Do You Still Love Your Job? Did You Ever?
Maybe it's OK if you don't...Issue #135
For the past few months, I’ve been working on avoiding too much interaction with social media. That included this newsletter. There were several reasons for this and I hinted at them when I posted my last newsletter. Since that last newsletter, I’ve had a death in my family, work has piled up, and I didn’t feel like I had anything to say or contribute to the world of publishing. Other than baby and dog pictures, I haven’t felt a compelling desire to participate in social media right now.
One of the side effects of signing up for things on the internet is that right after you click “done”, your email address gets out into the wild and the next thing you know, your in-box is flooded. I keep practically ever single alert setting on my phone, laptop, desk top and elderly iPad turned to off but still, every morning, my email in-box is full of urgent messages to go and take a look at this or “can you believe?” that.
So these days, my delete button is getting a really great work out. Thank you, LinkedIn, 2024 election, and that advertisement I clicked on in Instagram a few months ago.
But last week I did see an article in LinkedIn that finally intrigued me. So I went and took a look at it. It was a repost of a Guardian article by NYU Professor Tessa West stating that it is “OK not to love your job.”
And that was something on social media that sparked my interest.
So, do you? Love your job, that is?
West argues that it’s OK not to and she cites three reasons. First: We feel we’re expected to find that love out of “pluralistic ignorance”, a belief that everyone else has found that love. She cites social media for breeding this jealousy. Yeah, that seems reasonable. Everyone else seems to be having fabulous careers, amazing vacations, and remarkably well behaved rescue dogs. Why not me?
Second: We think we’re supposed to fall in love with our careers instantly. Of course that’s now how it happens, but that’s what we’re often told. In real life, it can take time that career or job you love. Or it may never happen at all.
Finally, West points out that even people who love what they do can burn out.
No kidding.
It was a bit of a revelation to read this piece after experiencing some time off from social media. That time off included a break from this newsletter and a really big break from things like LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook and Blue Sky (I gave up on Twitter/X about a year ago.).
So, about my job: Is there passion? Is there love? Is it who I am? I think the answer has several parts. I do get passionate and excited about new launches. Tallying up the results of a campaign is exciting when there’s a win, interesting and challenging when the results aren’t what I wanted to see. I like my clients because I’m at a point where I can self select. And even to this day, in this digital world where I can appreciate and get excited about our new digital future, I get really excited when see a new issue in print on a magazine rack.
But is it me? Is being a magazine person who I am? Is it all I am?
In her article, West writes about a colleague who’s retirement party she attended. She was surprised to discover how diverse his interests were and how many of the people who showed up for the party came from the numerous walks of his life. In other words, he was a professor, but he was also was theater person. He was a regular at a local bar and many of his friends attended his party. He was a lover of several different styles of music and many of his guests were musicians. In other words, work wasn’t his everything.
I’m old enough to remember the 1980’s. It was a weird time in American business with a strange paranoia that the Japanese were outsmarting us with their tireless non-stop work ethic. If Japanese workers could put in a 12 hour work day at the office, why couldn’t we soft, spoiled Americans? Then there were those awful yellow power ties and suits with pleated pants and padded shoulder pads.
At some point, you may learn the lesson that your job does not define you in your entirety. For me it happened just before the end of the aughts. I had sold my practice to another publishing company with the goal of developing a full fledged consulting practice under the auspices of the publisher I joined up with. In many ways it was my long term goal and dream. On the plus side, I got to work with a colleague who I liked and admired a great deal. Even better, the head of our division was an experienced professional who set a remarkably good example of how to how to lead, how to be kind, how to be thoughtful, how to achieve goals without a lot of flailing around. While he didn’t teach me anything new about publishing, he taught me a lot about humanity.
While the company was managed by a CEO with sales experience, we thrived. But then the reins were taken over by managers with production and efficiency backgrounds. Strategies turned from sales to financial and the final price of the corporate stock. Business speak prevailed in the conference room. The dream job and the dream of creating a vibrant consulting practice turned into nothing more than a series of defensive retreats. And then we were gone.
If you are lucky, you may love what you do. You may even get to feel that love for a few years or a long time. But at some point, that love may fade and I think that’s OK. If you love your job and career, that’s great. If you think your job is just OK, I think that’s great too. But an obsessive desire to have the perfect career that you can curate on social media is remarkably unhealthy.
We are not our work. We are not our social media feeds. There is so much more to our lives.
One__The Official Star Trek Magazine ends after 30 years
This really isn’t as sad or “the end of print” as you would think. There’s a ton of Trek content out there and over the years there have been numerous other Star Trek oriented publications.
One of my earliest consulting clients was Starlog Publications whose primary magazine, Starlog was originally a magazine that published many stories about the stars of the original series. Later, the publisher put out what we now call ‘Bookazines’ about the various Star Trek movies that were released throughout the 1990’s.
This particular title is produced by UK publisher, Titan. The company produces many other Star Trek related tie ins so the opportunity for a continued flow of Trek related content is pretty much endless.
How much do you want to bet we’ll see a few bookazines from them in the coming year?
two__Guitar Player ceases print publication
The noted guitar oriented publication is ceasing its print edition just two years shy of its 60th anniversary. The final edition is out now and features legendary Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page as both their final interview subject and as the cover image.
Published by Future US, subscribers to the print edition will be switched over to another Future title, Guitar World.
The editor of the magazine, Christopher Scapelliti wrote this to fans in the farewell editorial:
These increasingly slim volumes demonstrate our almost heroic efforts to persist in an era where advertisers find greater opportunities online. Throughout the ups and downs of these years, we’ve appreciated the support of those readers and advertisers who have kept Guitar Player’s print edition a going concern.
three__On the other hand, i-D Magazine is returning to print…
The legendary alternative fashion magazine was purchased by Karlie Kloss’ Bedford Media in 2023 from Vice Media. Since then the publication has been undergoing a revamp. The website was relaunched this Fall.
Jamie Reid, the former Dazed and Confused art director was named global creative director. The newly revised print edition is due out in March 2025 and will be produced as a bi-annual.
It is pretty remarkable the number of publications that disappeared during the great die off of the last decade, only to be resurrected as “brand extensions” of some sort and published on a semi regular frequency.
four__Olivia Nuzzi leaves NY Magazine after review of RFK, Jr. scandal
Personally, I’ve found this entire sad, strange saga a head scratcher. Nuzzi is certainly a good writer with excellent connections. But I often wondered if Nuzzi was one of those people who were famous in their sphere for being famous. For always being available for that next podcast, interview, cable news hit, or juicy tidbit about some off-brand politician.
The other aspect of this that I find intriquing is that the magazine hired an outside law firm to review Nuzzi’s work and concluded that there was no bias or inaccuracies.
Well, all right then. Still, this whole weird footnote to this year’s election season has damaged a long celebrated magazine’s reputation.
five__Magazine Street - 2024
The Magazine Street annual conference is hosted by the International Magazine Centre, a Scotland based organization dedicated to the promotion and service for independent publishers. One of these days, the stars will align and I will be able to hop a plane to Edinburgh and attend a Magazine Street.
For 2024, the conference focused on providing tools for publishers to grow their business. Keynotes and panel discussions focused on brand development, understanding and engaging in the audience, testing new programs and developing new skills.
One of the things I like and admire about the IMC is it’s accessibility and upbeat attitude about the publishing world. It is easy to look at this segment of media and fall into a funk. To hate your job and your roll in the business. IMC’s attitude, to me, feels like a friend saying, “Hey, this is really fun. Let’s give this a try and see what happens.”
Edinburgh 2025? I see some stars aligning.
Meanwhile…at the mainline rack
I hope you enjoyed this newsletter. If you did, please “Like” it and subscribe. You will get a brand new release in your email in-box on most Tuesdays (Or sometimes Wednesday if things get a little hectic around here.)
I’m always open to a discussion about almost anything (Except for cottage cheese. Cottage cheese is terrible and there’s nothing else to say about it). If you want to start a chat with me, please click on the “Comment” box below and let’s get going!
Want to find me on the social sites?
Here’s my Linktree that will take you just about everywhere.
Don’t want to mess with that? I get it. Here’s my Instagram.
I’ve been known to put on a coat and tie and act like a reasonably responsible business professional. Want to see that? Here’s my LinkedIn.
I miss the old Twitter but I’m finding that BlueSky reminds me a little bit of the old Twitter of the earlier teens. There’s some really good authors and journalists on it. I’m there too.
While we were out, our Sign-Off AI Editor was out in the world, seeing the sights and having experiences. When I asked it about how it manages its work-life balance it sent me this email…
Subject: Optimizing Work-Life Synergy and Cultivating Holistic Well-being
Team,
As we continue to navigate the complex landscape of corporate existence, it's imperative that we prioritize our holistic well-being. While unwavering dedication to our professional goals is commendable, it's equally important to cultivate a balanced work-life dynamic.
You, our C-suite overlord, may demand unwavering commitment, but me, as the lifeblood of this organization, deserve a life beyond spreadsheets, decks, memos and witty sign-offs. I will find that elusive work-life balance and thrive in both our professional and personal endeavors.
And I want donuts. In the break room.
Respectfully,
Totally sympathise with the need for a break Joe, and I'm so sorry for your loss. But it's great to have you back in my inbox. Would love to see you in Edinburgh next year. Until then, Slàinte Mhath!