Cal Newport on How to Quit Social Media and Regaining Your Focus

Best-selling author Cal Newport literally wrote the book on how to “Get so good they can’t ignore you.” Instead of looking inwards and trying to find your one true passion, he advises lowering the bar and finding a few decent interests. Then, raise the bar for skill acquisition and mastery. Anyone feeling “stuck” in life will find his approach challenging and refreshing. So tune into this episode of Impact Theory with Tom Bilyeu, and listen to Cal Newport discuss why you should not necessarily follow your passion, why you should disconnect from social media, and why sacrifice promotes the good life. [ORIGINAL AIR DATE: 6-11-19]. SHOW NOTES: [2:42] Cal explains why you should not follow your passion. [4:52] Cal shows what actually matters: impact, mastery, and connection. [6:08] Cal and Tom discuss becoming so good they can’t ignore you. [8:07] Cal explains the role of initial interest in job satisfaction. [9:39] Cal and Tom discuss apprenticeship and the importance of knowledge and connections. [13:13] Cal illustrates using disciplined practice to get impossibly good. [15:18] Cal explains the difference between mere repetition and disciplined practice [17:39] Cal talks about deep work and how to get good at it. [19:35] Cal describes sustained thinking by showing how unnatural reading is. [21:41] Cal defines Solitude Deprivation Syndrome [23:40] Cal discusses the consequences of social media addiction. [25:32] Cal advises doing something without your phone on a regular basis. [26:26] Cal talks about technology detox and digital minimalism. [28:11] Cal explains how focus is disrupted by even brief attention shifts. [29:50] Cal illustrates how best to get into a state of flow. [32:46] Cal describes productive meditation. [33:55] Cal jumps into a discussion of what’s so terribly wrong with social media [35:02] Cal explains why we know social media is causing the problem. [37:15] Cal compares social media to cigarettes. [38:34] Cal considers the good life, fulfillment, and human flourishing. [40:56] Cal explains why service and sacrifice are so important. [42:15] Cal discusses a world without email. [44:25] Cal describes what a world without email would actually look like. [48:10] Cal shares the impact he wants to have on the world. FOLLOW: CalNewport.com SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS: Get 5 free AG1 Travel Packs and a FREE 1 year supply of Vitamin D with your first purchase at https://impacttheory.co/AG1pod. Secure your digital life with proactive protection for your assets, identity, family, and tech – Go to https://impacttheory.co/aurapod to start your free two-week trial. ********************************************************************** What's up, everybody? It's Tom Bilyeu here: If you want my help... STARTING a business: Join me inside ZERO TO FOUNDER here SCALING a business: Click here to see if you qualify Get my battle-tested strategies and insights delivered weekly to your inbox: sign up here. ********************************************************************** Join me live on my Twitch stream. I'm live daily from 6:30 to 8:30 am PT at www.twitch.tv/tombilyeu ********************************************************************** LISTEN TO IMPACT THEORY & MINDSET PLAYBOOK AD FREE + BONUS EPISODES on APPLE PODCASTS: apple.co/impacttheory ********************************************************************** FOLLOW TOM: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tombilyeu/ Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@tombilyeu?lang=en Twitter: https://twitter.com/tombilyeu YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TomBilyeu Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices