex Honnold, Indra Nooyi, Merkel, Jobs, Ari Emanuel?
Finding joy in honing your skills and striving to reach a state of flow is immensely enjoyable. Fulfillment lies not in the job title or external validation. Fulfillment is internal. It's the feeling of being with loved ones. It's overcoming challenges and reaching goals. It's helping people and having a sense of awe.
Those are the things that'll fulfill you.
At work, you strive to achieve mastery. It'll be hard. It'll take time. But it'll ultimately make your life more full.
And if you're lucky enough to be someone who doesn't have to work at all and can find happiness, I'd love to know more about what you're doing. Please tell me.
What do you think? Tell me your thoughts on mastery, meaning, and fulfillment in work.
My Substack Format is Changing
Ok, so two posts in, and the format is changing? Wow.
Yeah, so I’m rebranding to:
Stephen Perlstein's Sunday Scaries
Why the change? Sure. Well, I've realized that my goal with this Substack is much clearer now. You see, every week, so many people in the working world are thrilled that it's finally Friday. But then Monday hits, and they're like, "Oh no, back to work again." Sometimes, that feeling of dread about the upcoming week is so intense that it's called the Sunday Scaries.
I’ve felt the Sunday Scaries. It’s no good.
So, here's my attempt at providing an antidote for those Sunday Scaries. Every now and then, I stumble upon an idea that gets me all fired up to go back and conquer the working world. And I want this newsletter to be that thing you read on Sunday that gets you pumped up to kick some serious butt on Monday.
Maybe I should be naming it "Kick Butt Sundays," but it just doesn't quite work, you know?
Anyway, let’s make Sunday not so scary.
Tell your friends:
Songs That Get Me Fired Up For The Day
One thing that will remain is silly nonsense, so now Songs That Get Me Fired Up For The Day
Ok, doing this I realized all of these songs were all released within like a five year period. I need some new stuff.
A Bonus Recommendation
I really loved this interview on Freakonomics Radio with Ari Emanuel. Enjoy.
A workism is a phrase that encapsulates the notion that work is glorified to an exaggerated extent, drawing inspiration from the Protestant work ethic. It emphasizes the overvaluation and idealization of work as a means of defining one's worth, finding purpose, and achieving personal fulfillment.
Learn about flow here: https://www.ted.com/talks/mihaly_csikszentmihalyi_flow_the_secret_to_happiness
This is inspiring, honest, helpful, pragmatic, and quite kind. But damnit Stephen, running isn’t fun!