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catladyreba's review
4.0
So...this is way outside my comfort zone. I would never have picked this book up on my own, but I guess that is the magic and beauty of book clubs.
Diving right in, the first chapter. I actually loved it and found it very applicable. So far, so good, even if I am not a business type.
Chapter Two. Hehe. Talk about hitting a wall. Harris talks about creating and using a career agenda as a guide. Now don't get me wrong. This is sound, admirable advice. But so over my head! I have approached my career with a lackadaisical, "let's see if this works" approach rather than having a clear, well-defined career agenda. I kind of fell into my line of work, and while I love it, I had (nor have) no clear plan or ambitions. Often, I let circumstance, friends, and colleagues dictate my work decisions. I think I might be inspired to develop a career agenda.
Chapter Three. I am loving this chapter. I really like the idea of having a sense of ownership for your career. This quote from Harris sums it up for me, "While most major organizations have extensive professional development resources, it is your responsibility to take advantage of them and get any training, formal or informal, that you need. Remember, you are responsible for the day-to-day management of your career."
Chapter Four. Another good, succinct chapter about how to deal with a very distinct and real situation in the workplace, perception. I liked the idea of choosing your perception, and consciously guiding your, and others thoughts, until those perceptions become a reality. I am giving myself homework, thinking about which three adjectives I need to choose to describe myself, and the person I want to be at work.
Chapter Five. I like how Harris differentiates between an advisor, a mentor, and a sponsor. Interesting to think about purposefully assembling a "board of directors" to help you advance your career.
Chapter 6. Speak up! But listen as well :)
Chapter 7. Risks. Take them! But don't be foolish. A lot of good quotes in this chapter. One I really liked was from former eBay CEO Meg Whitman, "The price of inaction is greater than the cost of making a mistake". Another, from Harris herself, "Unless you take risks, you won't stretch, you won't grow, and you won't gain".
Chapter 8. Networks and relationships. "Anyone who thinks they can achieve success on their own is in for a rude awakening". Have a wide, varied network and use it!
Chapter 9. Balance. There is work, and there is passion. You need to balance these, or you will not have long-term success. (Even if you are passionate about work, you need to find other passions outside of work.)
Chapter 10. Expect to Win! Expect to win and you will. I like this reminder about having a confident attitude, and thinking like a winner. I am definitely a fan of the power of positive thinking.
Chapter 11. Harris is guided through life and sustained by her faith. It is reassuring to see someone publicly acknowledge their belief and dependence on God. Growing up in a Christian home, I have always held to many Judeo-Christian beliefs, even while I have not been happy with what many churches have become, or the people that claim Christianity. I like that Harris talks about her faith and how important it is to her, but she is not preachy about it.
All in all, a good read. I am glad I left my comfort zone behind and gave this a chance. Not every situation Harris discussed was 100% applicable, but so much of the book had a lot of common sense advice laid out in a clear, concise way, with practical examples. Makes me want to take some time and refocus how I approach work.
Diving right in, the first chapter. I actually loved it and found it very applicable. So far, so good, even if I am not a business type.
Chapter Two. Hehe. Talk about hitting a wall. Harris talks about creating and using a career agenda as a guide. Now don't get me wrong. This is sound, admirable advice. But so over my head! I have approached my career with a lackadaisical, "let's see if this works" approach rather than having a clear, well-defined career agenda. I kind of fell into my line of work, and while I love it, I had (nor have) no clear plan or ambitions. Often, I let circumstance, friends, and colleagues dictate my work decisions. I think I might be inspired to develop a career agenda.
Chapter Three. I am loving this chapter. I really like the idea of having a sense of ownership for your career. This quote from Harris sums it up for me, "While most major organizations have extensive professional development resources, it is your responsibility to take advantage of them and get any training, formal or informal, that you need. Remember, you are responsible for the day-to-day management of your career."
Chapter Four. Another good, succinct chapter about how to deal with a very distinct and real situation in the workplace, perception. I liked the idea of choosing your perception, and consciously guiding your, and others thoughts, until those perceptions become a reality. I am giving myself homework, thinking about which three adjectives I need to choose to describe myself, and the person I want to be at work.
Chapter Five. I like how Harris differentiates between an advisor, a mentor, and a sponsor. Interesting to think about purposefully assembling a "board of directors" to help you advance your career.
Chapter 6. Speak up! But listen as well :)
Chapter 7. Risks. Take them! But don't be foolish. A lot of good quotes in this chapter. One I really liked was from former eBay CEO Meg Whitman, "The price of inaction is greater than the cost of making a mistake". Another, from Harris herself, "Unless you take risks, you won't stretch, you won't grow, and you won't gain".
Chapter 8. Networks and relationships. "Anyone who thinks they can achieve success on their own is in for a rude awakening". Have a wide, varied network and use it!
Chapter 9. Balance. There is work, and there is passion. You need to balance these, or you will not have long-term success. (Even if you are passionate about work, you need to find other passions outside of work.)
Chapter 10. Expect to Win! Expect to win and you will. I like this reminder about having a confident attitude, and thinking like a winner. I am definitely a fan of the power of positive thinking.
Chapter 11. Harris is guided through life and sustained by her faith. It is reassuring to see someone publicly acknowledge their belief and dependence on God. Growing up in a Christian home, I have always held to many Judeo-Christian beliefs, even while I have not been happy with what many churches have become, or the people that claim Christianity. I like that Harris talks about her faith and how important it is to her, but she is not preachy about it.
All in all, a good read. I am glad I left my comfort zone behind and gave this a chance. Not every situation Harris discussed was 100% applicable, but so much of the book had a lot of common sense advice laid out in a clear, concise way, with practical examples. Makes me want to take some time and refocus how I approach work.
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