#42: How much does your job impact your well-being?
And what you should do to maximize that impact
Hey friends,
After my vacation, I’m back with the regular newsletter, in which I talk a bit about what happened in the last week, give you leadership, productivity, or career growth advice, and talk about something I enjoyed last week.
I am welcoming almost 100 new people who subscribed to this email in the last few weeks. Thank you and I hope you won’t be sorry about your decision :)
Let’s dive into it.
1/ A few updates from my side
I was very busy last week with work during the day and completing a project for accounting during the mornings and evenings. Other than this and trying to hit the gym daily, I haven’t done too much.
Most people I would have talked to about starting an MBA would tell me the same thing: it’s going to take a lot of time.
And I would often tell myself, "Yeah, but how much time can it take anyway? I’m also a very organized and productive person, so I should be fine.”. Well, it really takes up a lot of time.
I’m not complaining, as I can make it fit into my schedule at the moment, but things are very complex. Aside from going to class every other weekend for 2-3 days, every module has a group project and an individual project. So about each month, you need to hand these in.
To create your project, you need to read books and articles and look up a lot of information. As every project is an academic paper, it needs to comply with the requirements of an academic paper concerning both its form and what it contains. It needs to have citations from scientific articles, a unique angle or contribution, and an automatic tool checks it for plagiarism and AI content when you submit it.
So this is how I will spend most of my evenings and weekends for the next year and a half. Wish me luck.
It’s also fun, as we often stay longer after a class for wine and cheese. Those are very enjoyable moments.
There is a downside to all this effort, as I don’t feel I have enough time to write online, like this newsletter and LinkedIn content, so I have to find a way to still do it without compromising the other aspects of my life.
I’ll think of something.
2/ The impact of your job
I wrote a post on LinkedIn yesterday about how much your job matters in your life, and it did fairly well, so I decided to expand on it here.
In today’s fast-paced world, our jobs have become more than just a means to an end; they are a significant part of our lives. Yet, I often hear from many of you, echoing a sentiment that's all too common in today's workforce: "My job is just a way to pay the bills," or worse, "I hate it there, but everywhere is the same."
It’s very common for these people to have a very health-centered perspective on their lives otherwise. They are people who take care of what they are eating, make sure they sleep enough, train regularly, and even run marathons.
And yet, they stick with jobs they hate.
Unfortunately, no amount of self-care outside of work hours can compensate for the hours spent in a job that leaves us feeling miserable. This realization brings us to a critical juncture: understanding the profound impact our work has on our overall well-being.
It's startling to see how many of us suffer from what can only be described as workplace Stockholm syndrome—finding strange comfort in the misery because it's familiar because it's what we know.
This mindset traps us in a cycle of resignation, convincing us that "it's the same everywhere" and that fulfillment in work is a myth.
But here's where I stand to challenge the norm and offer a different perspective:
Work can and should be a source of purpose and fulfillment.
Across the globe, countless individuals wake up excited for the day ahead, knowing their work contributes to something greater than themselves. These people have found purpose in their roles, aligning their personal values with their professional endeavors.
It's a fallacy to believe that no one enjoys their work. It's more than a fallacy; it’s an excuse for inaction.
Many thrive in environments that foster motivation, creativity, and growth. These workplaces exist, and they are characterized by leadership that values and invests in their employees' development.
Another mistake I see people make is thinking that exceptional bosses are a myth.
They are real and transformative, prioritizing the well-being and growth of their teams. Working under such leadership can dramatically change one’s perspective on what it means to have a “good day” at work.
If your current job doesn't offer these qualities, why settle? The fear of the unknown often holds us back, but the quest for a fulfilling career is a journey worth pursuing.
Listen, in current times, change is the only constant, and it's never too late to seek out work that brings you joy and purpose.
For those ready to make a change, I invite you to explore my free email course, "Finding a Better Job in 7 Days.". It's designed to kickstart your journey toward a more fulfilling career, guiding you through the steps to discover opportunities that align with your aspirations and values.
The course is free and applies to people on all career levels (well, maybe not for C-level, as head-hunting is a lot more common at that level).
Your job should not just be bearable; it should be a source of inspiration, growth, and happiness.
Until next time, remember: Your career is not just a job; it's a significant part of your life's journey. And no half-marathon on the weekend will balance that.
3/ Recommendation: Beef
Last week, I saw a limited series on Netflix that was recommended to me for a while, but I just didn’t feel like watching it.
Beef is not a story about meat or cattle, but about two strangers whose involvement in a road rage incident escalates into a prolonged feud.
The show is somewhat funny and somewhat tragic, and it made me tell myself sometimes, “What the f**k…”. It’s also brilliantly acted, as both lead characters received an Emmy and a Golden Globe for their performances this year.
It also made me think a lot about our ego and how it can make us aggressive and stupid. I’m ashamed to say I was one of those person who would get so angry behind the wheel.
I would shout, swear, and even follow someone who annoyed me. One time I even got out of the car to talk to the guy who was honking like crazy behind me. And then it clicked: “What am I doing? This guy could have a gun, he could have children in the car. If he comes out what will happen, will we fight?”
It’s not hard for these things to happen. Most people have inflated egos. Most people have busy, stressed lives. We are all hurrying to get somewhere.
I needed to change my mindset. Now, when I see someone who is honking, accelerating when the light turns green, or shouting, I try to put myself in his/her shoes. Maybe he has a medical emergency, maybe he needs to get home to his ill child.
Or maybe he’s just very stressed and this is a way to vent.
In all cases, I feel sorry for them and hope they get better or understand that being aggressive in traffic is just a way to express their deeper frustration.
And I know this all sounds like Buddhism but I know it because I’ve been there. When I was aggressive in traffic I was the type of person who was complaining about everything, seeing all the negative aspects of life and so on. But wouldn’t do much to improve them.
I can’t say I’m 100% cured, as I still feel the urge to swear or honk someone who’s driving like a crazy man, but I usually remind myself of what I wrote above and cool off. It’s not about you, it’s about them.
So, if you want to find out what can happen if you engage in a road rage, watch Beef, on Netflix.
Thank you for reading, and let me know if you liked something in particular in this newsletter.
Until next time,
Leo
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