What to Do When You’re New by Keith Rollag Summary
Overview of What to Do When You’re New
Master the art of being new with Keith Rollag's research-backed guide, featured in Harvard Business Review and Forbes. Learn three transformative mindsets that turn anxiety into opportunity. What's the one skill that determines success in every new situation? The answer will surprise you.
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Key takeaways
Why Walking Into a Room Full of Strangers Still Terrifies Us
Ever notice how your stomach drops when you walk into a networking event alone? That moment when you scan the room and everyone seems locked in animated conversation while you stand there clutching your drink like a life raft? You're not broken. You're human. That anxiety coursing through your veins is the same ancient alarm system that kept your ancestors alive when encountering strangers could mean genuine danger. Today, the stakes are coffee and small talk, but your brain hasn't gotten the memo-it's still operating like you're walking into a rival tribe's territory. This disconnect between our Stone Age wiring and modern social demands explains why, despite living in the most connected era in human history, we still feel that primal dread when entering unfamiliar territory. By six months old, babies already distinguish between familiar and unfamiliar faces, showing wariness toward strangers. Then we spend twelve years in school learning that asking questions is for classrooms only and that performances expose us to judgment. Add social media's parasocial relationships-where fictional characters can't reject us and are available 24/7-and we've created convenient substitutes that let us avoid the very face-to-face connections we desperately need. Understanding this biological legacy doesn't eliminate the anxiety, but it does something equally valuable: it normalizes it. That racing heart before introducing yourself isn't weakness-it's your prehistoric brain doing exactly what evolution designed it to do.
The Five Critical Skills That Determine Success in New Situations
Mastering Introductions and the Hidden Power of Small Talk
Why We Forget Names and the Science of Actually Remembering Them
Asking Questions Without Fear and Building Authentic Relationships
Performing Under Pressure by Shifting from "Being Good" to "Getting Better"
Becoming the Newcomer You Want to Be
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From Columbia University alumni built in San Francisco
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"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
From Columbia University alumni built in San Francisco
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
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