In life, there's a universal truth we often ignore.
Everything worth doing is hard.
I'm not talking about the grind-for-the-sake-of-it mentality that's been popularized by Silicon Valley or New York as a some sort of perverse badge of honor.
I'm talking about the idea that every path is difficult. So what matters is personal fulfillment.
In other words, choosing our "hard".
Why do people shy away from "hard" stuff? I think it's for three reasons.
One is because the media, traditional and social, has popularized "overnight" success stories. It leads people to believe success came easy to them and if they just replicate what the "successful" people have done, they'll be a success too.
Unfortunately, these stories never give an accurate account of the real struggles people had to go through for years before they became a "success".
Two is because in today's society we all have a ton of responsibilities. Work. Home. Family. Friends. Taxes. So we're understandably always on the look out for short cuts.
And three is because there is always a charlatan taking advantage of these insecurities peddling the next "3-step formula" to success.
But there are two kickers:
- Nothing worth doing is easy.
- "Success" doesn’t equal fulfillment.
I've experienced "success" and fulfillment in equal measure. And they don't always go hand in hand.
In my career, I've alternated between employment and entrepreneurship.
From 2000 to 2005, I chose the path of entrepreneurship. I was rewarded with being my own boss and setting my own hours. And it turned out, it was incredibly hard.
The uncertainty. The weight of every decision resting on your shoulders. And the fear that it might all go away. (And it did.)
Then, with a growing family, I pivoted, took a job, and climbed the career ladder. I was rewarded with job growth, bigger titles, more salary, and more recognition.
And guess what? It was really hard too.
From 2017 to 2022, I worked at a series of high growth tech startups in various management and executive roles. I was rewarded with bigger portfolios, bigger budgets, bigger teams, fancier titles, more influence, way more money, and a better network.
And guess what? Yup. It was bloody damn hard.
I've done the long hours, made the family sacrifices, and faced the constant battle to stay ahead in a race that seemed never-ending.
In some cases, it was an unfulfilling kind of hard. I left work every day completely drained instead of energized.
But in other cases it felt different. It was exciting. Every outcome, good or bad, felt more directly a result of my actions and choices.
So, what's your hard going to be?
There is nothing wrong with working a career and going the "normal" path. It's awesome and can be incredibly rewarding. Not everyone needs to become an entrepreneur or own a business.
I've done both and both are hard in different ways.
So expect that it’s hard and remember to be aware of your level of fulfillment.
If you’re not fulfilled? Chart your own path. Figure out what gives you fulfillment. Find the thing that lights a fire under you, that gets you out of bed, and pursue it with passion. If you're not sure what that is, connect with people, learn from them, then experiment for yourself.
As you do, build a track record of results, that you're someone who can get things done, and then learn how to market yourself.
The real question is, what are you willing to endure for the sake of something that truly fulfills you?
As a product manager, you're smart, motivated, and ambitious. You want to make an impact and you're not afraid of hard work.
I've made the choice for myself time and again. If you feel unfulfilled, are you willing to try something hard that has more personal upside?
Give it some thought. There’s no right answer.
But thinking about it might just redefine your entire approach to career and life.
There's never been an easier time to do this. Stop talking about it and do it.
That’s all for today.
