Ep 155: Optimism

Architecture is not typically considered a profession that makes much room for passengers or for people that simply want to show up and punch a clock. The vast majority of practicing architects view the time spent practicing their craft as a calling, a passion they are fulfilling, even a responsibility within the greater social structure of their communities. So what happens when you wake up one morning and you don’t want to get out of bed or you question how you are dedicating yourself to what was just yesterday your true calling? Andrew and I are going to explore this phenomenon today and talk about our own experiences and remedies. Welcome to EP 155: Optimism

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Something is Missing jump to 2:38

Bob: If we are going to talk about optimism as a topic, I feel like we need to set the table a bit for why there’s a need for optimism. If you are on the outside looking in, I feel like a paint a pretty aspirational picture of a successful career – Principal in a good sized firm, elevated to Fellow within the AIA, and as a result of the website and this podcast, pretty recognizable in the industry across the country … and some people think I am doing far better financially that I actually am. All of this sounds obnoxious and more than a little bit cringy to say, but for our discussion today, let’s just assume that this is true. At various points in my life, as it pertains to my career and profession, despite the picture I just painted, I question my place and the choices I’ve made that have lead me to where I am at. Some days I don’t want to go to work, that I am not as excited about things as I was just a few days prior. So if it’s bad for me, what is happening with other people?

Andrew: For me, it may also seem to those on the outside looking in that I have all my life together. I have a good job at a large university teaching architecture studios. I made a smooth transition from practice to academia. I have two wonderful daughters. I have an active professional life with the podcast and the AIA. However, due to my internal pessimism, I do not always feel that way when I think about my life. So, at times, I need to get some perspective from others as to why I should be optimistic about my situation. Most of the time I can see it, but there are those times when I need others to help me to renew my optimism from time to time. It gives me the opportunity to re-center my point of view about how my life is going.

Reasons for Optimism jump to 17:10

I wrote a post a few years ago – 9 to be exact – titled “My Job is Definitely Better than Yours” and in that post I spoke about some of the reasons that I enjoy being an architect, as opposed to “having a job”. This lead me on a rabbit hole of other blog posts I’ve written about why I like being an architect – The Architects’ Ego and My Job is Definitely Better than Yours

There is an evolution to a career – at least I think so because my path has changed pretty significantly on a few occasions, most recently 5 years ago when I left a firm of 8-people. I still get asked, even 5 years later, how things are going because most people recognize that not only is it unusual to leave a career behind at a small firm for one at a large firm, but it’s a hard transition to make.

I am curious to know if people who change jobs a lot are somehow making these decisions either because they are optimistic that there’s something better out there for them, or because they are motivated to leave a situation that they find unpleasant. Same result but a huge difference between the mindset of those two pathways. I’ve changed jobs a lot and depending on the time in my life, I decidedly fell into both of these. When I was younger, the majority of the time I left it was because I was bored or wanted to change the type of work I was doing. As I got older, I became a bit more pursued and didn’t have to convince people as much as to the value they perceived me as having. This is both a blessing and a curse – it creates opportunities that might not otherwise exist but also creates the atmosphere where you have to live up to the demands of people’s imagination.

I did a little reading up on this subject and found that there is evidence available that suggests that being optimistic can play a significant role in your behavior long term. Optimism shapes how we envision our future and how we establish and approach our long-term goals. When we adopt an optimistic mindset, we are more inclined to set ambitious goals and persist despite setbacks – which quite honestly are inevitable. This forward-looking perspective, which I don’t believe exists naturally in an ever-present state, encourages resilience and proactive planning. Instead of viewing challenges as insurmountable obstacles, optimists see them as opportunities for growth, driving sustained motivation and strategic decision-making.

Career Development

The question to explore at some point, at least in this format, is whether or not (medical considerations notwithstanding) being optimistic is ultimately good for you and your career trajectory. The smell test immediately tells you that it is, because why wouldn’t being optimistic be good for you? But is being optimistic the same thing as being happy? Are the words optimistic, positive, happy, all interchangeable with one another?

Optimistic people are more likely to approach their careers with a positive attitude, resulting in higher job satisfaction and ultimately better performance. Their resilience and proactive nature enable them to handle workplace challenges effectively and maintain focus on their long-term goals. By viewing setbacks as learning experiences and staying motivated, optimists can advance in their careers and achieve their professional aspirations. This positive approach not only enhances individual success but also contributes to a more dynamic and productive work environment.

It is not unusual to have days when you don’t like your job – the older I get, the more and more I joke about my dream of winning the lottery (although that probably has more to do with money and the perception of freedom that money brings along with it). There is an evolution to a career and I find it unlikely that anyone is where they thought they would be had they answered the question 10 years ago. Things like firm size, responsibilities – both personal and professional – start to influence your decision making process (and therefore the outcomes of those processes) in ways that are difficult to foresee. I didn’t ever see myself in my position at a large firm, especially not 5 years after joining that firm. The real question is whether or not I like it.^*1

What’s the Rank jump to

Today’s ranking question was submitted by a faithful listener (Did you know that you can submit hypothetical questions, ranking, this or that?). This will be an interesting one for me – and possibly others – because I think geography is going to play a role in your answers.

Today we are going to rank fast-food restaurants – which I am going to define as anyplace that has a drive-through and is a chain.

What are the best Three Fast Food restaurants?

	#3	#2	#1
Andrew’s Best Fast Food Joints	Schlotzsky’s	Whataburger	Chik-fil-a
Bob’s Best Fast Food Joints	Raising Cane’s	Whataburger	Kentucky Fried Chicken

Considering that Both Andrew and I do not frequent fast food restaurants, we still have some opinions on the matter. I didn’t grow up eating fast food and never really developed a taste for it, and as a result, I almost never crave it. Most of the items that made my list were thrust upon me by others or through a matter of convenience. It is only my #1 choice that I will completely own … I love fried chicken and original recipe KFC simply can not be topped. I have incredibly fond memories as a child of getting a bucket of chicken maybe 2 times a year and it was an incredible treat.

Pretty sure I am going to get me some KFC today.

Deciding to discuss the topic of optimism was an interesting choice for us today because it seems like a self-evident item. Everybody wants it, some people are more naturally predisposed to being optimistic while others have to make a conscious decision to be optimistic. There is not shortage of reasons why your life would be better off when choosing to see the glass as half full, but in the moment, it’s far harder than you would think.

This last year has been a pretty difficult one for me and I could use as much optimism in my life as possible. If that means I need to fabricate my perspective to achieve it, that’s the path I am going to take.