Be Sincere—Not Serious

One of the best parts of working at a media company is seeing how the work we publish can change people’s lives. Our most recent hire, entrepreneur in residence Brandon Gell, had his life changed by the piece you are about to read (which we originally published last year). It was the key for him to find joy in his career. It may just do the same for you.—Evan Armstrong

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Back when I was a manager at a large corporation, I noticed myself alternating between two distinct states at work. Most of the time, work was fun. Even when I clocked long hours on challenging projects, I enjoyed myself and looked forward to doing it again the next day. 

Other times, I was a tightly wound ball of stress who sucked the joy out of a room like a dementor from Harry Potter. Even when my workload was lighter, things just felt difficult. Eventually, I realized the work itself wasn’t to blame—it was my attitude that was triggering one state or the other. For a long time, I wondered how to fix this problem.

I found an answer in the work of British philosopher and writer Alan Watts, who delivered the statement in a lecture: “I assume that maybe you are not serious, but sincere.” 

His words jumped out at me. I reflected on the difference between these two modes of being and something shifted. Suddenly, I had a new tool—a lens with which to identify whether a curious, playful approach to challenges might be more effective than tension and struggle. It turns out that you can’t be serious and sincere at the same time. Seriousness precludes sincerity.