Customer Reviews

The Anti 9-to-5 Guide: Practical Career Advice for Women Who Think Outside the Cube

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Goodman has created a helpful guide, extremely well-written with frankness and humor. She takes readers through the steps of feeling frustrated with life in a cube to considering alternative escape routes. Of course her own story will inspire readers, as she herself went from cube to freelance status, while managing to live comfortably and even make mortgage payments.

The best part of the book is the section on living the freelance life. She gives down-to-earth advice on organizing the ridiculous amount of paperwork that goes with the freelance life. (I got some good ideas I can use right awway!)

I also liked the section on interviewing for information. She's listed steps from dazzle (write a nice simple request) to prepare to saying thanks. I couldn't agree more.

Additionally, Goodman has some excellent resources in the back of the book. Any career-changer would benefit from readings the books she recommends.

This book will be most helpful to thirty-somethings - those who have worked for five to ten years and are now asking, "How can I express my creativity in the world?" The Anti Guide makes a great companion to a book that's similarly targeted, This Time I Dance, by Tama Kieves. Kieves focused more on the emotional and psychological elements,while Goodman deals with practical implementation.

My own career clients tend to be 45-60. While they'd benefit from some elements of this book, I find that senior executives and experiened professionals need to choose different networking approaches.

I have just three quibbles about the book's content.

First, career consultants often encourage clients to shadow someone who's in a career they're considering. I would rather encourage my own clients to talk to half a dozen or more people in a field to get a broader perspective. I wouldn't give up on a field based on a single shadowing day and I'd investigate further if a day appeared to be a "wow."

Second, Goodman recommends creating a website if you're a writer - and I agree completely. But you need to create a money-making website, which calls for copy as well as design. It's not reasonable to expect a whole treatise on the subject but I'd have liked to see some links to sources that can help.

Finally, I agree with Goodman that readers should be cautious before hiring a career coach or consultant. Again, I believe this advice makes moreo sense for the younger reader.

Goodman encourages readers to talk to HR departments and experts in fields of interest. My own experience is that getting through to an information source requires a referral and HR folks are in the business of recruiting and screening.

These days, you should expect to pay for mentors, especially if you're going off on your own. You might take a continuing ed class at the low end or hire a consultant at the high end, but you pay. I agree with the advice to buy an hour at a time and avoid long, expensive commitmentes. But thes packages work for some clients.

In summary, Goodman's book makes an excellent contribution to the field. And the writing is so good, it's a fun read for anyone.

I found this book at just the right time. I was beginning to give up on my dream of leaving my job, and doing something that I really love. People change. (How can we expect to stay in the same job we chose in our early 20's?) I began reading the book and doing the suggested exercises. I have to say that I had more in common with the way the author wrote, than other "follow your dream" books. Right when I would begin to doubt my plan, the author, Michelle Goodman had an answer! Thank you for a great book, with great topics! If you are aching to live a purposeful life and your current job is not part of that purpose, check out this book. Find out how you can begin living your dream today!

This book was kind of fun to read. I liked the author's frankness and humor. But I wasn't particularly impressed with how the title of the book was matched to its content. The book totes itself as a supposedly helpful career guide for young women just out of high school or maybe college who work in a cubical in an office environment. And it explains how young women can do some investigating and networking to learn about opportunities outside of a cube. But many of the opportunities discussed in this book were 9 to 5 JOBS. And the title says it is against such career moves.

I would have liked the book much better if it had stuck to explaining how to get out of a cube and make the transition into self-employment. Or if the title were changed, I would have like the book much better if it had only explained how to escape a cube into a more meaningful and lucrative job with an office or a company car. Of course, I wouldn't have pulled this book from the bookstore shelf if it was about the latter because I pretty much just review books that relate to my volunteering for SCORE, the small business coaching nonprofit.

The part of the book that I enjoyed the most was the author's story of how she had found herself stuck in a cube at age 24 and not doing what she wanted to do with her life - which was to do freelance writing. She decided to quit her job and start her own freelancing small business. And she found she couldn't make money at it at first - but she was resourceful and started temping in order to pay her bills while she got her business off the ground. Of course, I would have liked her story better if she were to have said she got her business WELL off the ground within a year or two. But unfortunately she says she continues to dabble in temping jobs from time to time to make ends meet. That doesn't sound like she has really accumulated enough of her own success to be writing this book, but some company did publish it and there are quite a number of positive book reviews posted on Amazon for it. So who am I to judge?

My favorite chapters were "I want a more flexible work schedule" (4), and "I want to be my own boss" (6). These two chapters were right on point when it comes to dumping a day job and starting one's own business. And in the book's appendix I very much liked "A Temp's Survival Guide" and "Boss in a Box." The "Must-See Resources" section in the appendix also seemed to be fairly informative. The checklists at the end of each chapter were well-thought out, too. 4 stars!

I have to thank the author for writing such an amazing book. I read it a few months ago, and it made me much more confident about going for the career I want. Yesterday I got the great news that I landed a position in a field I've always wanted to work in, but thought was too "pie in the sky" to really happen. The people in the new office seem great, and I'm so excited to get to the new job and learn everything I can.

Granted the job IS 9 to 5, but it's the kind of job that I've always sighed over and said I wanted. I've recommended the book and web site (www.anti9to5guide.com) to a bunch of friends.

BTW, the cover of the book says it's for women - don't believe it. This book is for anyone who wants to figure out how to find a career to be passionate about.

Lots and lots of helpful info for newbies and oldies like me, making their way back to freelance living, after falling off the wagon for corporate America's perceived charms (like regular paychecks). The best of reading this book was getting up to date networking ideas, legitimizing spending part of your work life doing something "safer", for example, working half-time in a "cube farm." I have not only come to appreciate that mind-numbingly boring part of my work week more, but also to take secret pleasure in watching others suffer, that is, those who have yet to reach (look toward reaching) the higher plain on which I now live--with plenty of time for my creative side business. And the bills do get paid.

The worst of reading this book was the sing-song-y, forced hip talk that does make for faster reading, if you know what she's talking about, without constantly having to stop and think about it. True, this book is clearly aimed at 20 and 30 somethings, so this old goat just had to plod along at times--often very tiring. Also not all the advice is all that appropriate to the older set, but then we're wise enough to adapt what we can and disregard the rest.

So overall a good read, full of helpful ideas and tips. Recommended.

Michelle Goodman's Anti 9-to-5 Guide is an inspirational and wonderful page-turner of a reference source. As a young librarian experimenting in different parts of the field and figuring out where I want my career to lead and what else I want to be doing (free-lance writing, crafting, etc.), I fit nicely into the guide's intended demographic. Even though my liberal creative interests and activism often make it difficult for me to feel like a full participant in professional culture, every day I strive to make the field my own by redefining professionalism for myself and refining my role in a relatively conservative public library system.

Thanks to Michelle, I now have a practical (as promised by the subtitle), and attainable plan to use the experience and professional expertise I'm gaining to create a more fully integrated career for myself in librarianship and the arts. The Anti 9-to-5 Guide has given me excellent, honest advice (reminding me of the actual trade-offs involved in pursuing passions). It has provided me with the information and awareness (and thus confidence), I needed to finally act on my motivation.

I have of course ordered multiple copies of The Anti 9-to-5 Guide for my public library and am hoping that the independent ladies of my community will use it to identify, define, plan and achieve their own success. This book is an essential for any medium to large public library collection and an excellent choice for the personal libraries of progressive women.

Get your hands on The Anti 9-to-5 Guide then get ready to tell Michelle how much you love your interesting job!

While the information offered in this book was fantastic, the "gal" talk constantly spewing off the pages made me feel strange and uncomfortable. I'd recommend reading "My So-Called Freelance Life" which, unlike this book, gives direct information without the meaningless babble and colloquial Valley Girl slang.

This book seems like it would be ideal for a young woman who still feels stuck pre-career, almost pre- adult life. Since I am solidly in the beginning of my "non 9-5" career, the information contained was nothing new. I was hoping for information that would support my lifestyle, rather than just help to get one started.

Summary

Michelle Goodman offers solid advice geared to women who want to work in nontraditional jobs but don't know where to begin. Drawing from her years as a freelancer, Goodman suggests practical, step-by-step changes one can make over time so that a transition to the entrepreneurial life doesn't lead you back to your parents' couch. Particularly salient in our troubled economy, The Anti 9 to 5 Guide should be consulted by anyone contemplating "life outside the cube."

Analysis

Goodman begins by relating how she began freelancing. She was tired of the hours she spent in a cubicle, staring at a computer, doing work that gave her no satisfaction. So she quit. However, bills still come to those pursuing their dreams, and Goodman acquired a nice chunk of credit card debt as she built her now-successful freelancing career. The advice that she offers in her book is meant for like-minded women to experience similar success without the pitfalls Goodman discovered.

Goodman advises getting your feet wet in your hobby-job before diving in headfirst--particularly if you have a mate, children, or pets that depend on you for food and shelter. She approaches broad topics such as figuring out what exactly you want to do; breaking into that industry; and making the time in your daily life to do so. She then explains the finer nuances of moving toward your dream: asking for a flexible work schedule at your 9-to-5; working from home; running your own business; pursuing activities that are meaningful both professionally and personally; and pursuing an unconventional or male-dominated career.

At every step of the way, Goodman offers practical tips to maneuvering the technical details of launching an unconventional career (taxes, legal matters, wages--you know, the little things). At the end of each chapter, she also presents you with a checklist for conquering that lesson in small steps. Rather than trying to impose her own idea of a timeline, she suggests that you set goals that are achievable and comfortable for you. Plunging into the world of an alternative career is hard enough, and you need to do it at your own pace.

The book offers easy, step-by-step advice for stepping out of your daily routine to try out new careers that may make you happy without making you go broke. Goodman advises that you establish your new business on the side first. Though that eats into your personal time, it also allows you to keep a paying gig--and if this is a job that you truly love, the sacrifice will not seem so great. If, after several months, your new career makes you happy and begins to pay the bills, then you are free to take the next step, whatever that may be.

One of the most valuable aspects of the book is that it takes seriously the idea that not all were built for performance reviews and public transportation, and it acknowledges that everyone's dream--and how they attain it--will be different. Goodman offers advice as varied as the careers that women dream of while staying relevant. Though she discusses potential pitfalls of many unconventional careers, such as what to do at about harassment at your male-centric job, her advice to do research first and to keep a cool head is applicable in any career path. Short and sweet appendices include guides to negotiating pay; temping; setting up a business; and an exhaustive list to resources on nearly any obstacle you will face.

I would recommend this book to anyone (not just women) contemplating a career outside of the norm. After reading this book, I realized that though the freelance work I was doing was bringing in good money, it was not what I wanted to do with the rest of my life. I was putting my true dream on the shelf by filling my time with freelance work I thought liked because it paid well, not because I enjoyed it. Goodman's advice to take slow steps that will have a minimal impact on your income was particularly relevant to me; if I'd quit my job immediately to pursue that freelance work, I would have found myself stuck in another unhappy career. However, by taking it slow and looking at all the angles of your dream, you will reduce your risk and maximize your returns--a solid business model no matter which career you choose!

Michelle Goodman is a freelance writer and editor who lives in Seattle. She attended the George Washington University in Washington, D.C. For more by Michelle, check out her website, also titled The Anti 9 to 5 Guide.

When I think of books on being your own boss and running a business, I imagine stuffy old text with boring design and content that wouldn't relate to me either on a generational basis or as a woman. This book defies those stereotypes. Not only is the design fun, casual, and appealing, the author's voice and writing style make the book both approachable and also impossible to put down.

My favorite parts of the book include the summary in list format at the end of each chapter, as well as all the anecdotes and profiles from other successful female business owners. I personally wish there would have been more graphic design related stories in the book as it would have related to me even more, but honestly the stories and quotes all share the same basis of inspiration and goals for women wanting to start their own business.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to start their own enterprise. You will not be disappointed.