
Bruce Feiler
A bold roadmap for finding meaning and fulfillment in work by rewriting your own story.
Bruce Feiler conducted over 150 in-depth interviews for this book, creating a database of more than 10,000 pages of transcripts.
Section 1
9 Sections
Welcome, dear listener, to a gentle exploration of the stories we tell ourselves about work—a journey from old myths to new possibilities. Imagine standing at a crossroads, the sun rising on a landscape that’s both familiar and full of promise. For generations, we’ve been handed a script: get a degree, climb the ladder, follow the path, and you’ll achieve success. But what if I told you that script was always meant for only a few—and that it’s quietly dissolving beneath our feet?
Let’s start with a truth that may surprise you: the concept of a 'career' as a steady, upward journey is barely a century old.
But these ladders were often missing rungs for women, people of color, immigrants, and anyone whose dreams didn’t fit the mold. A careful look at the classic books on success reveals a stunning uniformity: hundreds of white men, a handful of women, and almost no one else. Our collective story of work was narrow, exclusive, and, for many, deeply unfulfilling.
Yet, even as we clung to these myths, the world was changing. Technology, globalization, and shifting values have made the old paths impossible to follow. Today, people change jobs, industries, and even identities at a rate our grandparents could never imagine.
It might feel unsettling to let go of the old myths, but there’s freedom in this new world. You are no longer bound to someone else’s definition of success. You are free to write your own story, to choose your own adventure. As we move to the next chapter, let’s explore how these changes are not just challenges, but invitations—to discover meaning, to embrace change, and to find fulfillment on our own terms.
7 more insights available in app
Unlock all 9 sections, 8 insights, full audio, and interactive mind map in the SnapBooks app.
Ditch the Outdated Scripts: How Today’s Most Satisfied Professionals Build Careers Like Mosaics, Not Ladders
Read articleDon’t Fear Disruption—Harness It: Practical Strategies for Turning Career Shocks into Opportunities
Read article