Born For This Book Summary - Born For This Book explained in key points
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Born For This summary

Chris Guillebeau

How to Find the Work You Were Meant to Do

4.2 (111 ratings)
16 mins

Brief summary

Born For This by Chris Guillebeau is a self-help book that helps readers create work that fits their unique skills and passions. With stories and interviews, he offers guidance on discovering the ideal career path and achieving success that aligns with personal fulfillment.

Table of Contents

    Born For This
    Summary of 7 key ideas

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    The way to your true calling isn’t clear-cut, and a one-size-fits-all plan won’t help you find it.

    Some people have their entire life mapped out by the time they enter kindergarten. But for most of us, finding our life’s work takes a bit more effort, especially since career paths aren’t always straightforward and predictable.

    So, if you don’t know what you want to do with your life, don’t sweat it – just start experimenting. This is a good strategy because careers develop in unforeseeable ways and every job or project that grabs your attention could be a step toward your true calling.

    Say you follow your dream and join the circus. After a few months, you start to realize that you’re not so into cleaning up after elephants. So you transfer to the box office to sell tickets, but this new job, a bit too pleasant and a bit too clean, quickly gets boring.

    Done with the box office, you decide to get an office job outside the circus. Your new job is just starting to get on your nerves when you meet a client who owns a clothing line. Suddenly you realize that you were born to design circus-themed T-shirts!

    The point is, you don’t need to subscribe to a seemingly established career path. While some people are staunch believers in the notion that careers do follow strict scripts, these assumptions are invariably based on other people’s experiences.

    For instance, a common rule is that if a career opportunity comes your way, you should seize the chance because it might be your only one. In reality, abiding by such strict rules will undermine your creativity and obscure the path to your dream job. After all, just because something worked for someone else’s career doesn’t mean it will for yours.

    That’s why it’s important to flip the script, that is, to rewrite traditional career advice to match your needs. You might ditch the rule about jumping at your first career opportunity and write a new one that says, “If you don’t feel good about a job, pass it up.” There will always be other options.

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    What is Born For This about?

    Born For This (2016) is your guide to finding the career of your dreams. These blinks will help you discover your true passions while providing the tips and information you need to earn money from your genuine interests.  

    Born For This Review

    Born For This (2016) by Chris Guillebeau is a book that explores how to find the work you were meant to do and create a life of fulfillment. Here's why this book is worth reading:

    • With its practical tips and strategies, it provides a roadmap for discovering your ideal career path and aligning your passions with your work.
    • Guillebeau shares real-life stories of people who have found success and happiness in unconventional career paths, offering inspiration and motivation.
    • The book challenges traditional notions of work and encourages readers to explore alternative routes to success, making it thought-provoking and refreshing.

    Best quote from Born For This

    Business opportunities are like buses. Theres always another one coming. - Richard Branson

    —Chris Guillebeau
    example alt text

    Who should read Born For This?

    • Recent graduates who don’t know what their next steps will be
    • Anyone who hates their job
    • Professionals who have thought about quitting their job to start their own business

    About the Author

    Chris Guillebeau is an American entrepreneur, nonfiction writer and blogger. He’s known for his blog The Art of Nonconformity and his book of the same name. In addition to his books and blogging, he has written travel guides and business literature under the brand name Unconventional Guides.

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    Born For This FAQs 

    What is the main message of Born For This?

    The main message of Born For This is that finding work you love and excelling at it is possible for everyone.

    How long does it take to read Born For This?

    The reading time for Born For This varies, but it typically takes several hours. The Blinkist summary can be read in just 15 minutes.

    Is Born For This a good book? Is it worth reading?

    Born For This is worth reading for anyone looking to find the work they were meant to do. It offers valuable insights and practical advice for achieving career fulfillment.

    Who is the author of Born For This?

    The author of Born For This is Chris Guillebeau.

    What to read after Born For This?

    If you're wondering what to read next after Born For This, here are some recommendations we suggest:
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