As creatives, professionals, or makers, we often find ourselves caught between two opposing forces. On one side, we feel the urge to resist—whether it’s resisting the demands of a job that doesn’t align with our values or pushing back against the constant grind that seems to demand more of us than we can give. On the other side, we keep moving forward, sometimes out of necessity, sometimes out of habit, even when the path feels absurd or unfulfilling.
One client I spoke with captured this struggle perfectly by referencing two powerful figures: Bartleby and Sisyphus. These two figures represent the tension so many of us live with every day.
Bartleby: The Quiet Resistance
Bartleby, from Herman Melville’s Bartleby, the Scrivener, famously said, “I would prefer not to.” He represents the quiet refusal to conform. In the context of our professional lives, Bartleby is that voice inside us that wants to push back against expectations, that feels exhausted by the grind, that questions the very purpose of showing up every day for work that doesn’t feel meaningful.
How often do we feel like Bartleby, wanting to say “no” to tasks or roles that no longer serve us? The resistance isn’t loud or dramatic—it’s a quiet, internal battle. Bartleby represents the part of us that seeks authenticity, that questions the compromises we make in order to fit into a system that doesn’t always reflect who we truly are.
For many creatives, this is the side that longs for freedom, for work that feels aligned with their values, for the space to pursue what truly matters. But Bartleby’s resistance comes with a cost—when we constantly resist, we may miss opportunities for growth, connection, or even joy in the work we do.
Sisyphus: The Relentless Grind
On the other side is Sisyphus, the figure from Greek mythology who was condemned to roll a boulder uphill for eternity. His story symbolizes the relentless grind—the never-ending cycle of work, effort, and pushing forward even when it feels pointless. Sisyphus embodies perseverance, but also the absurdity of continuing a task with no clear reward in sight.
How often do we feel like Sisyphus in our daily lives? We wake up, do the work, and repeat the same cycle, even if it’s draining, unfulfilling, or disconnected from our values. Sisyphus keeps going because he has no other choice—there’s no escape from the boulder or the hill.
Many of us, especially in creative fields, relate to this side as well. We keep going because the demands of the industry, the expectations of others, or our own ambitions push us forward. But the grind can wear us down, especially when it feels disconnected from our sense of purpose.
The Tension Between Bartleby and Sisyphus
For many professionals, the internal struggle is a tug-of-war between Bartleby’s quiet refusal and Sisyphus’s relentless perseverance. On the one hand, we feel the desire to say “no” to the roles, projects, or expectations that don’t align with who we are. On the other hand, we push ourselves to keep going, believing that hard work, even when it feels absurd, is the only way forward.
But how much of ourselves do we have to leave behind to keep up the grind? And at what point does resistance to the work leave us stuck, unable to move forward?
This tension is what so many creatives live with: the push and pull between wanting to opt out and feeling the need to push through. The golden handcuffs—good pay, benefits, remote flexibility—can make this even harder, trapping us in a cycle where it feels impossible to walk away, even if the work no longer aligns with our values.
Finding the Middle Path
The challenge is finding a middle path between Bartleby and Sisyphus—between resisting what no longer serves us and pushing forward in a way that still allows us to feel fulfilled.
What if we didn’t have to choose between saying no to everything and grinding endlessly? What would it look like to create space for a career that honors both our need for authenticity and our ability to keep moving forward?
This doesn’t mean abandoning the work that pays the bills or quitting the creative industry altogether. It’s about recognizing when resistance is necessary and when we can ease the grind. It’s about asking ourselves the right questions:
What am I holding onto that no longer serves me?
How much of my true self do I have to leave behind to show up every day?
What would happen if I stopped giving 120% and focused on what actually brings me joy?
Conclusion: Embracing Both Bartleby and Sisyphus
Both Bartleby and Sisyphus represent valuable parts of our internal dialogue. We need Bartleby’s quiet resistance to protect our authenticity, and we need Sisyphus’s perseverance to keep us moving forward in a world that often demands more than we can give.
But we also need balance. By reflecting on where we are, what we value, and what we want from our careers, we can create a path that allows us to honor both sides without sacrificing our well-being. We don’t have to be trapped by the grind or silenced by resistance. We can move forward in a way that feels aligned, authentic, and fulfilling.