How To Win in a Winner-Take-All World – Neil Irwin
St. Martin’s Press | Paperback | Hardcover | June 2019
For those out there hopping from one position to the next, chasing job experiences, networking their asses off, honing their digital skillset, and all the while worrying if they're doing something wrong because they haven't found a “home” in a company yet, this book is for you. Through a series of case studies and interviews, Irwin clearly demonstrates that the 21st-century economy now favors large, complex, technologically advanced firms. With this shift, the typical career path has also changed dramatically. Gone are the days of the linear career path and staying with one company over the course of your entire career.
Irwin makes an excellent argument regarding how a linear career path is obsolete and being open-minded to technological advances is essential. Keeping an open mind will serve young professionals well as they enter and navigate the workforce. However, in targeting low-level and midlevel employees with his latest work, Irwin is often preaching to the choir. Young professionals are accustomed to making sidesteps rather than linear advancements. And they certainly are no strangers to taking on responsibilities and tasks that are well above their experience level (and pay grade). But, at least it's reassuring that they're taking the right steps to advance their career and ultimately find success and happiness.
Three key takeaways from How to Win are:
Develop a mindset and skillset that allows you to be adaptable and embrace change.
The Career Lattice
What it means to be successful or "to win" varies from person to person.
