Be So Good They Can’t Ignore You

Book Review April 22, 2023

I just finished reading Cal Newport’s So Good They Can’t Ignore You, and it’s changed how I approach my career. Let me tell you why.

The big question Newport aims to answer in his book is: “Why do some people end up loving what they do, while so many others fail at this goal?”

Finding your passion can be a daunting task. It can feel like wandering in the desert, not sure which path to take. But according to Cal Newport, author of “So Good They Can’t Ignore You,” following your passion may not be the best advice.

In fact, it may lead to frustration and disappointment. Instead, Newport suggests that people should focus on developing skills that are rare and valuable. Here are some key takeaways from the book:

Increased Competency = Increased Passion

Newport argues that passion is not something you find, but something that grows over time as you become better at what you do. The more competent you become, the more likely you are to enjoy your work.

So, don’t wait for passion to strike before pursuing a career. Instead, focus on developing your skills and becoming a master of a valuable craft.

People Love Their Work for 3 Reasons

According to Newport, people love their work when:

• they can be creative
• they have control over their work
• they can make an impact If you follow a “passion” but don’t have these three elements, the passion will likely fade with time. So, instead of just pursuing a “passion”, focus on finding work that provides these three elements and the feelings of passion will follow.

Craftsman Mindset over Passion Mindset

Newport suggests that instead of focusing on finding a passion, adopt a craftsman mindset. This means asking yourself, “What can I offer the world?” instead of “What can the world offer me?” Focus on developing rare and valuable skills that you can offer to the world.

Take on Challenging Niche Projects

To develop rare and valuable skills, Newport suggests taking on challenging niche projects. These projects will force you to learn new skills and will help you stand out from the crowd. By becoming an expert in a specific area, you will become more valuable to potential employers and clients.

Daily Deliberate Practice

To become a master of your craft, you need to engage in daily deliberate practice. This means setting aside time each day to focus on improving your skills. Whether it’s practicing a musical instrument, writing, or coding, deliberate practice is essential for developing mastery.

In conclusion, finding your passion is not as simple as following your heart. Instead, it requires hard work, deliberate practice, and a focus on developing rare and valuable skills. By adopting a craftsman mindset and focusing on creativity, control, and impact, you can find work that you love and that allows you to make a meaningful contribution to the world.

So, how is this changing how I approach my career?

1. I’m adopting the craftsman mindset. My goal is to become the best designer I can be and I’m in it for the long haul. This won’t happen overnight. Read Steve Martin’s approach to learning the banjo, “[I thought], if I stay with it, then one day I will have been playing for forty years, and anyone who sticks with something for forty years will be pretty good at it.”

2. I make time every day (even for just 30 minutes) to practice my craft. This looks like completing a UI Challenge, practicing a new technique in Figma, documenting my learnings, etc.

3. Take on new challenges. Shifting my perspective to seeing every opportunity as a chance to learn something new has been a game-changer. Cal Newport interviews Derek Sivers in the book, who lives by the rule: if it scares you, go for it. With this mindset, you also want to make sure whatever challenges you take on or things you say yes to align with your goals and focus.

Read it for yourself.

My rating:

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