What I Would Do If I Were to Reinvent My Career Today

Start with an Idea, & Work Over Your Entire Career to Turn it into Something Remarkable

5.1 Career Growth & Continuous Learning

---

I can picture myself doing this:

I’m sitting at my desk, scrolling through LinkedIn, feeling stuck. I’ve been working hard, but my career feels like it’s on autopilot.

I feel unsure what to do next, and the thought of pivoting or taking a risk feels overwhelming.

Now, what if I had read and applied the ideas and strategies from the book The Start-Up of You by Reid Hoffman and Ben Casnocha years ago?

My career would look very different today!

The groundbreaking #1 New York Times bestseller that taught a generation how to transform their careers—now in a revised and updated edition

---

This book isn’t just another career guide—it’s a mindset shift.

It challenges the traditional career escalator model and replaces it with the idea that you are the CEO of your own career.

If I had known this earlier, I would have approached my career with more intention, adaptability, and a stronger network.

Let’s break it down.

---

The Lesson That Hit Home the Hardest: You’re Always in “Permanent Beta”

The concept of “permanent beta” was the moment that made me stop and rethink everything.

The idea is simple: You’re never finished. Just like a software product in beta testing, you’re always evolving, learning, and adapting.

This mindset flips the script on the traditional career narrative, where you’re supposed to “arrive” at some point—whether it’s a job title, salary, or level of expertise.

For years, I thought success was about reaching a destination. I’d work hard, get promoted, and then… what?

I’d feel stuck again.

The Start-Up of You teaches that success isn’t a destination—it’s a continuous process of growth and adaptation.

While I have done some of this, I could have done more.

I would have spent less time waiting for the “right” opportunity and more time creating opportunities for myself.

This lesson hit me hard because it made me realize how much time I had wasted waiting for things to happen. But the truth is, success doesn’t come to you—you have to go out and create it.

And that means being in a state of permanent beta, always learning, always adapting, and always looking for ways to improve.

If I Had a Career Do-Over: ABZ Planning and Building a Network

If I could rewind my career with this book in hand, I would have approached networking and skill-building differently.

Instead of seeing networking as a transactional exercise, I would have invested deeply in meaningful relationships and built a “professional alliance” as described in the book.

Additionally, I would have taken more calculated risks early on, pivoting faster instead of sticking to safe but unfulfilling roles.

I’d also implement two strategies from the book immediately: ABZ Planning and building a genuine professional network.

ABZ Planning: The Art of Adapting

ABZ Planning is a framework for career strategy. Here’s how it works:

• Plan A: What you’re doing right now, based on your current competitive advantage.

• Plan B: What you pivot to when Plan A isn’t working or when a better opportunity arises.

• Plan Z: Your fallback plan—the lifeboat that keeps you afloat if everything else fails.

I spent years clinging to Plan A, afraid to pivot because I didn’t have a clear Plan B. This book taught me that pivoting isn’t failure—it’s smart adaptation.

For example, Reid Hoffman’s career is full of pivots: from academia to Apple, to founding LinkedIn, to becoming a venture capitalist.

Each pivot was a calculated move based on new information and opportunities.

If I had known about ABZ Planning earlier, I would have been more willing to take risks and explore new paths. I would have seen setbacks as data points, not dead ends.

The beauty of ABZ Planning is that it gives you a safety net, so you’re not afraid to take risks.

You know that even if Plan A doesn’t work out, you have a Plan B and a Plan Z to fall back on.

Building a Network: It’s Not What You Know, It’s Who You Know

The book emphasizes that your network is your net worth.

It’s not about collecting business cards or LinkedIn connections—it’s about building genuine, mutually beneficial relationships.

I used to think networking was slimy and transactional.

But The Start-Up of You reframes it as helping others first. For example, Kevin Rose, founder of Digg, wanted to invest in Jack Dorsey’s company, Square.

When Dorsey said the funding round was full, Rose didn’t give up. Instead, he created a high-quality demo video for Square and sent it to Dorsey as a gift. Dorsey was so impressed that he invited Rose to invest. That’s the power of adding value to your network.

From a personal experience, I remember a conversation with a successful businessman many years ago.

He told me he had attended a prestigious and expensive university in the Philippines. I said, “You must be smart to have gone to De La Salle for your college education.”

He laughed heartily and said, “I wasn’t really smart, more like average. But my parents sent me there not primarily for the education, but for the vast network of wealthy college kids I would be doing business with in the future.”

The Big Idea: Think Like an Entrepreneur

If I had to sum up The Start-Up of You in one sentence, it would be this:

Your career is a start-up, and you are the entrepreneur.

This means taking ownership of your career, adapting to change, and leveraging your network to create opportunities.

This idea is transformative because it shifts the responsibility from your employer to you. In today’s fast-changing job market, you can’t rely on a company to take care of your career. You need to be proactive, adaptable, and resourceful.

The book provides several practical frameworks for career success:

• Competitive Advantage Formula: Success comes from aligning three elements—your assets (skills, strengths, and resources), aspirations (passions and goals), and market realities (where opportunities exist).

• Network Intelligence: Leverage your network not just for job leads but for insights, mentorship, and collaborative opportunities.

These frameworks are actionable and practical. They encourage you to be flexible and proactive, rather than sticking to a rigid plan.

The Startup of You (Revised and Updated): Adapt, Take Risks, Grow Your Network, and Transform Your Career (2022) Kindle $11.99 | Hardcover $ 12.82 | 4.4/5 1,368 ratings 3.8 on Goodreads 10,353 ratings

Proof That This Works: Real-Life Stories to Inspire You

One of the book’s most compelling examples is Reid Hoffman’s own journey in founding LinkedIn.

Rather than following a conventional career path, he leveraged his network, identified an emerging market opportunity, and adapted his approach multiple times before LinkedIn became the success it is today.

Another inspiring story is that of Sheryl Sandberg. Sandberg didn’t follow a linear path.

She started in public health, pivoted to business school, worked at McKinsey, served as Chief of Staff at the U.S. Treasury, and then joined Google and Facebook. Each pivot was a calculated move based on her assets, aspirations, and market realities.

Sandberg’s story proves that career success isn’t about sticking to a rigid plan—it’s about adapting to opportunities.

You can be more open to exploring different industries and roles, rather than feeling like you have to stay on a predetermined path.

Making It Real: My Own Career Journey

When I first started my career, I thought success was about climbing the corporate ladder. I focused on getting promotions and raises, but I didn’t invest in building a network or developing new skills.

I was stuck in Plan A, afraid to pivot because I didn’t have a clear Plan B. Reading The Start-Up of You was a wake-up call.

It could be your own wake-up call, if you let it.

Here’s a new realization for me: career success isn’t about climbing a ladder—it’s about navigating a jungle gym. You need to be agile, adaptable, and willing to take risks.

From my own experience, I’ve witnessed the power of one of these principles firsthand.

By embracing continuous learning, I’ve unlocked opportunities that traditional career planning never could have. I transitioned from a corporate career to professional consulting after growing frustrated with the political dynamics that entangled me.

What began as a side project with a stranger—someone who recognized my potential—evolved into a full-time, long-term opportunity. Fortunately, I had already developed the necessary skills by the time it was presented to me.

This experience confirmed that treating my career like a startup, even if it began somewhat coincidentally, is not just a theory—it’s a practical strategy for long-term success.

Challenging Common Career Assumptions

The Start-Up of You flips traditional career advice on its head. Here are a few assumptions it challenges:

• Assumption 1: Follow your passion. The book argues that passion alone isn’t enough. You need to align your passion with your skills and market demand.

• Assumption 2: Stick to the plan. The book emphasizes that plans are meant to be adapted, not followed rigidly.

• Assumption 3: Your employer will take care of your career. The book makes it clear that you are responsible for your career. Companies are no longer offering lifetime employment, so you need to take ownership of your professional development.

These assumptions are deeply ingrained in our culture, but they’re outdated.

In today’s world, you can’t afford to be passive. You need to be proactive, adaptable, and willing to take risks.

The Best Frameworks: ABZ Planning and Network Intelligence

The book introduces several frameworks, but two stand out: ABZ Planning and Network Intelligence.

ABZ Planning

• Plan A: Your current strategy.

• Plan B: Your pivot when Plan A isn’t working.

• Plan Z: Your fallback plan.

This framework is actionable and practical. It encourages you to be flexible and proactive, rather than sticking to a rigid plan.

Network Intelligence

The book emphasizes the importance of leveraging your network for insights and opportunities. It’s not just about who you know—it’s about how you use those relationships to gather information, make decisions, and create opportunities.

Why This Book Is a Must-Read

If I had read The Start-Up of You earlier, my career would have been different. I would have been more adaptable, more proactive, and more focused on building relationships.

This book is a must-read because it provides a roadmap for navigating today’s unpredictable job market. It’s not just about surviving—it’s about thriving.

So, if you’re feeling stuck in your career, pick up this book. It might just be the secret weapon you’ve been looking for. And if you had a do-over, this book could have been your game-changer.

Now, this preview is in your hands. You have been gently forewarned!

---

Final Thoughts: The New Rules of Career Success

The old rules of career success are dead.

The new rules are being written by those who think and act like entrepreneurs. And now, with The Start-Up of You, you have the blueprint. The question is: Will you use it?

Imagine two professionals. One follows a traditional career script: gets a degree, applies for jobs, and stays in a stable role for years.

The other embraces The Start-Up of You mindset: they actively learn new skills, build relationships, take strategic risks, and seize opportunities before they become obvious.

Which one thrives in today’s uncertain world? The answer is clear.

The beauty of this book is that it replaces outdated career advice with a strategy that actually works in the modern world. By shifting from passive job-seeking to active career-building, you put yourself in the driver’s seat.

So, what are you waiting for? Your career is your start-up.

It’s time to take control.

🐧 When you upgrade to a paid subscription, you support my mission to share self-improvement books and online resources that empower children, teens, and young adults in disadvantaged communities through self-education. Together, we can create a lasting global impact!