The economy of our decisions: Career thought experiments
It’s funny how I am currently applying for jobs and interviewing while writing this. Like, “who am I to give you advice?” Lol.
In the Nigerian experience, people who did not finish a professional course feel embarrassed when they are asked “What course did you study?”. This also happens when one is asked “what do you do for a living” or “what is your purpose in life” (in an inspirational speaker’s voice :P). I think these are complex questions to ask people on the spot in which the inquirer can’t expect to be given a succinct answer. I still try to avoid these questions at all costs even if I have a prepared answer when needed.
With popular ideas around ‘pursuing happiness’ or purpose you come to think you are on the wrong path with preformed uninvestigated thoughts and if you look into how people see it, you get to find words or sentences like ‘follow your dreams’, ‘money brings/or doesn’t bring happiness’, ‘find your purpose’, ‘self-care’, ‘YOLO’, ‘live in the moment’, the list goes on. Quotes and little snippets from inspirational speakers/religious figures on all topics have become our lenses by which we see this fundamental topic. These little snippets shape our lives and for someone who doesn’t take a step back once in a while to examine life from different perspectives to understand the forces which influence it, there might be a couple of avoidable sufferings. This is not a bad thing in itself because humans have collectively evolved primarily through sharing of ideas and knowledge, so this can be a good thing.
In this milieu of words and ideas of happiness or purpose, there’s a central theme of ‘economics’. It’s so powerful that we don’t know or feel it. At times it’s difficult to wrap our heads around it because it is intertwined with religion and personal beliefs. For example, we are told that we should follow our dreams but the driving force always has an economic benefit. It’s like capitalism is a cult and everyone is initiated by pumping these ideas into the veins of new members then establishing an echo chamber where the same ideas about reality are bounced around. Have you thought about your life from another angle? Say, you were born to a different family or you had a different job or life, what will that dream be? We all reach different points in our lives where we re-examine our lives and reimagine ourselves. That’s when we ask ourselves candid questions about our reality, fears, and skills gained, who is telling our story (life and career), you, or your circumstances? I am still figuring things out but these are 2 experiments I have tried and so far I’m grateful I thought about these sooner.
Experiment 1: Where’s the world going to?
You probably have access to a phone or laptop and internet if you are viewing this and from time to time (to keep it mild) you check what’s happening around you and in the world then form ideas that create a framework based on these events to help you navigate life.
“Things are not always what they seem; the first appearance deceives many; the intelligence of a few perceives what has been carefully hidden.”
― Phaedrus
Imagine you wake up one morning on a weekday in the future and you feel stuck. You wish to switch things up in your career or life but you are stuck in your ways because of the responsibilities you have now or bad habits you haven’t examined in the past. You want to feel healthy and alive. What do you do then or now to avoid this situation? The context of ‘stuck’ is for you to define because being stuck is subjective.
I think the entire idea of making decisions is to increase the potential of getting the best results out of situations but in the end, we still make some mistakes. The question to answer with this first experiment is “How then do I reduce the likelihood of this scenario in the future?”. This question calls us to think about an algorithm or framework of how we can reduce regret as much as possible and increase the chances of true happiness (whatever this means to you). A small example might be, picking a flavor of ice cream and not feeling terrible when you see the other kid gushing over the flavor you didn’t pick. I would like to say it involves finding yourself, but what does that even mean? A better set of words might be, this involves recreating, testing, and reimagining yourself every year to unlock possibilities.
“Be like water making its way through cracks. Do not be assertive, but adjust to the object, and you shall find a way around or through it. If nothing within you stays rigid, outward things will disclose themselves…”
― Bruce Lee
Experiment 2: What’s important or what are the constants in my life?
We know the answer to this very question but have we thought about it carefully? From university days I noticed how I felt nothing after achieving things I thought were important but very happy when I got feedback on how it affected people around me. It went on for a long time and I started feeling like I had a problem because I always heard things like “live in the moment”, “Be happy when you achieve things” or Goal Castesque grass to grace video stories that portray goals and achieving things as happiness then you have everyone echoing the same thing. After discussing with a friend, she asked a simple question “Are you value or goal-oriented?” and I finally had the words to explain why I feel nothing between 1 day or 2 weeks after I achieve things people see as important. I am values-oriented!!! (what a relief, phew!), it’s more about people than counting the awards or projects done. How have the things I’ve done affected people around me? That is my main question. I love challenging tasks but most times, I need to know the value before I go for them. I love my family and everything I do is for them and the continuity of a prosperous generation as a tribute to the sacrifices made by all my family members (both extended). This is what’s important to me.
If you think of it, it changes what happiness can mean. After a long time thinking about this, happiness means, “gratitude”, “sacrifice”, “respect”, “long heart to heart talks with friends”, “saying I love you and meaning every word” etc. When you know what’s important to you then you know the amount of work to put in to make sure that in the end, you prioritize what is important which feeds into your happiness. For example, it can be that you make trade-offs to ensure that you provide for your family. This can mean that you are not so popular in your industry but your mom smiles to the bank every month.
Conclusion
These experiments might sound like crap made up in my room but if you do this, you get a chance to change the direction and movement of things concerning you. You will come to see that you are the constant in an ever-changing world. You see the changes in trends as you recreate yourself to take advantage of opportunities while keeping important things in sight. It becomes more about the energy you give off than what is given. You use what you get with your life and channel it to things that are important to you because my best guess is that those important things also make you happy. I didn’t talk so much about ‘career’ because that revolves around the type of life you choose and not the other way around so make your decisions, know that they might have economic consequences, and find your way of minimizing regrets. Even if you have those episodes of intense anxiety and doubt, know that you will be fine in the end.
“I shall pass through this world but once. Any good therefore that I can do or any kindness that I can show to any human being, let me do it now. Let me not defer or neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again.”
― Stephen Grellet
Good luck on your journey! You’ll be fine…
