Lesson on Perspective from ad-exec dying of cancer

[changedname]

Saw this on my facebook and read the article, its pretty interesting and reminds me a bit of the Steve Jobs thing.

www.businessinsider.com/its-not-worth-it-linds-reddings-short-lesson-in-perspective-2012-11

[gogreengowhite]

Very interesting. I think could speak to so many people in different fields.

I have had to stop myself many times when I want to answer work emails at the dinner table. At the end of the day, at the end of your life, it's just work.

[justjen]

I work in advertising, and a lot of people here could use that lesson...

[takeonyou]

While there are days my job is quite literally shitty - I never doubt that my job is important. It doesn't have growth potential, my salary is capped, and it can be unstable because my income depends on so many other people's income, but I will never regret this job.

It has the opposite effect of the ad exec's job. It really does fill me with pride even though I know so many people think I am "just a babysitter." I know that I matter to these kids and I am doing my best to help them grow into good adults. Its nice to get hugs at work too.

Way sappier than I intended, but I'm watching 4 kiddos sleep and they are so cute!

[Deleted]

Easy to say when you are dying from cancer and already had "it".

[BeagleMama]

I understand the culture from working in agencies which is why I migrated out and onto something different. After a long meeting with our biggest account I had the realization, "I'm dedicating my life, my talents, time away from loved ones to sell pizza. Pizza." It's nice to now be in-house where the "product" benefits society as a whole.

I always like to remember the Barbara Bush quote:
"At the end of your life you will never regret not having passed one more test, not winning one more verdict, not closing one more deal. You will regret time not spent with a husband, a friend, a child or a parent."

[Deleted]

I think he is pissed he is dying and that is not a reason to shit on everyone else's parade. Who says his perspective is correct?

[Deleted]

Dying does not always bring clarity of thought. (idea)

[Deleted]

I am not bitter at all. I am simply tired of the over-stated and often incorrect assumption that at the end of the day, everyone wishes they had worked less. It is a statement that seems, to me, to be placating and something rich folks who have "it" say to poor folks who don't. ::::insert numerous quotes from Beverly Hills Housewives:::::: to make it all OK.

Who said I was giving up my life for my job? Is that an assumption because I disagree with the article? How do you know his coworkers are/were giving up their lives? Because he said so?

I think it is douchey for that dude to say to all of his coworkers "Hey guess what? You are all fucking idiots!!"  So long suckers!

[yellowbrkrd]

This is how I feel about my television production days. Too many crazy hours and stress over a show that really didn't matter. I realize now how unhappy in my personal life I was. I miss it from time to time but I value my quality of life much more.

[beckylynn]

I sent this to my husband because he's coming to this realization, and thankfully, it isn't too late.

He came home the other day from his fancy job with his big time company whose standards are notoriously high in the industry, after working non stop for the past week on some incredibly important project and said exactly this. That what he does might make history, but it won't be his history. His history was at home losing their first tooth, back home smiling for the first time, a few hours east where we won't take an adventure because he's too busy. That's HIS history.

It's a hell of a thing to walk away from what other people tell you is incredible success and choose balance instead, but I'm damned proud of him for doing it.

Are our priorities universal? Of course not. He works with a ton of people who will take more joy in what they accomplish there. And that's fine - everyone gets to determine their own priorities. The thing is, you have to figure those out yourself - not because "they" tell you what is success. For us, that's not work. It's working to live.

[Deleted]

So, is he quitting his job, then?



It is not black and white. You can enjoy and take pride in your job and work hard....and still live well. The whole work to live argument is silly because we all do that. Some people get more satisfaction out of their jobs than others. Working ten hours a week or 50.

[beckylynn]

Yes. Ultimately, that's just not how he wants to spend his life.

And I'm not disagreeing with you - our experience isn't universal and that for others, work can be more fulfilling, can provide more satisfaction. Everyone has different priorities. The difference is that I'm not calling your argument silly because I understand and respect that others view what they need to find balance differently. Differently - not in a more or less valid way.

You don't need to feel defensive about your choices. Only you know what's right for you.

We've made our decisions having worked 24-7 in incredibly high pressure positions, doing things that in the grand scheme of things...just don't seem that important, regardless of how successful we may have been in our fields. We want to prioritize differently. That's all.

[Deleted]

Why do you think I am being defensive? DH and I have made similar choices. We do not work long hours.

[Deleted]

But what do you think I am defending? My work? I am saying that the live to work vs. work to live argument is silly. And the work to live peeps are generally of the I-do-not-want-to-be-you-suckers mind-set. As is evident in this post with the assumption that I am defensive.



If people are happy whatever hours they work then why tag them with the live to work label? If the dude had said it was not right for him, fine. But telling everyone else they suck is no bueno in my book.

[beckylynn]

Wait...who is saying that some one else sucks?

If you are content with what you do, great. This guy worked a ton, looked back and wished he hadn't. I get that. I worked tons, look back and think "why the hell was I busting my ass, spending endless hours and sleepless nights on THAT?!" and wish I had done better, done more.

That doesn't invalidate your choice. No one sucks in this equation.

You don't have to agree with his perspective. You don't have to agree with mine.

But having a different perspective doesn't mean that "It is a statement that seems, to me, to be placating and something rich folks who have "it" say to poor folks who don't. ::::insert numerous quotes from Beverly Hills Housewives:::::: to make it all OK."

No one is being placated here, no one is justifying anything. It's just a different perspective. You don't share it. That's okay. Different doesn't mean better or worse (or, at least, I don't think it should) it just means different.

I didn't call anyone a sucker and I wouldn't because I respect that others make different choices because they prioritize differently. I would hope that those who were confident in their own choices would have the same respect for me.

Different strokes, I guess.