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The Good Enough Job

What We Gain When We Don’t Put Work First

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The Good Enough Job

By: Simone Stolzoff
Narrated by: Simone Stolzoff
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About this listen

Brought to you by Penguin.

The Good Enough Job reminds us that the biggest goal of all is to live a life we are happy with, and in which work is but one of the multitude of facets that make us who we are. An antidote to the toxic #hustle movement convincing us all we need to find fulfilment in the office, it denounces the dangers of burnout linked to those of us who cannot answer the question: beyond work, what's left?

Conversations of burnout have bubbled to the top of the cultural zeitgeist as the line between work and not-work continues to blur. Burnout and workaholism are symptoms of a deeper root cause: a lack of separation between who we are and what we do. This book is not a credo against looking to work for fulfilment, nor is it in favour of treating work as a necessary evil. It is a guide to developing a healthier relationship to work through the stories of people who have successfully done so. These are stories that invite us to re-evaluate what makes us happy, and how we can work to live, rather than the other way round.

©2023 Simone Stolzoff (P)2023 Penguin Audio Career Success Personal Development Personal Success Workplace & Organisational Behavior Workplace Culture

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Critic reviews

"An incredibly propulsive read. It will absolutely challenge you, in the best way possible, to change the way you think about work." (Anne Helen Petersen)

"A sharp analysis of modern work culture." (Vauhini Vara)
All stars
Most relevant  
This book is inspiring, for all workaholics who let their jobs become their lives & their life is their job.

Life changing

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Despite some slightly off kilter examples (most of the people giving up work are financially secure) it nevertheless gets to the nub of our issues with work itself. The basic takeaway is can you define yourself beyond your career? If not, that’s a potential problem.

Refreshing take on the burden of work

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I’m getting ready to go back to work after a 13month career break and this book has been a fantastic way to conclude my year off. I am going back with clear boundaries, a sense of who I am outside of my paid work and no longer do I attach my self worth to performance objectives/promotions.

Who are you when you’re not working!?!?

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My partner recommended this book because I’m looking for a way to slow down, appreciate what I have, and deprioritize work.

Simone’s stories resonated with me. Each of the stories takes you through an individual, their situation, and what forced them to reevaluate their choice, circumstances, and the value of their work as it pertains to their whole self.

The Kickstarter story resonated in particular with me. It helped me realize that I am the only person that will look out for me at work.

I took lots of notes while listening and I’d recommend you do too. I want to look back at them as I make decisions about my life/work balance and how I have the ultimate say in that decision.

This is the book for you if you need to reset life/work balance

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easy listen with interesting and varied perspectives on the meaning and value we derive from our worklife. meaty content and the perspectives made this a fresh and inviting way to consider ones own perspective and choice. really well put together.

thought provoking

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This book is an important reminder to all of us to take a step back and really think about what we want our lives to look like, and not just going with the flow. It’s full of sad facts about where our society has gone, but also full of inspiring people who have gone in the opposite direction.

Must-read for recent grads!

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Start with a vision of a well-lived life, and think about how work can support that vision, rather than the other way around.

Simone Stolzoff has created a cracker with this one.

Ah, the Endless Pursuit of Dream Jobs.

Simone highlights the futility of constantly chasing the elusive "dream job", suggesting instead a focus on finding a role that is "good enough".

This doesn't mean settling for mediocrity, but rather separating self-worth from work output and valuing sufficiency over perfection.

Stolzoff emphasises that work is an important part of who we are, but it shouldn't encompass our entire identity.

He also suggests that to develop sources of identity and meaning outside of work, we must invest energy in activities beyond our jobs.

As a chilli-growing, chilli-cooking, plasma-donating, running / walking / cycling Concept2, Inc. fanboy, this struck home.

The risk of a work-centric existence is that jobs can consume not only our time but also our best energy, leaving the leftovers for other aspects of life.

This creates an imbalance that may limit personal growth and overall well-being​.

Instead of perpetually seeking an ideal job that may never materialise, consider finding a role that is "good enough".

This can provide a healthier sense of fulfilment, contributing to both professional and personal growth.

Energy, like time, is a limited resource.

If we devote our best energy solely to work, we risk neglecting other areas of our lives.

Therefore, consciously allocate energy to other aspects of life to foster a more balanced existence.

This not only prevents burnout but also encourages personal growth and a fuller life.

I need to read it again as I'm sure I've missed as much as I've gained.

By defining ourselves solely by our jobs, we risk losing sight of who we are outside of work.

Engaging in diverse activities and interests can provide a more balanced, holistic sense of self​.

Stolzoff has created a cracker with this one.

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A good read with a focus on real life narratives of people who discovered the value of life over work. Some useful key messages to take. Most books in this space repeat the same stories and advice but this one did not do that, it felt much more original, which was very much appreciated.

A Narrative Based Approach

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