Your Sorting Hat: On long-term speed, obsessing vs observing and focusing on narrative
Career Tuesday
Careers, Life and Questions (May 20, 2025)
Wish you a Happy Career Tuesday!
3 Career Ideas
I.
"Slow is smooth. Smooth is fast."
Hurrying through tasks creates rework. Rushing career decisions creates regret.
Want long-term speed? Prioritise clarity. Cut distractions. Invest deep focus.
Slowing down may be the fastest way to grow your impact.
II.
"Joy at work compounds—just like wealth."
What task gave you joy last week?
Do more of that. A career filled with meaningful micro-moments becomes a life well lived.
Track your joy. Compound it.
III.
"Every career deserves a personal board of directors."
Who are the 5 people you go to for advice, perspective, or challenge?
If no names come to mind, you’re flying solo when you could be flying smarter.
Start building that board—mentors, peers, friends who hold a mirror and a map.
2 Life Quotes from Books
I.
Rick Rubin, music producer, in The Creative Act: A Way of Being :
"Zoom in and obsess. Zoom out and observe. We get to choose."
Source: Book: The Creative Act by Rick Rubin
II.
Nora Ephron, writer and director, in I Feel Bad About My Neck, on fact and fiction:
"I am led to the proposition that there is no fiction or nonfiction as we commonly understand the distinction; there is only narrative."
Source: Book: I feel Bad by Nora Ephron
1 Question
What’s one career or life relationship you’d like to renew or rekindle this week?
How will you take the first step today?
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Until next week,
Devashish Chakravarty
Author of YourSortingHat
Columnist for Careers at The Economic Times