So Good They Can’t Ignore You
The central premise of Cal Newport’s So Good They Can’t Ignore You is that to “follow your passion” is misleading and even dangerous career advice. Instead, we should focus on becoming good at what we do and focusing on what value we can offer to the world—what he calls developing a craftsman mindset. This is counter to the passion mindset which, as Newport argues, instead focuses on what the work can offer you.
The central premise of the book resonated with me when reflecting on my career. Most software engineers develop a passion for technology early on. I remember late nights in the 90s and early 00s learning to program as a high-schooler — definitely what I would deem passion. However, after I completed my undergrad and started my first job in New York City, I remember being lost and woefully unprepared for what awaited me in the messy, “real world” of working for a technology company. I certainly questioned whether I was in the right place and whether the inevitable intersection of technology and business was really where I wanted to be. But then I got good at it. I developed what Newport would call “career capital”. I delivered countless valuable projects, got my MBA and developed a true passion for what I do.
The book does meander on in the second two-thirds with several interesting but isolated anecdotes. Newport clearly has an analytical approach to developing theories but I would have appreciated a more data-based argument rather than anecdotal and theoretical evidence. Overall, a pretty good read.
