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The Peter McCormack Show • #044 - Will Storr - The Status Game: How Power, Conflict and Ego Shape Our Lives • Listen on Fountain

Will Storr is an acclaimed author, journalist, and storyteller, specializing in exploring human psychology, status dynamics, and the power of narra...

One thing that stood out to me in this episode was (paraphrasing) “there’s only room for a few people to be highly successful in one field, but plenty of room for people to claim affinity to that field on social media”. It’s easier to simply associate yourself with something cool or indicative of success than it is to actually be good at something and let your work talk for itself. In recent months I’ve reduced my posting of rollerblading content down to almost 0 and I’ve focused on my actual job, fixing dental equipment. In this time I’ve been promoted, abused by customers over the phone for problems with their equipment then thanked profusely for fixing it, made more money and worked harder than I’ve ever worked before. In my field of work, there is no social media hype to be seen. The moment you post something bragging of your successes, you will be cut down by a customer with another broken piece of equipment. The success you have to show over those who can’t hang in the industry, is by staying in business. Those who can’t cut it, go under. Your only signal of success is a website to your business that has never been taken down, and a slogan that says “over 15 years in business”. The sales reps of dental equipment change brands every few years as they burn all their contacts, and the great service engineers have resumes with 20+ years with one company and a phone that rings all day. As I approach 12 years with company I work for, with a phone that rings all day, I’m hoping that on I’m way to being considered a great service engineer. Rollerblading is shifting back to being the social hobby it began as, and out of being a second job. Focus, focus. #grind #work