Escape the Dream Job Trap | Simone Stolzoff

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May 5, 2025

Simone Stolzoff, the author of The Good Enough Job, sheds light on the pitfalls of modern work culture. He dispels the myth of the 'dream job' and encourages listeners to redefine success on their own terms. The discussion delves into workism, identity crises, and the necessity of establishing boundaries for a healthier work-life balance. Simone emphasizes the importance of building an identity beyond one's career and finding fulfillment without endless striving, advocating that a 'good enough' job can lead to a more meaningful life.

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INSIGHT

Good Enough Job Concept

A good enough job is one that supports the life you want to live, not just about job titles or industries.
Jobs should enable you to be the person you want to be rather than dominating your identity.

INSIGHT

Work as Replacement for Community

Work can replace fading community and identity from declining religiosity.
Relying solely on work for meaning risks loss of identity if job disappears and neglects other life roles.

ADVICE

Erect Boundaries with Infrastructure

Set clear boundaries by creating infrastructure like turning off work notifications during personal time.
Use discipline to prevent work from expanding into all your unoccupied space.

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In this eye-opening conversation, we sit down with Simone Stolzoff, author of The Good Enough Job, to explore why modern work culture traps so many of us in cycles of burnout, identity crises, and unrealistic ambition. Drawing on research and personal experience, Simone challenges the “dream job” myth and offers a liberating framework: redefine success on your terms.

We explore the dangers of workism, the importance of building an identity outside of your career, and the power of setting clear boundaries. For high-achievers who feel stuck on the hedonic treadmill, this episode offers a roadmap to a more balanced, meaningful life — without abandoning your ambition.

[00:00:00] Introduction

[00:02:26] The real meaning of a “good enough job” — and why it’s not about slacking off

[00:08:16] The rise of workism: why your job became your identity

[00:13:33] The difference between boundaries and guardrails — and why we need both

[00:21:14] The myth of the dream job (and why passion usually follows skill, not the other way around)

[00:27:41] How to rebuild an identity outside of work and escape workaholism

[00:39:28] The surprising reason people at both ends of the ambition spectrum struggle

[00:50:00] Why defining your “enough” number is the antidote to endless striving

[00:56:08] Simone’s personal lesson: why time autonomy is his ultimate luxury

Episode Takeaways:

Your job should support your life, not become your life.
Stop chasing perfection — a “good enough” job can free you to thrive in other areas that matter.
Identity is like an investment portfolio: diversify it beyond just work.
Intrinsic motivation (mastery, purpose, autonomy) beats external markers of success.
Define your personal “enough” — financially, emotionally, and professionally — or risk falling into the endless “more” trap.
Play, beginner’s mindset, and non-work communities are secret weapons for resilience.

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Simone Stolzoff’s website

The Good Enough Job: Reclaiming Life from Work

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