Dissatisfaction with work, consulting paid on results, and teaching the attitude

Frederic admits he is still not satisfied with his so-called job.

The Wonders call it a frustration and observe that he does enjoy work, but only when it challenges or excites him and when he can do it when he feels like it - so he should find a work environment that provides that, which is why they suggested teaching others how to do nothing.

Frederic describes already moving in that direction: still nominally present, but only attending meetings that interest him, listening, saying a few sentences and leaving it there.

The Wonders clarify that teaching others means teaching an attitude, not recounting what he did - an attitude of not being attached to an outcome, of not caring, because when you do not care you do not stress; he has been stressed lately precisely because he looked at his life, decided he had to work, and started caring about working.

Frederic recognizes a psychology that he should somehow be doing much more, which does not work for him, and says it feels like time for a new cycle though he has no idea what, adding that in the spiritual area, going deeper is for him actually going simpler.

On work practicalities, they advise finding work paid on results rather than time, as consultants are; told that big companies want to know the price in advance rather than a percentage, they say to take whatever fee he is contemplating and multiply it by ten, since his estimate will always be low, then do the work quickly but never reveal how quickly - people paying on results need to believe an enormous effort was involved to justify the fee.

They illustrate with the tale of the rabbit thrown into the briar bush, who yells and screams to make it sound terrible while happily eating a carrot, then saunters out complaining of how awful it was.

Frederic recalls his first week at work 26 years ago, finishing in a few hours a task budgeted at five days and finding his boss unhappy because it earned less.

They encourage him to become a consultant, telling old clients such as the banks he has worked with that he is now available, doing three to five jobs a year for a few hours' actual work.

Frederic says he enjoys guiding his daughter and would probably enjoy guiding other people; the Wonders suggest he do exactly that and also write about what it is to guide as a parent - another book - since he likes to talk and to write, and even if it turns into nothing they assure him it will turn into something.