Work on Stuff that Matters: First Principles | by Tim O'Reilly | From the WTF? Economy to the Next Economy

I originally published this piece in the New Year of 2009 as a way of reminding people how to think about their work in the wake of the 2008 financial crisis. It remains good advice in 2016, perhaps again particularly apt! I spent a lot of last year urging people to work on stuff that matters. This led to many questions about what that “stuff” might be. I’ve been a bit reluctant to answer those questions, because the list is different for everyone. I thought I’d do better to start the new year with some ideas about how to think about this for yourself. First off, though, I want to make clear that “work on stuff that matters” does not mean focusing on non-profit work, “causes, or any other form of “do-goodism.” Non-profit projects often do matter a great deal, and people with tech skills can make important contributions, but it’s essential to get beyond that narrow box. I’m a strong believer in the social value of business done right. We need to build an economy in which the important t

I originally published this piece in the New Year of 2009 as a way of reminding people how to think about their work in the wake of the 2008 financial crisis. It remains good advice in 2016, perhaps again particularly apt! I spent a lot of last year urging people to work on stuff that matters. This led to many questions about what that “stuff” might be. I’ve been a bit reluctant to answer those questions, because the list is different for everyone. I thought I’d do better to start the new year with some ideas about how to think about this for yourself. First off, though, I want to make clear t