Finding Your True Calling: The Handbook for People Who Still Don't Know What They Want to be When They Grow Up But Can't Wait to Find Out [Spiral-bound]

Valerie Young (Author)

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Valerie Young is Dreamer-in-Residence at ChangingCourse.com, an on-line resource dedicated to helping you find your life mission and live it. Dr. Young’s career change tips have appeared in such publications as The Wall Street Journal, USA Weekend, The Guardian [London], Reader's Digest, and Redbook, and online at MSN, Careerbuilder, and iVillage. A popular speaker and workshop leader, Valerie has addressed such diverse organizations as American Women in Radio and Television, Bristol-Myers Squibb, TransCanada Pipeline, CIGNA, Society of Women Engineers, and MIT. As a Lifestyle Career Consultant, Valerie specializes in helping clients generate creative alternatives to having a j-o-b. She is the recognized expert on the Impostor Syndrome at ImpostorSyndrome.com.

Product Details

• Spiral-bound: 112 pages
• Publisher: Changing Course (June 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0974462616
• ISBN-13: 978-0974462615
• Product Dimensions: 10.8 x 8.2 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (34 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #258,516 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

31 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Career Planning Book with a secret surprise, October 12, 2005

By 

Steven Cobb (Kansas City) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Finding Your True Calling: The Handbook for People Who Still Don't Know What They Want to be When They Grow Up But Can't Wait to Find Out (Spiral-bound)

I have parted with perfectly good coin to read the wisdom of many different authors concerning what I should do with my life and career. They all offer platitudes, exercises, and encouragement to the seeker. Some have complex diagrams, case studies, whatever. Chicken Soup for the aimless. Let me assure you, this book is different. It is clearly written, extremely useful, and the surprise is that it is inspirational! Not only will you (probably) get some great ideas to help you break out of that rut, but you'll enjoy the process, and almost certainly be in a better mood just from reading the book! I didn't get that from any of the 'what color is my jumpsuit' books, which gather dust on my shelf. Believe it or not, I carry this book around in my briefcase! I show it to friends, suggest they buy it, loan it to them if they won't buy it. You should buy it--try it, and you'll probably love it. If you read it and don't think it's a life-changer, give it to a close friend and they will thank you for it. Loved the book, by the way!

25 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Action Plan for New Life and Work Options, July 3, 2006

By 

J. McAndrews (Long Island, NY) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Finding Your True Calling: The Handbook for People Who Still Don't Know What They Want to be When They Grow Up But Can't Wait to Find Out (Spiral-bound)

After many years, many tests, and many registration fees to obtain my Professinal License, I found myself in a great job that I just hated. I did not "fit" into their social culture and I found my brain just worked differently than others in my Profession. What to do? I had reached the big 50 age bracket and was feeling despondent over making any kind of a job change. After all, I had invested a great deal of time and effort into this career. Was it time to quit or to work part-time?

Keeping an open mind, I started reading Valerie Young's book. This book offers wise advice and the contributions of several experts in the field, but it was the worksheets that made the difference. Once I opened up the wordprocessor, followed her directives and poured my heart out into black & white text, well, it all made sense. I was able to analyze and understand myself, from the child through adult, including my dreams, creativity and rewarding experiences. Valerie has provided a forum to allow you to quiet the beast of negative voices in your head and to design the next phase of your life. Be sure to do the worksheets! Thank you, Valerie, for the tools that inspire me into my next phase of life. I now have a clear insight into how to phase-out of my full-time profession and to phase-into work that is more suited to my natural talents.

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Embracing the Square Peg In You, February 14, 2006

By 

Nj - See all my reviews

This review is from: Finding Your True Calling: The Handbook for People Who Still Don't Know What They Want to be When They Grow Up But Can't Wait to Find Out (Spiral-bound)

For most of my life adult life I have tried to work a "real job", but I never felt comfortable in the corporate world and I never fit in. Valerie Young's book "Finding Your True Calling ..." has inspire me to follow my dreams and believe in my ideas AND it has reminded me that it's okay NOT to fit in and there is more to life then the corporate world. The book is an interesting read with contributions from many authors who followed their dreams. It also incorporates career counseling/lifestyle activities that focus on what you love to do OR what you love in life and then helps you transform these loves into alternative job ideas. This is a great book for individuals looking for alternative professions and I highly recommend it.