Career Anxiety: How to Stop Worrying About Success

In many ways the modern workplace is more attractive than ever -- no longer do a third of us need to be farmers and fewer people are engaged in mind-numbing repetitive tasks. We have greater diversity and comfort in our jobs than our grandparents did, but are we happier for it? And if not, why not?

That's the question posed by Swiss popular philosopher and author Alain de Botton when he addressed TED a few years ago. According to de Botton, career crises are at an all time high, with more and more of us suffering despair about the progress of our careers (or lack thereof). But we needn't be so full of angst, argues de Botton, who believes that a simple adjustment in how we think about success can inoculate us against serious stress about career success.

The humane 15 minute talk covers a lot of ground, from avoiding annoyance at jerks in flash Ferraris to an explanation of how equality and envy go hand-in-hand. Check it out below:

Do you agree with de Botton's diagnosis of an epidemic of career stress, and does his cure seem plausible?
See More TED talks on BNET:

• Is the Cure for Perfectionism Authenticity?
• Motivation: It's Not About Carrots or Sticks
• Why Is Apple So Innovative?