On the second day of my internship I overheard a conversation between two women in the clay studio. One woman was rattling off facts about how many students out of college were underemployed and how so many young college students end up working at Starbucks. I thought I had reentered marketing class but then realized I had about six more hours left of my internship. I just thought it was interesting that this conversation was happening between women of an older age group. Is it common knowledge that the career world is volatile and unsteady? If that is common knowledge how come not everyone is picking up Hoffman’s book? Do people just think traditional methods will work? Do they think other life approaches besides forging will work? Which leads to my other question…was there a time (recently) when life approaches like bus stop and privilege worked and forging was an option? Does the current career world demand a forging life approach? What if there are people who really aren’t cut out to be forgers? Forging takes a lot of work. It takes relentless effort and mental alertness. Is putting in a lot of effort something you can get used to? I find that after a day of work it’s harder to put a 110% into relationships and listening to others (you might be a little less animated in your reactions and a little less focused). I guess maybe if I’m hanging out with people who just expect me to listen without concern for what I did during the day I should reevaluate my friendships, but is that something you can learn? Can you teach yourself energy like a habit? Once in eighth grade I had some friends who loved to gossip and for some reason that never set quite right with me. I didn’t like joining in, I didn’t like listening to it, I didn’t like the pressure to judge. So I gave up talking about people for a week. I gave up bad thoughts, I told my friends I was doing it and I was excluded from a lot of their conversations but a lot of new and better ones started. Eventually my words became more meditated. I never said anything I wouldn’t say to someone else’s face and it started to change my thought process. It took incredible mental effort, but it was totally worth it. Can you do the same with your career? Can you train yourself to forge through life? If you’re used to being free and doing what you want, can you pull energy to push harder out of nowhere? That is my main question. If forging is the life approach you want but it is new to you can that be acquired like positive or kinder thinking? Especially if you are more motivated by outside forces (other people’s feelings and confidence vs. jumpstarting your own career) can you develop that kind of approach? What would developing that involve? Breaking your back working hard and maintaining your personality and enthusiasm at the same time? I realize this work book reflection is more questions that you asked in the workbook but I’m just wondering.