330: Navigating the Shift from Fixed Problems to Adaptive Development

We operate in a changing world where centralized control is too slow and disconnected from reality

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Why Practical Knowledge and Valuable Skills Matter More Than Passion

When considering a career change, it's important to remember that you're not bound to a specific job or company. Instead, focus on acquiring practical knowledge to achieve long-term success. Rather than fixating solely on pursuing your passion, prioritize doing the work correctly. Adopting a craftsman mindset is crucial to building a successful career, regardless of how you feel about your current job. Avoid settling for living up to other people's models of success. With career capital, sustainable control is achievable but requires improving your skills before expecting quality work. Aim to be valuable instead of solely focusing on making money.

Instead of solely focusing on finding the perfect job, concentrate on working diligently. A successful career often results from a complex process that goes beyond just following your passion. To create value, you must have something equally valuable to offer. Why continue following other people's paths to success? Hard work won't help you improve your performance beyond a certain point. It's essential to identify the type of capital market you're in, your capital type, and your definition of "good." Stretching and challenging yourself is crucial for growth, even if it means stepping out of your comfort zone. You may need more than a 9-to-5 job to advance your career for several reasons. Such jobs offer a fixed salary and limited opportunities for advancement. The business world is competitive and fast-paced, which demands going beyond the regular 9-to-5 workday to keep up and stay ahead. This can entail starting a side business, freelancing, or developing a new product or service. Although a 9-to-5 job provides stability and a steady income, you may need extra effort to advance your career.

Deliberate practice requires focus and concentration to improve your skills. Intentional practice may only sometimes be enjoyable, as it often involves doing things we're not already good at. This means being deliberate and not just going through the motions. Money is a measure of value, so aiming to make money means being valuable. If you can't find evidence to support a task, move on to something else. To find a fulfilling career, you must master rare and valuable skills and use them to create something that sets you apart. Pursuing more control without practical skills is a mirage. You must also stay up-to-date with new ideas in your field and be dedicated to brainstorming. Exposure to new ideas is critical to staying competitive. According to basic economic theory, if you want something valuable, you must have something equally useful to offer. Hard work alone won't help you improve your performance beyond a certain point.  

Navigating the Shift from Fixed Problems to Adaptive Development

In a cause-and-effect system, problems can be solved; however, organizational culture is not a problem to be fixed but rather an emerging phenomenon that needs development. Traditional leaders view everything as a factory, where working hard and long enough can solve any problem. However, bureaucracies cannot handle the daily unpredictable events, and they do not produce unexpected breakthroughs. Therefore, leaders and teams must realize that our way of working is a human-made construction that can be changed. Every organization has a purpose, but not all ensure their purpose is visible at every level.

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