#RecommendedBooks
So Good They Can't Ignore You
By Cal Newport
The Summary
"So Good They Can't Ignore You" by Cal Newport is an inspiring and practical guide to building a fulfilling career.Â
The book challenges the conventional wisdom that passion alone is enough to succeed, and instead suggests that we focus on developing rare and valuable skills that are in high demand in the marketplace.Â
By adopting a craftsman mindset, setting deliberate practice goals, and finding meaning in our work, we can build a career that is both successful and fulfilling.Â
So whether you're just starting out or looking to make a change, remember that with hard work, persistence, and a commitment to developing your skills, you too can become so good they can't ignore you!
10 Key Takeaways
Passion is not enough: Newport argues that passion is not enough to build a successful and fulfilling career. Instead, he suggests that we need to develop rare and valuable skills that are in high demand in the marketplace.
The importance of career capital: Career capital refers to the rare and valuable skills that you develop over time. According to Newport, the more career capital you have, the more control you have over your career and the more options you have available to you.
The importance of deliberate practice: Newport emphasizes the importance of deliberate practice, which involves setting specific goals, receiving feedback, and continuously improving your skills. Deliberate practice is the key to developing rare and valuable skills that are in high demand.
The benefits of a craftsman mindset: Newport encourages readers to adopt a "craftsman mindset" towards their work. This involves focusing on developing skills and producing high-quality work, rather than on immediate rewards or recognition.
The importance of mission: Finally, Newport suggests that having a sense of mission or purpose in your work can be highly motivating and fulfilling. He encourages readers to focus on finding meaning in their work, rather than just following their passions.
The myth of the "dream job": Newport argues that the idea of a "dream job" is often a myth. Instead of searching for the perfect job, he suggests that we focus on building valuable skills that we can apply to a variety of different jobs.
The importance of autonomy: Autonomy, or the ability to control how you work and what you work on, is a key component of a fulfilling career. Newport suggests that we focus on building career capital and developing valuable skills in order to gain more autonomy in our work.
The role of passion: While Newport argues that passion alone is not enough to build a successful career, he does acknowledge that it can play a role in our motivation and enjoyment of our work. He suggests that we cultivate passion over time, by developing rare and valuable skills and finding meaning in our work.
The dangers of the "passion trap": The "passion trap" refers to the idea that if we simply follow our passions, we will automatically find fulfilling work. Newport argues that this is a dangerous idea, as it can lead people to quit jobs or careers prematurely and without a solid plan in place.
The importance of career capital milestones: Finally, Newport suggests that we set career capital milestones for ourselves, in order to track our progress and stay motivated. These milestones could be related to specific skills, achievements, or levels of autonomy in our work.
Overall, "So Good They Can't Ignore You" provides a compelling alternative to the traditional advice of "follow your passion" when it comes to building a fulfilling career. By focusing on developing rare and valuable skills, cultivating a craftsman mindset, and finding meaning in our work, we can create a career that is both successful and fulfilling.
Psychological Reasoning Behind The Text Colours (if interested la)
Passion is not enough: Dark gray (#333333) or muted blue (#6699CC) - These colors were chosen because they convey a sense of seriousness and calmness, which is fitting for the idea that passion alone is not enough to build a successful career.
The importance of career capital: Deep green (#006633) or rich purple (#6B3FA0) - These colors were chosen because they convey a sense of growth and prosperity, which is fitting for the idea that building valuable career capital is key to career success.
The importance of deliberate practice: Bright orange (#FFA500) or sunny yellow (#FFD700) - These colors were chosen because they convey a sense of energy and enthusiasm, which is fitting for the idea that deliberate practice is a challenging but rewarding path to mastery.
The benefits of a craftsman mindset: Warm brown (#8B4513) or rich red (#A80000) - These colors were chosen because they convey a sense of tradition and craftsmanship, which is fitting for the idea that adopting a craftsman mindset can lead to greater fulfillment in one's work.
The importance of mission: Vibrant teal (#008080) or deep navy blue (#000080) - These colors were chosen because they convey a sense of purpose and direction, which is fitting for the idea that having a mission can help guide one's career choices.
The myth of the "dream job": Soft pink (#FFC0CB) or light gray (#CCCCCC) - These colors were chosen because they convey a sense of gentleness and subtlety, which is fitting for the idea that the "dream job" is often a myth that can lead people astray.
The importance of autonomy: Bright turquoise (#00CED1) or deep forest green (#228B22) - These colors were chosen because they convey a sense of freedom and independence, which is fitting for the idea that gaining more autonomy in one's work can lead to greater fulfillment.
The role of passion: Deep burgundy (#800000) or bright magenta (#FF00FF) - These colors were chosen because they convey a sense of passion and intensity, which is fitting for the idea that passion can play a role in one's motivation and enjoyment of their work.
The dangers of the "passion trap": Fiery red (#FF4500) or cautionary yellow (#FFFF00) - These colors were chosen because they convey a sense of warning and danger, which is fitting for the idea that blindly following one's passion can lead to risky and potentially harmful career choices.
The importance of career capital milestones: Royal blue (#4169E1) or forest green (#228B22) - These colors were chosen because they convey a sense of achievement and progress, which is fitting for the idea that setting career capital milestones can help track one's progress and stay motivated.
Videos related to the book
Pantun Lima Kerat
Di dalam buku "So Good They Can't Ignore You",
Belajarlah untuk jadi yang terbaik, bukan hanya kerana hobi yang dicari,
Bina kemahiran yang jarang, dan praktis dengan bersungguh-sungguh,
Mentorlah diri seperti tukang kraf, dan buatlah kerja dengan penuh cinta,
Kerjaya yang dipenuhi makna, impian anda jangan biarkan mati menjadi sahaja mimpi.
A tiny bit of relevance to my life story.
As the book implies, you can follow your passion - just make sure that you're so good in the skills involved to the point that the output you give is high quality, valuable and rare to the world's standard.Â
Just like the competition my team joined; the skills involved in this competition are a lot - in which they are valuable in today's world. The success too, wasn't overnight - but rather takes years of other skills as well to bear fruition such as networking, communication, friendliness, persistence.