Introduction
Most college graduates enter corporate America because they've been told that this is the path to long-term happiness and success. It's never questioned or challenged, and usually after a few months or maybe a year, they realize this:
Everything you've been told about working? It's a lie.
Your dream job? It's an illusion.
Climbing the corporate ladder to become a CEO? It's unlikely.
At least for the majority of people. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS 2023b), in 2022 there were an estimated 199,240 “chief executives” in the labor market. For context, the 2022 labor market was estimated to include approximately 164 million people (BLS 2023a). That means that—generously—0.1% of workers will reach the C-suite.
Sure, that could be you—but it probably won't be. And that's okay!
It's normal to enter the workforce feeling motivated, excited, and ready to conquer the world. I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but that feeling is fleeting, and if you want to find true happiness at work, you'll need to define it on your own terms. I know it sounds scary and depressing, but that's what I'm here for.
It's become far too commonplace to find yourself 15 years deep into a career that is wholly unsatisfying, and to feel absolutely lost on how to find purpose at work. The reality of spending the majority of your life working is overwhelming.
It doesn't have to be that way.
Who Do I Think I Am, Anyway?
Whether you picked up this book after following me on social ...
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