Comments on: Does Living a Remarkable Life Require Courage or Effort? http://calnewport.com/blog/2009/07/22/does-living-a-remarkable-life-require-courage-or-effort/ Demystifying Sustainable Success Sun, 14 Mar 2010 06:32:02 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2 By: How to Conquer Your Fears – Engineer a Low Cost of Failure « Scott H Young http://calnewport.com/blog/2009/07/22/does-living-a-remarkable-life-require-courage-or-effort/#comment-12588 How to Conquer Your Fears – Engineer a Low Cost of Failure « Scott H Young Fri, 12 Feb 2010 17:01:43 +0000 http://calnewport.com/blog/2009/07/22/does-living-a-remarkable-life-require-courage-or-effort/#comment-12588 [...] fears is not the #1 obstacle to living the ideal life. I prefer Cal Newport’s suggestion that skill trumps courage. As I’ve written about here, the reason you aren’t a millionaire probably has more to do with [...] […] fears is not the #1 obstacle to living the ideal life. I prefer Cal Newport’s suggestion that skill trumps courage. As I’ve written about here, the reason you aren’t a millionaire probably has more to do with […]

]]> By: Living on the Edge of Incompetence | cuinlalaland http://calnewport.com/blog/2009/07/22/does-living-a-remarkable-life-require-courage-or-effort/#comment-12344 Living on the Edge of Incompetence | cuinlalaland Sat, 30 Jan 2010 14:31:06 +0000 http://calnewport.com/blog/2009/07/22/does-living-a-remarkable-life-require-courage-or-effort/#comment-12344 [...] capitalistic world where, all else being equal, the people with the rarest and most valuable skills get the biggest rewards. Assuming you can convert those rewards to what you desire in life (do you want a big house or [...] […] capitalistic world where, all else being equal, the people with the rarest and most valuable skills get the biggest rewards. Assuming you can convert those rewards to what you desire in life (do you want a big house or […]

]]> By: Living on the Edge of Incompetence « Scott H Young http://calnewport.com/blog/2009/07/22/does-living-a-remarkable-life-require-courage-or-effort/#comment-12266 Living on the Edge of Incompetence « Scott H Young Mon, 25 Jan 2010 17:02:04 +0000 http://calnewport.com/blog/2009/07/22/does-living-a-remarkable-life-require-courage-or-effort/#comment-12266 [...] capitalistic world where, all else being equal, the people with the rarest and most valuable skills get the biggest rewards. Assuming you can convert those rewards to what you desire in life (do you want a big house or [...] […] capitalistic world where, all else being equal, the people with the rarest and most valuable skills get the biggest rewards. Assuming you can convert those rewards to what you desire in life (do you want a big house or […]

]]> By: Study Hacks » Blog Archive » The Grandmaster in the Corner Office: What the Study of Chess Experts Teaches Us about Building a Remarkable Life http://calnewport.com/blog/2009/07/22/does-living-a-remarkable-life-require-courage-or-effort/#comment-11757 Study Hacks » Blog Archive » The Grandmaster in the Corner Office: What the Study of Chess Experts Teaches Us about Building a Remarkable Life Wed, 06 Jan 2010 23:47:17 +0000 http://calnewport.com/blog/2009/07/22/does-living-a-remarkable-life-require-courage-or-effort/#comment-11757 [...] I’m summarizing this research here because I want to make a provocative claim: understanding this “right type of work” is perhaps the most important (and most under-appreciated) step toward building a remarkable life… [...] […] I’m summarizing this research here because I want to make a provocative claim: understanding this “right type of work” is perhaps the most important (and most under-appreciated) step toward building a remarkable life… […]

]]> By: Amanda Smith http://calnewport.com/blog/2009/07/22/does-living-a-remarkable-life-require-courage-or-effort/#comment-11744 Amanda Smith Tue, 05 Jan 2010 22:59:38 +0000 http://calnewport.com/blog/2009/07/22/does-living-a-remarkable-life-require-courage-or-effort/#comment-11744 But what if, the thing you happen to excel at is not the thing that you find remarkable? For instance, i'm a transportation engineer/planner. I have two engineering degrees because I am good at math. A lot of people think that is remarkable, but I dont. And I hate kids, so i'm not going to teach. However, i'm interested in the arts. Perhaps part of the equation is also finding something that one PERsonally thinks is remarkable, and then figure out how to contribute to that with your strengths. But what if, the thing you happen to excel at is not the thing that you find remarkable?

For instance, i’m a transportation engineer/planner. I have two engineering degrees because I am good at math. A lot of people think that is remarkable, but I dont. And I hate kids, so i’m not going to teach. However, i’m interested in the arts.

Perhaps part of the equation is also finding something that one PERsonally thinks is remarkable, and then figure out how to contribute to that with your strengths.

]]> By: Cal Newport On Excellence « http://calnewport.com/blog/2009/07/22/does-living-a-remarkable-life-require-courage-or-effort/#comment-11654 Cal Newport On Excellence « Tue, 29 Dec 2009 00:50:47 +0000 http://calnewport.com/blog/2009/07/22/does-living-a-remarkable-life-require-courage-or-effort/#comment-11654 [...] (I learned this years before Cal posted it.  For me finals week was always my favorite week of the semester—I had gotten so far ahead on my work that it was essentially a week of vacation with a few tests thrown in.) And now we get to the part about excellence. Cal’s most recent post tells the cautionary tale of a woman who quit her “boring job” to become an entrepreneur, only to find an oversaturated market and no way to differentiate herself from the competition.  As Cal writes: As I’ve argued before, the traits that make a remarkable life remarkable — flexibility, engagement, recognition, and reward — are highly desirable. Therefore, to land a job (or start a business) that returns these rewards, you must have a skill to offer that’s both rare and valuable. [...] […] (I learned this years before Cal posted it.  For me finals week was always my favorite week of the semester—I had gotten so far ahead on my work that it was essentially a week of vacation with a few tests thrown in.) And now we get to the part about excellence. Cal’s most recent post tells the cautionary tale of a woman who quit her “boring job” to become an entrepreneur, only to find an oversaturated market and no way to differentiate herself from the competition.  As Cal writes: As I’ve argued before, the traits that make a remarkable life remarkable — flexibility, engagement, recognition, and reward — are highly desirable. Therefore, to land a job (or start a business) that returns these rewards, you must have a skill to offer that’s both rare and valuable. […]

]]> By: Study Hacks » Blog Archive » If You're Nervous About Quitting Your Boring Job, Don't Do It http://calnewport.com/blog/2009/07/22/does-living-a-remarkable-life-require-courage-or-effort/#comment-11607 Study Hacks » Blog Archive » If You're Nervous About Quitting Your Boring Job, Don't Do It Sat, 26 Dec 2009 17:28:25 +0000 http://calnewport.com/blog/2009/07/22/does-living-a-remarkable-life-require-courage-or-effort/#comment-11607 [...] As I’ve argued before, the traits that make a remarkable life remarkable — flexibility, engagement, recognition, and reward — are highly desirable. Therefore, to land a job (or start a business) that returns these rewards, you must have a skill to offer that’s both rare and valuable. [...] […] As I’ve argued before, the traits that make a remarkable life remarkable — flexibility, engagement, recognition, and reward — are highly desirable. Therefore, to land a job (or start a business) that returns these rewards, you must have a skill to offer that’s both rare and valuable. […]

]]> By: Otis Funkmeyer http://calnewport.com/blog/2009/07/22/does-living-a-remarkable-life-require-courage-or-effort/#comment-10767 Otis Funkmeyer Wed, 09 Dec 2009 02:07:29 +0000 http://calnewport.com/blog/2009/07/22/does-living-a-remarkable-life-require-courage-or-effort/#comment-10767 One of the most important things to living a remarkable life and getting so good that they can't ignore you, especially in the early stages, is to let your passion be your guide. If the status quo is crushing your passion and there is a deep calling in you to just launch yourself off the cliff and go for it, then it is critical to heed that call. Because the passion that is unlocked at that point is actually necessary to utilize as you slog through the hard work of actually getting good. I say that, probably not surprisingly, because I was one of those people. I could not handle the status quo life and felt trapped and sick inside of it. When I left it, the passion that was unleashed launched me into a new strata of energy that I used to do, do, do and practice, practice, practice. I am quite sure there is another way (heretofore labeled the 37signals/Murakami path), that is more balanced and works for those who are already happy, but it sure wasn't the one for me. And I just want to encourage those who deep down know it ain't the one for them either--but are too scared and are hedging their bets and sticking with a life that doesn't work for them--to take the plunge and jump off the cliff!!! Otis One of the most important things to living a remarkable life and getting so good that they can’t ignore you, especially in the early stages, is to let your passion be your guide.

If the status quo is crushing your passion and there is a deep calling in you to just launch yourself off the cliff and go for it, then it is critical to heed that call. Because the passion that is unlocked at that point is actually necessary to utilize as you slog through the hard work of actually getting good.

I say that, probably not surprisingly, because I was one of those people. I could not handle the status quo life and felt trapped and sick inside of it. When I left it, the passion that was unleashed launched me into a new strata of energy that I used to do, do, do and practice, practice, practice.

I am quite sure there is another way (heretofore labeled the 37signals/Murakami path), that is more balanced and works for those who are already happy, but it sure wasn’t the one for me. And I just want to encourage those who deep down know it ain’t the one for them either–but are too scared and are hedging their bets and sticking with a life that doesn’t work for them–to take the plunge and jump off the cliff!!!

Otis

]]> By: Study Hacks » Blog Archive » Are You a Guitar Player or Club Owner? http://calnewport.com/blog/2009/07/22/does-living-a-remarkable-life-require-courage-or-effort/#comment-10752 Study Hacks » Blog Archive » Are You a Guitar Player or Club Owner? Tue, 08 Dec 2009 22:01:41 +0000 http://calnewport.com/blog/2009/07/22/does-living-a-remarkable-life-require-courage-or-effort/#comment-10752 [...] I’m sharing these observations because I think they provide an interesting metaphor for the task of building a remarkable life... [...] […] I’m sharing these observations because I think they provide an interesting metaphor for the task of building a remarkable life… […]

]]> By: On Authority, Empowerment and even School « Life is like a Box of Chocolates http://calnewport.com/blog/2009/07/22/does-living-a-remarkable-life-require-courage-or-effort/#comment-9763 On Authority, Empowerment and even School « Life is like a Box of Chocolates Thu, 01 Oct 2009 03:03:45 +0000 http://calnewport.com/blog/2009/07/22/does-living-a-remarkable-life-require-courage-or-effort/#comment-9763 [...] September 30, 2009 “If you’re itching to make your life something amazing, consider spending less time daydreaming about defying the status quo and answering the critics of your decision, and spending more time gearing yourself up for the challenge of becoming so good that they can’t ignore you.” [link] [...] […] September 30, 2009 “If you’re itching to make your life something amazing, consider spending less time daydreaming about defying the status quo and answering the critics of your decision, and spending more time gearing yourself up for the challenge of becoming so good that they can’t ignore you.” [link] […]

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