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July 1, Palo Alto, CA: I had a really great development conversation with my boss today. She asked me lots of questions about where I would like to go in my current role and how to get there. Which was fine. But then she started asking about my leaving Genentech and what happened and how PacBio could avoid making the same mistakes. That gave us an opportunity to talk about how personal lives can impact priorities so much that work becomes secondary to other things going on in your life. I remember how content I was last year, even though I didnt have an income. I think I worry much more about not having that income now that I am earning money. Talking that out with her helped me remember how easy it is to worry about the stuff we think we can control (even if we can't). It also allowed me to share the fact that I am much better at defining my own happiness. I used to get so much joy out of being recognized and awarded for my work. I still do, but it doesn't drive my happiness nearly as much as it once did. Especially at work. I really want to like going in every morning more than anything. I told her that I don't work weekends (yet), even though many people come in every Saturday. I just don't want to ever value work that much or allow myself to be defined by it again. Just not worth it, especially after seeing how happy I could be without it.