What changes are happening in the world of work ? What transformations affect companies, workers, businesses and all the people in them? In the book “The Startup of You“, Reid Hoffman and Ben Casnocha distill important lessons to succeed in today’s and tomorrow’s business world.

The basic assumption of the book is that everyone should think of himself as the head of a fictional company “Myself inc.”, and make intelligent decisions for its good. The authors advocate the need to adapt to the future, invest in yourself and take small risks in order to increase the chances of succeeding in life and work. We see here a few basic points :

1 . Learn and differentiate

To achieve remarkable results, it is necessary according to the authors focus first of all on the learning of new skills . In a world where competition is wild and in which all are connected to each other , it is essential to increase their professional value steadily.

” Differentiate or Die” is another fundamental principle : why would anyone choose us instead of someone else offering the same product or service? What competitive advantage do we have?

2 . Intelligent risks

The authors argue that the traditional career advice such as “Set a goal for the next 5 years ” are exceeded. In a world no longer static , where the market is constantly changing, it is impossible to set precise targets . It is often thought that careers and successful businesses are based on straight paths and upward , but the reality is different : instead often there are ups and downs, sudden changes in direction , temporary setbacks .

Hoffman and Casnocha encourage readers to take risks. Small risks , not something that could endanger their own safety or that it is not at all calculated. The authors maintain that without risk there is no growth , development, and therefore progress.

3 . Develop your network

It is of primary importance to develop a network of people who can help us in our continuous search for new opportunities. The authors are the founders of the famous professional social network LinkedIn, and invite then to harness the power of your contacts and those in which we can be presented .

The priorities are: always give value before asking for anything in return, keep in touch and do not be afraid to propose their own professionalism when it is deemed appropriate.