Learn, Earn, or Have Fun: My Two-of-Three Rule for Taking Work
The unemotional rule I use to pick projects: it has to hit two of three.
I came across a 2021 tweet from Garry Tan of Y Combinator about career advice: learn or earn. “Either is fine. Both is best.”
My best career advice:
— Garry Tan (@garrytan) April 1, 2021
At every job you should either learn or earn. Either is fine. Both is best. But if it's neither, quit.
I disagree with the “either is fine” part. One on its own isn't enough for me. And there's a third box missing: having fun. Reading it reminded me of the framework I still use to choose projects.
Early in my career I trained under a cinematographer who had one unemotional rule for taking a job: earn, learn, or have fun. It has to hit at least two out of three.
- Great pay that teaches me nothing and drains me? No.
- A chance to learn something new, but no decent pay and no enjoyment? No.
- A fun gig that pays nothing and teaches nothing? No.
One box isn't enough. Two boxes? Go for it. All three? You've hit a home run.
I used it to pick film jobs, and it works just as well outside the industry. I still run every project through it. It takes the feelings out of a yes, so I can say it fast and mean it.