A story from the recent history books:

When I started my 6 month sabbatical in February 2021, I went on a quest to figure out what I wanted to do with my life.

It quickly became apparent that there were a slew of authors, podcasters & influencers lining up to push & pedal the message that anyone who worked a 9 to 5 job was a slave to the system and even a bit of a mug.

One such author was podcaster, investor and chess fanatic James Altucher.

His books Skip The Line and Choose Yourself are overflowing with truly inspirational ideas about starting a business or transforming the way you live your life.

But mingled betwixt the gems of gold was sprinkled much anti-job baloney like “too many people at your job can make decisions that will ruin your life”, “what happened to the laughter?” and “you sold your dream”.

i.e. James was well & truly going to town on the 9 to 5 and all those who sailed within her.

Of course, this sort of 9 to 5 bashing isn’t new.

43 years ago, The Smoky Mountain Songbird Dolly Parton was warbling very similar when she sung:

Workin' nine to five, what a way to make a livin'
Barely gettin' by, it's all takin' and no givin'
They just use your mind and they never give you credit
It's enough to drive you crazy if you let it

This karaoke classic is as light-hearted as they come.

But the flannel and trumpery nowadays has a much more sinister ring to it.

Right now, as I’m writing this email, I’ve flipped to LinkedIn. 

And after 30 seconds of scrolling, this gem of a post has appeared on my feed:

Don’t trade your mental health for a paycheck.

It’s not worth it.

All of the money in the world won’t save a crushed mind.

Take it from me.…

And on it goes.

Guess what?

I fell for anti-job twaddle like this hook, line and sinker.

In many respects I was the perfect candidate. 

Three years ago, I was in the depths of burnout and thus already had a certain apathy & malaise about corporate life which meant it was almost a fait accompli that I’d jump on the “bash the 9 to 5 bandwagon” too.

And I didn’t just start buying into all these pithy slogans.

I started writing similar things myself.

If you flick back through some of my old emails or LinkedIn posts you'll see many references to the “rat race” or the “9 to 5 conveyor belt”.

I've come out the other side of this now.  But this anti-job rhetoric had a real hold on me for a good couple of years. 

And if you find yourself in a position similar to the one I was in and you're reading similar propaganda with itchy feet or even a much stronger desire to stick two fingers up to the system because you’re starting to believe that you actually have “sold your dream”, I say this:

I know exactly how it feels for thoughts like these to tug away at you.  And just how real they can look.

But they’re just thoughts. They’re just ideas. 

They’re not true.

And if you take the time to check in with yourself underneath the social media bluster and notice that, actually, deep down within your heart of hearts you don’t want to quit your job and risk the uncertainty, lack of security and financial pressure, but you’d still like to enjoy your working day more than you are right now, you’re in the right place.

It’s one of the reasons I created my new programme, Thrive at Work.

It’s a way to prove James, Dolly and the LinkedIn dimfluencers wrong.

And a way to see that freedom, ease, flow, happiness and joy are all categorically, 100% possible between the 9 to 5, even in a job which doesn’t set your soul on fire.

In fact, one of the results I expect from this programme is for participants to look back after three or six months and notice how a working day which used to be flat, uninspiring or full of struggle, strain & stress is now a source of real contentment and positivity.

Even if nothing about the job itself has changed.

If you’re wondering how this is possible, then here’s where to go for more info.

That’s all for today.

 - Tom