Extended Scenes Redefining success (and failure!) — with Anne Helen Petersen
Jul 7, 2025
Join the insightful Anne Helen Petersen, a writer and culture critic known for her newsletter 'Culture Study' and the book 'Can’t Even.' She dives into the evolving definitions of success and failure, emphasizing authentic expression over traditional markers. The conversation touches on managing career pressures and the importance of navigating setbacks, especially in your 30s. Petersen shares personal anecdotes about balancing work-life responsibilities, the emotional toll of feedback, and the vital role of community in fostering fulfillment.
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The Old Career Map Is Broken
- The old career model where steady credentials led to stable jobs has broken for many people over the last 25–30 years.
- Ambition now requires cultivating scrappiness and varied skills to survive a fractured job market.
From Academia To $65K At BuzzFeed
- Anne Helen Petersen described moving from academia to BuzzFeed with a $65K offer and feeling it was a major jump in security.
- She still struggled to live in Brooklyn and relied on raises and moving in with her partner to survive.
Guard Daily Writing Blocks
- Protect focused writing time because creative projects demand daily contact to maintain flow.
- Use concentrated morning or dedicated blocks and accept shorter, spread-out workdays elsewhere.
