Next!: The Power of Reinvention in Life and Work Summary, PDF, EPUB, Audio

Q: What is *Next!: The Power of Reinvention in Life and Work* about?

*Next!* by Joanne Lipman explores how to navigate personal and professional reinvention through scientific research, case studies, and a four-stage "Reinvention Roadmap." It analyzes transformations like Play-Doh's pivot from wallpaper cleaner to toy and career shifts (e.g., ad executive to novelist), offering actionable strategies to embrace change.

Q: What is the Reinvention Roadmap in *Next!*?

Lipman’s Reinvention Roadmap outlines four stages: **Search** (exploring ideas), **Struggle** (disconnecting from old identities), **Stop** (transition point), and **Solution** (implementing change). This framework helps individuals and organizations systematically tackle transitions, illustrated by examples like stay-at-home moms becoming CEOs.

Q: What are key quotes from *Next!: The Power of Reinvention in Life and Work*?

Notable quotes include: - **“Reinvention isn’t a single act—it’s a process”** (emphasizing iterative change). - **“The struggle is where growth happens”** (stressing resilience during transitions).

Q: How does *Next!* compare to other reinvention books like *Who Moved My Cheese?*

While *Who Moved My Cheese* uses allegory, *Next!* blends neuroscience, interviews, and corporate case studies. Lipman’s focus on structured frameworks (e.g., the Reinvention Roadmap) offers a more tactical approach to managing change.

Next!: The Power of Reinvention in Life and Work

Joanne Lipman

3.66 (282 Reviews)

Business

Self-growth

Career

Overview

Key Takeaways

Author

FAQs

In "Next!", former USA TODAY editor Joanne Lipman reveals the four-step reinvention roadmap that won the Porchlight Business Book Award. What makes successful people pivot when others stall? Adam Grant calls it "filled with useful ideas" for navigating life's inevitable transitions.

What is Next!: The Power of Reinvention in Life and Work about?

Next! by Joanne Lipman explores how to navigate personal and professional reinvention through scientific research, case studies, and a four-stage "Reinvention Roadmap." It analyzes transformations like Play-Doh's pivot from wallpaper cleaner to toy and career shifts (e.g., ad executive to novelist), offering actionable strategies to embrace change.

Who should read Next!: The Power of Reinvention in Life and Work?

This book suits professionals facing career transitions, leaders managing organizational change, or anyone seeking to pivot post-retirement. Lipman’s insights are particularly valuable for those reevaluating goals after disruptions like the pandemic or workplace shifts.

What is the Reinvention Roadmap in Next!?

Lipman’s Reinvention Roadmap outlines four stages: Search (exploring ideas), Struggle (disconnecting from old identities), Stop (transition point), and Solution (implementing change). This framework helps individuals and organizations systematically tackle transitions, illustrated by examples like stay-at-home moms becoming CEOs.

How does Next! use Play-Doh and Viagra as examples of reinvention?

Lipman highlights Play-Doh’s shift from 1930s wallpaper cleaner to iconic toy and Viagra’s repurposing from a blood-pressure drug to a blockbuster ED treatment. These cases demonstrate accidental discovery and adaptability—key themes in successful reinvention.

What are key quotes from Next!: The Power of Reinvention in Life and Work?

Notable quotes include:

“Reinvention isn’t a single act—it’s a process” (emphasizing iterative change).
“The struggle is where growth happens” (stressing resilience during transitions).

How does Next! apply to career changes?

Lipman argues that career shifts require embracing uncertainty, leveraging transferable skills, and reframing setbacks as growth opportunities. She cites examples like a journalist transitioning to nonprofit leadership, underscoring the value of curiosity and flexibility.

How does Next! compare to other reinvention books like Who Moved My Cheese?

While Who Moved My Cheese uses allegory, Next! blends neuroscience, interviews, and corporate case studies. Lipman’s focus on structured frameworks (e.g., the Reinvention Roadmap) offers a more tactical approach to managing change.

Why is Next! relevant in 2025?

Post-pandemic workforce trends, AI disruptions, and longer lifespans make reinvention critical. Lipman’s research on adaptability aligns with modern needs, such as reskilling for tech-driven industries or pursuing encore careers post-retirement.

What are Joanne Lipman’s credentials for writing Next!?

Lipman is a Pulitzer-winning ex-Editor-in-Chief of USA Today and The Wall Street Journal’s Weekend Journal. Her journalism career, leadership roles, and interviews with 300+ changemakers inform the book’s data-driven insights.

Can Next! help with business innovation?

Yes. Lipman details how companies like 3M (inventors of Post-it Notes) thrive by encouraging experimentation. She advocates for cultures that reward risk-taking and cross-disciplinary collaboration to drive reinvention.

What actionable tips does Next! offer for personal reinvention?

Key strategies include:

Reframing failures as learning opportunities.
Building diverse networks for fresh perspectives.
Using “small experiments” to test new paths before fully committing.

How does Next! address the emotional challenges of change?

Lipman validates the anxiety of reinvention’s “Struggle” phase, offering neuroscience-backed techniques to manage fear. Practices like mindfulness and reframing narratives help readers persist through uncertainty.

Start Reading Your Way

Quick Summary

Feel the book through the author's voice

Deep Dive

Turn knowledge into engaging, example-rich insights

Flash Card

Capture key ideas in a flash for fast learning

Fun

Enjoy the book in a fun and engaging way

More like this

A Good Girl's Guide to Murder

Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell

Susanna Clarke

The Concrete Blonde

Michael Connelly

Revenge of the Tipping Point

Malcolm Gladwell

The Tao of Sexology

Stephen Thomas Chang

How to Memorize Anything

Aditi Singhal & Sudhir Singhal

Key takeaways

When the Bottom Falls Out, Everything Becomes Possible

00:00

James Patterson had already made his mark in advertising-he's the creative genius behind "I'm a Toys 'R' Us kid"-when he began waking up at 5 AM to chase a secret dream. He wanted to write thrillers. His first novel bombed with critics. But Patterson kept going, quietly building a second identity while keeping his day job. Today, he's sold over 400 million books worldwide. His story isn't about quitting everything to follow your passion-it's about something more subtle and powerful. It's about recognizing that transformation doesn't happen in one dramatic leap. It unfolds through small, persistent steps taken over years, often while you're still doing something else entirely. The pandemic thrust millions into this uncomfortable space between who they were and who they might become. Suddenly, reinvention wasn't optional-it was survival. And what emerged was a pattern, a roadmap that successful transformers have been following all along.

The Four-Stage Journey Every Transformation Follows

Why Your Gut Knows More Than Your Spreadsheet and the Neuroscience Behind Breakthrough Moments

When Trauma Becomes the Doorway to Growth

The Outsider Advantage Nobody Talks About

The Revolutionary Truth About Rest and What Comes Next

Explore Your Way of Learning

Next!: The Power of Reinvention in Life and Work isn't just a book — it's a masterclass in Business. To help you absorb its lessons in the way that works best for you, we offer five unique learning modes. Whether you're a deep thinker, a fast learner, or a story lover, there's a mode designed to fit your style.

Quick Summary

Next!: The Power of Reinvention in Life and Work Summary in 9 Minutes

Break down key ideas from Next!: The Power of Reinvention in Life and Work into bite-sized takeaways to understand how innovative teams create, collaborate, and grow.

00:00

Flash Card

Top 10 Insights from Next!: The Power of Reinvention in Life and Work in a Nutshell

Distill Next!: The Power of Reinvention in Life and Work into rapid-fire memory cues that highlight Pixar’s principles of candor, teamwork, and creative resilience.

Fun

Next!: The Power of Reinvention in Life and Work Lessons Told Through 26-Min Stories

Experience Next!: The Power of Reinvention in Life and Work through vivid storytelling that turns Pixar’s innovation lessons into moments you’ll remember and apply.

00:00

Personalize

Experience Next!: The Power of Reinvention in Life and Work in your own way.

Ask anything, pick the voice, and co-create insights that truly resonate with you.

From Columbia University alumni built in San Francisco

BeFreed Brings Together A Global Community Of 200,000+ Curious Minds

See more on how BeFreed is discussed across the web

"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."

@Moemenn

"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."

@Chloe, Solo founder, LA

117

"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."

@Raaaaaachelw

"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."

@Matt, YC alum

108

"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."

@Erin, Investment Banking Associate , NYC

254

"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."

@djmikemoore

"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."

@Pitiful

4.5K

"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."

@SofiaP

"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"

@Jaded_Falcon

201

"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."

@OojasSalunke

"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."

@Leo, Law Student, UPenn

483

"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"

@Cashflowbubu

"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."

@Moemenn

"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."

@Chloe, Solo founder, LA

117

"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."

@Raaaaaachelw

"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."

@Matt, YC alum

108

"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."

@Erin, Investment Banking Associate , NYC

254

"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."

@djmikemoore

"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."

@Pitiful

4.5K

"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."

@SofiaP

"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"

@Jaded_Falcon

201

"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."

@OojasSalunke

"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."

@Leo, Law Student, UPenn

483

"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"

@Cashflowbubu

"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."

@Moemenn

"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."

@Chloe, Solo founder, LA

117

"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."

@Raaaaaachelw

"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."

@Matt, YC alum

108

"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."

@Erin, Investment Banking Associate , NYC

254

"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."

@djmikemoore

"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."

@Pitiful

4.5K

"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."

@SofiaP

"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"

@Jaded_Falcon

201

"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."

@OojasSalunke

"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."

@Leo, Law Student, UPenn

483

"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"

@Cashflowbubu

Start your learning journey, now

Download This Summary

Get the Next!: The Power of Reinvention in Life and Work summary as a free PDF or EPUB. Print it or read offline anytime.

Next!: The Power of Reinvention in Life and Work by Joanne Lipman Summary

Overview of Next!: The Power of Reinvention in Life and Work

Key Takeaways from Next!: The Power of Reinvention in Life and Work

Overview of its author - Joanne Lipman

Common FAQs of Next!: The Power of Reinvention in Life and Work

Similar books to Next!: The Power of Reinvention in Life and Work

More like this

Key takeaways

When the Bottom Falls Out, Everything Becomes Possible

The Four-Stage Journey Every Transformation Follows

Why Your Gut Knows More Than Your Spreadsheet and the Neuroscience Behind Breakthrough Moments

When Trauma Becomes the Doorway to Growth

The Outsider Advantage Nobody Talks About

The Revolutionary Truth About Rest and What Comes Next

Quick Summary Mode - Read or listen to Next!: The Power of Reinvention in Life and Work Summary in 9 Minutes

Flash Card Mode - Top 10 Insights from Next!: The Power of Reinvention in Life and Work in a Nutshell

Fun Mode - Next!: The Power of Reinvention in Life and Work Lessons Told Through 26-Min Stories

Personalize Mode - Read or listen to Next!: The Power of Reinvention in Life and Work Summary in 0 Minutes

Download Next!: The Power of Reinvention in Life and Work PDF

Download Next!: The Power of Reinvention in Life and Work EPUB

More like this

Key takeaways

When the Bottom Falls Out, Everything Becomes Possible

The Four-Stage Journey Every Transformation Follows

Why Your Gut Knows More Than Your Spreadsheet and the Neuroscience Behind Breakthrough Moments

When Trauma Becomes the Doorway to Growth

The Outsider Advantage Nobody Talks About

The Revolutionary Truth About Rest and What Comes Next