So Good They Can't Ignore You
About the Book
Could it be that the more we focus on finding and following our passions, the more discontent we become with our work? Cal Newport makes the argument that you should throw passion aside and get really good first โ then passion will follow.
So what makes for a rewarding career? Room for creativity, impact, and control are some important factors โ and how do you attain that? You get really, really good at something rare and valuable.
Key Concepts
Craftsman Mindset vs. Passion Mindset
The Craftsman mindset focuses relentlessly on what value you can offer the world. The Passion mindset focuses on what the world can offer you. Newport argues the craftsman mindset is the path to work you love.
Deliberate Practice
"If you're not uncomfortable, then you're probably stuck at an 'acceptable level'."
Growth requires pushing beyond what feels easy. If you're coasting, you're not improving.
โญ๏ธ Takeaway
Make small bets.
In the wake of Tim Ferriss' The 4-Hour Work Week, tons of people quit their jobs to become bloggers with passive income streams. Lifestyle design is cool and all, but many became disillusioned quickly and realized how hard it is to make money online.
Make many small bets when you are transitioning into a new area of work instead of one really big one. Ask yourself: what are people really willing to pay you for? And prove it. Some things will have to remain just a hobby.
โ๏ธ Verdict
This is the perfect book for someone just starting their career. But for those of us with 15โ30 years of work experience, we've probably already learned these lessons โ maybe even the hard way โ and have less to gain from this book.
If that's you, study these books and concepts instead:
- ๐ Bhagavad Gita โ about freedom from outcome
- ๐ Mastery by Robert Greene โ about being persistent
- ๐ Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell โ about deliberate practice