Stylized text that reads 'The Way of Work' with a dark green background and a red underline for the phrase.
A digital illustration of a person standing on the edge of a cliff, overlooking a sunset, with mountains and clouds in the background. The scene is stylized with vibrant, abstract colors.

Series #02: Don’t Work

What happens when you don’t work? When your primary identity, centered around work, disappears? What remains? And what is rediscovered in its place?
10-part series

A digital illustration of a person standing on the edge of a steep cliff overlooking a vibrant, abstract landscape with colorful, painterly textures and shapes.

Work identity serves, then severs >>

My work identity: the rise before the fall.

Part 1 | Reading Time: 5 mins

A digital illustration of a person floating or falling in a deep, narrow canyon with steep rocky walls, illuminated by a soft, diffuse light from above.

Unraveling the layers of work identity >>

Who am I without work?

Part 2 | Reading Time: 7 mins

Abstract digital painting of a person walking alone on a reflective surface towards a bright yellow sun, with colorful splashes of orange, yellow, green, and blue in the background.

The Value of Disappearing >>

The unexpected benefits of escaping from it all (and what to put back in its place).

Part 3 | Reading Time: 5 mins

A digital painting of a person sitting on a slope with colorful abstract background, looking towards the light.

How to be unproductive >>

Why you should get less done (when you’re stuck). From a productivity fanatic.

Part 4 | Reading Time: 6 mins

Silhouette of a person standing on a cliff with one arm raised, against a colorful abstract background with splashes of yellow, orange, green, and blue.

Beyond our basic ambition >>

Is our current concept of ambition, ambitious enough?

Part 5 | Reading Time: 7 mins

A animated-style illustration of a small figure standing on a rocky cliff overlooking a waterfall and colorful sky, with abstract, vibrant background.
Silhouettes of ten people walking on a road with vibrant abstract colorful background.

The “Hard Work” Delusion >>

So you believe in hard work. But what is your work?

Part 6 | Reading Time: 6 mins

Diversified Portfolio of Identities >>

We would never put all of our money into one stock. But many of us put the entirety of our identity into one area: Work.

Part 7 | Reading Time: 6 mins

Silhouette of a person standing on a hill, viewing large, colorful canyon walls at sunset with vibrant orange, yellow, green, and blue hues.

Scale down, after scaling up >>

Coming back down to reality, after reaching the top

Part 8 | Reading Time: 6 mins

An abstract illustration of a human figure split into two colors, green on the left and orange on the right, with brushstroke effects.

The very easy, not-painful-at-all, 5 super simple steps to changing your career >>

The definitely-no-pain-whatsoever guide to doing something different

Part 9 | Reading Time: 6 mins

A digital illustration of a person standing at the edge of a cliff, looking at a flying bird in the sky with clouds and colorful sunset hues.

When you don’t have a “calling” >>

How to find your work, when it isn’t obvious.

Part 10 | Reading Time: 8 mins

Silhouette of a person standing on a rock overlooking a colorful mountain landscape at sunset with orange, yellow, and teal hues.

Are you climbing the wrong mountain >>

A summary of the “Don’t Work” series: lessons from a year away

Summary | Reading Time: 7 mins

Check out the next series, asking what it’s actually like when you have enough:

Series #03 : The Other Side of Enough