Contemplating a life of meaning and purpose
“People may spend their whole lives climbing the ladder of success only to find, once they reach the top, that the ladder is leaning against the wrong wall."
- Thomas Merton
I have a memory about a seminal discussion with my Father when I was in college about pursuing a career in science journalism versus a career in science. At that time, I was pursuing a degree in Microbiology at Cornell University and also writing reviews of movies and plays for the Arts and Entertainment section of The Cornell Daily Sun. I was exploring the idea of combining my love of writing with my interest and training in science. It seemed like a nice niche at the time - there were not a lot of scientists who were good writers (at least for the lay audience) and not a lot of writers with technical backgrounds.
But I distinctly recall my Biochemist Father saying to me, "it's much more interesting to be in the work, doing the science, than being an observer, a spectator watching the science being done.” At the time, his advice made sense, to pursue something that could have a direct impact in the world, advancing and applying science to solve the most challenging problems of our time. And so it was that I continued to be “in the work”, actively pursuing science, first through my Master’s and Ph.D. thesis research in Microbiology, and then as an entrepreneur leading a science-driven biotechnology company. Now, as I reflect on my career and my personal and professional development as a scientist/entrepreneur, my science training has certainly served me well and I am grateful for that. But if I am honest with myself, I’m like that person in the quote by the writer and theologian Thomas Merton who has climbed the ladder of success only to find the ladder was propped against the wrong wall!
Fortunately, it’s not too late and I have had some time after the recent exit from my company to reflect, revisit and re-connect with those earlier interests and passions (a by-product of which is this newsletter you hold in your hands). In his book The Second Mountain, the NY Times columnist and author David Brooks writes about how we climb that first mountain of our lives based on other’s expectations, only to reach the top and find it unsatisfying. That is when the ascent of the “second mountain” begins – a journey of moving from outward appearances (career, titles, money) to deeper meaning and purpose (relationships, legacy, character).
What wall are you leaning your ladder against? I’m curious to hear your stories of finding meaning and purpose in your life!