July 23

New World Order

Monday’s Big Idea

Today's Big Idea: Summer School for the Real World

If only there were a straightforward roadmap to success. Careful strategy and analysis of the competition may get you to the top of the mountain of mediocrity, but world-changing ideas are often the product of an obsessive, idiosyncratic mind pursuing its own interests. 

Diligent pursuit of your dream is no guarantee of success – there's the problem of discoverability, after all – but it's more likely than cautious planning to lead to a place you want to be. 

  1. 1 The Secret of Malcolm Gladwell's ...
  2. 2 Paul Krugman: Why Today's Grads a...
  3. 3 Seinfeld's Producer: Listen to Yo...
  4. 4 How Do You Get Hired at Apple? Do...
   
  1. The Secret of Malcolm Gladwell's Success

    The Secret of Malcolm Gladwell's Success

    We want to ascribe intentionality and blame for success and failure, then study them for blueprints. But Gladwell says he’s always found it more productive to follow his own curiosity without worrying too much about whether or not the world will reward him for it.

    Read More…
  2. Paul Krugman: Why Today's Grads are Better off than Abe Lincoln

    Paul Krugman: Why Today's Grads are Better off than Abe Lincoln

    What's the Big Idea? The 17th-most cited economist in the world, a Nobel laureate for his work ...

    Read More…
  3. Seinfeld's Producer: Listen to Your Gut, Then Fight For What it's Telling You.

    Seinfeld's Producer: Listen to Your Gut, Then Fight For What it's Telling You.

    Warren Littlefield, former NBC president, advises young people entering any field to trust in their instincts even when they run counter to common sense in the industry, then to fight passionately for the projects and ideas they believe in.

    Read More…
  4. How Do You Get Hired at Apple? Don’t Cover All Your Bases.

    How Do You Get Hired at Apple? Don’t Cover All Your Bases.

    “Be yourself” can seem like risky advice in a competitive job market. But you know what’s riskier? Being nobody. Ken Segall explains how he became an ad man for Apple. 

    Read More…