Book review: How will you measure your life?
This is my book review series, where I share my thoughts on books I've read recently. This post is on "How will you measure your life? - Clayton M. Christensen.
I've been on a journey of self-discovery recently and have been trying to carve out time to think about what it is that I want to do with my life. Perhaps it was me turning 30 or the additional time that I have on my hands that has caused me to go into this existential crisis. In any case… this journey that I am on, have led me to this book.
How can you find happiness in your career?
The only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven't found it yet, keep looking. Don't settle. As with all matters of the heart, you will know when you find it – Steve Jobs
The book's first part asks you to assess your career using the 2-factor theory - Hygiene and Motivational factors. The 5 hygiene factors are 1. Status 2. Compensation 3. Job Security 4. Work Conditions 5. Company Policies. While the 4 motivational factors are 1. Challenging Work, 2. Recognition, 3. Responsibility, 4. Personal Growth. The 2-factor theory argues that hygiene factors are like your baseline. It isn't enough to create job satisfaction on their own, but if it is missing, it can cause job dissatisfaction. The factors that make job satisfaction are the motivational factors.
I can relate to the 2-factor theory because I am guilty of assessing opportunities only based on hygiene. It can be difficult to tick all of the boxes for the hygiene factors, to me, this is why we fixate on these factors so much. However, I've realized that if the opportunity I'm assessing meets the minimum threshold for the hygiene factors, then I should be basing my decisions on the motivational factors.
Now, if you are in the "I'm not sure what career suits me yet group," fret not. The book says that you are in the experimentation or emergent phase. The aim is to try new things, iterate quickly, and continue on this path till it begins to click. When you find what you like, your strategy needs to change from emergent to a deliberate one, start executing towards the goals of your defined plan. I liked this framing as I feel that I am definitely in the emergent phase. And have to keep reminding myself it is ok to experiment and continue to do so until things began to click.
How can you find happiness in your relationships?
The happiest moments of my life have been the few which I have passed at home in the bosom of my family. - Thomas Jefferson
This part of the book highlights that people spend too much time developing their professional self but far too little time on their personal self. Often, people believe that they can put off investing time for their family to the later part of their life and invest first to build their career. The truth is the relationship we have with our loved ones is an essential source of our happiness.
The book helped me realize the importance of investing time in my relationships. One interesting point was not to do the things you think are helpful for the other person, but instead ask your loved ones what they would like you to do to make them feel appreciated. Often times we project what we want to others. When I was reading this, I asked my husband what he would like me to do to make him feel loved, and his answer was surprising - "to not leave dirty dishes in the sink for long." I would have never thought that this simple act would make him feel loved without asking.
Personally, I didn’t feel the integrity bit really flowed with the overall narrative of the book and I think the book could have been kept to the 2 sections I summarised above.
Overall I would rate the book 4 out of 5. It was an enjoyable short read I would recommend it especially if you are in the “emergent” phase like I am.