Extracting Our Identity From Our Career is Our Path to Personal Freedom

Work. Work. Work.

And when you’ve worked as much as you think you can, do more.

This belief has been drilled into generations of men, notably Gen X’ers and the generations that preceded us.

Work is what makes a man a man.

And the harder you work, the more you grind, the more your man score goes up.

I worked at a supermarket deli one summer when I was 17 or 18.

It was, minus the massive sandwiches I’d make for myself, the worst job I’ve ever had.

One hungover morning I was not giving the meat slicer the respect it deserved as I was cutting roast beef for a customer.

I’ll spare all the details, but what happened next wasn’t pretty.

The nurse told me I’d completely lost my fingerprint and more.

I left the emergency room with a complex and massive bandage wrapped around my hand and forearm.

Since I couldn’t go back to work, I went home.

My father was surprised as I walked in the door, as evidenced by the first words out of his mouth,

“Why aren’t you at work?”