Reviews - I Could Do Anything If I Only Knew What It Was: How To Discover What You Really Want And How To Get It

70 reviews for:

I Could Do Anything If I Only Knew What It Was: How To Discover What You Really Want And How To Get It

Barbara Sher

3.62 AVERAGE

tschulie_k's review against another edition

3.75

hopeful inspiring reflective medium-paced

Even though it was published years and years ago, this book still resonates and gives the reader a lot to think about. Barbara Sher’s perspective is understanding, supportive and encouraging, giving gentle nudges and helpful prompts to think about and reflect on. I think I’ll come back to this whenever I need a morale boost.

otakurini's review against another edition

4.75

emotional hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted reflective fast-paced

sarl's review against another edition

4.5

hopeful informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

stephaniesteen73's review against another edition

5.0

I picked this book up on a whim, since I still, at the age of 39, haven't figured out what I want to be when I grow up. It was the perfect choice! I loved the no-nonsense, plain talking way she wrote this book. She's an actual career counselor, and you can just HEAR her debunking all your internal resistance strategies! There are lots of practical exercises, and if you do them, you can't help but feel like you have a better understanding of yourself, your likes and dislikes, and a different way of approaching your career obstacles.

The book is structured with each chapter dealing with another obstacle to finding our best career match: can't get off the fast track (and the associated money), re-entering the workforce after a major life change, having no interest in anything, sabotaguing yourself, etc. The one that most resonated with me was the chapter called "I Want Too Many Things; I'm All Over the Map." I've always said that I wished I was really good at just one thing, rather than being pretty good at a lot of things. I found out a name for this - I'm a "scanner." I'm a quick learner, easily adaptable, and I love what is new. Although our culture values the "divers" - those who dedicate their entire lives to just one thing - there is a lot of value to being a scanner. It's actually a freeing thing to be rather than a limiting thing. Think Leonardo da Vinci and Benjamin Franklin! She gives the very practical advice that "if you want to do a lot of things, you can do them all." (either in sequential careers, in hobbies, or in finding the very rare career that combines many different interests - such as a writer).

I only wish I could have some in-person career meetings with her. I am sure she'd cut right through all my excuses and waffling and the next thing I'd know - I'd be living in the Himalayas or something crazy, and loving it!