Josh Kaufman

Josh Kaufman is the bestselling author of books on business, entrepreneurship, skill acquisition, productivity, creativity, applied psychology, and practical wisdom. About Josh »

The Dangers of Mystique

There’s a big difference between liking the idea of being/doing something and liking the actual being/doing.

Mystique is a powerful force - a little mystery makes most things appear a lot more attractive than they actually are. Fortunately, there’s an easy way to counteract the rose-colored glasses of mystique: have a real human conversation with someone who’s actually done what you’re attracted to. Here’s what to ask:

“I really respect what you’re doing, but I imagine it has high points and low points. Could you share them with me? Knowing what you know now, is doing this worth it?"

It only takes a few minutes, and you’ll be amazed by what you learn, both on the positive or negative side.

No job, project, or position is flawless - every course of action has benefits and drawbacks. Learning what they are in advance gives you a major advantage: it allows you to examine an option without idealizing it, then choose if it’s really what you want to do with your time before you start. That kind of knowledge is priceless.

Read more essays by Josh Kaufman »
The Personal MBA
The First 20 Hours
How to Fight a Hydra