Optimal Work Daily - Career, Productivity and Entrepreneurship 1712: [Part 2] Corrupted Callings: The Subtle Difference Between Finding Your Life's Work and Loving Your Life by Cal Newport
Jun 8, 2025
Dive into the intriguing distinction between finding your life's work and simply loving what you do. It challenges the popular notion of 'follow your passion,' emphasizing that true fulfillment arises from mastery and expertise. Discover the concept of the 'competence trap'—how aiming solely for skill can hinder personal satisfaction. Learn from examples of those who have successfully navigated these complexities, highlighting the need for constant self-improvement to achieve a meaningful career.
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Traits for a Rich Life
- Autonomy, competence, and relatedness are crucial traits for a rich life according to research.
- Mastering rare and valuable skills is the direct route to achieving these traits.
Bill McKibben's Career Path
- Bill McKibben exemplifies building all three traits: autonomy, competence, and relatedness.
- He left New York publishing to write books on his own terms, inspiring many.
Understanding the Competence Trap
- The competence trap is when the market pushes you to maximize competence at the expense of autonomy and relatedness.
- Competitive career paths often appear to only reward developing further competence.
