Cal Newport on Mastering Focus and Escaping the Social Media Trap (Fan Fav)

Tom Bilyeu's Impact Theory

Impact Theory

Education, News, News Commentary, Philosophy, Technology, Society & Culture, Business, Self-improvement

4.7 • 5.1K Ratings

🗓️ 26 July 2025

⏱️ 55 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Best-selling author Cal Newport literally wrote the book on how to “Get so good they can’t ignore you.” Instead of looking inwards and trying to find your one true passion, he advises lowering the bar and finding a few decent interests. Then, raise the bar for skill acquisition and mastery. Anyone feeling “stuck” in life will find his approach challenging and refreshing. So tune into this episode of Impact Theory with Tom Bilyeu, and listen to Cal Newport discuss why you should not necessarily follow your passion, why you should disconnect from social media, and why sacrifice promotes the good life. ORIGINAL AIR DATE: 6-11-19 SHOW NOTES: [2:42] Cal explains why you should not follow your passion. [9:39] Cal and Tom discuss apprenticeship and the importance of knowledge and connections. [19:35] Cal describes sustained thinking by showing how unnatural reading is. [25:32] Cal advises doing something without your phone on a regular basis. [32:46] Cal describes productive meditation. [48:10] Cal shares the impact he wants to have on the world. FOLLOW: CalNewport.com CHECK OUT OUR SPONSORS Vital Proteins: Get 20% off by going to ⁠https://www.vitalproteins.com⁠ and entering promo code IMPACT at check out SKIMS: Shop SKIMS Mens at ⁠https://www.skims.com/impact⁠ #skimspartner Allio Capital: Macro investing for people who want to understand the big picture. Download their app in the App Store or at Google Play, or text my name “TOM” to 511511. SleepMe: Visit ⁠https://sleep.me/impact⁠ to get your Chilipad and save 20% with code IMPACT. Try it risk-free with their 30-night sleep trial and free shipping. Jerry: Stop needlessly overpaying for car insurance - download the Jerry app or head to ⁠https://jerry.ai/impact⁠ Shopify: Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial period at ⁠https://shopify.com/impact⁠ CashApp: Download Cash App Today: ⁠https://capl.onelink.me/vFut/v6nymgjl⁠ #CashAppPod iRestore: For a limited time only, our listeners are getting a HUGE discount on the iRestore Elite when you use code IMPACT at ⁠https://irestore.com/impact⁠ What's up, everybody? It's Tom Bilyeu here: If you want my help... STARTING a business:⁠ join me here at ZERO TO FOUNDER⁠ SCALING a business:⁠ see if you qualify here.⁠ Get my battle-tested strategies and insights delivered weekly to your inbox:⁠ sign up here.⁠ ********************************************************************** If you're serious about leveling up your life, I urge you to check out my new podcast,⁠ Tom Bilyeu’s Mindset Playbook⁠ —a goldmine of my most impactful episodes on mindset, business, and health. Trust me, your future self will thank you. ********************************************************************** LISTEN TO IMPACT THEORY AD FREE + BONUS EPISODES on APPLE PODCASTS:⁠ apple.co/impacttheory⁠ ********************************************************************** FOLLOW TOM: Instagram:⁠ https://www.instagram.com/tombilyeu/⁠ Tik Tok:⁠ https://www.tiktok.com/@tombilyeu?lang=en⁠ Twitter:⁠ https://twitter.com/tombilyeu⁠ YouTube:⁠ https://www.youtube.com/@TomBilyeu Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	I've ruled out uni because I want to live at home.
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1:01.1	You're listening to Impact Theory. Impact Theory. Impact Theory. Impact theory. Welcome to Impact Theory.
1:08.1	Our goal with this show and company is to introduce you to the people
1:11.3	and ideas that will help you actually execute on your dreams. All right, today's guest is a
1:16.5	Wall Street Journal and New York Times bestselling author who earned his PhD in electrical
1:21.5	engineering and computer science from MIT. He's the author of six books. His work has been
1:27.3	published in more than 20 languages,
1:28.3	and he's written 60 peer-reviewed papers that have been cited more than 3,500 times.
	...

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