The Brian Lehrer Show Advice for Finding Your Life's Work, Take Two
May 13, 2026
Jodi Kantor, New York Times investigative reporter and author of How to Start, offers career advice rooted in reporting and real-world experience. She urges discovery through trying things, embracing nonlinear paths, and turning personal struggles into purpose. Practical topics include networking despite AI, balancing debt with growth, and spotting hour-to-hour meaning in work.
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Try Things Not Just Think About Them
- Do get out of the library and test roles in real settings rather than relying on introspection alone.
- Jodi Kantor says careers are built from stimulation, citing Brian Lehrer's shift from a college rock show to news as a revealing discovery.
Use Friends To Spot Your Functional Strengths
- Do look to friends to identify recurring roles you play because friends see patterns free of family obligation.
- Kantor recommends asking whether you are the group's coach, psychologist, or party planner to spot strengths.
Don't Force False Resume Coherence
- Do relax about forcing a coherent resume early; allow contradictory experiences to coexist.
- Kantor warns that faking coherence can distort your narrative and employers will often accept contradictions if you explain them.
