Why I’ve Stopped Chasing Validation at Work

I'm only on chapter two of the book Deep Work by Cal Newport, but it's already messing with my head in the best possible way.

One of the things that I can't stop thinking about is in the book it talks about is how doing focused, deliberate work doesn't just make you better at what you're doing...it literally changes your brain.

Cal (we are mates now) explains that when you work deeply, you build new layers of myelin, this fatty tissue that wraps around neural pathways. It strengthens them, making your thinking faster and sharper.

And honestly, that idea has me obsessed (as the kids would say).

So, just by focusing, by sitting down and working through something hard, I'm physically rewiring my brain. I mean, howincredible is that?

It's making me rethink a lot, especially when it comes to the way I work, external validation, and if this is even important anymore. In most of the jobs I have had, I've been the person who doesn't just spot problems and I come with solutions.I've pitched so many ideas over the years, I've lost count. And while some land, most don't.

They sit in inboxes.

They get a polite "this is great, but it's not a priority."

Or people get excited for about five minutes before deciding it's too hard or doesn't align with their goals.

In my current role, it sometimes feels like I'm shouting into a void. And in the past, I'll admit, that used to get to me. I'd think, 

Why am I even bothering?

But lately, I've been asking myself a different question: why do I keep doing it anyway? 

And the answer is: because I love the process.

Take a recent project I worked on with Google NotebookLM. I came across this new technology on TikTok. Yes, I loooove my algorithm.

It's this tool where you can upload documents, and it generates podcasts from them. Full on podcasts by two AI hosts. I didn't have a brief or a deadline or anything formal. I just wanted to see how it works and if I could use it to create something cool. I am a geek like that.

I spent hours working on this, creating podcasts, tweaking prompts, listening to the output, and refining.

And honestly?

Most of them were rubbish at the beginning. I made at least 10 or 15 versions that didn't work. The tone was off, the content didn't land, or it just felt... flat. But I kept at it, and eventually, I ended up with a few podcasts that were good enough to share. Not perfect, a solid 6 out of 10, but decent.

And here's the thing: in the past, I would've been frustrated that probably only a few people are going to bother listening to them. I'd have been annoyed at the time I "wasted" on something that wasn't used. But reading this book and explaining how deep work changes your brain, it just clicked for me. That time wasn't wasted. It was time spent making me better.

Every hour I spent refining those podcasts wasn't just about the end product. It was about strengthening my ability to think and focus and do deep work. It was about rewiring my brain to be sharper, faster, and more creative.

Now that changes EVERYTHING!

Over the past six months, I've felt this shift happening. I don't crave external validation the way I used to. This job, even with all its frustrations, has (if I am changing the way I think about work) become my playground for growth. Every pitch, every experiment, every "failed" project is sharpening my skills.

I've also started being more intentional about how I work. I'm inspired by Adam Grant (discussed in the book) whostructures his time into seasons for teaching, research, and writing. Cal talks about how Adam Grant sets boundaries to protect his focus, and I'm trying to do the same. I'm saying no to more meetings, instead catching up on the recordings as I walk to work. I'm asking myself, do I really need to be here? And often, the answer is no.

The best part?

I am (slowly) becoming less tied to outcomes. Whether or not my ideas get adopted, whether or not people even notice what I'm doing, I know the work is valuable because it's making me better. I'm learning how to focus, problem-solve, and think more clearly.

For years, I thought success meant someone's external recognition.

Now, I see things differently.

I think that the work itself, the experimentation, and the learning might be the reward. And in that shift, I think I've found something far more fulfilling: the joy of simply getting better.

All sounds lovely doesn't it? Well it is still only January…..

Lets see if I still feel the same as 2025 goes on.