August 2024 Diary - The Work-Satisfaction Loop

In June, I had the opportunity to do a talk at a conference for a large audience. Afterwards, I was on a high for days. Even though I do actually like public speaking as an activity, that was not the only reason I enjoyed the event so much. Doing a talk like this fit perfectly within something that I’m going to call the Work-Satisfaction Loop.

The Work-Satisfaction Loop can only occur if the following conditions are met:

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1/ There is a defined scope of work for a specific project or initiative

2/ That defined scope of work requires thoughtful, interesting work in order to complete it

3/ There is a defined endpoint and delivery of said work

4/ Rewards are received for a job well done after the delivery of the work

5/ Everyone else that is tangential or involved in the work takes it as seriously as you do.

Rarely are all 5 of these conditions met. But doing a speech for a large audience at a well-established conference did:

1/ I had a very specific scope of what I was supposed to be talking about. I also had a very specific time period that I had to fill

2/ I had the flexibility to craft my own speech, and add humor or other flair where I saw fit.

3/ The conference had a defined date and I had an assigned time slot

4/ Because the conference was in person, I had the opportunity to immediately interact with people who saw me speak and get their feedback

5/ I was professionally mic’d up, there was a ton of prep from the conference organizers, and all the speakers were formally introduced.

Rarely are all of these conditions met in adult life. As a child, this loop seemed to occur often. School and extra curricular activities are set up to education children about setting defined goals and a job-well-done. But as an adult, much of the labor we perform is ongoing, ill-defined, or just doesn’t matter to others. In my own life, I notice that pieces 2 and 5 from the loop are usually conspicuously lacking.

Much of the work that is required of me, both professionally, and personally is simply not interesting. Personally, doing my accounting and scheduling is not very fulfilling. And professionally, attending meetings and responding to emails is soul sucking. Every so often, I get to a point in a project that allows for actual deep, creative thinking but during the day-to-day? Not so much.

5 may seem deceptively easy but I almost never see it. Even when I give a presentation at work, rarely do I feel like anyone is taking it as seriously as I am. People will join the session late and request a recording half the time because they’re overwhelmed with their own workload. Thus, even if I’ve taken pride in putting something together, any positive feelings are immediately muted by the lack of interest and enthusiasm from others.

I’ve spoken with my sister about this feeling. They work as a barista. While this job lacks in other ways, the work-satisfaction loop is actually more clear here. Customer orders coffee, my sister creates a coffee, coffee is delivered to a customer, oftentimes to their delight. Corporate work, on the other hand, sometimes feels like a never ending stream of meetings, emails, and documentation, the purpose of which is often obscure.

Personal work is even worse. I will have to schedule dentist appointments, pay bills, and wash dishes until I die. There are no rewards nor does it allow for interesting thoughts. You can have hobbies but those also rarely result in a defined delivery of a specific objective and are typically shapeless, ongoing (albeit pleasurable) activities in a person’s life.

It is frustrating to realize that most things in life do not provide much satisfaction because they do not meet all the conditions for it. Furthermore, it’s even more frustrating to realize that these are the types of activities that are prioritized and that make the most money. In the face of these societal structures, I don’t have much in the way of advice. But, keeping an eye out for when this loop does occur can help us recognize when we are actually doing something worthwhile, and can hopefully allow us to recognize and take advantage of those opportunities as often as possible.

August Consumption Report

I’ve developed the following rating system, it’s half Michelin inspired and half of my own making.

5/5 - go out of your way to consume this, it is incredible, we will have endless discussions if you do. I’m obsessed.

4/5 - It is good. If you pick it up, I bet you won’t be disappointed

3/5 - Take it or leave it. It didn’t offend nor impress me

2/5 - It maybe has a couple redeemable qualities. Would not consume it knowing what I know now.

1/5 - Avoid at all costs. Go out of your way to avoid it.

Here are August’s ratings: did not consume a ton of media this month, and not too much stood out either.

Books

1. Blood Over Bright Haven by M.L. Wang (5/5)

2. Bullshit Jobs by David Graeber (3/5)

3. Jade City by Fonda Lee (4/5)

Movies

1. The Fall Guy (4/5)

2. A Silent Voice (3/5)

3. Executive Decision (3/5)

4. Alien: Romulus (3/5)

5. Uptown Girls (3/5)

TV Shows

1. My Lady Jane (4/5)

2. Demon Slayer S4 (4/5)

3. My Hero Academia S6 (?) (3/5)

4. The Bear S3 (3/5)