The Odyssey And Lessons in Distractions

Avoiding the sirens and navigating the rough waters of our work.

Painting by John William Waterhouse

In Homer’s Odyssey, Odysseus and his men set sail through the Greek Islands in one of the most captivating tales of adventure ever written. They face mythological beasts and challenges that put them face to face with morality and death.

One of the more well-known parts of the epic poem is the Sirens. They sing a song so enchanting it lures sailors to them, only to have their ships crash on the rocks before them. As they approach the land of the Sirens, Odysseus has a plan to survive. He tells his men to fill their ears with wax so they will not be lured by the song. But Odysseus himself wants to hear it. So he insists his men tie him to the mast and restrained until they have passed the Sirens.

Young Frankenstein takes a page from Ulysses.

We are all on an artistic voyage through our own epic adventure. And we all have Sirens luring us off our path, risking crashing on the rocks before them. Getting through that challenge takes self-awareness and a responsibility to yourself and to your tribe to prevent disaster.

So what’s your journey? 

What are your Sirens, luring you away? 

Who are your shipmates?

And how can you fill your own ears with wax, tie yourself down and stay the course?

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Caveday is a company aimed at improving your relationship to work. We write regular posts on Medium and send out monthly Newsletters with productivity tips, life hacks, and recommendations. Sign up for the mailing list here.

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