Po Bronson’s “What Should I Do With My Life?”
Tuesday, October 24th, 2006There were two answers in my journey of seeking a satisfying career life or simply…life. I found one of the answer in Po Bronson’s book. I found another answer in MBTI and was reaffirmed by the movie Mr Incredible.
In “What Should I Do With My Life?”, Po Bronson interviewed 900+ persons, tracked their life changes and movements, conceptualized their experiences (like an empirical study for theoretical answers). In one of the chapters, through the story of a fickle minded medicine student, he concluded those who found their places in life do not live in 24 hours high. (!) These people still complain about day to day mundane tasks, still have to do minor things in life that they don’t like, etc. but they are happy and contented with their place now. They live in their dream.
Essentially this is because, due to their personal history, such things that they do carry significant meanings to them. They found their place because they found meanings in what they are doing. And such meanings were provided by their personal history.
And that I know one day, when I found my dream job or my place in the world, there will be no 24 hours seven days a week of high and excitements. The answer cut down 95% of my illusion on a dream life. It is important simply because it saves my time. I stop thinking of starting my career afresh as a stock dealer. I stop believing that that eight hours of day to day intense trade execution and blinking screen would provide me the constant high that make me feel that I found my place and that I live my dream.
Too many books tell what a satisfying life is, too little books tell what it is not. In Po’s “what it is not”, I found my answer.
More about Po Bronson’s “What Should I Do With My Life?”…
“‘What should I do with my life?’ is the modern, secular version of the great timeless questions about our identity, such as “Who am I?” and “Where do I belong?” We ask it in this new way simply because constant disruption in our society forces us to – every time we graduate, or get downsized, or move to a new city, we”re confronted with this version of the question. It is a little more pragmatic than its philosophical and religious antecedents, reflecting the bottom-line reality that we can search for our identity only so long without making ends meet. Asking the question aspires to end the conflict between who you are and what you do. Answering the question is the way to protect yourself from being lathed into someone you’re not.” – What should I do with my life? By Po Bronson Page 118