STEPHEN M. POLLAN presents something of a paradox. On one hand, the well-known lawyer and career advisor clearly loves what he does for a living—which is to help his clients overcome all manner of work- and money-related problems. No wonder he’s still going strong at an age when most men are well into retirement, maintaining a busy New York City practice and cranking out self-help bestsellers. (His latest is Lifelines for Money Misfortunes: How to Overcome Life’s Greatest Challenges, published by Wiley.)

On the other hand, Pollan warns that men who expect to find work fulfilling are only setting themselves up for disappointment. To him, a job is good for one thing only: generating a revenue stream. It’s this stream of cash, he says, that makes it possible to the things that really are fulfilling, whether it's spending time with family, traveling, reading, pursuing hobbies, or whatever. ... read more >>