3 ms·

On the value of not reaching your goals

70 points by marban 3y ago

ftxbro 3y ago
[flagged]
zitterbewegung 3y ago
This is the epitome of what a New Yorker article basically is. Playing devils advocate sure you can reassess your goals and pivot them but even those things become flexes. So the writer is right and really the article could be summarized as : Fail fast and reassess your goals to achieve something better. Either that or : How to write for the New Yorker by not getting in the NYT best seller list.
ljlolel 3y ago
“While doing the reporting for my book, I read a postmortem from a successful startup founder. They said something along the lines of: “One of the best things that can happen to you is to achieve professional success when you’re young. That way you can learn that it does little to change your happiness.” For better or worse, achieving your goals shows you that no material accomplishment will fundamentally alter who you are.”
- atleastoptimal 3y ago
  There is the point of the hedonic treadmill, but young professional success has a slew of downstream benefits beyond the immediate self-esteem factor. There's > Higher respect and esteem among your peers. This gives you the option to pursue more rewarding, interesting work without the pressure of not having proven yourself yet > Money, so random medical calamities, a year off to "reflect", completely changing your career field aren't crazy or unattainable. A freedom to retire earlier when your body hasn't yet mostly deteriorated > Experience, so you know how to pursue valuable vs non-valuable things > Connections to other people on that level of success, leading to more interesting life experiences > Self assurance against imposter syndrome, or complete hopelessness trying to make any sort of impact on the world.
082349872349872 3y ago
> Dealing with failure is easy: Work hard to improve. Success is also easy to handle: You've solved the wrong problem. Work hard to improve. — AJP
mutant_glofish 3y ago
I really like the Midjourney generated illustration.
black_13 3y ago
[dead]
dmagda 3y ago
[dead]

70 points by marban 3y ago

[flagged]

This is the epitome of what a New Yorker article basically is. Playing devils advocate sure you can reassess your goals and pivot them but even those things become flexes. So the writer is right and really the article could be summarized as : Fail fast and reassess your goals to achieve something better. Either that or : How to write for the New Yorker by not getting in the NYT best seller list.

ljlolel 3y ago

“While doing the reporting for my book, I read a postmortem from a successful startup founder. They said something along the lines of: “One of the best things that can happen to you is to achieve professional success when you’re young. That way you can learn that it does little to change your happiness.” For better or worse, achieving your goals shows you that no material accomplishment will fundamentally alter who you are.”

atleastoptimal 3y ago
There is the point of the hedonic treadmill, but young professional success has a slew of downstream benefits beyond the immediate self-esteem factor. There's > Higher respect and esteem among your peers. This gives you the option to pursue more rewarding, interesting work without the pressure of not having proven yourself yet > Money, so random medical calamities, a year off to "reflect", completely changing your career field aren't crazy or unattainable. A freedom to retire earlier when your body hasn't yet mostly deteriorated > Experience, so you know how to pursue valuable vs non-valuable things > Connections to other people on that level of success, leading to more interesting life experiences > Self assurance against imposter syndrome, or complete hopelessness trying to make any sort of impact on the world.

082349872349872 3y ago

> Dealing with failure is easy: Work hard to improve. Success is also easy to handle: You've solved the wrong problem. Work hard to improve. — AJP

mutant_glofish 3y ago

I really like the Midjourney generated illustration.

black_13 3y ago

[dead]

dmagda 3y ago

[dead]