Customer Reviews

The Inventurers: Excursions In Life And Career Renewal, Third Edition

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this book is great for anyone in any type of career/life change. The book gives you items to reflect upon, and workbook excercises that allow you to evaluate where you are in life/career. It enables you to see clearly your past, your present, and direction for your future.

This is one of the most pivotal books in my mid-life transition during the early 90's. I was then a corporate rat. I was working in quiet desperation.
I also knew that I would still continue as a rat even if I have succeeded in the corporate world. I was 43 years old then...looking damned good but actually going nowhere!

Together with the Richard Leider's other books (as well as Frederic Hudson's, plus Richard Bolles' books), it dramatically
changed my life for better as I am now doing what I love & loving what I do.

This book introduced me to the authors' Inventurer process model - an excursion into self discovery, during which it
helped me to clarify my inner values, through a series of structured exercises, checklists & reflective questions. Many of the questions were soul searching for me.

Trained as a mechanical engineer, I naturally found some minor parts of the book somewhat esoteric, but on hindsight
I think they are relevant if one is seeking deeper understanding of oneself.

Here are the relevant chapters of the book:

Section 1: The Life Inventure
1 The Inventurers
2 The Postponed Life
3 The Inventurous Life

Section 2: Life Extensions
4 Adult Life Stages
5 Life Cycle Review
6 Alone Toegther

Section 3: ifestyles
7 The Balancing Act
8 Body
9 Mind
10 Spirit
11 Dreams & Goals

Section 4 Work Styles
12 Making a Living Work
13 The Scorecard
14 Skills, the Root of All
15 Survival Skills
16 What Species...?
17 You only Go Round Once
18 Step 1 Your Excursion Map
19 Step 2 Conclusions
20 Step 3 Getting Feedback & Ideas
21 Step 4 Reality Testing

For the uninitiated, an inventurer is just one who is willing to take a fresh, hard look at oneself & consider new options,
venture inward & explore. An inventurer sees life as a series of changes, changes as growth experiences, & growth as positive.

At the onset, what struck me most about this book are the important assumptions which the book is based upon
& the Inventurer process reflects these assumptions. Let me share them with readers as follows by paraphasing the authors:

1 Coping with change: We all have different styles of coping...you need to learn what your style is & how to use it effectively;
2 Untapped abilities: ...you possess much untapped potential that could change your life considerably;
3 Self-direction: The basic ingredient in life & career renewal is choice - the choice of taking responsibility for yourself.
In any situation, you have basically two options: change the situation or change the mindset that is perceiving the situation. The choice is yours alone...
4 Organised planning: Effectively assessing life & career renewal options requires more than new insights...Your reflections must be organised & focused into an action plan...& self discipline is a virtue...
5 Risk taking: Choices involve risks. Risk is the element in career or life...

This is one particular book you have to read it carefully & work with it systematically if you really want to evaluate your life & make it better.

To conclude my review, I strongly recommend this wonderful book to anyone who is thinking about making a major career or life change or anyone seeking just to understand themselves better!

I recommend this book more than any other! I've owned one or more copies since the late 1970s. Each time I go through a life or career transition, I reach for this book and rework the exercises inside. This is a wonderful place to start analyzing what you want to do with your life and/or your career. Each time I work through the book, I am astounded by the results.

I've referred this book to many friends, and re-read several sections for myself over the years. It offers guidance and helps one develop a map. I especially appreciate that it encourages the read to request feedback from co-workers/friends (which today may be easily done using SurveyMonkey.com). A true value!