The Good Enough Job: Reclaiming Life from Work challenges the idea that work should be the center of our lives. It argues that many of us have fallen into workism, a trap where we look to our jobs for our main source of meaning and identity. This has led to widespread burnout and dissatisfaction. The book proposes a healthier approach: finding a good enough job that supports our lives outside of work, instead of defining us.
Some of the key ideas in the book are:
- Workism is harmful: We treat work like a religion, seeking meaning from it, which sets us up for failure.
- Dream jobs are a myth: The idea of a perfect, always-passionate job is unrealistic.
- “Vocational awe” hides problems: Believing some jobs are inherently good stops us from noticing issues like unfair pay or treatment.
- Life outside work matters: We’re not just workers; we’re also family members, friends, and individuals with hobbies. Over-focusing on work neglects these other parts of life.
- Workplaces aren’t families: Companies that try to create a “family” environment may be obscuring their own needs to prioritize profit over workers.
- Status games trap us: Constantly chasing achievements at work can make us lose sight of our own values and trap us in an endless cycle.
- “Good enough” is better than perfect: Seeking a job that’s “good enough” allows us to create a more balanced and fulfilling life.
To “take back our lives from work’s grasp”, the book suggests the following ideas:
- Define “good enough”: What does “enough” look like for you in your career, so that it supports your life?
- Explore non-work identities: What do you love to do that has nothing to do with work? Invest your time in these areas.
- Set boundaries: Actively separate work and personal time. When will you stop working?
- Detach self-worth from work: Your value doesn’t come from your productivity.
- Be present: Focus on the now rather than constantly chasing future goals at work.
- Be critical: Recognize that “hustle culture” usually benefits employers, not you.
- Ask “What do you like to do?”: Instead of “What do you do?” This helps you define yourself.
- Understand your work style: Are you a “segmentor” or an “integrator”? Use that information to create a better work/life setup for yourself.
- Cultivate gratitude: Focus on what you have rather than always chasing more.
- Take Action: Act your way to a better relationship with work, instead of thinking your way there.
- Avoid comparisons: Your journey is unique. Don’t compare your journey to others’.
- Be courageous: Prioritize your life over your work, even when it is difficult.
The Good Enough Job urges us to think differently about success, find value beyond our jobs, and create a more balanced, fulfilling life. By shifting our focus and working towards system-wide changes, we can all prioritize life, not just work.
I felt that The Good Enough Job and Slow Productivity ideas are connected by their shared goal of redefining work, by placing well-being before relentless productivity. The good enough job challenges “workism” by advocating for work as a sufficient means, while slow productivity rejects “pseudo-productivity” in favour of quality and fewer things. Both promote a balanced approach that prioritises life outside work, with a sustainable pace and a personal definition of enough.