BookBabble #25: "So Good They Can't Ignore You" by Cal Newport (@adambarratt)

"Why Skills Trump Passion in the Quest for Work You Love"

Deep Work was going against the grain of collaboration and distraction, encouraging people to nurture higher valued skills cultivated in a focused environment. This book talks about the modern phenomenon of following your passion, and why that could actually be a bad idea (or why it should be adjusted).

The name of the book is a quote from the comedian Steve Martin. I believe he said it in an interview regarding his memoir and is the advice he gave aspiring performers. This line had a huge impact on Newport and makes a great title for the book!

The book is interesting to me, partly as I didn't really agree with it plus it's also something the 'dreamers' need to hear (yeah, that's me :P ). On first reading I felt he was just trying to be different ('click baity') and take a reverse angle to garner interest. Now I can say that I see where he's coming from and there is a balance that should be applied.

You cannot say that you shouldn't follow your passion at all, that's ridiculous. You need to do it to some degree, or what's the point? Having said that, you need a structured approach to pursue what you enjoy and can't just jump in feet first. This should be obvious, but there's a way to go about it all.

The point Newport makes is that you shouldn't blindly follow your passion (or what you think it to be) but get so good at something that you build up a 'bank' (collateral / value) and you become passionate about it in the process.

I think we're ultimately all saying the same thing but good to come at it from different angles and operate a sensible approach.

Many have referenced, linked to and discussed this video (including me!) and it is generally cited as great advice and oft quoted. The author suggests that Jobs' path to success was a little different to what is painted in the speech. Not that he's lying but just that the reality of his journey actually followed a different route.

A lot comes down to interpretation. Jobs has said (in the speech and elsewhere) about the importance of passion and loving what you do. This is due to the fact that is takes so much time that you have to enjoy it to keep going. This is correct and blindingly obvious, otherwise you would just stop. The point here is that Jobs didn't necessarily have that passion at the outset but built it over time.

The story goes that it was chance encounters and a little test project which they went with… and the rest is history!

Talking of competence - we all go through 4 stages in any endeavour, as explained here.

The second example was from a girl who quit her job to instruct yoga. This and other stories are definitely something to think about, so worth taking heed. She had a passion for yoga, quit her regular job, did a course, and went to work. It didn't work out so well, as she had moved into a completely different field with no 'carry over' from her last job, and was competing with all the other 'yogis' who had a passing interest and took a course.

The reference to 'courage' is Cal's gripe about the modern mantras of following your passion, and that all you need is courage and to take the leap etc. Cal suggests you need a little more than courage to make that leap. Courage is great to nurture but you may be left with very little if that's all you've got.

That's only one half of the equation, so we do need to be careful. I do think there's a time and a place for making bold decisions and taking risky action (especially if you are really unhappy) but it could also be worth a more considered approach depending on your situation and personality. As ever, self-awareness along with general awareness is key.

At first I thought Newport was just trying to be different to sell books and make a name for himself, but to be fair there needs to be credit where it's due. Ultimately, I don't think he's saying too much different if you dissect it all. We're all looking for the same thing, it's just a case of how we go about it. I suggest that we can enjoy a great life using a mixture of these methods (it's not all or nothing, black or white).

The case studies used in any book are obviously ones that make a point that the author is trying to make. They are very biased whichever side of the fence you're on. There are success and failure stories on both sides - anything can be found to support or refute a certain course of action.

I would say to read this book for some balance but do maintain those dreams and shoot for them when the time is right. Find what works for you, be patient, know yourself and your circumstances, and strike when you can! There is no 'right' way, but it is worth knowing the various paths and finding the best way for you.

He does write a good, in-depth, well thought out and researched book does Newport. Not hugely entertaining prose but an academic, structured and considered approach to his offerings. A great author for your BookBabble arsenal!

What do you think? Have you read this book and where do you stand on the passion vs practicality debate??

Check out the others in the series…

BookBabble #25: "So Good They Can't Ignore You" by Cal Newport

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