PNTV: So Good They Can't Ignore You by Cal Newport (

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Here are 5 of my favorite Big Ideas from "So Good They Can't Ignore You" by Cal Newport. Hope you enjoy!
Get book here: www.amazon.com/Good-They-Cant-...
Connect: calnewport.com/

[@KennyCannon]

FINALLY somebody speaks the truth. "Finding your passion" sells a lot of books and courses but provides little real world value to people serious about becoming successful. Something from the Note really stood out to me and it basically said "We need to get really good at something PEOPLE ARE WILLING TO PAY FOR." So in other words, forget about your passion and instead do this: Find a Need, Become a Master, Sell like Crazy. This is one of the best PNTV's I've seen and the Note is even better. Loving the Podcast as well.

[@CoconutPete]

I disagree. A book that is so good it can't be ignored should be a page turner that you cannot put down rather than one that makes your eyes glaze over. The truth is he released this book less than a year after Steve Jobs died... Steve Jobs was featured early in the book which is part of the marketing strategy... the other strategy is to take an opposing view to get attention. It works, but he's selling bad advice that has the potential to ruin the lives of anyone that believes it. Pretty sure you could take a 100 random successful people and more than likely you will find they were passionate about what they were doing.

[@drpaulchan]

yes, so much talk about passion, so little on craftsmanship, how to be really great at something. So true

[@HeroicBrian]

Paul Chan Amen, Paul. To craftsmanship!!

[@hopperthemarxist8533]

Thanks Brian -- focusing on the craft produces the passion as epiphenomenon -- this is invaluable advice for me.

[@HeroicBrian]

***** Awesome. Let's do this, Babak!! :)

[@DjSepOfficial]

10/10 You're going to be huge man the value you offer through your content is 1000x more than others in your field

[@HeroicBrian]

Sep (Official) Wow. I appreciate that and I'm excited about all that's in store. Let's do this!! :)

[@seldom7288]

Dont lie his content is 💩💩💩

[@vincentmilardo]

I am in the business of changing lives for over 30 years. Excellent points. You are Amazing and generous with your Wisdom passion and your sharing. Thank you Brian.

[@HeroicBrian]

+vincent milardo Thank you, Vincent!! I appreciate your kind words and look forward to optimizing together in the months and years ahead! :) Optimize is now free! Sign up/tell your friends! www.optimize.me

[@willaylwardcoaching]

I'm so happy to have found your work Brian, your insights have taught me so much in just a week! Extremely grateful, thank you.

[@HeroicBrian]

+Orange Box Personal Development Thrilled we're connected and thanks for your note!! Optimize is now free! Sign up/tell your friends! www.optimize.me

[@naterou5]

Love your energy man. Happy to have come across the channel. Loved this book and this is a great summary with some excellent additional insight from yourself.

[@HeroicBrian]

Much appreciated! -Zak | Team Optimize Optimize is now free! Sign up/tell your friends! www.optimize.me

[@precieuxolivier6890]

Very good presentation...thank!!!

[@fitfuelplanner]

I'm a big fan of Cal Newport - I'm starting college in a week in computer science and I just read two of his books on studying!!

[@HeroicBrian]

Steven Garcia That's amazing, Steven!! Here's to being a craftsman!!

[@a9nh]

Thank you! Very helpful.

[@nbediamola]

These videos are fantastic, thank you so much!

[@HeroicBrian]

+David S Thank you, David!! Optimize is now free! Sign up/tell your friends! www.optimize.me

[@JanelDuRoss]

Brian, I loved this! Watched twice and sent to some friends. I put Cal's book in my library cue. Thanks so much for your offerings to the world : )

[@harryman11]

I just have to say thanks again, I haven't been watching lately, although I do enjoy the quick emails. Finding your channel has been the catalyst of turning all of the time I've spent reading philosophy, and my favorite Joseph Campbell, into action. I guess I just needed some positive reinforcement to give me the confidence to believe what I already knew. The last few weeks I've just been killing it, thinking about quitting my job and moving out to an environment where I can really grow. I'm on a warpath following my bliss and loving life more than I have in years.

[@HeroicBrian]

harryman11 Right on!! Love it and thanks for sharing! Speaking of Campbell, have you seen this? www.amazon.com/Finding-Joe-Deepak-Chopra/dp/158270399X/ Here's to following our bliss *and* our grunt!

[@harryman11]

No but its in the mail now! If your bliss has enough meaning(saving the world, in a way) the grunt comes for free. Life is good, even if it means 90hrs a week, I don't think its fair to even call it work at this point. I'm on my "Hero's Journey" and I've just enter the Schwarzwald, and it feels like I'm at the top of the roller-coaster just cresting the first peak. The only problem is I'm too excited attack the problem the next day and can't get much more sleep than 6 hrs. Life is great.

[@HeroicBrian]

harryman11 Nice. Now to sustain that energy for the long haul! LET'S DO THIS!!

[@brandonasif4074]

the passion mindset is unsustainable. when times get tough, you wouldn't like what you were once passionate about anymore

[@CoconutPete]

the non passionate mindset is much more unsustainable. Try it yourself. Try to start a project around something you hate with a passion and let's see how well Cal's theories work lol

[@luighseachniruadhain7452]

Rare craftsmanship 😍

[@marvinvanhattem]

Hey Brian, I am really asking myself some deep questions lately, mostely focusing on what I want to do with my life and my values. And your videos are really helping me. I don't have a credit card, but I'd love to support your, keep up the good work Brian. Thank you.

[@HeroicBrian]

+Marvin Jeffrey Thank you, Marvin! I'm honored to be a part of your process and appreciate your support. If you get in touch with zak at brianjohnson.me he'll be able to hook you up with an account, etc. No worries on the cash if cash is tight! Let's do this!! Optimize is now free! Sign up/tell your friends! www.optimize.me

[@dr.sadikmahadi3997]

the SDT is very useful i think. thanks again brian!

[@HeroicBrian]

Sadik Mahadi Yes and thanks, Sadik!!

[@rickybobby5808]

This is very helpful

[@TheFeruzShow]

Thank you for dropping out of law school and creating these great notes and videos:-) you and your works are amazing!

[@HeroicBrian]

Feruz Gebremeskel heheh. Thanks, Feruz!! Very happy I dropped out of law school as well. :) Look forward to optimizing together in the months and years ahead! :)

[@TheFeruzShow]

***** hahah looking forward to it as well. You are shaping minds for the better my friend! keep it up!

[@HeroicBrian]

Feruz Gebremeskel The fun has just begun!! :)

[@loveshg1]

I read and re-read the book couple times. I agree with most of what is said but I still can’t get myself to agree on the author’s point about passion. I think the fallacy of his argument is that people are always passionate only about things that are hard to monetize, like going to beach or being a monk. My view is combining passion and the mindset of craftsmanship is the most potent solution. We can be passionate about things that are worth going after as a career. Another fallacy is the author seems to think the passion theory advocates merely following the passion and ignoring the craftsmanship, the hard work or the career capital that is necessary for success. The opposite is true. Being passionate makes it more likely that you will go through the long duration hard work and give you the mental toughness that is required. No matter what we do, we will often get stuck in really tough patches. When that happens, people usually give up. Those who persevere are usually people who have the passion and are willing to keep going. Another important point is we don’t need to find our passion first like the book says. It’s usually a trial and error process. You try lots of things. Those that you like, you do a bit more and eventually you find something that you’re passionate. If that something is worth pursuing as a career, then you put in your 10,000 hours of deliberate practice. You’ll eventually become a master craftsman. If that something isn’t worth pursuing as a career, then you can always make that a hobby.

[@HeroicBrian]

Nice take on this! -Zak | Team Optimize Optimize is now free! Sign up/tell your friends! www.optimize.me

[@CoconutPete]

Totally agree... Cal gets it right with the title of the book but in my opinion fails to deliver. It's almost like trying to convince the reader that the world is flat when everyone knows otherwise lol

[@yuthpatirathi2719]

Superb video. Thank you

[@HeroicBrian]

Thank you!! -Zak | Team Optimize Optimize is now free! Sign up/tell your friends! www.optimize.me

[@lessonandperspectives1154]

Brain, love your work! But I think you should mention the exceptions to the craftsmen mindset theory. Cal brilliantly argues that if either you do not like the people around you(relatedness problem) or your work doesn't allow you to distinguish yourself from others(autonomy and competence problem) or you don't think you are creating something useful in the world at all(relatedness problem), then you must leave that work immediately and start with what you were previously passionate about. BUT BEFORE YOU QUIT look at both the career market and the career capital, so that you have enough money to not think about it anymore and you can focus on Autonomy, Competence and Relatedness.

[@ASHISHVERMA-gb8xw]

Excellent....👌

[@HeroicBrian]

Thanks a lot 😊 -Zak | Team Optimize Optimize is now free! Sign up/tell your friends! www.optimize.me

[@R.oboCop.]

You seem to have every book imaginable!

[@HeroicBrian]

+Chongran Zhang hehe. Working on it! Barely scratched the surface so far but excited to build on this: brianjohnson.me/philosophersnotes/the-books/ Optimize is now free! Sign up/tell your friends! www.optimize.me

[@Humanafterall888]

Nice shirt man. Really like the video thumbnail design. Did you design all these art work ? Keep up the good work.

[@Tasseneimer]

My Passion is to create value for others

[@HeroicBrian]

Max Meyer Me, too. :)

[@Tasseneimer]

I Know ;) To be honest i just subscribed to you without really watching your Videos yet, but thats the impression I had so far

[@HeroicBrian]

Max Meyer I appreciate your intuition and support! :)

[@sumtingwongfilms2425]

Hi Brian I had 2 questions. 1) When you're starting a new craft and in the early career capital accumulation, it seems challenging to have fun and enjoy the process. Do you believe the beginning is where you have to "grind" it out the most... and then after that you will enjoy your work a lot more? 2) How do you adapt a craftsman mindset (creating value for others) rather than a "what's in it for me' mindset? This is something I've struggled for a while and I've always concluded that I've just wired to focus on 'what my work can do for me.'

[@HeroicBrian]

More here: brianjohnson.me/master-class/creativity-101/ Optimize is now free! Sign up/tell your friends! www.optimize.me

[@whatusayingangsta3642]

Love ya

[@HeroicBrian]

Whatu Sayingangsta :)

[@ICanThrive]

Awesome!!! :D

[@HeroicBrian]

Healthy Body Mind Soul Thanks!!

[@JPLandHeadhunter]

Two views and two comments! Great video and sounds like an awesome book!

[@HeroicBrian]

Jerry Land Big smile and high tens, Jerry! The book is fantastic. :)

[@Lennartnieuwland]

More wisdom in less time, thats probably why i play it in 1.25 speed

[@luighseachniruadhain7452]

X 2 is my preference, listen to twice as many videos!!! All excellent

[@DistortedV12]

Brian is really becoming a 10x philosopher

[@HeroicBrian]

💙 Zak | Team Optimize Optimize is now free! Sign up/tell your friends! www.optimize.me

[@GMarquesAAKK]

Hey Brian :) ! Because of your work, I'm curious to know: how much words you read per minute (reading speed)? Did you ever practice/d deliberately to improve the speed? And if so what do you think that led to that?

[@HeroicBrian]

Gonçalo Marques Hi Goncalo: Depending on the density/formatting/etc., I read 30-50 pages/hour. I'm not into speed reading altho I read relatively quickly. For me it's more like intensely focusing on a brilliant person's wisdom as if we're hanging out!

[@bibbybop3825]

I can't help but feel he has drawn the wrong conclusions here. I've never heard anyone suggest that following your passion meant you don't have to build expertise nor that your career would be instant. And I've certainly never come across follow your passion as being merely the result of introspection, not unless you are already quite well into your career-building years and have stalled, feeling dissatisfied and restless. At a younger age it was always about exploring, trying things out, learning through living, more about yourself.

[@CoconutPete]

Totally agree... I feel this book is really bad advice. Passion is only a part of the entire equation. There are thousands if not millions of passions anyone can be interested in. Is it easier to be passionate about being a movie star or a sewage worker? I've tried pursuing projects around subjects I'm only lukewarm in (motivated by profits) vs. projects I am passionate about and passion wins every time. If you don't somewhat enjoy what you are doing, there is no way you will survive the rough times.

[@yehudahamaccabi9420]

I have always admired Cal Newport! Cal Newport has really help me with my study habits and life in general. With all due respect, I disagree with the "Ten Thousand Hour Rule". For example, many martial art master's never consider themselves 'masters', after twenty years of consistent training, because mastery is a lifetime pursuit. Can I get a pull-up and chin-up report? Are continuing to perform 100 burpees, everyday?

[@HeroicBrian]

Yehuda HaMaccabi Cal is awesome! 100 burpees per day is on. Pull-ups: 12 per day. New game I'm playing = 1 + 10 + 100 + 1,000 + 10,000 => 1 Sun salutation (+ a few minutes of yoga) + 10 Pull-ups + 100 Burpees + 1,000 meters rowed + 10,000 steps. Fun!

[@yehudahamaccabi9420]

***** Guru Swole, You are the man! I know you have those new black tailored shirt on order! When are we going to see your new tailored black shirts? LOL!

[@HeroicBrian]

Yehuda HaMaccabi LOL. I'm actually happy I stopped doing the 300 burpees b/c I would have needed new shirts. Now I shouldn't. lol. Let's do this!

[@yehudahamaccabi9420]

***** Great response; yet, I have given you the title "Guru Swole"! If you do not get 'swole', I have committed slander! LOL!

[@albeit1]

Was? Steve Martin's still performing.

[@rohitn8271]

Brian, I admire your work , but I disagree on Cal's thinking of finding your 'grunt' first and then you become passionate about the thing you do. When I look back at my career. I was incredibly good at what I use to do , probably among the top 5% in the stream , and I had SDT to a good extent. However, there was absolutely no fulfillment. I felt like I had climbed the wrong ladder. That is where , nobody would wants to be. Then I came across the book , "Great Work of your Life" by Stephen Cope. I realized the beauty of "letting go of your fruits" and working on your craft. There absolutely has to be a emotional investment (not necessary a passion) in the work you do , or else fulfillment in very difficult to achieve. Cal mentions about the lady who quit her job to become a Yoga instructor as "unsuccessful". What is the definition of success , he is applying here ? Material success ? I believe finding you calling is the biggest success in life. Since, she will be very much emotionally invested in her work , she will put in hours of hard work to become great. Of course, when you follow your passion , you have to take Consistent MASSIVE ACTION. Can someone take massive action(10000 hrs) in the field they are not passionate/emotionally invested about for decades ? I definitely can't. I feel that book might become an excuse for people who are having difficulty finding their passion/obsession. I would like to know your thoughts on this. Thank you for your work. Regards, Rohit

[@HeroicBrian]

+Rohit Nibariya All part of a much longer chat over a cup of tea full of "yes, and"s but I also loved Cope's book. (More here: brianjohnson.me/philosophers-notes/the-great-work-of-your-life/ )  Cal addresses many of your critiques in his book--much more adequately than I did in a super-quick 10-min overview of a few basic ideas. (re: the yoga teacher: He measured her lack of success by the fact she was on food stamps shortly after leaving her job.) Optimize is now free! Sign up/tell your friends! www.optimize.me

[@rohitn8271]

+Brian Johnson Hi Brian, Thanks for the reply. I understand that we need more time to discuss this. I did read the book. It had some really good points on increasing marketability and enjoyment at work. However, it was nowhere near as rigorous as I would've hoped. His argument builds on a succession of short profiles of people who've been successful in their careers and ambitions. Only occasionally does Newport draw on theory (e.g., a nod to self-determination theory in ch.2) or research studies. After starting each chapter with a story, he then boils it down to a simple maxim or two, which in turn slot into his four fundamental "rules" of career-building. One of the recurring frustrations, as other reviewers have noted, is that his stories can be read in various ways, and his heavy-handed, reductionist overlays tend to make you more skeptical rather than more convinced. (for the yoga teacher I would say. One failure doesn't make you a failure. Persevere , find great mentors and success is inevitable.) Thanks for the insights Brian. Keep up the good work.

[@CoconutPete]

Exactly!

[@snakemont]

8:40 If you talk about this. ....could you also please talk how we are RAISED and Schooled ....and feed (at least the majority of the people to be just.... CRAFTLESS...) If the schooling and training would start earlier we wouldnt have such a mess.

[@jhondelion8044]

I think you have the wrong definition for passion mindset. People with passion mindset does not think about what it is for them. They simply just wanna do what they have passion for.

[@HeroicBrian]

Hi! This is Zak from Team Optimize. Thanks for your insight! :) Optimize is now free! Sign up/tell your friends! www.optimize.me

[@jhondelion8044]

Thanks for being humble!

[@HeroicBrian]

:) Optimize is now free! Sign up/tell your friends! www.optimize.me

[@CoconutPete]

I decided to give this book a try and have to say it was disappointing. I disagree with his theories and considering he wrote this book when he was only 30, probably not the best thing to get textbook advice from someone that doesn't have a lot of real world experience. If you're going to title a book "So Good They Can't Ignore You" it had better deliver quickly instead of putting the reader to sleep. Just be careful with this advice and read some of the 1 star reviews on Amazon before spending 10 years not following your passion only to find you wish you would have later in life. I will say that he is right as far as the philosophy of the book title. To maximize your chances of success, strive to be so good you can't be ignored... kind of like how Steve Jobs got the world to line up for iPhones back in the early 2000's. 😁

[@HeroicBrian]

Thanks for sharing! -Zak | Team Optimize Optimize is now free! Sign up/tell your friends! www.optimize.me