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Blink 3 of 8 - The 5 AM Club
by Robin Sharma
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Start-up of You summary
Reid Hoffman
Ben Casnocha
Adapt to the Future, Invest in Yourself, and Transform Your Career
14 mins
Brief summary
Start-up of You by Reid Hoffman and Ben Casnocha is a guide for professionals to become more entrepreneurial in their careers. It provides tactics to adapt to a rapidly-changing job market and invest in themselves to create opportunities for success.
Table of Contents
Start-up of You
Summary of 8 key ideas
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Key idea 1 of 8
Adopt a start-up mentality to succeed in today’s turbulent professional world.
In the past, the career of an educated person usually followed a fairly predictable trajectory: Much like getting on an escalator, he or she would start with an entry-level position at a large organization, and gradually rise through the ranks, gaining more seniority and income as the years passed.
Today, however, due to macroeconomic forces like globalization and technology, the escalator has come to a standstill at every level. There are fewer people retiring, hardly any entry-level positions opening up and employees in middle management find themselves waiting for promotions which might never come.
If your own career plan has thus far relied on this escalator, alarm bells should be ringing in your head.
Fortunately, you can succeed professionally even without the escalator. Start-up companies have always had to live with unpredictability and change, and hence to succeed professionally today, you must apply a start-up mindset to your professional development.
The most important lesson is to be adaptable and vigilant: always consider yourself in permanent beta, i.e. as a work in progress, eager to learn and develop.
Prioritize learning opportunities. Too often, 20 years of experience really means one year of experience repeated 20 times. In permanent beta each year should be full of new challenges and developments.
Although a cozy corporate job on the escalator may seem low-risk, it actually increases your risks in the long run. If you are used to constantly adapting, even drastic changes cannot hurt you, because you will always land on your feet. If, however, you are used to passively standing on the career escalator, an unexpected event like being fired could be disastrous.
So remember, adopt a start-up mentality to succeed in today’s turbulent professional world.
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What is Start-up of You about?
The Start-Up of You (2012) is a guide to how you can leverage strategies used by start-ups in your own career: being adaptable, building relationships and pursuing breakout opportunities.
In a world where entire industries are being ravaged by global competition and traditional career paths are fast becoming dead-ends, everyone needs to hustle like an entrepreneur.
Start-up of You Review
Start-up of You (2012) is a must-read for anyone looking to navigate today's uncertain job market and create a successful career. Here's why this book stands out:
- With its practical advice on building valuable skills and networks, it helps readers take control of their professional lives.
- By combining the authors' personal experiences, case studies, and insights from successful entrepreneurs, the book offers valuable lessons and strategies.
- The book's engaging storytelling and relatable examples make it a compelling read, ensuring that readers stay interested and motivated throughout.
Who should read Start-up of You?
- Anyone who wants to understand what the right career is for them and how to achieve it
- Professionals who are considering a career or industry change
- Professionals who want to leverage their network more effectively
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Start-up of You FAQs
What is the main message of Start-up of You?
The main message of Start-up of You is to think of yourself as a startup, constantly adapting and learning to thrive in the modern working world.
How long does it take to read Start-up of You?
The reading time for Start-up of You varies depending on the reader, but it typically takes a few hours. The Blinkist summary can be read in just 15 minutes.
Is Start-up of You a good book? Is it worth reading?
Start-up of You is a valuable read for anyone navigating their career. It offers actionable advice and a fresh perspective on professional growth.
Who is the author of Start-up of You?
The authors of Start-up of You are Reid Hoffman and Ben Casnocha.
What to read after Start-up of You?
If you're wondering what to read next after Start-up of You, here are some recommendations we suggest:
- Linchpin by Seth Godin
- The Startup Playbook by David S. Kidder
- The $100 Startup by Chris Guillebeau
- Side Hustle by Chris Guillebeau
- How to Have a Happy Hustle by Bec Evans
- Hustle by Neil Patel
- The 4-Hour Workweek by Tim Ferriss
- The ONE Thing by Gary Keller and Jay Papasan
- The Innovator’s Dilemma by Clayton Christensen
- Main Street Millionaire by Codie Sanchez