[Off-Topic] Wake up Call

This week I watched the excellent film Up in the Air (recommended). I identify a lot with the way Ryan Bingham thinks, but that’s not what this article is about. The film tells the story of a “career transition” professional, a euphemism for “the guy who fires people.” It doesn’t set out to preach a moral, but there’s a scene worth sharing:

Everyone knows I steer clear of self-help, but every now and then I figure a little of it doesn’t hurt ;-) One thing I always tell just about everyone who has worked with me in recent years: a job isn’t for life. You never know where you’ll be tomorrow, and you should never assume you’ll be in the same place.

While you’re at a job, you should absolutely do everything you can to deliver your best work, even when that often means pulling all-nighters, putting in extra hours, and carrying heavy responsibilities. Up to the limit of what’s tolerable and stops short of abuse.

And unless you’re the company owner, a partner, or a sizable shareholder, that limit must be short. Whether you make R$40k or R$250k a year makes no difference. The result is always the same: the longer you stay in the same place, doing the same thing, the less you’re worth. There’s only one person you owe blind loyalty to: yourself.

The most important part: what’s your goal? Why are you doing what you’re doing? Does what you do today move you toward where you want to go? If it doesn’t, why keep doing it? “But I don’t have any particular goal…” Then find one.