Recommended Reading

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New clients, eager to make the most out of our work together, often ask how they can get a jump start on our sessions. Is there anything that they can read? I decided to share with you some of my suggestions in a new series of Recommended Reading lists. Each is based on the main topics we cover during coaching. The first is reinventing your career.

This Top 5 will help you make the most of wherever you are for however long you decide to be there.

 

Recommended Reading for Career Reinvention

StrengthFinder 2.0 - This is my #1 recommendation to clients and friends wanting to change careers, or get ahead in their current ones. It's an online personality test of sorts that identifies five of your core strengths; things that you take for granted because they come naturally to you, but others value more than you probably realize. If you're thinking about making a move, this is the place to start.

Switch: How to Change Things When Change is Hard - I put the Heath brothers on par with Seth Godin, Daniel Pink, and Guy Kawasaki for insights on business, sales, marketing, and career. Switch talks about what it takes to change people's minds, applicable to nearly everything you do, from convincing your boss to give you a raise to creating buy-in from colleagues on changing company policy.

When you can't make up your mind - This is one of my most popular blog posts written especially if you've been thinking about a change but haven't been able to decide yet. It can feel debilitating to be ready to move on but have no idea where to start. Two other oldie but goodie posts along these lines are What to do when work isn't working anymore (there is also a Part 2 to this post), and the surprisingly helpful career advice from Amy Poehler.

From my clients' bookshelves - These are the must-reads that my clients have leaned on for career and life advice: Martha Beck's Finding Your Own North Star, Do the Work by Steven Pressfield, and Escaping Cubile National by Pam Slim. I'm adding them to my list!

The Art of Work - I have to give a shout-out to Jeff Goins whose new book is about reinvention and going after the career you want. Especially meant for the creatives among us, it is full of inspiring stories to help you see what's possible. Jeff's previous books talk about that too, and he is a prolific blogger and podcaster. Highly recommend checking him out.

I could keep going! In coming weeks, there will be more reading recommendations on personal growth, and for business owners and self-employed professionals. In meantime, I'd love to hear what you think.

What are your can't-miss books, websites, videos or blogs for career reinvention?