Comments on: The Dangerous Myth of The Dream Job http://webworkerdaily.com/2007/05/09/the-dangerous-myth-of-the-dream-job/ Rebooting the workforce Thu, 26 Nov 2009 04:40:45 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: Justin Sermeno http://webworkerdaily.com/2007/05/09/the-dangerous-myth-of-the-dream-job/#comment-308774 Justin Sermeno Tue, 18 Nov 2008 22:06:24 +0000 http://webworkerdaily.com/2007/05/09/the-dangerous-myth-of-the-dream-job/#comment-308774 Good article Tim. It is true that when what you love becomes a grind it sometimes ceases to be what you love. But I disagree with your comments on "work life balance" and it's association with blending. The "Work life separation" is something that should obviously be desired, but that can include working 80 hours a week and separating that from your 2 hours of free time. Work life balance is meant to first mean that work and life and kept separate. And secondly that they are even in time much like a balance with which you would compare the weight of two objects. Also, blending of work and life is not necessarily a bad thing. The examples that you gave for a blending of work and life are actually more like work replacing life. Good article Tim. It is true that when what you love becomes a grind it sometimes ceases to be what you love. But I disagree with your comments on “work life balance” and it’s association with blending. The “Work life separation” is something that should obviously be desired, but that can include working 80 hours a week and separating that from your 2 hours of free time. Work life balance is meant to first mean that work and life and kept separate. And secondly that they are even in time much like a balance with which you would compare the weight of two objects.

Also, blending of work and life is not necessarily a bad thing. The examples that you gave for a blending of work and life are actually more like work replacing life.

]]> By: Economics Topics News » Blog Archive » Comment on The Dangerous Myth of The Dream Job by Economics Topics … http://webworkerdaily.com/2007/05/09/the-dangerous-myth-of-the-dream-job/#comment-244773 Economics Topics News » Blog Archive » Comment on The Dangerous Myth of The Dream Job by Economics Topics … Sun, 02 Dec 2007 10:52:18 +0000 http://webworkerdaily.com/2007/05/09/the-dangerous-myth-of-the-dream-job/#comment-244773 [...] Comment on The Dangerous Myth of The Dream Job by Economics Topics …By Economics Topics News » Blog Archive »…Comment on The Dangerous Myth of The Dream Job by Winning The …By Winning The Battle of Work vs. Life at Personal PRmuch we tout the value of work/life balance, we seem to believe that in a way, it’s sort of a myth. And to be honest, …Comments for Web Worker Daily - http://webworkerdaily.com [...] [...] Comment on The Dangerous Myth of The Dream Job by Economics Topics …By Economics Topics News » Blog Archive »…Comment on The Dangerous Myth of The Dream Job by Winning The …By Winning The Battle of Work vs. Life at Personal PRmuch we tout the value of work/life balance, we seem to believe that in a way, it’s sort of a myth. And to be honest, …Comments for Web Worker Daily – http://webworkerdaily.com [...]

]]> By: Economics Topics News » Blog Archive » Comment on The Dangerous Myth of The Dream Job by Winning The … http://webworkerdaily.com/2007/05/09/the-dangerous-myth-of-the-dream-job/#comment-244755 Economics Topics News » Blog Archive » Comment on The Dangerous Myth of The Dream Job by Winning The … Sun, 02 Dec 2007 10:03:20 +0000 http://webworkerdaily.com/2007/05/09/the-dangerous-myth-of-the-dream-job/#comment-244755 [...] Comment on The Dangerous Myth of The Dream Job by Winning The …By Winning The Battle of Work vs. Life at Personal PRmuch we tout the value of work/life balance, we seem to believe that in a way, it’s sort of a myth. And to be honest, a lot of times it feels like a […]Comments for Web Worker Daily - http://webworkerdaily.com [...] [...] Comment on The Dangerous Myth of The Dream Job by Winning The …By Winning The Battle of Work vs. Life at Personal PRmuch we tout the value of work/life balance, we seem to believe that in a way, it’s sort of a myth. And to be honest, a lot of times it feels like a […]Comments for Web Worker Daily – http://webworkerdaily.com [...]

]]> By: Winning The Battle of Work vs. Life at Personal PR http://webworkerdaily.com/2007/05/09/the-dangerous-myth-of-the-dream-job/#comment-244613 Winning The Battle of Work vs. Life at Personal PR Sun, 02 Dec 2007 05:59:06 +0000 http://webworkerdaily.com/2007/05/09/the-dangerous-myth-of-the-dream-job/#comment-244613 [...] much we tout the value of work/life balance, we seem to believe that in a way, it’s sort of a myth. And to be honest, a lot of times it feels like a [...] [...] much we tout the value of work/life balance, we seem to believe that in a way, it’s sort of a myth. And to be honest, a lot of times it feels like a [...]

]]> By: ana ulin .org | ana’s blog http://webworkerdaily.com/2007/05/09/the-dangerous-myth-of-the-dream-job/#comment-244221 ana ulin .org | ana’s blog Sat, 01 Dec 2007 19:16:24 +0000 http://webworkerdaily.com/2007/05/09/the-dangerous-myth-of-the-dream-job/#comment-244221 [...] Web Worker Daily: The Dangerous Myth of The Dream Job (by Timothy Ferris): I am not quite sure I fully agree with the main thesis of this article, but it is nevertheless a thought-provoking read. Converting passions into “work” is the fastest way to kill those passions. Surfing two hours on a Saturday to decompress from a hard week might be heaven, but waking up at 6 am every morning to do it 40 hours per week with difficult clients is a very different animal. Mixing business and pleasure can be a psychologically toxic cocktail. [...] [...] Web Worker Daily: The Dangerous Myth of The Dream Job (by Timothy Ferris): I am not quite sure I fully agree with the main thesis of this article, but it is nevertheless a thought-provoking read. Converting passions into “work” is the fastest way to kill those passions. Surfing two hours on a Saturday to decompress from a hard week might be heaven, but waking up at 6 am every morning to do it 40 hours per week with difficult clients is a very different animal. Mixing business and pleasure can be a psychologically toxic cocktail. [...]

]]> By: Winning The Battle of Work vs. Life « Little Red Suit http://webworkerdaily.com/2007/05/09/the-dangerous-myth-of-the-dream-job/#comment-211364 Winning The Battle of Work vs. Life « Little Red Suit Fri, 02 Nov 2007 15:22:08 +0000 http://webworkerdaily.com/2007/05/09/the-dangerous-myth-of-the-dream-job/#comment-211364 [...] much we tout the value of work/life balance, we seem to believe that in a way, it’s sort of a myth. And to be honest, a lot of times it feels like a [...] [...] much we tout the value of work/life balance, we seem to believe that in a way, it’s sort of a myth. And to be honest, a lot of times it feels like a [...]

]]> By: Web Worker Daily » Blog Archive Use the Web to Find the Perfect Job « http://webworkerdaily.com/2007/05/09/the-dangerous-myth-of-the-dream-job/#comment-141549 Web Worker Daily » Blog Archive Use the Web to Find the Perfect Job « Wed, 08 Aug 2007 21:00:22 +0000 http://webworkerdaily.com/2007/05/09/the-dangerous-myth-of-the-dream-job/#comment-141549 [...] would claim that the myth of the dream job kills passion, that work is for money not pleasure. Yet many people still yearn for work that [...] [...] would claim that the myth of the dream job kills passion, that work is for money not pleasure. Yet many people still yearn for work that [...]

]]> By: Sunday links | On jobs, work and careers http://webworkerdaily.com/2007/05/09/the-dangerous-myth-of-the-dream-job/#comment-112510 Sunday links | On jobs, work and careers Sun, 08 Jul 2007 09:08:21 +0000 http://webworkerdaily.com/2007/05/09/the-dangerous-myth-of-the-dream-job/#comment-112510 [...] Web Worker Daily: The Dangerous Myth of The Dream Job (by Timothy Ferris): I am not quite sure I fully agree with the main thesis of this article, but it is nevertheless a thought-provoking read. Converting passions into “work” is the fastest way to kill those passions. Surfing two hours on a Saturday to decompress from a hard week might be heaven, but waking up at 6 am every morning to do it 40 hours per week with difficult clients is a very different animal. Mixing business and pleasure can be a psychologically toxic cocktail. [...] [...] Web Worker Daily: The Dangerous Myth of The Dream Job (by Timothy Ferris): I am not quite sure I fully agree with the main thesis of this article, but it is nevertheless a thought-provoking read. Converting passions into “work” is the fastest way to kill those passions. Surfing two hours on a Saturday to decompress from a hard week might be heaven, but waking up at 6 am every morning to do it 40 hours per week with difficult clients is a very different animal. Mixing business and pleasure can be a psychologically toxic cocktail. [...]

]]> By: The Margin Manifesto by Tim Ferriss · Articles http://webworkerdaily.com/2007/05/09/the-dangerous-myth-of-the-dream-job/#comment-86825 The Margin Manifesto by Tim Ferriss · Articles Wed, 13 Jun 2007 23:16:36 +0000 http://webworkerdaily.com/2007/05/09/the-dangerous-myth-of-the-dream-job/#comment-86825 [...] It is not the first time he has written for us, but it is the first time he is focusing on profits, and how to get them fast. If How to Reach Profitability (or Double It!) in 3 Months: the first five of his 11 commandments of his margin manifesto. Hopefully you will find it worth your time. [...] [...] It is not the first time he has written for us, but it is the first time he is focusing on profits, and how to get them fast. If How to Reach Profitability (or Double It!) in 3 Months: the first five of his 11 commandments of his margin manifesto. Hopefully you will find it worth your time. [...]

]]> By: GigaOM The Margin Manifesto by Tim Ferriss « http://webworkerdaily.com/2007/05/09/the-dangerous-myth-of-the-dream-job/#comment-85996 GigaOM The Margin Manifesto by Tim Ferriss « Tue, 12 Jun 2007 18:31:18 +0000 http://webworkerdaily.com/2007/05/09/the-dangerous-myth-of-the-dream-job/#comment-85996 [...] It is not the first time he has written for us, but it is the first time he is focusing on profits, and how to get them fast. If How to Reach Profitability (or Double It!) in 3 Months: the first five of his 11 commandments of his margin manifesto. Hopefully you will find it worth your time. Share This | Sphere | Print | Topic: Asides | [...] [...] It is not the first time he has written for us, but it is the first time he is focusing on profits, and how to get them fast. If How to Reach Profitability (or Double It!) in 3 Months: the first five of his 11 commandments of his margin manifesto. Hopefully you will find it worth your time. Share This | Sphere | Print | Topic: Asides | [...]

]]> By: The changing nature of work at Work/Blog/Life http://webworkerdaily.com/2007/05/09/the-dangerous-myth-of-the-dream-job/#comment-76891 The changing nature of work at Work/Blog/Life Sun, 03 Jun 2007 03:34:42 +0000 http://webworkerdaily.com/2007/05/09/the-dangerous-myth-of-the-dream-job/#comment-76891 [...] this to Tim Ferriss who is currently selling the concept of the four hour work week. He warns against going for your dream job as it can lead to a blurring of the work/life boundary. This is an interesting concept - [...] [...] this to Tim Ferriss who is currently selling the concept of the four hour work week. He warns against going for your dream job as it can lead to a blurring of the work/life boundary. This is an interesting concept – [...]

]]> By: Interview with Tim Ferriss of The 4-Hour Workweek - Part 2 - lifehack.org http://webworkerdaily.com/2007/05/09/the-dangerous-myth-of-the-dream-job/#comment-75507 Interview with Tim Ferriss of The 4-Hour Workweek - Part 2 - lifehack.org Fri, 01 Jun 2007 12:45:26 +0000 http://webworkerdaily.com/2007/05/09/the-dangerous-myth-of-the-dream-job/#comment-75507 [...] But here’s the other issue: there is such a thing as too much of a good thing. Ask any pastor suffering from “compassion fatigue” or book editor with too many books on her plate. Even if you love your work, controlling the volume and keeping work and life separate is critical. I think “dream jobs” are a very misleading and dangerous myth. [...] [...] But here’s the other issue: there is such a thing as too much of a good thing. Ask any pastor suffering from “compassion fatigue” or book editor with too many books on her plate. Even if you love your work, controlling the volume and keeping work and life separate is critical. I think “dream jobs” are a very misleading and dangerous myth. [...]

]]> By: Will http://webworkerdaily.com/2007/05/09/the-dangerous-myth-of-the-dream-job/#comment-61871 Will Sat, 12 May 2007 20:47:58 +0000 http://webworkerdaily.com/2007/05/09/the-dangerous-myth-of-the-dream-job/#comment-61871 This article is 50% bullshit. A dream job is not Just the content and the action, -it's the schedule. I'd hazard 99% of the ppl. ainterviewed were actually Over-Worked. If you go 60+h/wk, never delegate and imbalance your life to profession, work will eventually become awful, even if you're Monica Bellucci's personal boob stylist. Work is still freaking work! -It's about Executing and personalities; that sucks <em>some</em>times. But belief, significance, achievement and growth still rock. Tim should get ANY of the ppl involved to clean toilets 8hrs/day for an indefinite period and then go back to the old jobs. -See how much they complain then. I DO agree that many people have an oversimplified childrens' alphabet blocks view of many things, including dream jobs. The details Do matter, because life is Not Arithmetic, it's multivariate differential Calculus. This article is 50% bullshit.

A dream job is not Just the content and the action, -it’s the schedule. I’d hazard 99% of the ppl. ainterviewed were actually Over-Worked.

If you go 60+h/wk, never delegate and imbalance your life to profession, work will eventually become awful, even if you’re Monica Bellucci’s personal boob stylist.

Work is still freaking work! -It’s about Executing and personalities; that sucks sometimes. But belief, significance, achievement and growth still rock.

Tim should get ANY of the ppl involved to clean toilets 8hrs/day for an indefinite period and then go back to the old jobs. -See how much they complain then.

I DO agree that many people have an oversimplified childrens’ alphabet blocks view of many things, including dream jobs. The details Do matter, because life is Not Arithmetic, it’s multivariate differential Calculus.

]]> By: Anne 2.1 » Blog Archive » Gen Y vs. Gen X Smackdown: Should You Look to Your Job for Fulfillment? http://webworkerdaily.com/2007/05/09/the-dangerous-myth-of-the-dream-job/#comment-61729 Anne 2.1 » Blog Archive » Gen Y vs. Gen X Smackdown: Should You Look to Your Job for Fulfillment? Sat, 12 May 2007 16:39:32 +0000 http://webworkerdaily.com/2007/05/09/the-dangerous-myth-of-the-dream-job/#comment-61729 [...] Worker Daily featured another Gen Yer, Timothy Ferriss, on the dangerous myth of the dream job this week. Tim: “I’m not saying we shouldn’t be interested in our work—we should be. I [...] [...] Worker Daily featured another Gen Yer, Timothy Ferriss, on the dangerous myth of the dream job this week. Tim: “I’m not saying we shouldn’t be interested in our work—we should be. I [...]

]]> By: Servaas http://webworkerdaily.com/2007/05/09/the-dangerous-myth-of-the-dream-job/#comment-60789 Servaas Fri, 11 May 2007 11:08:26 +0000 http://webworkerdaily.com/2007/05/09/the-dangerous-myth-of-the-dream-job/#comment-60789 I can see what you're talking about. I work 40 hours for one customer and about 10 for several smaller customers. It happens to me more and more that I take 10 hours off my biggest customer to be able to spend that time on the other projects. And that works for me. It saves me about two hours a week I can spend playing music, offline.... I can see what you’re talking about. I work 40 hours for one customer and about 10 for several smaller customers. It happens to me more and more that I take 10 hours off my biggest customer to be able to spend that time on the other projects. And that works for me. It saves me about two hours a week I can spend playing music, offline….

]]> By: Joe Flood http://webworkerdaily.com/2007/05/09/the-dangerous-myth-of-the-dream-job/#comment-60394 Joe Flood Thu, 10 May 2007 21:11:11 +0000 http://webworkerdaily.com/2007/05/09/the-dangerous-myth-of-the-dream-job/#comment-60394 When I was looking for a new job a couple years ago, one book was really influential during my job search - Fire Your Boss by Stephen M. Pollan. His argument is that you should not look for creative fulfillment in your job. Instead, you should look for the most money and best lifestyle available (sounds a lot like 4 Hour Workweek). Pollan was a life coach who counseled a lot of burnt-out creatives who sought to change the world through their day jobs. Instead, he told them to just look at their jobs as a means to an end and to pursue their creative life outside of work. When I was looking for a new job a couple years ago, one book was really influential during my job search – Fire Your Boss by Stephen M. Pollan. His argument is that you should not look for creative fulfillment in your job. Instead, you should look for the most money and best lifestyle available (sounds a lot like 4 Hour Workweek). Pollan was a life coach who counseled a lot of burnt-out creatives who sought to change the world through their day jobs. Instead, he told them to just look at their jobs as a means to an end and to pursue their creative life outside of work.

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