The dream life?

We’ve noticed that many people aren’t happy at the moment. They feel that their job is unfulfilling and that their life isn’t going in the right direction. 

So, the question is—what can one do about this? 

There are a lot of well-intentioned theories out there, and most come from a place of compassion—but others can be counterproductive, and in the worst cases—harmful. 

We are big fans of the professor from MIT, Cal Newport. He has a theory he calls the “passion hypotheses,” that he feels is misleading many people in their lives. The idea behind the passion hypothesis is the notion that there is a job or a way of life out there, which is perfect for you and will make you happy—you just need to be brave enough to embrace it. He cautions that this may mislead many into making rash decisions and believing things will work out—simply based on their emotional desires for a different life. We see this play out when people give up their jobs to pursue a life on a farm, or to become a yoga instructor. It can be nice to follow your passion, but most of the time this will not give you the life that you desire. In many cases, people don’t get the traction they hope for, because passion just isn’t enough. Passion is a great attribute, but it is only sellable if it's paired with skill and followed through with consistent determination.  

So good they can’t ignore you

In his book “So Good They Can’t Ignore You—Why Skills Trump Passion in the Quest for Work You Love,” Cal Newport uses this phrase as a practical way of pursuing a better life. His premise is that satisfaction doesn’t come from a dream job or some magical dream life—it comes from the consistent acquisition of skills that transfer to accomplishments. The most straightforward way to go about this is to get good at what you do. Newport calls this concept “career capital.” The better you are, the more opportunities will be presented to you, and your bargaining power will also increase—leading to a better life with more opportunities, and the first steps toward a more fulfilled life.

This way of thinking plays well into the topics of our previous articles concerning training and improving general wellbeing. 

Instead of looking for castles in the sky, start by looking at what’s in front of you. What can you do today that will increase your career capital? We think that the notion of career capital can be utilized in a way bigger frame than your job or career. This way of thinking applies in all areas of life.  

The reality is that no one is going to just walk up to you and give you the life you want. So, focus on what’s in front of you, and start methodically building on the skills that will make you invaluable. It is this strategy that the comedian Steve Martin, who inspired the title of Newport’s book, employed as a young performer just starting out: “Be so good they can’t ignore you.”

We wish you the best of luck

Until next time 

Scott and Lennart