Have you ever met someone who has a job that seems like something they were born to do? Not only do their skills match up with their job, but they genuinely enjoy their work. Now you might think it’s just plain luck that landed them their career, but my guest today has written a book about how you can turn the odds of the career lottery more in your favor. Chris Guillebeau’s latest book is called Born For This: How to Find the Work You Were Meant To Do. In this show, Chris shares brass tacks advice on finding work you love.
Show Highlights
- The misguided scripts people have about finding a fulfilling career
- There’s no linear path to the career you want
- Why you need to think like a janitor and not a CEO
- Why following your passion isn’t good career advice and why you should follow your skill(s)
- Be helpful, not passionate
- The three things people should consider when thinking about a career
- How to put the odds of getting the job you want in your favor
- Why you should be willing to quit sometimes
- Why you should take risks when you’re young
- How to stay competitive in an increasingly competitive job market
- How following-up with contacts can set you apart in any job market
- Why submitting resumes online is a terrible way to apply for a job (and what you should do instead)
- How to create your dream job within the company you work for right now
- Why you should start a side-hustle even if you have a 9-5 job
- How to know if you should take your side-hustle full-time
Resources/Studies/People Mentioned in Podcast
- What the most successful people do first in the morning (just read these for entertainment)
- Survivorship bias
- Podcast with Cal Newport on the myth of following your passion
- How to Follow-Up With People You Meet
- Flow by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi
- “Three Feet From Gold” by Napoleon Hill
- “The Road Not Taken” by Robert Frost
- Artificial intelligence taking over white collar jobs
- How to negotiate
- The strength of weak ties
- $100 Startup
- Side hustle ideas
- Benny Hsu
Whether you’re 22 years old and just starting your career or 45 and looking for a change, you’ll find advice salient to you in Born For This. It’s a quick read, but jam-packed with actionable information.
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