Customer Reviews

JESUS, Career Counselor: How to Find (and Keep) Your Perfect Work

5 star:		(18)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

On page 12 of this book, the author states, "This book is really an advanced course built upon these previous works..." If you have not read the author's earlier publications, like I had not, you may feel a bit of bait and switch. Not only could I therefore not complete some of the initial exercises to my satisfaction, I never found the free download promised on page 12 that would help me write a mission statement (the author of course devotes an entirely separate book to mission statements that I wish I'd read first). Don't get me wrong: the theology and faith reminders presented here are incredible. The concepts, prayers and truths are life-anchoring. You will be challenged, you will be moved, and you will be motivated. However, after reading this book, you will not necessarily have traveled a straight line from exploration to action that the "How to Find (and Keep) Your Perfect Work" subtitle seemed to promise (despite a brief planning exercise on page 52). The book is smaller - both in page count and in physical dimensions - than I expected. It instead focuses on the inner-work each of us needs to work out before we make important decisions about our careers. With that goal in mind, the author provides compelling descriptions of the four elements. And appropriately challenges you to consider whether there's any value in your current employment (if that applies to your situation). You will be inspired to find truth...but you will not find a direct connection to job titles or classifications that might be a good fit. At the end of each chapter, you will see lists of industries that fit each element - and you'll see several that overlap among the various lists. I was disappointed by this because I didn't see from this book how learning that I might be a strong Water (for example) would help me choose between a health services career or being an artist (though the author mentions considering your dreams and talents). And for more specific search guidance, you'll see only a short a list of websites and book titles that I've seen in many other job search resources. I realized as I finished this book, that I had hoped for a bit more discussion of why the elements match onto different industries or career paths (I was also curious about how the elements might map onto Meyers-Briggs Types or Kiersey Temperaments). When I didn't find that information, I felt I was missing some pieces of the puzzle. So I took the PEP assessment from the author's website: great info (and wonderfully insightful and accurate in my case), but there were no connections between elements and careers on that tool either. Bottom line: one other reviewer mentioned not to expect a fast read. I would add to that not to expect clear cut to-do's. The author offers you the critical opportunity to re-orient your heart and mind; to stop and breathe before you plunge into the next paycheck; and it's worth the time. Just go into it knowing that while this book can help you find true north, it assumes you've already read up on the features of your compass. And that will have to be enough for this stage of the journey.

I am a Christian considering a mid life career change and I started reading this book with a lot of enthusiasm. Unfortunately I was quickly disappointed.

The author calls herself a "life coach" and "career counselor". I gather from the book that she is some sort of well known speaker and has been successful. So, it is entirely possible that some people might find this book helpful, but I was not one of them.

The book is full of "life coach" jargon - psycho-babble speak. The author uses phrases like "soul care time" and "roaring through body language" - things that I did not find helpful or really anything I could relate to. The book is full of advice such as this: "Waters and Winds will need more structure and companionship in career searching, not being interested in doing things alone." Um, OK.

For some reason [and I'm still not clear on why this seemed like a good idea], her "career advice" is broken up into "Fire", "Water", "Earth" and "Wind". I felt the whole book had a "New Agey" feel to it, which is fine if that is what you are looking for, but I wasn't expecting it from a book that was supposed to be about Jesus as Career Counselor. Each of the four elemental sections are further divided into chapters named "Rise" "Risk" "Roar" "Reflect" "Renew" "Restore" "Remain" "Return" "Regenerate" "Revive" "Release" and "Rejoice". Which was not intuitive or helpful to me.

I found the whole layout annoying and difficult to follow. In addition to the strange way she decided to title and sub-divide her book, even the anecdotes and stories were often annoying. And sometimes inappropriate in a Christian book. For instance, in one story she tells of a woman gathering a huge crowd of people to pull down their pants publicly to "moon" some KKK marchers. While I admire the sentiment, I can't see Jesus encouraging that "manner" of protest. It seemed really odd in a nominally Christian book.

The book is strong on the idea that you should hire a "career coach" or a "lifestyle coach" [or a "lifestyle architect" as she says in one place....]. That felt like obnoxious self promotion to me and just served to make me further annoyed at the whole book.

I don't think this book is very helpful to Christians seeking to truly be led by Christ in their choice of career. There was actually shockingly little about Christ and serving God in the book, IMO.

My advice is to skip this one and save your money.

I came to this book unfamiliar with Laurie Beth Jones' previous work, but was drawn to it by its title.

Here one is given some of the best advice ever spoken by anyone either in the past, present, and of course, by Jones herself.

We do, I believe, tend to get ourselves "lost" or "caught up" (at least once, and for some others numerous times) in our surroundings and what is happening around us and we fail to look at or to see clearly what it is that we "should" be doing vs what we do "do".

A great many folks work, and by that I mean "just that". They hold a job and work, laborously in some cases, and thoughtlessly in others, but in either case, they labor at something in many instances that they are not suited for and are not fulfilled by. That is what this book is all about--the searching within yourself to find what it is that you truly are set out for; Your Calling in life.

So, addressed here are suggestions and help(ers) for those unhappy in their jobs or perhaps now unemployed and seeking work in today's brutal job market. Jones, I believe, has some of the best advice and just the right "take" on what it is that one needs to do, and SHOULD do, before going back out into the "battlefield" of the job market world. It is both true and also heartening when one hears the words "If one does what he/she loves, or is called to do, they truly will not 'work' a day in their life". When you do what you love and what fulfills you, work becomes totally positive. Your efforts then touch upon pleasure and fun so often and frequently, and they enrich you so completely that the labors of the day truly are not like "work" as most traditionally know it.

I highly recommend this book to anyone. There is much here to "help" you on your way to finding what it is that you truly are created to do, what you should be doing, and how to go about getting yourself into a position where you can do it, thus bringing pleasure to yourself, and also fulfilling what your calling in life truly is. There is never a day lost or invaluable when it is spent doing what one's vocation or "calling" is vs just going out and getting hired to do a "job" and doing "work".

I have been retired now for some time, but after reading this book I am seriously considering "going back out again" and doing some sort of either teaching (my skills), sharing with others, or volunteering. The rewards both to myself, and to those I interact with, are just too precious to let time fritter away from both myself and those I address.

Do yourself a really great turn and read this rewarding and enriching book by Laurie Beth Jones. The results just may set you on a new and rewarding path.

~operabruin

I believe that Laurie Beth Jones has the best interest of the reader in mind and wants the reader's life and career to improve through this book. The sincerity and helpfulness comes through in the tone of the book that led me to overlook some of the poor exegesis of Scripture, psycho-babble, sentimentality and vicariously speaking for Jesus. I tried not to get distracted by those obstacles and to focus on the big picture of the book that stresses how we are made in God's image with unique gifts and vocational callings and that we are not truly or fully ourselves until we are following that call.

I also had to overlook the problem that I have with a book that seems to subject the Lord and Savior, his kingdom and message to an agenda such as career counseling. Let's face it...giving everyone the perfect job was not Jesus' priority; rather, he leads people to take up their own cross and die to themselves (i.e.the "careers" of his disciples). I think Jones ignores Scriptures that do not fit into the picture of "Jesus Career Counselor" that she has imagined.

Having said that, I think the message of the book is helpful in terms of self-discovery and reflection and even Scriptural mediation and direction. It is not a practical "how-to" guide that will help you go out tomorrow and find a better job. It will help you discover what might be a better job for you or how you can create a better job where you are.

Exploring the 12 dreams God has for each of us, this book shows readers how to get, find and keep the work they love."

Laurie Beth Jones presents a very creative way of assessing personality types, fire, water, earth and wind. She also has created a perfect roadmap to discovering our mission, identifying our communication styles, creating a vision for our lives that brings us joy and contributes to the needs of the world, and then building a career path on that foundation. Her book is easy to read, embraces all types of work, and teaches us how to find our meaningful work. This book comes at a perfect time, as so many people are out of a job. Jones challenges us as readers to not just move on to the next job because it's what we've always done, but instead to seek what it is we are called to do. All the rest is drama and illusion, entertainment, training exercises, and moments preparing me for eternity. That is a perspective that leads one to be able to change more easily and it's certainly upbeat and encouraging.

This book was sent to me free for review from FSB Associates.

This book sat on my desk for the longest time, half-read. I am a SAHM, stay-at-home mom, and I found this book had very little to do with my "career." Jones did eventually address this in the book, but only briefly, and it makes me wonder what the author's personal views are on women who choose my career. A perfect example of this is that at the end of every element section, she lists careers she considers appropriate for those that match that element, and none of the four lists mention a SAHM. Even when she discusses those who have been forced to leave their job or choose to leave their job, she views being stuck at home as a temporary place and describes how to move out of it, never considering that maybe Jesus wants it to be permanent.
Delving into the opening of the book, it is quickly apparent that the author assumes that the reader has read the author's previous books and will use these other books to produce a mission statement, personality profile, "four greatest talents", and a vision statement. As I have not read her previous works, and don't intend to, I felt I was at a further disadvantage from benefiting from reading this book.
Another mark against the book is that Jones does not stick with only one version of the Bible to quote from, and the only time she actually states which version she is quoting from is when she quotes the KJV - every other time is a mystery.
There are many positive points to the book, such as the organization. Each of the four elements are covered in-depth, with each of the four sections containing three chapters that each focus on a single word that fits that element, all beginning with the prefix "re-". Each of these words come with a detailed definition, and each chapter provides places for the reader to take notes and answer the author's questions, such as the "Make It Yours" sections and the "Career Exercises", with each chapter ending with a prayer. The "Bonus Features" at the end of each of the four sections list additional prayers, the aforementioned list of recommended occupations, and "Summary Points" of the three words defined in each section. The last section of the book has additional "Bonus Features," which is the authors' Book Picks, a list of Internet resources, a section on resumes, and a section titled "How to Deal with Sudden Job Loss / Reversal of Fortune." I do enjoy a well-organized book.
The anecdotes were entertaining and the advice seemed good and useful to those in the job market. I did appreciate Jones' goal of making Jesus central to a person's career, even if the methods by which she approaches this seemed more New Age than Biblical, despite the scripture quotes. Her writing was also very sensitive to the reader who has lost a job or is unhappy in his or her current job, which would be an appropriate way to address the reader in the current economy.

This little book is broken down into four sections: 1) Fire (Leadership), 2) Water (Relationship Skills), 3) Earth (Character and Habits, and 4) Wind (Creativity). Each section contains three chapters and the book starts off with a great introduction that helps you see a new vision for your life's work.

The book contains stories from the author's life as well as a "Make It Yours" section in each chapter to help you think through all that you're learning. The author also included Scripture that goes along with what the reader is learning in each chapter.

I enjoyed this book and would recommend it to anyone who is looking to (or needs to) find a new career path.

If one considers him/herself as a person whom seeks a vocation, opposed to a mere "job", this book is for you. Laurie Beth Jones looks at all angles of career choice, but more specifically she discusses discernment and choosing a path that speaks to God-given talents and aptitudes. It is sort of an "intelligent design" manual for the career set. The premise is we are all equipped with certain skills which support particular careers. If we seek understanding and follow this bliss, success and fulfillment are practically guaranteed. While on its face it sounds like a "guru" method it actually makes perfect sense, even on a strictly logical basis. People tend to enjoy doing things where they excell; approaching a job as an appointed mission, rather than a daily grind, strikes a chord intellectually as well as spiritually.

There are numerous career books on the market, each packaged with a promise to shoe-horn us all into the ultimate career. Laurie Beth Jones offers points to ponder in an arena that is rarely the focus, yet resonates on a deeper level than determining parachute shades. Highly recommended.

At a time when unemployment is at a record high and rumors of doom and gloom hedge us in, Laurie Beth Jones breaks in and speaks up in the midst of chaos. Light, hope and a challenge for legacy--A new thought, Leave the low life of a job and dare to reach for the high life of a "life's work".

Those who hear and choose to begin this great adventure will find this book a real source of insight, knowledge and truth as well as a tool that will heighten the awareness of all that is within them.

LBJ is a leader in this area and has written many books which Jesus, Career Counselor is founded in. I have found many resources on her website and applaud her discovery approach to who we are in design, instead of a spoon-fed, give me all the answers.

It's like MacGyver... he was never given all the tools or told what tools to use to get out of trouble or solve a problem. He leaned into his strengths-- intelligent, optimistic, laid-back, resourceful who could create and innovate to solve a range of problems with the ordinary resources at his hand. This book along with the tools found on Laurie Beth's website are like that for me. I have used the tools to bring change in my world--career, influence, family and more.

Thanks Laurie Beth Jones for bringing me the "MacGyver's" handbook in a season where dreams are critical and discovery is the way we mine the wealth within us, take ownership, and make a difference in our life and in the lives of those around us.
[...]

Do you hate getting up and knowing you have to face another day at your job?

You got laid off now what?

Are you just going through the day uninspired and unmotivated about your "chosen profession?"

Face it, most of America has been in that place or is currently in that place desperately trying to figure out how to get out.

"Jesus Career Counselor" is the latest offering by national best seller Laurie Beth Jones. The main theme is simple, how to find and keep your perfect work from the biblical stand point of understanding how God wired you. She focuses the book by using four different personality types: Fire, Water, Earth and Wind then assigning various personality attributes throughout each personality.

I've heard of her other writings including "Jesus, CEO" however, this is the first time I've read her work and I've been very impressed. It used far more actual scripture to reinforce the attributes that are assigned to each personality type and did so in a manner that keeps you reading and wanting to turn the page so that you learn more about yourself and others around you. By breaking the subject matter up into the four personality types it made it much easier to read and she did an outstanding job of seeding each chapter with questions to focus the matter on you verses just being a book that you read and never apply. The question that I get most often about books I read is "did you really learn anything from it?" In this case the answer is absolutely yes! I finally realized what I am truly passionate about and better understand how I'm wired.

If you want to learn more about yourself and explore how you are naturally wired it's a great book. If you are like me and really want to know what your "calling" is this is an outstanding resource to help you discover that calling.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the Amazon.com <http://amazoncom> vine program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255 <[...]> : "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."