Youtube Exercise » English Grammar Homework

Fighting Workaholism: You Are Not a Success Machine

Harvard Business Review

492K views 2 years ago

Warm-up Questions

What does the title suggest about how some people define “success”?
Do you think “workaholism” is always a good thing for a career? Why or why not?
What might be healthier than working all the time, according to the title?

Up Next

15 THINGS to HAVE in your BUCKET LIST! Listen & Travel
The Spanish Civil War (1936 – 1939) 2 Minutes Knowledge
Analysis of 'Remember' by Christina Rossetti Mrs Rumsey
Food expiration dates don’t mean what you think – Carolyn Beans TED-Ed
Lukas Graham – 7 Years [Official Music Video] Lukas Graham

Start With: Word Definition

Order: Alphabetical Random

…

Fighting Workaholism: You Are Not a Success Machine

Workaholism as an addiction (and what’s underneath it) (00:00 – 02:33)

Transcript will load here…

1. What example does the speaker give to show “hiding behavior” related to work?

Sneaking into the bathroom to check work email
Posting work updates on social media late at night
Taking a vacation without telling coworkers
Turning off the phone during family dinner

2. According to the speaker, workaholism is usually a secondary addiction to what primary addiction?

An addiction to technology
An addiction to money
An addiction to control
An addiction to success

3. What does the speaker say is a deeper moral problem behind success addiction?

Not using a time-management system
Reducing yourself to a “success machine”
Being too competitive with friends
Not having clear career goals

Fighting Workaholism: You Are Not a Success Machine

How to stop: replace work with love and relationships (02:33 – 05:12)

Transcript will load here…

1. What does the speaker say is the answer to “How do I stop?” (instead of a detox center or 12-step program)?

Stop trying to succeed at work
Work fewer hours immediately, no matter what
Build your team and invest in people who can offer more satisfying opportunities
Change careers to something less demanding

2. Why does the speaker say work is “not a good love relationship”?

Work can’t really love you back and mainly takes
Work is unpredictable and changes too fast
Work makes people feel guilty all the time
Work is too boring to be meaningful

3. What is the difference between “deal friends” and “real friends,” according to the speaker?

Deal friends are older; real friends are younger
Deal friends are useful; real friends are “useless” but loving
Deal friends are honest; real friends are polite
Deal friends live nearby; real friends live far away

Fighting Workaholism: You Are Not a Success Machine

Practical rules of thumb for real friendship (05:12 – 06:37)

Transcript will load here…

1. What does the speaker mean when he says, “Happiness is love”?

Happiness is something you can calculate with an algorithm
Love (human connection) is the core foundation of happiness
Happiness comes mainly from being busy
Happiness is mostly about earning more money

2. What relationship pattern does the speaker say is common for many strivers?

They have too many real friends
Their only real friend is their spouse
They prefer not to have any friends at all
They avoid friendship because it is unproductive

3. What example does the speaker give to show what “investment” in friendship can look like?

Buying expensive gifts for friends
Getting on a plane to spend half a day together
Sending a weekly motivational email
Meeting only at professional networking events

Fighting Workaholism: You Are Not a Success Machine

Transcript will load here…

1. Which chain of causes does the speaker suggest?

Success addiction → need to outwork others → work addiction
More friends → less success → less happiness
Work addiction → less dopamine → more free time
Spiritual practice → more deals → more deal friends

2. What is the speaker’s main solution for replacing compulsive work?

Love through relationships and connection
A detailed productivity system
Quitting your job immediately
Competing less with colleagues

3. What is the speaker criticizing when he says “success machine”?

Using technology to work faster
Trying to be more efficient at work
Wanting to learn new skills
Treating yourself as valuable only for achievement

Discussion Questions

Discuss the ideas from this video

Fighting Workaholism: You Are Not a Success Machine

The speaker says workaholism is often driven by “success addiction.” Do you agree? Why or why not?
What are some “hiding behaviors” people might use when they work too much? What problems can this create?
What does it mean to “reduce yourself to nothing more than a success machine”? How can someone avoid that mindset?
The speaker contrasts “deal friends” and “real friends.” In your experience, what builds real friendship, and what destroys it?