Media 6: Reading Discussion – Week Four

“So Good They Can’t Ignore you – Why Skills Trump Passion in the Quest for Work You Love”
by Cal Newport

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In chapter four of ‘So Good They Can’t Ignore You’ by Cal Newport, readers are introduced to two alternative mindsets they can adopt when thinking about their work lives.

The Craftsman Mindset is the first approach, described by Newman as the process that involves asking yourself ‘what can you offer to the world?’ In this manner of thinking, individuals “put [their] head down and plug away at getting really damn good” (39). It offers clarity, self-motivation and encourages being ‘so good they can’t ignore you’.

The second approach takes on the manner of The Passion Mindset, in which individuals tend to ask themselves ‘what can the world offer me?’ This approach, as explained by Newport, encourages ‘chronic unhappiness’, as it leads individuals to question what they don’t like about their work, ultimately resulting in eternal confusion. As Newport states, “if you spend too much time focusing on whether or not you’ve found your true calling, the question will be rendered moot when you find yourself out of work” (41).

In my own eyes, Newport has offered a positive and negative way to approach work life. However, in relation to last week’s reading (regarding exploitation in the media industry), I don’t think adopting the positive-happy-go-lucky Craftsman Mindset is as simple as he as noted. I believe that there will always come a time when an individual must stand up for themselves; they can’t always put their head down, ‘cop it’ and try to make the best out of a bad situation.

Additionally, I don’t wholly agree with his notion that you don’t have to have a pre-existing passion. If you don’t have enjoyment for what you do, where will your source of enthusiasm and energy come from? I am not writing Newport’s argument off, however, I don’t believe it is as clear-cut as he has stated, for if you have passion, you will face any wall put in front of you to be your best. 

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References:

Cal Newport, 2012. So Good They Can’t Ignore You: Why Skills Trump Passion in the Quest for Work You Love. 39640th Edition. Grand Central Publishing.