Every big decision in your life is set on this pair of weighing scales, and the scales tipping determine whether you proceed or not. In order to change, to grow, to take the next step, whatever that might be, the scales need to tip. And on these scales, you’ve got the fear of failure on one side, and on the other side you’ve got the fear of regret.
In the 1930s, the economist John Maynard Keynes suggested that in a hundred years’ time, we’d all be working 15-hour work weeks or a 3-hour workday because of advances in productivity. Keynes predicted that we’d all have a lot more leisure time due to our material needs being met.
Interestingly, he also referred to the “Man’s dilemma” of knowing what to do with oneself when you have so much leisure time. A “sense of dread” because people were so busy striving and not used to the “age of leisure”. How does one occupy oneself when working only 3 hours a day?
In a previous post, I mentioned how a person’s occupation can be a job, career, or calling. In summary, I said that a job is something you do for money, a career offers recognition and progress, and a calling involves a strong sense of purpose, it lights you up. Read more about the three types here: https://northstarlabs.co.uk/jobs-careers-callings/.
Within these three roles, it’s important to understand the underlying motivation. Psychologists refer to intrinsic and extrinsic motivation about why we are driven towards such work.
This awesome lecture from Randy Pausch has clocked up quite a few views on Youtube (13 million at the time of writing). It’s over an hour long but well worth it. Some nuggets that I love from the late Randy Pausch, who is delivering this lecture with 10 tumours in his liver and a life … Read more