AIRED: December 17, 2012– 11 am PST
TITLE: “So Good They Can’t Ignore You!”
SPECIAL GUEST: Cal Newport
Read More “So Good They Can’t Ignore You!”
In this eye-opening account, Cal Newport shares with Allen and Dr. Melody how he debunks the long-held belief that “follow your passion” is good advice. Not only is the cliche flawed — preexisting passions are rare and have little to do with how most people end up loving their work — but it can also be dangerous, leading to anxiety and chronic job hopping.
After making his case against passion, Newport sets out on a quest to discover the reality of how people end up loving what they do. Spending time with organic farmers, venture capitalists, screenwriters, freelance computer programmers, and others who admitted to deriving great satisfaction from their work, Newport uncovers the strategies they used and the pitfalls they avoided in developing their compelling careers.
Cal Newport’s clearly written manifesto is mandatory reading for anyone fretting about what to do with their life, or frustrated by their current job situation and eager to find a fresh new way to take control of their livelihood. He provides an evidence-based blueprint for creating work you love.
SO GOOD THEY CAN’T IGNORE YOU will change the way we think about our careers, happiness, and the crafting of a remarkable life.
Our guest today, Cal Newport is an Assistant Professor of Computer Science at Georgetown University. He previously earned his Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science from MIT in 2009, and graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Dartmouth College in 2004.
Newport is the author of three books of unconventional advice for students, which have sold a combined total of more than 100,000 copies: How to Be a High School Superstar (Random House, 2010), How to Become a Straight-A Student (Random House, 2006), and How to Win at College (Random House, 2005). His fourth book, So Good They Can’t Ignore You, is a contrarian look at career advice that will be published by Grand Central in September, 2012.
In his role as an author, Newport has appeared on ABC, NBC, and CBS and on over 50 radio networks, including ABC Radio, USA Radio, and XM Satellite Radio. His advice has been featured in major publications including the Washington Post and Wall Street Journal.