So Good They Can't Ignore You
Cal Newport
22 min
9 Key Points
4.6 RateWhat's inside?
Discover why focusing on your skills, rather than chasing your passions, can lead to a fulfilling and successful career.
You'll learn
1. Why learning new skills beats chasing your dreams2. Mastering your craft for a successful career3. The role of career capital in loving your job4. Why control matters in a satisfying career5. How a mission can boost your career6. Applying these tips for a better career.Key points
01Don't wait for the perfect job, get good at what you do now
Let's get real here. You've probably heard the old saying, "Follow your passion." It's a nice thought, but it's not always the best advice. In fact, it could be holding you back from a truly successful career. Think about it like this. You're a gardener, right? You've got a soft spot for roses. But if you spend all your time waiting for those roses to bloom and ignore the rest of your garden, it's not going to thrive. The same goes for your career. If you're only focused on finding a job that matches your passion, you might miss out on other opportunities to grow and excel. So, what's the alternative? Instead of waiting around for a job that lights your fire, why not become a master of the job you've got right now? That means sharpening your skills, gaining expertise, and becoming so darn good at what you do that people can't help but notice. It's like the gardener who takes care of all the plants in the garden, not just the roses. Over time, the garden becomes lush and beautiful, and the gardener's skills become undeniable. Sure, this approach takes dedication and hard work. You might have to burn the midnight oil and hit the books, but the payoff is worth it. As you become more skilled and knowledgeable in your field, you'll start to feel a sense of satisfaction and accomplishment. And who knows? That might even lead to a passion for your work. Don't just take my word for it. Look at the real-world examples. Many successful people didn't start with a passion for their field. Instead, they rolled up their sleeves, worked hard, became experts, and developed a passion over time. Take Steve Jobs, for example. He didn't start with a passion for technology. He developed this passion as he worked hard and became a leader in his field. So, here's the bottom line. Instead of waiting for a job you're passionate about, focus on becoming excellent at the job you have. It's going to take some elbow grease and dedication, but it can lead to a fulfilling and successful career. So, don't waste time waiting for the perfect job to come along. Instead, make your current job perfect by becoming so good they can't ignore you.
02Know your worth and don't sell yourself short
"Don't hide the worth of your skills" is a key nugget of wisdom from Cal Newport. In simple terms, it means don't downplay or hide how much you value your skills. Instead, acknowledge their worth and let them be the bedrock of your career. To get a better grip on this idea, let's take a look at Newport's critique of the 'passion hypothesis'. This theory suggests that the secret to a satisfying career is finding a job that matches your interests. But Newport thinks this theory is too simplistic and flawed. He believes that passion often comes after you've become really good at something valuable, not before. To make his point, Newport uses the story of Steve Jobs. Many people think that Jobs was driven by his love for technology and innovation. But if you dig a little deeper into his life, you'll find a different story. According to Jeffrey S. Young's biography, "Steve Jobs: The Journey Is the Reward", Jobs wasn't really into technology or business when he was a student. He was more into Western history, art, and Eastern spiritual practices. Jobs dropped out of college and started working at Atari. He then teamed up with his buddy, Steve Wozniak, to design a device for a computer time-sharing company. Later, Jobs saw that DIY computer kits were becoming popular and suggested making computer chips to sell. This idea eventually led to the birth of Apple. This story shows that Jobs didn't start Apple because he had a burning passion for technology or business. Instead, he saw a chance and used his skills to grab it. As he sharpened his skills and Apple became successful, he developed a love for his work. This example backs up Newport's argument that skills are more important than passion when it comes to finding work you love. It suggests that instead of trying to find a job that matches your interests, you should focus on building valuable skills. Once you become good at something valuable, passion will follow. So, in a nutshell, "Don't hide the worth of your skills" means that you should acknowledge the importance of your skills and let them be the bedrock of your career. Instead of hunting for a job that matches your interests, focus on becoming really good at something valuable. This approach is more likely to lead to a satisfying career.
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03Be good at your job, take control, and make friends at work
04Focus on what you bring to the table, it'll make you better at your job
05Master your craft and you'll go from good to great
06Don't take a promotion if it's not in line with your goals
07Use your skills to find your purpose
08Share your goals with others, it's key to success
09Conclusion
About Cal Newport
Cal Newport is an associate professor of computer science at Georgetown University, specializing in the theory of distributed algorithms. He's also a bestselling author known for his self-improvement and career strategy books, including "Deep Work" and "So Good They Can't Ignore You".
