University of Minnesota - UMN Executive Leadership Insights
The Start-up of You
Book

The Start-up of You

Adapt to the Future, Invest in Yourself, and Transform Your Career

Reid Hoffman and Ben Casnocha
Crown, 2012
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Editorial Rating

9

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  • Insider's Take

Recommendation

Human beings are entrepreneurs by nature, but globalization and technology have disrupted traditional ideas about careers and personal growth. LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman and venture capitalist Ben Casnocha advise that you must reclaim your entrepreneurial roots to take control of your career in the 21st century. If you want to succeed, they say, adopt an “entrepreneurial mindset” and think of your life and career as a startup every day. That is, treat each day as Day One.

Summary

Adopt an entrepreneurial mindset.

In the late 20th century, during the United States’ postwar economic glory years, building a career was much like stepping onto an “escalator.” If you completed your postsecondary education, landed an entry-level job at a large company, and obtained on-the-job training and experience, the escalator would reliably carry you upward. Assuming that everything went well, you would rise steadily, gain increased income and responsibility, and eventually retire. 

Globalization and the digital revolution have rendered this traditional American career path obsolete.

Many companies no longer train employees in new skills or offer professional career development support. Often, the leaders of such companies believe their workers haven’t embraced the degree of company loyalty or the long-term commitment that would make training them worthwhile. Companies expect employees to be job ready on day one and to pursue additional training on their own. Today’s contract based employer relationship demands employee performance.

Most employees today are “free agents.” No matter...

About the Authors

Reid Hoffman cofounded LinkedIn and is a Microsoft director. Ben Casnocha cofounded the venture capital firm Village Global and wrote My Start-Up Life. Hoffman, Casnocha and Chris Yeh cowrote The Alliance.

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