Accomplishment and Happiness (Adam Gopnik, The New Yorker)
Apr 23, 2024
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Adam Gopnik and Michael Shermer discuss choosing accomplishment over achievement, the secrets of stage magic, the concept of the 10,000-hour rule, and the impact of mentors. They explore the intrinsic value of passion in creative pursuits and reflect on the transient nature of external recognition. The conversation also delves into the interplay between genes, luck, and timing in shaping individuals' lives and achievements.
Choose accomplishment over achievement for true fulfillment and personal satisfaction.
Understand the psychology behind magic to explore the fine line between illusion and reality.
Engage in dedicated practice to achieve mastery and develop your unique voice.
Deep dives
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Exploring the World of Magic and Skepticism
Magicians and skeptics share an intriguing relationship, utilizing the art of magic to demonstrate the fallibility of human perception. The discussion delves into the historical connections between magic, skepticism, and the fine line between illusion and reality. Reference is made to influential figures like Houdini and the importance of understanding the psychology behind magical performances.
The Pursuit of Mastery through Dedicated Practice
The concept of dedicated practice, such as the 10,000-hour rule, is explored as a path to mastery across various fields. Examples from music, writing, and philosophy highlight the transformative impact of persistent and passionate engagement with a discipline over time. The narrative emphasizes the significance of finding one's unique voice and the enduring value of accomplishment over fleeting external recognition.
Balancing Achievement and Personal Satisfaction
The podcast delves into the distinction between achievement and personal satisfaction, emphasizing the intrinsic value of accomplishment over external rewards. The discussion challenges the notion that accomplishment is solely reserved for the privileged, advocating for a broader access to pursuit of personal fulfillment. Additionally, the role of luck, timing, and individual agency in shaping one's journey towards success is contemplated.
The Role of Innate Traits in Achievement
The podcast explores the concept of innate traits influencing achievement, discussing how talents and work ethic are not solely determined by personal choices, but also by genetic factors. It mentions examples like Shakespeare writing sonnets as an expression of personal emotions, emphasizing how personalities and intelligence are significantly influenced by hereditary traits. The discussion delves into the impact of genetics on characteristics like need for achievement and energy levels, highlighting how individuals inherit these qualities from their parents and environment.
Navigating Meaning and Mortality in Life
The episode delves into the pursuit of meaning in the face of mortality, emphasizing the importance of creating personal meaning through accomplishments like writing songs and paragraphs. It explores the idea that finding purpose and organizing emotions can serve as a powerful tool against the existential abyss of mortality. Additionally, the discussion touches on the relationship between happiness and meaningful pursuits, suggesting that true fulfillment comes from engaging in challenging and purposeful endeavors that contribute to a sense of self-worth and significance.
We push ourselves toward the highest-paying, most prestigious jobs, seeking promotions and public recognition. As Adam Gopnik points out, the result is not so much a rat race as a rat maze, with no way out. Except one: to choose accomplishment over achievement.
Achievement is the completion of the task imposed from outside.
Accomplishment, by contrast, is the end point of an engulfing activity one engages in for its own sake.
Shermer and Gopnik discuss:
mastering the secrets of stage magic (Gopnik's son worked with David Blaine and Jamy Ian Swiss)
accomplishment in music
family and mentors
the concept of the 10,000-hour rule vs. natural talent
Adam's new book All That Happiness Is, which offers timeless wisdom against the grain.
Adam Gopnik has been a staff writer at The New Yorker since 1986. He is the author of numerous best-selling books, including Paris to the Moon and The Real Work: On the Mystery of Mastery.
