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Blink 3 of 8 - The 5 AM Club
by Robin Sharma
Listen to the Intro
Shapers summary
Jonas Altman
Reinvent the Way You Work and Change the Future
17 mins
Brief summary
Shapers by Jonas Altman explores the lives of individuals who challenge the status quo and reshape our world. It inspires readers to become shapers themselves and drive change in their lives and communities.
Table of Contents
Shapers
Summary of 6 key ideas
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Key idea 1 of 6
Disengagement at work is endemic, and it has serious consequences.
Do you ever dream of being able to slack off at work? One employee not only dreamed of this, he made it happen, by creating software that made it look like he was working on his computer while, in reality, he was doing other things. Imagine if he’d taken that same ingenuity, and actually applied it to his job!
Not all unmotivated employees are so creative in finding ways to avoid work. But many share the feeling that they’d rather be anywhere than at their desks. A recent global Gallup study found that 85 percent of the world’s one billion full-time employees are disengaged from their work. That means that eight in ten people are going to work on Monday and dragging themselves through the week until the weekend comes around.
The key message here is: Disengagement at work is endemic, and it has serious consequences.
Employees who are disengaged are also more likely to get burned out, get sick, have an accident, or become depressed. Unsurprisingly, this has a big economic impact. In the US, the economy loses 350 billion dollars every year because of dwindling productivity and sick leave.
So what’s causing these epidemic levels of disengagement? Well, the sad fact is that most workplaces are stuck in the past and most employees are still chained to a desk. But in today’s networked world we have extraordinary possibilities for creating new ways of working. In fact, many of us could work from anywhere on the planet and at any time of day. But the majority of companies still insist on a standard 40-hour work week in a traditional office environment.
What’s worse, many companies patronize employees by treating them as inherently lazy or incapable, as if they have to be bullied or even bribed into working. Well, guess what? If you underestimate what people can do, they’ll often prove you right. There’s nothing more demotivating than working for a company or boss who doesn’t believe in you.
People crave autonomy. They want to be shapers: workers who have the space to craft their jobs to fit their unique skills and capabilities. Most of all, they want to feel like what they’re doing is meaningful, that they’re contributing to something bigger than themselves. But these days, most employees see themselves as small cogs in big machines they don’t fully understand.
So how can we begin to fix the world of work? That’s what you’ll discover in the upcoming blinks.
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What is Shapers about?
Shapers (2020) chronicles how technological and organizational shifts have transformed our workplaces. Most importantly, it outlines the key competencies that modern organizations and workers should develop to thrive in a world of uncertainty and disruption.
Shapers Review
Shapers (2022) is a fascinating exploration of the future of work and how we can shape our careers in the evolving landscape. Here's why this book is definitely worth reading:
- With insightful interviews from a diverse range of professionals, it offers a unique perspective on navigating the changing job market.
- The book provides practical strategies and actionable advice on how to adapt and thrive in the ever-evolving world of work.
- By addressing the importance of purpose and meaning in our professional lives, it offers inspiration and guidance for finding fulfillment in our careers.
Who should read Shapers?
- Entrepreneurs looking for advice on creating sustainable, innovative companies
- Employees who are fed up with their dead-end jobs
- Managers who want to learn how to lead
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Shapers FAQs
What is the main message of Shapers?
The main message of Shapers is that embracing our unique qualities and shaping our own work lives leads to fulfillment and success.
How long does it take to read Shapers?
The reading time for Shapers varies depending on the reader's speed, but it typically takes several hours. The Blinkist summary can be read in just 15 minutes.
Is Shapers a good book? Is it worth reading?
Shapers is worth reading because it offers valuable insights on how to create meaningful work and find fulfillment in our careers.
Who is the author of Shapers?
The author of Shapers is Jonas Altman.
What to read after Shapers?
If you're wondering what to read next after Shapers, here are some recommendations we suggest:
- Disrupted by Dan Lyons
- Dave Ramsey's Complete Guide To Money by Dave Ramsey
- Dream Big by Bob Goff
- The Whole-Brain Child by Daniel J. Siegel and Tina Payne Bryson
- Unreasonable Hospitality by Will Guidara
- Atomic Habits by James Clear
- Elon Musk by Walter Isaacson
- Hey Whipple, Squeeze This! by Luke Sullivan with Sam Bennett
- The Art of Rhetoric by Aristotle
- Fear Less by Pippa Grange