The Pathless Path: How To Recreate Your Life And Career In 2023 - Paul Millerd
Dec 1, 2022
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"The Pathless Path" podcast episode features Paul Millerd, a writer, creator, and consultant. The episode explores topics such as recreating one's life and career, finding fulfillment in work, embracing uncertainty, following energy over money, and the transformative experience of writing a book. It offers insights and advice for those seeking to live a life that aligns with their values and brings meaning.
The traditional formula for career success may no longer hold true, and it's important to do brave things and dream beyond societal expectations.
Many people feel dissatisfied with their work because they try to fit meaningful work into a traditional job container, but exploring alternative paths and blowing up one's life can lead to finding true fulfillment.
Defining 'enough' and finding a balance between ambition and contentment is crucial, and aligning work with personal values and making meaningful connections are significant.
Experimentation and reflection are key in uncovering one's true values and passions, and embracing an attitude of continuous growth and learning is essential for personal fulfillment.
Deep dives
Finding Hidden Knowledge and Freedom to Dream
The podcast episode explores the idea of hidden knowledge that people feel they can't talk about publicly. The host shares a personal realization about the impact of their parents' influence on their own career choices. They discuss the importance of dreaming and doing brave things, suggesting that the traditional formula for career success no longer holds true.
Breaking Away from the Default Path
The podcast guest, Paul, shares his own journey of breaking away from a traditional career in management consulting and the desire to have a different relationship with work. They discuss the shift in mindset that occurred after leaving their job and the increased freedom and space in their life. They also explore how the world's perspective on work shifted in 2020, questioning the old formula for career success.
Challenging the Default Script
The podcast delves into the idea that many people feel stuck or dissatisfied with their work because they are trying to fit the concept of meaningful work into a traditional job container. They discuss the human desire to find meaning, connection, and usefulness in their work, and how this search can lead to confusion and uncertainty. The guest suggests that it's worth exploring alternative paths and being open to blowing up one's life to pursue what truly matters.
Defining 'Enough' and Following Energy
The podcast explores the concept of defining what 'enough' means and finding a balance between ambition and contentment. They discuss the importance of following energy and passion rather than purely chasing money or external metrics of success. The guest shares their own definition of 'enough' and emphasizes the value of aligning one's work with their values and recognizing the significance of meaningful connections and helping others.
Finding What Energizes You
The key to discovering what you value in life is through experimentation. Rather than overthinking and analyzing what you should do, try different activities and see if they energize you. Don't worry about the long-term or finding the perfect path, just focus on what gives you energy in the present moment. By running experiments on yourself and paying attention to the activities that make you feel effortlessly motivated, you can uncover your true values and passions.
The Importance of Reflection and Asking the Hard Questions
Reflecting on your life and asking yourself the hard questions is crucial in figuring out what you truly value. It can be uncomfortable to face these questions and sometimes we may not like our own answers. However, by taking the time to sit down and grapple with these answers, we can gain clarity and insight into what truly matters to us. This process of reflection and self-discovery can help guide us in finding activities and paths that align with our genuine values and aspirations.
Embracing an Attitude of Experimentation
Embracing an attitude of experimentation is essential in uncovering what you want in life. Just like the podcast host describes their experience of stumbling upon the digital nomad lifestyle, trying out new things and being open to unexpected opportunities can lead to exciting discoveries and new passions. By running experiments and trying out different experiences, we can gather valuable data about what truly resonates with us and what energizes us. This mentality of experimentation is key to continuous growth, learning, and finding new avenues for personal fulfillment.
“The pathless path is an alternative to the default path. It is an embrace of uncertainty and discomfort. It’s a call to adventure in a world that tells us to conform. For me, it’s also a gentle reminder to laugh when things feel out of control and trusting that an uncertain future is not a problem to be solved.” - from The Pathless Path by Paul Millerd.
In this episode I sit down for a conversation with Paul Millerd, a writer, creator, and consultant. A few years ago Paul had everything he thought he wanted from his corporate job at the most prestigious consulting firm in the world. But after realising he was on the wrong path in life, he decided to walk away and figure out how to live a life that actually mattered to him. In the conversation we talk about his book The Pathless Path, the ultimate companion for people struggling to figure out what to do with their lives, which traces his journey from certainty and tradition to uncertainty and fulfilment. So if you’re thinking about leaving your job, taking off on a new adventure or simply wanting to approach work and life with a little more curiosity, this episode is for you. Enjoy :)
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(00:00) Intro (01:43) Your background (08:40) How do you tackle "I need money vs this job doesn’t bring me joy" (15:14) The 3 step framework for figuring out your path (20:41) Figuring out your passion (28:40) The cost of life fulfilment (34:59) The excitement of uncertainty (38:06) Figuring out what is enough (44:35) Following energy vs money (49:23) Slow productivity (51:55) Strategies for figuring out what you value (55:57) The attitude of experimentation (01:07:48) Long term thinking activities (01:10:24) On spending money (01:18:52) Your Book
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