Customer Reviews

Best Work of Your Life

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I, like a lot of people, found myself in an unpleasant job situation, and decided to find a different job. The prospect of looking for a job is daunting, because there's so much out there, and there can be a lot of fear of getting into another unpleasant job. This book was unlike any other that I found, in that it really helped me focus in on what kind of a job would make me happy. By stripping away pre-conceived notions of what I "should" do, I was able to envision what I really wanted. I limited my search, and when I was offered jobs that I knew weren't right, I was able to turn them down, rather than accept out of some feeling of desperation. But it's not just a theoretical book, it also has an action component to get people actively looking. The book includes resume advice, and when I developed a new resume based on that advice I received many nice complements on my resume from employers.

For anyone who desires to create a more meaningful career or life path for themselves - "The Best Work of Your Life" is a must-read. In their own voices, authors Pat Alea and Patty Mullins present an insightful, three-step approach, "clarity-strategy-action", that serves as a road map for finding your best work. This practical and results-oriented approach is illustrated with exercises and examples throughout the book - and it works. It gave me a framework for figuring out what meant the most to me, and it helped me develop and implement strategies for getting there.

This book is unlike any other career guidance book out there. Its philosophy is to help you find the job that fits you, rather than vice-versa. This subtle distinction is the difference that will set you apart from all the other candidates. The book provides several easy, insightful excercises to help you discover and articulate the kind of work that you thrive on. From there, it walks you through how to find the job of your dreams. Throw out any other career books you have; this is the only one you'll need.

This book is, hands down, the best-written, most practical career book I have ever read. It is a treasured volume that is already much-referenced as I work through the chapters and follow the authors' solid advice. This book can change your life - it did mine.

Pursue your dreams while staying financially on-track. This book will helps one to sort out the "big picture" so you can start making decisions that move you towards doing what you love. Very humorous, frank and supportive. I enjoyed it.

I recently attended a most meaningful workshop in which the authors took a small group step-by-step through the beginning of the process detailed in their book. It was time and money well spent. What is important about this book, is that one can use it to take a special look at what skills one most wants to use and take steps to do just that. Their resume format is wonderful, and the work you will do based on their straight-forward approach will serve you well whether looking for a different job, career, lifestyle, or education. The authors are sincere in writing this book as a tool for everyone -- whether you are 18 or 80 and no matter what your goals (which you may discover while working through this great book).

I'm obviously in the minority, but I didn't find this book very helpful. The approach described in the book may be well suited for people just beginning their careers or entering/re-entering the workforce mid-life. However, I don't think that the advice in the book is really geared toward the person who is established in a career and seeking advice on how to realistically make a change. I wish I had not spent my money; there are definitely more helpful books out there.

We spend the majority of our waking hours at work, so shouldn't we enjoy it? "Absolutely! No question!", say my mother, Pat Alea, and Patty Mullins, authors of The Best Work of Your Life. They wrote the book to help people regardless of age, education, gender, race, or income level to define and direct an ongoing career. My sister and I serve as continuous case studies in our mother's career research-although it isn't always easy to take advice from your mother, we reaped the benefits of the "Clarity-Strategy-Action" method long before it was ever down on paper.

The Best Work combines extensive research and experience in the evolving workplace, its trends, and its impact on employees with interesting true-life anecdotes to offer a comprehensive approach for finding work that is financially and spiritually fulfilling. The exercises provide fun and meaningful focus to any job search or aspect of your life. The book also serves as an excellent reference for job seekers with limited time and resources.

For years, my mother and Patty have shared their knowledge with and learned from the experiences of the callers to their Public Radio Show, participants in their career consulting seminars, students in their classes, and all of our friends and relatives. With The Best Work of Your Life, they have finally put all of this information in one place. On a personal note, I have watched as they developed their "Best Work" philosophy and I know it is as relevant personally as it is professionally.

Great book for the new college graduate or the unfulfilled middle-ager. Thanks for the fresh perspective.