MacKenzie Scott offers a refreshing counter-narrative to the standard career advice of chasing titles and salary bumps. For her, professional success isn't about climbing a ladder; it’s about alignment and fit.
In a 2013 conversation with Charlie Rose, Scott explored the concept of being "hard-wired" for specific work. She posits that your career shouldn't try to "fix" your personality, but rather harness it.
The Power of Professional "Fit"
Scott’s philosophy hinges on the idea that our natural tendencies—the quirks that might be considered weaknesses in one environment—are actually our greatest assets in the right context.
For Scott, these traits included:
A preference for complexity over simple solutions.
The stamina for long-term projects rather than quick wins.
An obsession with analyzing dialogue and "tinkering" with words.
While these habits might hinder a fast-paced corporate executive, they are the essential DNA of a novelist.
The Long Path to Alignment
Scott’s journey to finding her "fit" was anything but linear. Her trajectory highlights that finding one's calling often requires navigating seasons of compromise:
The Grind: After studying under Toni Morrison at Princeton, Scott worked as a recruiter and a waitress. She described the "excruciating monotony" of these roles, noting how they drained the creative energy required for her true craft.
The Pivot: She set aside her literary goals to help Jeff Bezos launch Amazon, contributing to the company's foundation while raising a family.
The Return: Only after stepping back from Amazon’s daily operations did she return to her "hard-wired" passion, eventually winning the American Book Award for The Testing of Luther Albright.
Finding a Job That "Uses All of You"
The takeaway from Scott’s experience is a shift in perspective: instead of smoothing out your idiosyncrasies to fit a job description, seek a career that celebrates them.
"The right job uses all of you."
Ultimately, she suggests that the most fulfilling careers are those where your natural instincts are not just tolerated, but required. When you stop fighting your "hard-wiring" and start leaning into it, work ceases to be a source of friction and becomes a source of flow.