Podcast Summary
Impact of work on mental health discussed with Professor Scott Galloway: Work significantly influences happiness and well-being, collaboration and teamwork are crucial, and authenticity, overcoming fear, and in-person work are essential for mental health in the workplace.
Work plays a significant role in our overall happiness and well-being. Atlassian software, used by millions of teams worldwide, including Fortune 500 companies, helps keep teams connected and productive, emphasizing the importance of collaboration and teamwork. In this episode, Dan Harris interviews Professor Scott Galloway, a successful entrepreneur and author, about the impact of work on mental health. They discuss topics such as work-life balance, the role of luck in success, and the importance of bringing your authentic self to work. Galloway also shares insights on overcoming the fear of getting fired, the benefits of in-person work for younger employees, and his own struggles with economic anxiety and the approval of others. This conversation sets the stage for a four-part work series on topics including imposter syndrome, managing conflict, and mindfulness at work.
The role of work in mental health: Working long hours and societal pressure to be economically successful can negatively impact mental health. Finding purpose and meaning in work can improve mental well-being.
Work plays a significant role in our overall mental health due to the large amount of time we spend there and the societal pressure to be economically successful. Scott Galloway, a professor at NYU Stern School of Business, emphasizes this point, explaining that most people aspire to economic security and spend the better part of their adult lives working. Additionally, constant comparison to peers and societal expectations to provide can lead to added stress and negative impacts on mental health. Galloway also highlights the importance of finding purpose and meaning in our work to improve our mental well-being. The medium of consuming content, such as podcasts, can create a sense of connection and relationship, making the message even more impactful.
Professional setbacks impact self-worth and well-being as parents: Parents' professional failures can lead to feelings of disappointment and stress, impacting family relationships and mental health. Systemic issues like gender inequality in the workplace need addressing.
Our sense of self-worth and well-being in a capitalist society is heavily influenced by our professional and work-related experiences. Before having children, personal failures might not have weighed heavily on us, but once we become parents, our professional shortcomings can feel like a letdown to our families and ourselves. Work often serves as the foundation for our social networks and relationships, and economic stress can lead to significant issues like divorce. The evaluation we receive at work every day can be impossible to ignore, and the impact of our work environment on our mental health is substantial. It's crucial to recognize that our perspectives are shaped by our experiences and that there are systemic issues that need addressing, such as the underrepresentation of women in venture capital.
Recognizing Privilege and Making a Positive Impact: Acknowledging advantages and using positions of privilege to help others can lead to personal growth and positive change.
Recognition of privilege and the impact of systemic biases can lead to valuable personal growth. The speaker shares his experience of being a successful white male in the venture capital industry, but acknowledges that he was born with advantages that made his success easier to achieve. He regrets not using his position to make a positive impact on others' lives earlier in his career. The speaker also shares that his motivation for success came from personal experiences of failure and humiliation, but recognizes the role of luck in his achievements. He encourages kindness and empathy towards others, especially when one is in a position of privilege or influence. The speaker's reflections on his life and career highlight the importance of perspective, compassion, and taking action to make a difference in the lives of others.
Childhood financial struggles shape work ethic and drive for success: Immigrant background, parents' hard work, lack of economic security, recognition of privilege, kindness, smart financial decisions, and tolerance of failure all contribute to shaping a person's work ethic and drive for success.
Growing up with financial struggles can significantly impact a person's work ethic and drive for success. The speaker shares how their immigrant background and witnessing their parents' hard work instilled a strong work ethic in them. They also reflect on how their lack of economic security in their youth fueled their competitive instinct and motivation for success. However, they also acknowledge that recognizing privilege and striving for kindness are important aspects of personal growth. Additionally, the speaker discusses the importance of making smart financial decisions, even if it seems small, as it can lead to significant rewards in the future. Lastly, they share their experience of starting businesses and how the American society's tolerance of failure allowed them to keep trying and eventually find success.
Understanding the instinct to seek validation as we age: As we age, the desire for validation from others can lead to unhealthy obsession and dependency. Recognizing this instinct and managing it can lead to a more fulfilling and present-moment focused life, while also appreciating the importance of relationships and mortality.
As people age, their priorities shift from economic security to building meaningful relationships and seeking relevance. This fear of irrelevance and the desire for validation from others, even strangers, can be a deeply ingrained instinct, akin to a competitive nature or addiction. While it's natural to want to be the best and seek approval, it can also lead to unhealthy obsession and dependency on external validation. Understanding the root causes and learning to manage these desires can lead to a more fulfilling and present-moment focused life. Additionally, recognizing the importance of mortality and relationships can help put things into perspective and increase appreciation for the present.
Savoring life's precious moments: Recognize and appreciate fleeting moments of joy and happiness, train your mind to savor them through practices like meditation and Buddhism, and understand their value in the context of life's impermanence.
Identifying what truly brings fulfillment and contentment in life is essential. Fame and material possessions can be rewarding, but they are not enough. Instead, we should strive to recreate moments in our lives that bring us the most joy and happiness. These moments, often found in the company of loved ones and pets, are fleeting and precious. Learning to savor and appreciate these moments is a trainable mental skill, and practices like meditation and Buddhism can help us become more aware of them. Ultimately, recognizing the impermanence of life's pleasures can make them even more valuable and enjoyable.
Finding joy in the present moment as we age: Older adults often find greater happiness in appreciating simple moments, despite facing challenges and potential health issues, making it a valuable lesson for all ages to learn to enjoy the present
As we grow older, we often find greater joy and happiness in appreciating the simple moments in life. Growing up, we're conditioned to focus on making better future moments, often sacrificing the present. However, as we face the challenges and disappointments of adulthood, we eventually learn to find pleasure in the small things. This shift towards appreciating the present moment is a common experience among older adults, despite the common assumption that they should be the least happy due to their age and potential health issues. Instead, studies show that older people are often the happiest cohort. So, the faster we can learn to marvel at the "salad" in front of us, the better. It's a valuable lesson that's hard to grasp when we're young, but one that becomes increasingly rewarding as we age.
Bringing your whole self to work, but draw a line with personal beliefs and politics: Hard work and dedication are crucial for professional success. Tap into your strength and resilience to work long hours. Create economic value in the workplace, but avoid sharing political views to maintain focus on professional goals.
Bringing your whole self to work in terms of energy and commitment is crucial for professional success. However, it's important to draw a line when it comes to personal beliefs and politics. The speaker emphasizes the importance of hard work and dedication, especially when young, to establish a strong reputation. He also highlights the misconception that working long hours is impossible and encourages individuals to tap into their strength and resilience. While it's essential to create economic value in the workplace, the speaker advises against sharing political views to avoid potential backlash and maintain focus on professional goals.
Moving on from work disappointments: Experiencing setbacks at work doesn't define your worth. Focus on your value, persevere, and maintain balance in your life.
Getting fired or experiencing disappointment at work doesn't define your worth as a person. It's important to mourn and move on, focusing on the value you can bring to future opportunities. Perseverance and resilience are key to success. Remember, disappointments are often out of your control, and it's essential not to let them deter you from your goals. Additionally, don't bring your full self to every situation; some aspects of work may be beyond your control. Lastly, be wary of the hustle culture that glorifies quitting jobs and putting in extreme hours. Remember that everyone has commitments and challenges in their lives, and it's essential to find a balance that works for you.
Focus on career in your twenties and thirties: Young, ambitious individuals should prioritize their careers for economic security and relevance, as responsibilities increase with age. Remote work can hinder relationship-building and mentorship opportunities.
During your twenties and thirties, it's essential to focus on your career and go all in to establish relevance and economic security. Side hustles may indicate that your main hustle isn't working out, and successful people tend to be fully committed to one thing. Although some may value balance more, the speaker argues that young, ambitious individuals should prioritize their careers, as responsibilities like kids and aging parents will demand time as they grow older. Remote work can be an opportunity, but it may negatively impact young people's ability to build relationships and meet mentors in person. The speaker suggests that corporations should accommodate care workers, who often have responsibilities outside of work, to ensure their careers have trajectory. However, the office environment is crucial for young people, particularly young men, as it provides opportunities to meet people and establish guardrails.
The importance of office jobs for young people's growth: Office jobs offer crucial discipline, social interactions, and skills for young people's personal and professional development, contributing to overall happiness and economic success. Encouraging economic security measures could help address population decline and encourage more young people to have children.
Being in an office environment is beneficial for young people's personal and professional growth. The lack of full maturity in the prefrontal cortex of young men, in particular, makes the discipline and social interactions provided by an office setting crucial. These relationships and professional skills contribute to overall happiness and economic success. Additionally, the creative and risk-taking abilities of young people are essential for innovation and economic growth. Therefore, it's important for young people to prioritize finding jobs that offer an office environment to facilitate these benefits. Furthermore, population decline and the aging population pose significant challenges that require encouraging more people to have children, which could be addressed through economic security measures such as affordable childcare, lower-cost education, and housing assistance.
A Heated Exchange on Economy and Work-Life Balance: Engaging in important conversations, even if met with criticism, can lead to progress and bring attention to important issues.
Engaging in important conversations, even if met with criticism and backlash, is a necessary part of progress. During this episode of "10 Percent Happier," Dan Harris interviewed Scott Galloway about his views on the economy and work-life balance. The conversation led to a heated exchange, with some listeners accusing Dan and Scott of promoting harmful ideologies. However, Dan saw the value in the exchange, recognizing that it was catalyzing a conversation and bringing attention to important issues. He appreciated the opportunity to engage with Scott and valued the feedback, despite the criticism. The episode was produced by a team of dedicated individuals and featured music by Nick Thorburn of the band Islands. In the upcoming episode, Dan and his wife, Dr. Bianca Harris, will discuss imposter syndrome, a phenomenon where individuals doubt their accomplishments and fear being exposed as a fraud.
