Do We Have a "Life's Task"? 🤔
Hey everyone,
I mentioned in last week’s newsletter that I’m reading Mastery by Robert Greene, which is about strategies for achieving mastery in any field. I’ve been enjoying it, but part of the book’s thesis is causing me some inner conflict:
Greene argues that everyone has a Life’s Task, and that we need to pursue it in order to achieve mastery. The Life’s Task is the perfect niche for us. It’s beyond work; it’s part of who we are.
The problem is, my go-to book for career development up to this point has been So Good They Can't Ignore You by Cal Newport. Newport essentially argues that trying to match work to a preexisting passion is a fool’s errand and that it doesn’t matter which field you pick, it just matters that you get really good at it. After I read SGTCIY, I considered the matter settled in my mind and haven’t given it much thought in the past ~4 years.
But now, I’m not so sure. Mastery interweaves strategies for achieving proficiency with vignettes from the lives of various luminaries. In reading about Darwin and da Vinci, I’ve wondered: is there a field I abandoned along the way due to practicality, expectations of friends and family, or other everyday pressures? Is there something to which I would be better suited than what I’m doing now?
One thing that Greene suggests is to keep following your inclinations, interests and talents, and that in doing so you’ll eventually end up in a place in which you can achieve mastery. I’m going to take that to heart and keep reading and iterating.
With any luck, and with some experimentation, I’m hopeful that the process will yield interesting and fitting results.
Pete’s Picks ✅
What I’m Reading: I picked up The Boys in the Boat last year and then put it down, but I recently got the audiobook version and am really enjoying it. The book tells the story of the University of Washington crew who competed in the 1936 Olympics in Berlin.
What I’m Watching: I’ve watched most of The Surgeon’s Cut on Netflix this week and found it super interesting. Each episode in the series is an in-depth look at a surgeon who is a leader their particular field.
What I’m Listening To: I recently rediscovered Science Vs and enjoyed this episode which explores psilocybin-based therapy.
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Cheers,
Peter