I'm 30.
I've worked on oil rigs, climbed corporate ladders, & hustled as a freelancer—and still had no clue what I wanted to do with my life.
Then I found Robert Greene's book Mastery and everything clicked.
Here are his 3 steps on how to find your "Life's Task":
I've worked on oil rigs, climbed corporate ladders, & hustled as a freelancer—and still had no clue what I wanted to do with my life.
Then I found Robert Greene's book Mastery and everything clicked.
Here are his 3 steps on how to find your "Life's Task":
Everyone is born unique.
We each own a personal monopoly as our birthright and possess an innate drive to nurture that "seed" to its full potential.
Greene describes this process as our Life's Task—expressing our uniqueness through our work.
His three steps are as follows:
We each own a personal monopoly as our birthright and possess an innate drive to nurture that "seed" to its full potential.
Greene describes this process as our Life's Task—expressing our uniqueness through our work.
His three steps are as follows:
#1 Reconnect with your nature
You weren't born to spend a third of your life doing what you hate, the other third having nightmares about it, and the remaining third wondering where the time went.
Yet for most of us, this is the default plan we're given.
You weren't born to spend a third of your life doing what you hate, the other third having nightmares about it, and the remaining third wondering where the time went.
Yet for most of us, this is the default plan we're given.
As a child, your interests were involuntary.
Nobody could tell you why you were drawn to this or that — you just were.
They represented an attraction, not yet infected by the desires of others.
Something that came from deep within. Something you owned entirely.
Nobody could tell you why you were drawn to this or that — you just were.
They represented an attraction, not yet infected by the desires of others.
Something that came from deep within. Something you owned entirely.
"In order to master a field, you must love the subject and feel a profound connection to it. Your interest must transcend the field itself and border on the religious."
#2 Elevate your concept of "work"
The modern notion of work is messed up.
Slave in a cubicle for 8 hours; indulge ourselves later to make up for it.
We come to see pleasure as something that can only exist outside the hours of 9-5—and label it "work/life balance."
The modern notion of work is messed up.
Slave in a cubicle for 8 hours; indulge ourselves later to make up for it.
We come to see pleasure as something that can only exist outside the hours of 9-5—and label it "work/life balance."
What about the Musk's of the world; the Da Vinci's; or Greene himself?
Those who see work not merely as something to trade time for money, but as a vessel to achieve something greater—a deep and intrinsic purpose.
Those who see work not merely as something to trade time for money, but as a vessel to achieve something greater—a deep and intrinsic purpose.
Greene puts it best:
"What we lack most in the modern world is a sense of a larger purpose to our lives.
In the past, it was organized religion that often supplied this. But most of us now live in a secularized world.
We human animals are unique—we must build our own world."
"What we lack most in the modern world is a sense of a larger purpose to our lives.
In the past, it was organized religion that often supplied this. But most of us now live in a secularized world.
We human animals are unique—we must build our own world."
#3 Embrace a nonlinear path
First, we climb the school ladder.
Then we climb the corporate ladder.
And then we climb the status ladder.
We go from cradle to cubicle to casket, forever competing in games we never cared for, nor designed for us to win.
First, we climb the school ladder.
Then we climb the corporate ladder.
And then we climb the status ladder.
We go from cradle to cubicle to casket, forever competing in games we never cared for, nor designed for us to win.
Life is never linear.
Treating it in such a way puts limitations on your potential.
Instead, you must see it as a journey—with twists and turns that slowly narrow into the thing you know was meant for you.
I like to visualize it as a "Christmas tree":
Treating it in such a way puts limitations on your potential.
Instead, you must see it as a journey—with twists and turns that slowly narrow into the thing you know was meant for you.
I like to visualize it as a "Christmas tree":
"You are not tied to a particular position; your loyalty is not to a career or company.
You are committed to your Life's Task, to giving it full expression. It is up to you to find it and guide it correctly.
It is not up to others to protect or help you. You are on your own."
You are committed to your Life's Task, to giving it full expression. It is up to you to find it and guide it correctly.
It is not up to others to protect or help you. You are on your own."
Add "Mastery" to your reading list. You won't regret it.
If you learned something from this thread, consider sharing the post to help someone who may benefit from Greene's wisdom.
For more on philosophy & entrepreneurship, check me out @ItsMatDo
If you learned something from this thread, consider sharing the post to help someone who may benefit from Greene's wisdom.
For more on philosophy & entrepreneurship, check me out @ItsMatDo
P.S. I know something as big as your “Life’s Task” can be abstract.
If you're like me and function better with step-by-step instructions, I’ve compiled & organized these principles into a practical guide.
Feel free to check it out: northstar.crd.co
If you're like me and function better with step-by-step instructions, I’ve compiled & organized these principles into a practical guide.
Feel free to check it out: northstar.crd.co
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