In this article, we delve into the power of career capital, illustrated through two inspiring profiles of individuals who leveraged the craftsman mindset to build fulfilling careers. Alex Berger, a successful television writer, and Mike Jackson, a venture capitalist in cleantech, both exemplify how focusing on skill acquisition over passion can lead to extraordinary career success. Through their journeys, we see how career capital—essentially, the accumulation of valuable skills, relationships, and expertise—can become the foundation of a career you love.
Two Career Capitalists
Alex Berger and Mike Jackson exemplify how the craftsman mindset can shape careers in highly competitive and distinct industries. Their stories are not about following a passion that happened to strike them, but rather about deliberately cultivating valuable skills over time—skills that ultimately led them to careers they are not just successful in, but deeply enjoy. Both Alex and Mike put their focus on becoming highly proficient in their respective crafts and used the capital they accumulated from their experiences to unlock more fulfilling opportunities. Their stories are evidence that the key to creating a compelling career is mastering one’s craft, not just waiting for passion to manifest.
Alex Berger
Alex’s path to becoming a successful television writer is one of relentless self-improvement. When he first arrived in Los Angeles, his goal wasn’t to simply “follow his passion” for TV writing. He didn’t have a clear vision of what he wanted to do with his life. Instead, Alex’s focus was on gaining career capital—skills, experiences, and opportunities that would set him apart in an extremely competitive industry.
He had a strong background in debate, having won the Best Speaker award at the National Debate Tournament, which honed his ability to think critically, communicate clearly, and improve based on feedback. These skills, while seemingly unrelated to television writing, helped him develop the key traits necessary to succeed in Hollywood: persistence, resilience, and the ability to take constructive criticism and use it to grow.
When Alex moved to LA, he didn’t immediately start writing TV scripts. Instead, he took a job as a website editor for National Lampoon, a position that gave him exposure to the entertainment world. He learned the ins and outs of content creation and media production while keeping his eyes open for opportunities in television writing. His mindset wasn’t about waiting for the perfect job to appear. Instead, Alex was determined to master his craft, whatever that might look like, and put himself in positions where he could learn and grow.
Soon, Alex realized that writing scripts was the key to getting into television. He made a conscious decision to shift his focus and began writing prolifically in his spare time. Whether he was working on a spec script for an existing show or developing original ideas, he kept writing, learning, and refining his skills. Eventually, his hard work paid off when he earned a job as a script assistant on Commander in Chief, a political drama. Despite the fact that it was a low-level position, it provided him with the opportunity to observe the writing process up close and gain insight into what makes a successful script.
What’s remarkable about Alex’s story is the lack of drama surrounding his success. He didn’t have an “Aha!” moment of discovering his passion for writing; rather, he made a deliberate choice to hone a set of valuable skills that allowed him to progress. He didn’t wait for passion to strike; he worked to become good at what he did. In turn, that expertise opened doors that allowed him to eventually sell a pilot to USA Network and become a staff writer on a hit show.
Mike Jackson
Mike Jackson’s journey to becoming a cleantech venture capitalist in Silicon Valley is a prime example of how career capital can propel someone to a highly coveted position. Mike’s story stands in stark contrast to the typical narrative of “finding your passion.” He didn’t start out with a clear passion for venture capital or cleantech. Instead, Mike was drawn to environmental science, earning his degree in biology and earth systems at Stanford University. Initially, his focus was purely academic—understanding the mechanics of global energy markets and environmental sustainability.
Mike didn’t get into cleantech venture capital because he had a burning desire to “save the planet” or a deep, lifelong passion for renewable energy. Instead, he gathered expertise in a field that was becoming more and more important as the global energy market transitioned toward clean, sustainable solutions. His early career experiences, particularly his involvement in a major research project studying the natural-gas sector in India, gave him a deep understanding of the carbon markets and the nuances of international energy regulation.
In 2007, Mike made the bold decision to launch his own business, Village Green, which focused on helping companies offset their carbon emissions by purchasing renewable energy credits. Although the business didn’t take off as he had hoped, the experience was invaluable in building Mike’s career capital. He learned about the complexities of energy regulation, gained insight into how cleantech companies operate, and built a network that would prove invaluable down the road.
After Village Green folded during the recession, Mike’s focus shifted toward finding a job that would allow him to leverage his growing expertise. His venture into cleantech venture capital was not driven by passion, but by a desire to do meaningful work and build on the career capital he had already amassed. His breakthrough came when a personal connection led him to an internship at the Westly Group, a cleantech venture capital firm. Although Mike had no formal background in venture capital, his deep knowledge of the energy sector made him a valuable asset to the firm.
Through hard work and continuous learning, Mike quickly advanced within the company. His understanding of cleantech markets and his ability to spot promising investments in clean energy gave him the edge he needed to succeed. Within two years, Mike had been promoted to associate, and by the time of our conversation, he had risen to the position of director. Mike’s journey proves that career capital doesn’t just come from following your passion—it comes from gaining expertise, learning from experiences, and leveraging that expertise to create valuable opportunities.
The Closed-Off World of Television Kabillionaires
Breaking into television writing is a highly challenging endeavor, as the industry is one of the most competitive in the world. The job itself is glamorous, offering high pay, creative control, and the opportunity to work on shows that shape popular culture. However, as Jamie’s story reveals, it’s not a straightforward path. Becoming a television writer requires navigating a closed-off world where only a small group of writers manage to break through and earn significant success.
The process of landing a job as a television writer begins with securing an opportunity to submit a script for consideration. Once producers put out a call for submissions, talent agencies submit their best writers, resulting in a massive pool of competition. For one show, Jamie received around 100 scripts from aspiring writers, all of which he reviewed and graded. Out of those, only 20 or so would be passed along to producers for further consideration. And even then, only a select few would be hired, as many of the positions had already been filled by seasoned writers.
What sets apart the writers who succeed in this field from those who don’t is the quality of their work. Writing a compelling script is a skill that requires not only creativity but technical proficiency. According to Jamie’s evaluations, most scripts were found to be subpar, lacking the essential elements that would capture the attention of producers. For example, many scripts had weak storytelling, poor dialogue, and unengaging characters. Even among the submissions from new writers, only a handful managed to impress.
In a highly competitive industry like television, success doesn’t come easily. Even after overcoming the initial hurdle of getting your script noticed, there are countless other challenges to face. The world of television writing is a winner-takes-all market, where only the most talented and persistent writers will thrive. But the rewards for those who succeed are significant, not only in terms of pay but in the opportunity to work on shows that have a major cultural impact. Writing for television can be an incredibly rewarding profession, both creatively and financially, but it requires an immense amount of dedication, skill, and career capital to break through.
As Jamie’s story demonstrates, the path to success is not guaranteed, but for those who are willing to put in the work and develop their craft, the rewards can be extraordinary. For Alex Berger, his journey into this exclusive world was built on the foundation of career capital—skills, experiences, and an unyielding focus on getting better at what he does.
How Alex Berger Broke into Hollywood
Alex Berger’s journey into Hollywood is one of persistence, strategic decision-making, and a commitment to continuous improvement. His success didn’t come from a sudden burst of inspiration or a single defining moment of passion for writing. Instead, Alex approached his career with the mindset of a craftsman—dedicated to mastering his craft and willing to put in the hours necessary to build his career capital.
When Alex first arrived in Los Angeles, he wasn’t entirely sure of what he wanted to do. He wasn’t driven by a specific passion for television writing but was instead guided by a general interest in pursuing something creative. Initially, Alex’s plan wasn’t to become a television writer; in fact, he thought he might work as a network executive or even attend law school. It wasn’t about finding a singular calling, but rather exploring different avenues and honing skills along the way.
After moving to LA, Alex took a job as a website editor at National Lampoon. This wasn’t his dream job, but it provided valuable exposure to the entertainment industry, giving him a foot in the door. The National Lampoon also dabbled in television production, which gave Alex the opportunity to pitch his own TV show ideas. He wrote a pilot for a show called Master Debaters, a comedic debate format. While the pilot didn’t go anywhere, this experience was critical. It helped Alex realize that writing was what he truly enjoyed. He took the next step by pitching his ideas to the right people and began to understand what the industry demanded from writers.
It wasn’t long before Alex made the decision to pivot. He quit his job at National Lampoon and accepted a position as an assistant to a development executive at NBC. This move was strategic—he knew that working in the heart of the television industry, though in a low-level role, would provide him with invaluable insights. As an assistant, he could observe the workings of TV writing firsthand and network with influential people who could help him take the next step.
While working at NBC, Alex continued to write prolifically, often working late into the night on multiple writing projects. This was a crucial period for Alex, as he not only honed his skills but also built a portfolio of work that would later become essential in breaking into the industry. Alex wasn’t waiting for a break to come to him—he was actively seeking opportunities to improve and make connections.
Eventually, Alex landed a job as a script assistant on Commander in Chief, a political drama starring Geena Davis. As a script assistant, Alex wasn’t writing full episodes but had the opportunity to be involved in the writing process. His role allowed him to observe the professional writers up close, learn from their techniques, and gain a deeper understanding of what it takes to succeed in the industry.
During this time, Alex was working on several spec scripts, including an episode idea for Commander in Chief. Although the show was eventually canceled, Alex’s persistence paid off. He impressed the team with his pitch, and one of his ideas made it onto the show’s air. It was his first produced television script—a huge milestone in his career.
After Commander in Chief, Alex worked with producer Jonathan Lisco on a new show called K-Ville, which was set in post-Katrina New Orleans. This opportunity was another critical moment in Alex’s career. His experience as a writer on K-Ville helped him build a stronger reputation and gave him the credibility he needed to secure more writing gigs. From there, Alex continued to grow in the industry, eventually landing a deal to create and write for Glenn Martin, DDS, a stop-motion comedy for Nickelodeon.
Throughout this journey, Alex’s approach to his career was guided by a clear understanding of what made someone successful in the television writing world: the quality of their writing. He didn’t rely on passion or fate to make things happen. Instead, he took deliberate steps to acquire career capital by developing his writing skills, making valuable connections, and constantly seeking feedback to improve his work.
The Most Desirable Job in Silicon Valley
Mike Jackson’s journey to becoming a cleantech venture capitalist in Silicon Valley is another example of how career capital can be accumulated and leveraged for success. While Mike’s story might seem different from Alex’s in terms of industry and context, the underlying principle remains the same: career capital, rather than passion, played a pivotal role in his ascent to a highly coveted position.
Mike’s early career was rooted in environmental science. He majored in biology and earth systems at Stanford University, and after completing his undergraduate degree, he opted to stay for a fifth year to pursue a master’s degree. During this time, Mike worked on a research project analyzing the natural-gas sector in India. This project involved significant international travel, where Mike visited countries such as India, China, and various European nations to meet with energy executives, policymakers, and other industry stakeholders. Through this experience, Mike gained a deep understanding of the global energy market and the complexities of the international carbon market.
As the project came to a close, Mike found himself with a strong set of skills but was unsure of how to proceed with his career. His deep knowledge of carbon markets and energy regulation was valuable, but he had no clear idea of how to turn it into a career. This is where career capital played a crucial role: Mike had spent years developing expertise in a specialized area that had few experts. It was his proficiency in this niche field that allowed him to make a name for himself.
Mike’s next move was to start his own business, Village Green, which helped companies offset their carbon emissions by purchasing renewable energy credits. This venture, while not a major success, provided him with valuable experience. The business exposed him to the complexities of the cleantech market, taught him how to navigate regulatory frameworks, and expanded his network within the clean energy space. Village Green might not have taken off, but it laid the foundation for his future success.
When the business closed due to the recession in 2009, Mike didn’t retreat from the job market. Instead, he sought out new opportunities. It was a chance encounter with a venture capitalist that would change the course of Mike’s career. A friend of Mike’s, who worked as a stand-up comedian, had a girlfriend interviewing at a venture capital firm. Although she declined the offer, she recommended that the firm meet with Mike. While Mike had no formal background in venture capital, his expertise in cleantech and his entrepreneurial experience were seen as assets.
Mike started a trial internship at the Westly Group, a cleantech venture capital firm based in Silicon Valley. He had no prior experience in venture capital, but his career capital—his deep knowledge of cleantech and energy markets—made him an appealing candidate. Within a few months, Mike’s work impressed the team, and he was offered a full-time position as an analyst. Over the next couple of years, Mike’s role expanded, and by 2011, he was promoted to associate. In the years that followed, Mike’s ability to leverage his career capital, coupled with his expertise in cleantech, earned him a coveted position as a director at the Westly Group.
Mike’s story emphasizes the power of career capital. Unlike Alex, Mike didn’t start his career with a passion for cleantech venture capital. Instead, he focused on building a unique set of skills in energy markets and sustainability, which eventually led him to a career that aligns with his values. Mike’s focus on becoming highly skilled in his field and his ability to identify opportunities based on his accumulated capital are what propelled him to success in Silicon Valley.
Mike’s Capital
Mike Jackson’s success as a cleantech venture capitalist can be attributed to his ability to build and leverage career capital. When Mike started his journey in the energy sector, he wasn’t chasing after a specific passion. Instead, he sought to master a field that was both emerging and highly specialized. His academic background in biology and earth systems laid the foundation for his understanding of global energy markets. His experience with carbon markets, gained through his research and his entrepreneurial venture, helped him stand out in the crowded world of cleantech.
Mike’s approach to career development wasn’t about passion-driven pursuits. Rather, he accumulated career capital by becoming an expert in a highly specialized area of the energy market. By building his knowledge and expertise, Mike made himself an invaluable asset to the cleantech sector. His ability to identify gaps in the market and leverage his unique understanding of regulatory frameworks and carbon credits led to the creation of Village Green, and later, his successful career in venture capital.
Even when faced with the failure of Village Green, Mike didn’t give up. He understood that every experience, whether it was a success or a failure, was an opportunity to gather more career capital. After Village Green folded, Mike used the skills and insights he had gained from running the business to pivot into venture capital. His deep understanding of cleantech made him a valuable asset to the Westly Group, where he quickly ascended the ranks.
Mike’s career trajectory shows that career capital is not just about expertise—it’s also about the ability to leverage that expertise when new opportunities arise. Mike didn’t wait for his dream job to appear; instead, he continuously improved his skills and actively sought out roles where his accumulated knowledge would be in demand. Today, as a director at the Westly Group, Mike has successfully parlayed his career capital into a rewarding and impactful career. His focus on building expertise and leveraging it for new opportunities is a key takeaway for anyone looking to develop a meaningful career.
Conclusion: Becoming Career Capitalists
The stories of Alex Berger and Mike Jackson are prime examples of how career capital can transform your life and work. They both leveraged the craftsman mindset—focusing on getting good at what they do, rather than obsessing over finding their passion. Through years of hard work, skill development, and persistence, they built careers they love and became leaders in their respective fields. Their experiences highlight the importance of focusing on the process of continuous improvement, accumulating valuable skills, and using that capital to unlock new opportunities.