2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
How to Really Fit in at Work When You are Different, October 7, 2010
This review is from: Outsiders on the Inside: How to Create a Winning Career...Even When You Don't Fit In! (Paperback)
How many of us have had the challenge of fitting in at work? I have read a number of career related books about left brain/right brain approaches to things, or books tell us to stay the way we are; "just do what you like and the money will come," or, "find your strengths and work with them," to me lacking any sense of how to make money and to get ahead once the person is convinced to accept his or her uniqueness. Great to do that, but then what? That has always been my question. "Outsiders on the Inside" gives us realistic, genuine solutions that work for those who are different among us.
All of the career management books seem to get people into "boxes" that may actually limit their career growth and chance to make it. "Take me as I am," is a disasterous approach to career management and may even lead to heartache and one dead end after another especially for those who do not fit in. I have seen people embrace their skills that were the softer kind, becoming frustrated at not being able to use them in the current business environment.
Speaking from experience as a trainer with a different approach, David Couper comes up with a step by step approach for the odd man (or woman) out. Using his own stories and those of others, he weaves a tapestry using a more problem, cause, solution methodology. Talking about being different, David starts out his story for us showing how he did not fit in while working in Japan, where, he was much taller, did not speak the language and of course, was not Asian. He tells us about companies that were far more traditional in dress and formality, where David had a different dress code and way to communicate with his coworkers. Eventually, he shows us ways where those differences became more than useful to him and aided him in using his differences for the company. David goes on to peel back more and more of the problems one may face when an outsider and the solutions for each.
Differences can be a lot of things. Many of the differences create barriers of communication and acceptance. Differences can be racial, language barriers, personality and dress. David shows how to work to overcome those and other differences. He gives us poinant stories on how others have used those differences to excel instead of failing. He shows us how to discover more of ourselves, to accept how we are different and how to market ourselves and to build a team or network to get us to where we need to be. Are we wanting to be self employed? David shares nuggets of information that will help you get there. Do we want to work on the inside as an outsider? David gives us a variety of ways that others have done just that.
The book also solves some of the problems outsiders have with the interview process. Instead of the dull questions and answers you may see in an interview book, he builds a scenario for outsiders to help them to focus and to get prepared to answer open ended questions. David
Outsiders on the Inside also gives the reader the choice to how to answer much needed career questions to help you get going on your working with the insiders in business and the business world. One story that will give you some insight is that of Andy Worhol. David shows how Worhol took advantage of his talents with something he had that other artists could use. This whole story is worth the price of the book if you apply this in your work with the other solutions in the book.
I can see this book in the libraries of all those who have a different approach to work. For artistic people, those who are 'right brained' in a left brained' company or job, for those who are a little more expressive in their workplace, for older workers, for those with anything that separates them from the pack.
Having worked in Human Resources myself, this would be a great addition for trainers to have in their arsenal. Career counselors could help those who are not among the scientists, accountants, managers out there who need to work. College career centers should have this in their libraries and those who coach others for a living should have this as a reference to share.
"Outsiders on the Inside" answers a lot of the issues faced by anyone who does not fit in. Using your differences to assist in your companies or your customers success is how to make in the world of work and beyond. I hope that David decides to write a complimentary set of books for those in high school or university of other places where people are just starting their journey.
Enjoy "Outsiders on the Inside."
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
How outsiders can get ahead in an insider's world, January 26, 2011
This review is from: Outsiders on the Inside: How to Create a Winning Career...Even When You Don't Fit In! (Paperback)
Do you look different than your colleagues? Think differently? Act differently? You're probably an outsider. Possibly you suffer for it. Maybe your co-workers disrespect you. It's tough to have a good day at work. Perhaps you can't change whatever makes you different - your skin color, your accent, your body type. And why should you? getAbstract recommends professional outsider David Couper's book, which explains to all self-professed outsiders how to accept their own uniqueness. Couper says glory in who you are, and turn your otherness into an advantage. He teaches outsiders how to be satisfied at work, present themselves in new ways, get the jobs they want and move inside.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Advice for the Less Than Conventional, September 9, 2010
This review is from: Outsiders on the Inside: How to Create a Winning Career...Even When You Don't Fit In! (Paperback)
I get a lot of requests to review books especially books on employment topics due to my Career Jockey blog. I'm a reading addict with books all over the place, an Audacity account for my IPOD and of course my Kindle. I can't get to all of them, but I'm really glad David Couper's assistant Loetta stayed after me to read this. It offers advice I haven't found in other books in the job hunting / career changer advice space.
The books title gives you a good idea of what to expect, but book'cover is even better.. There they feature a row of dark suits standing in a row. Then they insert a guy in between them standing on his head wearing a bright orange sweater and jeans. Good word picture.
The book is obviously NOT about conforming. It's about taking your uniqueness and making something of it. The book sets the stage by calling out example after example of people who didn't fit in and succeeded anyway. For example,
-Ben and Jerry, the ice cream guys, were Jewish college drop outs and failures. They made a point of being green when it wasn't all that popular.
-President Roosevelt was in a wheelchair most of this life which he kept out of the public eye. No ones been elected as many times as he was.
-Ellen DeGenerous came out of the closet when she had a very successful TV career. It tanked as a result, but the very fact that she came clean with her audience about her personal life later led to the success she has today as an even bigger star.
Couper gets very practical evaluating your uniqueness so you can consider your options. This includes topics such as self-discovery, marketing, overcoming obstacles you are likely to find and how to sustain this success long term.
I'm going to write a few other articles on this over the next several weeks discussing a few of the topics a bit more in depth so we can get into the nitty gritty.
For now, I recommend this as a resource for someone needing to:
-snap out of the "I don't fit in syndrome,"
-explore options in their career they may not have considered and
-consider options outside the box.
Hope this helps.
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