20VC Alain De Botton on Why Companies Are Not Families | Why Status is Making You Miserable | Why Parents Want Their Kids to Fail | Why We Are Richer Yet More Anxious Than Ever & Why You Should Not Always "Be Yourself"
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Alain De Botton is one of the greatest philosophers of our time. His work has had a profound impact on me more than any other. I have wanted to do this episode for the last 8 years.
In Today’s Episode with Alain De Botton We Discuss:
1. Why Status is Making You Miserable:
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Why are we richer yet more anxious than ever?
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What is the right way to define status? Why do we want it so much?
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Is it bad to want status? What are some non-obvious signs that you are seeking status when you do not realise it?
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Does social media enhance the desire for status? How so?
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Do the happiest people want status the least? What are Alain’s biggest observations in how truly happy people think about status?
2. Why Parents Want You To Fail:
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Why is the sign of good parenting when your child does not want to be famous?
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Why do your parents sometimes want you to fail?
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What should parents do if their child wants to chase an unachievable goal?
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Why should parents encourage their children to start very early?
3. Why Meritocracy is a Fallacy & Meaningful Work:
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Why does Alain believe a true meritocracy is an impossible dream?
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Why is meritocracy a bad thing when taken to the extreme?
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Why does Alain believe that companies are not families?
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Why does Alain tell people that they should not bring their full selves to work?
4. WTF is “Meaningful Work”:
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What does it mean to do “meaningful work”?
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Why do humans need to do “meaningful work” today in a way that we did not many years ago?
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What are Alain’s biggest pieces of advice to young people today, unsure of what they should do with their lives and careers?
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Why does Alain believe the idea of a “calling” is BS?
5. Ambition, Achievement and Sacrifice:
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What does Alain mean when he says “you have to tolerate your own averageness”?
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What does Alain say to the young generation who want work/life balance?
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What does Alain mean when he said you “cannot be at war with yourself”?
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Does Alain agree that to achieve you must sacrifice?
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