How to balance meaning and money

ABC 155: On the science behind the million dollar question

Welcome to the first Article Book Club installment of 2023! This is year six of these bimonthly notes, and I’m grateful you’re here.

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The internet rewards divisiveness. Social media posts that elicit strong emotional reactions perform better, and platforms promote content that inspires anger over content that inspires joy.

So, it should come as no surprise that “hot takes” have become the coin of the realm. Anyone competing for attention online is incentivized to publish polarizing opinions—often at the expense of nuance. In my experience, however, the more depth with which I understand a topic, the less “hot” my perspective becomes.

Take my book, for example. I came into the reporting process thinking I was going to write a fervent critique of work culture in America. Work has become the central axis around which our lives orbit, I thought, and work sucks!

But what started as a hot take tempered into something more lukewarm. The more interesting question, I found, is not whether to be pro- or anti-work, but rather how to pursue meaningful work without sacrificing your life.

That’s the topic of this week’s article. It’s my favorite thing I’ve written in a while, and I’d love it if you checked it out.

Here’s the piece: How to Balance Meaning and Money.

Long live the lukewarm take,
Simo

P.S. The song of the week is a suave pop song from the ascendent Colombian group Monsieur Periné . The full songs of the week playlist is here.

P.P.S. Also, today is the last day to enroll in my course, Designing Your Next Career Step. If you’re looking to start the year with great clarity in your worklife, join us!