Before I sign off, I just wanted to elaborate a bit on another thing.
In Steve's article he mentions that any action you take in work you don't love is tainted with poison. I'd agree, but only "if" you resist the work and aren't working towards something else (although even then he does have a point, but I digress).
The "poison" that Steve speaks of is probably a reference to many things, but it's definitely something author
Eckhart Tolle often speaks of in his books. You see, on a practical level, when you do work you don't love you are setting a terrible example for people.
On a mental level, you're creating suffering for yourself, and that suffering has a subtle influence on everyone you come into contact with.
On an energetic level, you spread negative energy, and to those who are sensitive to such things, being around people who don't love their work and those who are heavily resistant and negative is very unpleasant. I'm particularly sensitive like that, and it literally feels as if you're moving through a sludge of negativity when you're around those who are heavily ego-ridden.
Not only is it unpleasant, but it also sucks you into a state of negativity by passive reinforcement (despite your best efforts), and I find I often need a few days to recover and get back into my normal, more positive, calm and relaxed state after being around such people.
When it comes to unconsciousness, whether you're creating it or being exposed to it by those around you, it's best not to “spread it around” and infect other people. You do this simply because it's intelligent to do so, just like it's intelligent to not sneeze on people or to cover your mouth when you cough.
And yes, the spread of unconsciousness literally happens like that. It’s not like a disease, but it is like a ripple effect. Think of it in terms of “happiness is contagious” and “negativity is contagious”. I’m sure you’ve heard similar sayings before, and while it’s a bit of an abstraction in our case (since happiness and negativity are both polarities; awareness only offers positive “emotions” that have no opposites), but you get the point.
A brief, limited example may be:
You turn up for another day in a job you hate, feeling unfulfilled and generally grumpy. You don't want to be at work, and you hate the fact that you feel you have to be. Your "bad mood" makes you take something somebody says a co-worker says to you a bit too seriously, so you shout at them causing them to become angry.
They remain angry and go around their day, not paying attention to what they do because they're too busy focusing on the negative thoughts arising in their mind, causing an important work document they had to create to be missing a vital detail that a client was relying on to close a particular deal and receive payment.
The client does not receive payment, and instead of heading home to play with his 6 year old son as he promised, he goes out drinking. He comes home drunk and has a violent argument with his wife as his 6 year old son stands at his bedroom door and watches.
That experience alters how the 6 year old boy relates to relationships, and while he is growing up he is isolated from his peers and ridiculed. The son eventually builds his own business, but treats his employees unfairly and is particularly cruel to those who are sociable and friendly with their co-workers as he views the present moment through the lens of his past experiences with his peers, unknowingly taking revenge on his very own thoughts through those who surround him -- people who've done nothing wrong...
That is the type of "poison" and negativity that Steve talks about, and I can say without hesitation you want to avoid it at all costs. Ultimately you should learn to not create negativity wherever you are, regardless of circumstances, but that takes time to develop and isn't always realistic.
Intelligent and successful people don't surround themselves with negative people. Why? Because it's another unnecessary thing that they don't want to waste time dealing with, even if they can deal with it. Rather, they surround themselves with positive people and circumstances that are a reflection of the positivity they've cultivated internally, regardless of circumstance, and they use those resources to help make the best contribution they can to the world.