When looking for a job, my goal is to:

  • create value
    • by solving hard problems
    • while working with smart people
    • who are also very kind.

Nothing particularly profound or groundbreaking, but maintaining this as a guiding principle has been very helpful to me. Avoid bullshit jobs. Take on challenges that stretch your abilities, rather than on something you already know that you can do. Work with other smart people that you can learn from. And get along with.

I have found this to be a valuable tool for reflection and self-assessment, particularly in recognising, and when possible, steering clear of stagnation.

Like everyone else, I have been stuck at jobs where all the above boxes weren’t checked. Reasons were varied: personal life taking precedence, waiting for that big stock or a bonus payout if I could just grind it out for a couple more months, market conditions, an upcoming vacation, or simply a lack of compelling alternatives.

In such situations, it is helpful to acknowledge and accept a less-than-optimal situation instead of lying to myself about the situation that I am stuck in.