Review: Career clarification made easier
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 07 5, 2013
As a coach, mentor, and business developer, author Roger Bourne is well qualified to write this book. His audience includes the many people doing jobs they would rather not have plus those who want things to be better.Not only does he provide ideas to ignite careers but does it easily in his step-by-step proprietary mentoring and coaching framework.Readers will appreciate his "join the dots" approach. What may have seemed impossible is now simple or simpler.So many gurus, coaches, and advisors preach balance and we do need that but Bourne tells us that balance is heavily affected by the job which we expect to be challenging, acknowledging our talents, and rewarding us the way we feel we should be rewarded. If that job does not live up to expectations, we are unhappy, which of course, affects, home and health.The author gives at least 12 methods for achieving the recognition, respect, and rewards in your job; all seemingly valid and varying from person to person. Bourne writes the book assuming your current job is one you have chosen to further your career.Bourne defines Career not as just any job to pay the rent but as a choice of work, an intention to work in this field with "why" being the determining factor. Again, there is an extensive list of reasons for selecting jobs which can influence a job holder to contemplate his/her reasons and their validity.He then covers the development of a career. I particularly like a paragraph which reads "Now business is not a democracy, nor is it benevolent and you will only be paid generally to the level of your `perceived' contribution."  Who perceives this contribution? Your boss and your boss's boss. Then Bourne tells you how to increase those perceived levels of contribution and thereby the rewards.He then asks a question which I, as an employer, have often asked someone who tells me he has 30 years experience: do you have 1 year's experience 30 times over or do you have 30 years of learning and contributions?The books gets very interesting as he progresses to how to measure and deal with progress which may change renumeration; how to take total responsibility for your career in a world which is quite good at discouraging thinking; how to accelerate your career which will come from you, not your company and Bourne shows you how; how to really know who you are, not what you think you should be.He discusses Traits, Values, Skills, your Brand, Tips and Traps, and much more. This is a `must have' book if you are serious about your career. With good ideas and an excellent coach like Bourne, plus your implementation, your career has an excellent chance at a better pace. Get the book.