Week Three Discussion: Work Interests
So, this week I’ve been thinking a lot about what it is I’m interested in when it comes to work, and reflecting upon the past thirty years of career to draw out some commonality between all the different types of things I’ve done. For me it’s always been about being involved with the kinds of projects which genuinely help others do something better. Maybe it’s finding a place to live during my time running digital real estate teams. I’ve spent a lot of time in the news industry helping millions of users understand what’s going on in the world. And through it all there’s been what I’ve heard called ‘campsite rules’, which is whatever your work entails, always leave the world in a better place than you found it. So it’s less about industries or job functions, and more about utility, helpfulness and the kind of deeply mission-oriented work which produces the kind of environment for creative problem-solving.
And while these themes have been fairly constant over the years, my understanding and implementation of them has greatly changed over time. My childhood dream was to be Han Solo from Star Wars. But when a career as a space pirate didn’t really pan out, I wanted to be an astronaut, and given the recent developments in recreational space travel, I still might do that one day. But from an early age it was clear I was going to do something creative. I was always the artsy kid at school, but also not afraid to hit the books with more formal academic work. I loved the library just as much as the studio. And when I went to university in London this became even more apparent as I started on a pure Fine Art degree, but transitioned after my first year to a double honors studio practice and art history degree. The balance between the two disciplines has served me well in my career, and in looking back over the artifacts I’m gathering for my final portfolio in class, these themes of creative problem-solving and academic rigor are showing up again and again.
What’s important at work has changed over time too. Over the years I’ve come to realize that the value of a supportive, empathetic boss far outweighs financial compensation, and deeply impacts my quality of life. I’ve worked for leaders after whom I’ve come to model my own behavior, and I’ve worked for stinkers from whom I’ve painfully learned what I don’t want to be. There’s a quote at the end of the TV show Derek, where one of the characters talks about his life. And he says that the only shortcut in life, the only one that really works, is kindness. I’ll put a few links below of other things like this which have inspired me over the years. They continue to be helpful reminders for me. I hope they’ll help you too.
And so that’s something I’ve come to learn, and ultimately embrace at work. It’s something I have a profound belief in. It’s the only real way to advance a career, to become the best version of me I could possibly be, and to become the person everyone else feels better is in the room. There are many days I fall short of this, but it’s always there, reminding me that for as far as I’ve come, the way I’ve gotten there, and the value I admire most in who I work for, is to be kind.
Kev speaks about Derek’s life: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X0ykntfvflQ
Conan O’Brien on working hard: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jr_X4w8FdGk
Love Actually talks about combating gloominess: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cUoxXpqof8A
Penn Class of 2025 Acceptance Reactions: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-iAXwyOj77M
Rocky Balboa: End Credits: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aAvYW_0Xy0Y
