Value and Meaning in One’s Career

Over at The (2nd) Greatest Generation, the glorification of figures like Don Draper (who I just noticed resembles John Boehner) from AMC’s Mad Men made me search for the line between a healthy work ethic and an obsession with one’s profession, and the role a job plays in the big picture.

For most, the illusory correlation between success and satisfaction causes many to sacrifice what's truly important for professional power. Yes, whether you're referring to the arts, the sciences, or the world of business, persistence linked with critical and creative thinking is a commonly accepted formula for success, but it is easy to lose sight of this because the gratification is rarely immediate. Without foresight, the latency period between one's hard work and the payoff creates a sort of internal injustice, which needless to say can be quite discouraging.

While I haven't gotten to watch nearly as much of the show as I would like, Don Draper's professional obsession leaves much to be desired in the realm of personal fulfillment. Although he certainly attempts to fill the void through his various vices, these coping strategies provide more escapism than resolution for his deep-seeded issues. Sure, he may have money, power, and women, but is he happy?

Especially early in one's career, rarely does anyone feel truly fulfilled through their job, so one either deals with it by valuing the opportunities for personal development or upward mobility, or they look externally to provide meaning. Ultimately, balance must be sustained one way or another, and for true work-a-holics, they justify negligence of their personal life because they are striving for some long-term achievement. The obsession evolves into their identity, and addictions quickly consume humanity.

So where is that line between a hard day’s work and a dangerous infatuation with one’s job? It depends. Am I sayin' a 40 hour work week is perfect for everyone? Hell no, but variety is the spice of life, and our culture has increasing emphasized specialization and bureaucracies. Between our business models, standards-based education system, and the widespread availability of technology, the minds of American’s can comfortably live in a personalized bubble. We’re not pushed outside our comfort zone, we don’t readily dabble in new things, and a jack of all trades is punished if he hasn’t mastered any one skill. I’m not convinced that the human psyche has evolved (devolved?) to fit this mold since a range of interests and a diverse skill set provide the stabilized and balanced foundation that gives security if one piece falters while simultaneously quenching our inquisitive nature. When supplemented with American Individualism, we dream big and want huge returns on our investments, so if we put all our stock in a single entity without quality research and information, the risks are high.

Hence why it may be time for most Americans to diversify their portfolios and spread their roots to create balance and stability for when the storms of life try and knock us down. Hopefully at some point we can all merge our interests and skills into a career, but until then, don't settle for less.

P.S. From now on, the story of Don Draper will forever be the lost history of our speaker of the house.