This post features a summary of So Good They Can’t Ignore You by Cal Newport.
In the book, Newport argues that the old advice to “follow your passion” is not only wrong, but dangerous. Following your passion is a surefire recipe for disappointment and disillusionment, Newport argues. Instead of following your passion, you should focus on becoming so good they can’t ignore you.
The Case Against Passion
Newport begins by arguing against the popular advice to “follow your passion”. The problem with it is that it assumes that you already have a pre-existing passion that you can simply follow. However, most people don’t have this. And even if they do, there’s no guarantee that this passion will lead to success or happiness.
In fact, many people who follow their passions end up disappointed and disillusioned. This is because they often discover that their passion doesn’t lead to the success or happiness they expected. When this happens, they often blame themselves and feel like they’ve failed.
The Case For Becoming So Good They Can’t Ignore You
So if following your passion is a recipe for disappointment and disillusionment, what should you do instead? Newport argues that you should focus on becoming so good they can’t ignore you. This means becoming excellent at something that has value in the marketplace.
Becoming excellent at something requires a great deal of hard work and dedication. It’s not something that can be accomplished overnight. But if you’re willing to put in the work, it’s something that anyone can achieve. And once you become excellent at something, opportunities will begin to open up for you. People will start to take notice of your skills and abilities, and doors will begin to open up for you that wouldn’t have opened up otherwise.
If we’re willing to put in the hard work required to become excellent at something, we can achieve success and happiness on our own terms—not someone else’s.
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