Work Backwards

TIM DUGGAN is an optimist who loves thinking about big ideas. He has co-founded several digital media ventures, most notably Junkee Media, one of Australia’s leading independent publishers. He is the Chair of the Digital Publishers Alliance, an industry body that represents 150 top media titles.

• Introduction: The end 1Harsh truths 5Wrong direction 9A better way 13Default mode 16Work Backwards 19LifeThe games we play 24A life worth living 29We can’t unsee 37Make life work 42Work Backwards Step 1: Create a MAPMeaning 50Meaning at work 54Job crafting 58Meaning outside work 62Purpose vs meaning 64Anchors 67Know your anchors 70Anchoring yourself 72Priorities 78Life–work balance 82Full circle 84Coming full circle 99IRL Exercises: Life 102MoneyHappy go lucky 120Work-and-spend cycle 124Work Backwards Step 2: Know your ‘enough’Handy man 134Money and happiness 138Backwards Budget 141IRL Exercises: Money 148WorkCeiling cracks 1561. We are overworked 1612. We are disengaged 1633. We are apprehensive 166Myths and realities 171Your future of work 177Work Backwards Step 3: Use the right toolsThe upside-down swan 180Reframing the tools 188Tool: Remote working 190Tool: Hybrid working 200Tool: Flexible working 211Tool: Four-day work week 221Tool: Career breaks 231Tool: Sabbath time 241Tool: Artificial intelligence 247Tool: Better meetings 254IRL Exercises: Work 259Conclusion: The beginning 269Endnotes 273Acknowledgements 289About the Author 291Index 293