Cal Newport: So Good They Can't Ignore You

Source

"Follow your passion" - Defacto American Career Gospel

This is bad advice - this assumes...

  • Everyone has a pre-existing passion
  • Matching your career to your passion will get you a satisfying career.(What happens to people who's passion is Cricket?)

So how do you have a fulfilling career?

  • The specifics of what you do might not be too important
  • You have to build up a rare and valuable skill(get really good at it.). This makes them valuable in the market place.
  • Use that to find a job that matches what you are looking for.

Snowball effect - if someone is interesting in something, more you practice it the more it becomes part of your identity and you'll be more passionate about it.

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