Good Work
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Synopsis
Paul Millerd’s Good Work explores the concept of finding and committing to work that truly matters to you, challenging conventional notions of success and career paths. Drawing from his personal journey of leaving a high-paying consulting career to pursue writing and creative work, Millerd argues that “good work” is not necessarily tied to traditional jobs or financial success, but rather to activities that bring a sense of aliveness, purpose, and connection. He emphasizes the importance of questioning societal scripts about work and encourages readers to explore their genuine interests and passions.
The book delves into the challenges and rewards of pursuing good work, including the need to overcome fear, insecurity, and societal pressure. Millerd discusses the importance of protecting one’s good work from immediate monetization pressures, embracing a slower pace, and finding a balance between different types of work activities. He also explores the concept of the “inner game” of work, drawing on ideas from Timothy Gallwey’s The Inner Game of Tennis to help readers develop a healthier relationship with their work and themselves.
Throughout the book, Millerd offers practical advice and reflections on topics such as taking sabbaticals, managing energy rather than time, leaving money on the table for the sake of fulfillment, and reclaiming one’s inner ambition. He argues that pursuing good work is not only personally fulfilling but also one of the most ambitious paths one can take in life. The book concludes with a call to action for readers to embrace the search for good work and bring their full inner ambition into the world.
Example Book Cover Descriptions
Good Work (brown): clear “GOOD WORK” that stands out as bold – I don’t love the brown here but I do love the sense of energy and aliveness it gives off (definitely don’t like the moon)
Good Work (blue + cream): again, I love the boldness of the GOOD WORK and the colors here, I definitely don’t like the sun, but love the feeling of energy and exuberance it gives
Good Work (navy): I do love the colors here, but I feel that this is still a bit empty (but could be an interesting starter)
Scotland Yard: I really like the simplicity and clarity of this one. Loving the single bold color and an off-white text, which sucks the viewer in with its simple-ness. I like simple line drawing as a potential direction
The Pathless Path: This is my first book – I love the simplicity of it and the dual color – I still love this blue and so if we could work off this color (darker is fine) that would be cool – I’d also love to sneak the walking guy into the new cover if possible (even a bit hidden could be cool
A Hope More Powerful Than The Sea: I like how it integrates with the sea here (not sure there’s a good parallel with ambition though)
The Specter : distinctive cover – I like the clear title in the middle and authors name split across the top – this is more of a wildcard one – not sure how to use this
Wrong Direction Book Cover Descriptions
not a big fan of the standard white cover with the center image thing that every self-help nonfiction seems to have
General Likes & Overall Vision
Bold and clear and interesting typeface for GOOD WORK
Sentence case for “Reclaiming Your Inner Ambition”
Clear text, easy to read in contrast.
Like the Blues, I am happy to work off the HEX 097DA1 color from my first book
Dislikes & Things to Avoid
I don’t want any sun or moon effect
Also don’t want any straight paths – both of these are a bit overdone
