So Good They Can't Ignore You Book Summary - So Good They Can't Ignore You Book explained in key points
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So Good They Can't Ignore You summary

Why Skills Trump Passion in the Quest for Work You Love

4.4 (632 ratings)
19 mins

Brief summary

So Good They Can't Ignore You by Cal Newport challenges the conventional career advice of following your passion. Instead, it advocates developing rare and valuable skills, building career capital, and creating work you love through deliberate practice.

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    So Good They Can't Ignore You
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    What's in it for me?

    Probably, at one point or another, someone, somewhere has told you that the secret to success and happiness is to “follow your passion.” This is the slogan of countless self-help gurus sporting fake tans around the world. But is the advice good? If so, why did Steve Jobs build one of the most successful companies in the world when his passion was to become a Zen master?

    So Good They Can’t Ignore You (2012) does away with the “passion trap” and instead looks at more realistic and practical ways to succeed in and be satisfied with your career. You will learn how to develop the rare and valuable skills that great jobs require. You will also learn how to parlay those skills into control and autonomy in your work – a "must" for job satisfaction. You will also discover how you can find your own mission: an inspiring goal to strive for professionally.

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    What is So Good They Can't Ignore You about?

    How can you find a job that you are good at and enjoy? This book advocates the "craftsman mind-set" of patiently developing skills instead of the typical "follow-your-passion" advice, and offers practical solutions to acquiring and maintaining job satisfaction.

    So Good They Can't Ignore You Review

    So Good They Can't Ignore You (2012) by Cal Newport is a thought-provoking book that challenges conventional wisdom about finding one's passion. Here's why this book is worth reading:

    • Offers a refreshing take on career advice, emphasizing the importance of building rare and valuable skills rather than following one's passion.
    • Backed by extensive research and interviews, it exposes the flaws in the "follow your passion" mantra and provides a practical roadmap for career success.
    • Through compelling anecdotes and case studies, Newport's insights make this book an engaging and insightful exploration of how to create a fulfilling career.

    Who should read So Good They Can't Ignore You?

    • Anyone who wants to know why “follow your passion” is bad advice
    • Anyone interested in alternative routes to job satisfaction and success

    About the Author

    Cal Newport earned a PhD in computer science in 2009. He was a post-doctoral associate at MIT and was en route to becoming a professor when he learned how frustrating looking for an academic job could be. He wanted to stay in the United States for family reasons, but learned that it might mean starting over from scratch. This book is about the answers he found to the question, how do you end up loving what you do?

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    So Good They Can't Ignore You FAQs 

    What is the main message of So Good They Can't Ignore You?

    The main message of So Good They Can't Ignore You is that passion is not enough for a fulfilling career.

    How long does it take to read So Good They Can't Ignore You?

    The reading time for So Good They Can't Ignore You varies depending on the reader's pace. However, the Blinkist summary can be read in a few minutes.

    Is So Good They Can't Ignore You a good book? Is it worth reading?

    So Good They Can't Ignore You is a worthwhile read that challenges conventional wisdom about pursuing your passion.

    Who is the author of So Good They Can't Ignore You?

    The author of So Good They Can't Ignore You is Cal Newport.

    What to read after So Good They Can't Ignore You?

    If you're wondering what to read next after So Good They Can't Ignore You, here are some recommendations we suggest:
    • Digital Minimalism by Cal Newport
    • How to Become a Straight-A Student by Cal Newport
    • The ONE Thing by Gary Keller and Jay Papasan
    • Deep Work by Cal Newport
    • Slow Productivity by Cal Newport
    • Linchpin by Seth Godin
    • Now, Discover Your Strengths by Marcus Buckingham
    • The Courage to Be Disliked by Ichiro Kishimi & Fumitake Koga
    • How Highly Effective People Speak by Peter Andrei
    • Start Now. Get Perfect Later. by Rob Moore