So Good They Can't Ignore You: Why Skills Trump Passion in the Quest for Work You Love Flashcards
Why is the βfollow your passionβ idea flawed?
Most peopleβs passions are non work-related (Sports and other hobbies) and when you focus only on what your work offers you (passion mindset), it makes you hyperaware of what you donβt like about it, leading to chronic unhappiness.
What is deliberate practice?
Deliberate practice refers to a special type of practice that is purposeful and systematic. While regular practice might include mindless repetitions, deliberate practice requires focused attention and is conducted with the specific goal of improving performance.
What is career capital?
Career capital is made up of the skills, connections, and credentials that allow a person to have impact in their job.
How can you get control over your work?
By having enough career capital that you become so valuable that you can define your own terms regarding your career.
How does one find a compelling mission to drive his career?
By first building skills and mastering his field.
What is the law of financial viability?
βWhen deciding whether to follow an appealing pursuit that will introduce more control into your work life, ask yourself whether people are willing to pay you for it. If so, continue. If not, move on.β
What are the two traps of control?
- Acquiring control without the proper career capital is not sustainable
- When you have enough career capital, you have become so valuable to your employer that they will try to prevent you from making the change
Both scenarios feel the same, but the right response is different in each.
What is the importance of little bets?
To maximize your chances of success, you should deploy small, concrete experiments that return concrete feedback.
What is the craftsman mindset and how does it compare to the passion mindset?
The craftsman mindset is a focus on what value youβre producing in your job, while the passion mindset is a focus on what value your job offers you.
The craftsman mindset focuses on what you can offer the world, the passion mindset focuses instead on what the world can offer you .
What usually happens when you adopt the craftsman mindset?
The passion follows! π
What are the three traits that define great work?
Creativity, Impact and Control
What is the key to quickly becoming so good they canβt ignore you?
Deliberate practice
What is the power of mission?
To have a mission is to have a unifying focus for your career. Itβs more general than a specific job and can span multiple positions.
What does it take for a project to transform a mission into a success?
It should be remarkable in two ways.
- It must literally compel people to remark about it.
- It must be launched in a venue conducive to such remarking.
