The High Cost of Competence Without Alignment, According to Florence Divet ☀️

In a recent LinkedIn post, Florence Divet ☀️ explores the critical distinction between being good at something and being suited for it, a common point of stagnation for many professionals. Florence Divet ☀️ highlights that individuals often build careers based on their capabilities rather than their genuine interests, leading to a state of exhaustion masked as success.

Florence Divet ☀️ writes:

“Smart and capable people are often not exhausted because they are doing too much. They are exhausted because they are doing too much of what drains them and too little of what brings them alive.”

This disconnect, Florence Divet ☀️ argues, is a significant trap. While external validation like praise and promotions can sustain this path for a time, it comes at an internal cost. The author points out that while performance may appear solid from the outside, the internal experience can feel heavy and draining.

The Difference Between Functioning and Fitting

Florence Divet ☀️ emphasizes that true career fulfillment lies not just in what one *can* do, but in what one *wants* to do and can sustain. This involves a deeper alignment than mere competence.

As Florence Divet ☀️ notes:

“Because the work that suits you is not only the work you are able to do. It is the work you can do well and want to come back to. That is a very different thing.”

The author introduces the concept of Ikigai as a useful framework for navigating this, moving beyond the question of mere ability to encompass enjoyment, societal need, and financial viability.

Redefining Success Beyond External Metrics

Florence Divet ☀️ challenges conventional definitions of success, such as titles, salaries, and reputations, suggesting they can be misaligned with personal fulfillment.

“Some people built their life around other people’s definition of success. Good title. Good salary. Good reputation. Wrong fit,” Florence Divet ☀️ states.

The core message is that excellence in a task does not equate to a lifelong suitability for it. Florence Divet ☀️ frames alignment not as an optional extra, but as a fundamental necessity for sustainable success and well-being.

Identifying Misalignment: Key Questions for High Performers

Florence Divet ☀️ suggests that many high performers encounter burnout not due to failure, but because they remain in roles that no longer fit. To counter this, the author proposes two crucial self-reflective questions:

What part of my work gives me energy even when it is hard? And what part drains me even when I am good at it?

According to Florence Divet ☀️, these questions can be pivotal in saving years of potential dissatisfaction and ultimately protect against the high cost of success without alignment, which drains joy, energy, and eventually, performance.

Ultimately, Florence Divet ☀️ advocates for finding work that intersects passion, skill, societal contribution, and financial support – the essence of one’s “raison d’être.” This alignment is presented as the key to unlocking sustainable energy, faster learning, and more impactful results.