Is your work aligned with your true calling in life? Or are you being paid to overlook your overwhelming disinterest in the work? Is your work-life driven by an illusion where the trivial is disguised as important? Tragically, this week’s guest admits, “I spent 10 years doing an enormous amount of work but feeling as if I created nothing of substance.” Most of us know the feeling, but it doesn’t have to be this way. In other words, work doesn’t have to suck. Today, I'm thrilled to have my good friend and fellow Austinite, Paul Millerd joining us on the show. Paul is a fellow former corporate consultant who has spent the past 7 years blazing an unconventional trail, leaving the rat race behind to pursue a life of creativity, curiosity, and freedom as an independent author and creator. If you’re looking to reclaim your inner ambition, as Paul writes: “The only true and worthwhile edge is deeply caring about what you do.”  The real journey isn’t in indulging our desire to escape work, but in finding meaningful work that is true to our mission and purpose here on earth. In this conversation, Paul shares the raw, unfiltered story of his journey - from the uncertainty and loneliness of leaving a successful consulting career, to the unexpected joys and challenges of building a life around his curiosity and passions. We'll dive into the frameworks he's developed for discerning "good work" from "bad work," and how he's navigated the ebb and flow of creative entrepreneurship, including the decision to turn down a lucrative publishing deal. Whether you're feeling trapped in a soul-sucking job, or simply curious about what's possible when you break free of societal scripts, you're going to find an abundance of wisdom and inspiration in Paul's story. In this episode, you’ll discover: Paul's framework for differentiating between "good work," "good enough work," and "bad work," and how you can apply this to your life How to find a balance between creative work and financial stability How to break free of your attachment to social status, material possessions, and your identity as an “achiever” Sage advice for those who are considering leaving the traditional corporate world to pursue their passions and creative interests How to coexist with your doubts and fears and feelings of uncertainty (instead of numbing or running away from them) How to reclaim your ambition to pursue YOUR good work And much more… Read the show notes: https://fatburningman.com/paul-millerd-why-he-blew-up-his-life-and-you-should-too/  Go to https://pmillerd.com/goodwork/ to get Paul Millerd’s brand new book “Good Work: Reclaiming Your Inner Ambition.” Join the Abel James’ Substack channel: https://abeljames.substack.com/  Listen and support the show on Fountain: https://fountain.fm/show/6ZBhFATsjzIJ3QVofgOH  Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/fatburningman  Like the show on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/fatburningman  Follow on X: https://x.com/abeljames  Click here for your free Fat-Burning Kit: http://fatburningman.com/bonus  Brought to you by: DS-01™ Probiotics and Prebiotics from Seed.com - Save 25% off your first month with promo code 25WILD LMNT Electrolytes from DrinkLMNT.com - Collect your FREE 8-Pack of Electrolytes with any purchase: DrinkLMNT.com/Wild