Absolutely. If you make the conscious choice to pursue something, you can only look inside yourself for the solution, which I think eliminates the chance of victimhood and increases the chance of making any relevant changes to improve the situation.
On one hand, asking for more from our work does seem like a pretty privileged position, since for much of history (and in many places today) people don't have a choice with what they do; on the other hand, if capitalism is going to deify work, we might as well seek some deeper meaning from it. Can't destroy traditional modes of faith without offering a worthy replacement (not that I'm advocating for economics to replace spirituality . . . but the point stands).
I agree with most of what you said. I’m a bit skeptical that we should deify work though, at least across the board, for now. There are certain vocations or causes that seem to enable some of us to access that meaning.
But most work doesn’t get there, and hoping for more than we can expect will guarantee disappointment.
Maybe the future is different. But for now most people need a directly “meaningless” job to survive.
So we are better off expanding and exploring multiple avenues of meaning beyond work.
In religious terms, we could be “pluralistic” (many gods) vs “monistic” (one god, i.e. work).
Definitely agree that deifying work is not ideal, just that it seems to be the m.o. of a capitalist society to do so. And I'd say societal expectations / norms are probably a big culprit in people not finding meaning in their work. I build homes for a living and am grateful that the tradesmen I work with are across the board proud of what they do---but if you were to survey society at large, my guess is that most people would take a corporate office job over being a plumber, for the perception alone. Maybe meaning / meaninglessness comes down to ego?
You have inspired me to consider the winding path I have maneuvered since college. It has been unpredictable, sometimes difficult, sometimes soul-sapping, but often rewarding. After reaching the age when retirement is socially acceptable, I applaud myself for the roughly thirty years since I opted out of the corporate world. I am grateful I was able to thrive wherever I landed.
Good on you, J.T. You're making me think of my favorite quote by Goethe: at the moment of commitment, the universe conspires to assist you. Sometimes it's scary to take the alternative path, but once you start walking it just opens up.
"An old carpenter once told me that construction picks up the people who don’t fit in anywhere else. I’ll speak for myself (though I imagine it applies to all the carpenters and plumbers I work with) when I say I wouldn’t last one day in a cubicle anymore."
A GREAT quote! I lasted fourteen months in "the cubicle." But, the phrase "construction picks up the people who don’t fit in anywhere else." needs embellishment - they don't WANT to fit in anywhere else! These are skilled "mavericks," who know how to work with their hands and DON'T WANT TO BE RESTRAINED. And good for them - I didn't either so I became their ring leader!
And the one's who make a conscious decision to be in the trades are the ones I want to be around most of all. That's a guarantee for passion (even if it's sometimes accompanied by a healthy dose of grumpiness :)
It’s rare to read such an honest account of a career. I hope a lot of people read this and take it seriously -- as in, yes, this could totally happen to me and how can I learn from his candor and his path. Great post, thank you.
Thanks, Tim. Yeah, I was totally taken when I got the initial email. That kind of honesty is so needed these days, especially when most everything on the socials is the exact opposite.
Great piece. Luckily, I never bought into the BS hype prison of the corporate nightmare. I didn't have kids or any of the other things that trap you. I'd rather eat garbage and live in my car than do any of that shit. Good luck. Keep writing.
There's always room to make your own way, one way or another. For some, nights and weekends might be enough; for others, it takes a lot more than that. I'm right there with you.
Thanks, David! Love your stuff, as well. It's so refreshing to get some honest takes on a side of society that has been so intentionally obscured for so long.
It seems to me that whatever path you choose, be intentional about it and know what the costs are
Absolutely. If you make the conscious choice to pursue something, you can only look inside yourself for the solution, which I think eliminates the chance of victimhood and increases the chance of making any relevant changes to improve the situation.
Why not just put work in its place?
Why does it HAVE to offer us meaning? Why does it HAVE to offer us daily joy and satisfaction?
Yes, there are better (and worse) ways.
But it seems to me we've put work too high on a pedestal and when we do, we're all bound for this type of disappointment.
P.S. I've been there too...
On one hand, asking for more from our work does seem like a pretty privileged position, since for much of history (and in many places today) people don't have a choice with what they do; on the other hand, if capitalism is going to deify work, we might as well seek some deeper meaning from it. Can't destroy traditional modes of faith without offering a worthy replacement (not that I'm advocating for economics to replace spirituality . . . but the point stands).
I agree with most of what you said. I’m a bit skeptical that we should deify work though, at least across the board, for now. There are certain vocations or causes that seem to enable some of us to access that meaning.
But most work doesn’t get there, and hoping for more than we can expect will guarantee disappointment.
Maybe the future is different. But for now most people need a directly “meaningless” job to survive.
So we are better off expanding and exploring multiple avenues of meaning beyond work.
In religious terms, we could be “pluralistic” (many gods) vs “monistic” (one god, i.e. work).
Definitely agree that deifying work is not ideal, just that it seems to be the m.o. of a capitalist society to do so. And I'd say societal expectations / norms are probably a big culprit in people not finding meaning in their work. I build homes for a living and am grateful that the tradesmen I work with are across the board proud of what they do---but if you were to survey society at large, my guess is that most people would take a corporate office job over being a plumber, for the perception alone. Maybe meaning / meaninglessness comes down to ego?
All interesting... will be writing about meaning in work later on. Think it's one of the most important topics. Thanks for the discussion!
You have inspired me to consider the winding path I have maneuvered since college. It has been unpredictable, sometimes difficult, sometimes soul-sapping, but often rewarding. After reaching the age when retirement is socially acceptable, I applaud myself for the roughly thirty years since I opted out of the corporate world. I am grateful I was able to thrive wherever I landed.
Good on you, J.T. You're making me think of my favorite quote by Goethe: at the moment of commitment, the universe conspires to assist you. Sometimes it's scary to take the alternative path, but once you start walking it just opens up.
Martin, I am fond of that quotation myself!
"An old carpenter once told me that construction picks up the people who don’t fit in anywhere else. I’ll speak for myself (though I imagine it applies to all the carpenters and plumbers I work with) when I say I wouldn’t last one day in a cubicle anymore."
A GREAT quote! I lasted fourteen months in "the cubicle." But, the phrase "construction picks up the people who don’t fit in anywhere else." needs embellishment - they don't WANT to fit in anywhere else! These are skilled "mavericks," who know how to work with their hands and DON'T WANT TO BE RESTRAINED. And good for them - I didn't either so I became their ring leader!
And the one's who make a conscious decision to be in the trades are the ones I want to be around most of all. That's a guarantee for passion (even if it's sometimes accompanied by a healthy dose of grumpiness :)
It’s rare to read such an honest account of a career. I hope a lot of people read this and take it seriously -- as in, yes, this could totally happen to me and how can I learn from his candor and his path. Great post, thank you.
Thanks, Tim. Yeah, I was totally taken when I got the initial email. That kind of honesty is so needed these days, especially when most everything on the socials is the exact opposite.
Great piece. Luckily, I never bought into the BS hype prison of the corporate nightmare. I didn't have kids or any of the other things that trap you. I'd rather eat garbage and live in my car than do any of that shit. Good luck. Keep writing.
There's always room to make your own way, one way or another. For some, nights and weekends might be enough; for others, it takes a lot more than that. I'm right there with you.
Indeed. I consider myself very lucky I dodged that bullet. I know not everyone can.
This is a great read about the corporate trap as told by an anonymous interviewee and so fluidly written by Martin.
Thanks, David! Love your stuff, as well. It's so refreshing to get some honest takes on a side of society that has been so intentionally obscured for so long.
Great read man, thanks for sharing!
Thanks man!