Hey friends, Lately I’ve been thinking about why so many of us end our workday feeling unfulfilled. A lot of you who read this newsletter have a dream or a vision for work that feels more meaningful and creative. But most of your day is spent inside a system that keeps you out of your flow state. Spreadsheets. Zoom calls. Slack threads. Endless emails. You close your laptop at the end of the day and quietly ask yourself: Did I do anything today that actually made a difference in the world around me? Part of the problem is that many of us are working in jobs that don’t fit our temperament. Maybe you’re a musician selling insurance.A painter cleaning teeth.A writer buried in project management software. That misalignment hurts. But I’m starting to recognize a deeper problem that I think is affecting all of us. I’m beginning to wonder if much of our “creative frustration” isn’t just that we missed our calling… but that we don’t actually work in the real world anymore. We don’t use our hands. We don’t use tools. We don’t create real, tangible things. Historically, that wasn’t the case. We had a craft, a trade, a farm or a shop. Our bodies and our intellect worked in tandem to produce things, provide services, and solve problems. Not so much anymore. A Pathway to More Creative Work Growing up, I never once thought of the skilled-trades as a “creative” path. Then, a few years back, I took a marketing job with a homebuilder and started spending time on construction sites. And that’s when it hit me: this feels a lot like a film set. You’ve got a crew. You’ve got equipment. And day by day, something that didn’t exist before is being manifested into reality. The more time I spent on those sites, the more I realized: this is a form of art too. It’s just wearing a tool belt instead of holding a paintbrush. According to St. Bonaventure, historically the fine arts and the building arts were grouped together. Somewhere along the way, we divorced those two. As construction was reduced to speed, efficiency, and profit, our buildings became uglier and less inspiring. We see it in our homes, our offices, and even our churches. Strip beauty and sacredness from architecture and, sure, you’ll cut costs and save time—but you’ll also deprive the soul of a divine encounter. Meet the College of St. Joseph the Worker All of this is why I’ve been so drawn to a little start-up college in Steubenville, Ohio called The College of St. Joseph the Worker. Their mission is simple: form young people in the skilled trades and combine that with a rigorous Christian intellectual environment. Students are learning carpentry, HVAC, electrical, plumbing and more, while also studying theology and praying together in a deeply rooted Christian community. Recently, I sat down with their founder and president, Dr. Jacob Imam to talk about why the skilled trades could be a viable path for creative people. Here’s a taste of what we got into: * Why so many of us feel unfulfilled in our 9–5s * Is it possible to switch careers and learn a trade later in life * Discernment and why ‘what makes me happy’ is the wrong question * AI and the future of work Who this is for I made this interview with a few specific people in mind: * the aspiring artist who never considered learning a trade * the creative person in a “safe” corporate job who feels miserable * the young aspiring student who wants an alternative to traditional college If you know someone who’s wrestling with their work, dreaming about a different future, or just feeling stuck, feel free to pass it along. And please check out The College of St. Joseph The Worker to learn more about what their up to. You can learn more about them here https://www.collegeofstjoseph.com/ How are you thinking about creative fulfillment and happiness in your own work right now? Hit reply and share a bit of your story if you’re up for it. I read everything you send. Until next time, MaxThe Contemplative Dad This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thecontemplativedad.substack.com/subscribe
