Customer Reviews

Radical Careering: 100 Truths to Jumpstart Your Job, Your Career, and Your Life

5 star:		(41)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(7)

 

 

As a career consultant myself, I'd agree with just about every one of Hogshead's radical truths. I'll recommend this stocking-stuffer to my clients, with the warning, "What seems simple really isn't."

Hogshead presents ideas as aphorisms, one to a chapter, reflecting the contemporary mind that concentrates five minutes at a time. Each chapter and each aphorism could be a whole session of discussion with a career consultant, coach or counselor.

Best advice: Live in verbs. Worth ethic trumps talent. Avoid manufacturing buggy whips. Remain an underdog. Lose early. And (best) invent option C.

My only quibbles: I wish she'd omitted the research. Asking careerists what they believe isn't especially helpful.

And I must admit I get twitchy when career coaches say, "You always have options." Or as Hogshead suggests, "Being in a crap job isn't your fault. Staying in a crap job is."

Often you have to pay dues by staying in a "crap job" longer than you feel comfortable. And sometimes your options lie between a rock and a hard place. A fifty-something who's been laid off or who's made a wrong career turn will not have as many options as the twenty-something or even thirty-something. Yes, change is possible and happiness can come, but I wouldn't underestimate the price you pay.

Still, I plan to recommend this book to my Great Career Moves list as well as to many of my clients. Definitely worth buying, reading and sharing with your favorite career-frustrated friend.

Just when I thought I was alone, I found Radical Careering. It is helpful, interesting, and inspirational. I see it as being something I always will keep in my top desk drawer or brief case. The book provides not just great practical advice, but more than that, I think it creates an attitude to be emulated in the workplace. The Radical Truths are specific enough to provide good advice, yet broad enough to be applied across any myriad of situations or occupations. This book and the implications of its research are essential to anyone in the workplace today. This is the first step in something revolutionary. Radical Careering is more than just a book; it's a way of life and an inspired point of view.

So, OK, I bought a dozen copies to hand out to friends and clients- who are stuck in their life journey.
This book may not have the answers (those are inside you) but it sure gives you the questions to ask.
Personally- the one "Truth" that made this book worthwhile to me- and gave me the kick in the pants to do something different- was "Aspire to be the dumbest person in the room"- in other words- if you are always the brightest- you aren't aspiring to your potential. I can't say this book made me smarter- but it did help in getting me out of a rut- and sometimes that's all you need.
Beautifully designed- it makes a great gift book.

It's clear to me that many of the reviews I have read about "Radical Careering..." must have been written by the author's family and friends as this book lacked any sort of substance. The author is from the advertising industry, and the book is more aptly described as '100 advertisments about your relationship with your job'. It's more appropriate as a 'reflection a day' type of thing versus an indepth look at how you can switch careers or have a more fufilling career. There is no solid advice in here on how to change careers, how to switch from one path to another, or practical hints and tips on what works and what doesn't. Instead, every page is a glossy 'advertisement' for some sort of thought about your career. For example 'Being in a bad job isn't you fault. Staying in a bad job is your fault'...OK...got it....now is there any help for me to move? Nope. After these blindingly obvious 'truths', the reader is left to themselves about what to do next. Probably the worst career book I've ever read, it's not woth the $3.99 used price even. Believe me, you should skip this one.
Mary

I have read quite a few motiviational books in the business genre, and I will say that this one isn't one that has a monotomous drone like many others. It has lively art to accompany each "truth", but, I know...that isn't enough to be a good book.
I will say that this is a good everyday book. It's a good book to have around, whether in your office, or at home,to pick up and read a "truth" a day for that bit of inspiration to achieve your goals in the workforce. It's written in an enthusiastic tone, and I found that attitude to be infectious.
I couldn't read it straight through in one sitting, myself. But, I feel that it isn't quite meant for that. It is much more suitable for a tag along book, whether in your briefcase or handbag. But, I find you'll get the most use out of it that way, as well, so, that's a good thing.

With my job being as busy as it is, I barely have time to find a better one. I've tried books like this before and I've always found myself snoozing by the time I've hit the third chapter. This book was incredibly easy to read and cut straight to the points, which I loved. I pick it up and just flip to a page to get a good dose of inspiration for the day. It's pretty gutsy in how it's done and I liked that. Definitely helped me make some moves in my life and take me to a different place with how I feel about where I am already and where I can go.

I read career books all the time and this is the first one that I actually finished. It's totally different from other career books out there, which is a great thing for anyone who wants fresh thinking, new ideas and some inspiration that you can really embrace in your every day job.

I like that this book is about maximizing your own potential and I find myself picking up the book and just randomly flipping through it to see what sparks. And there is always something that does. Great read - a definite must.

For years, job dissatisfaction has escalated. Loyalty to the company &/or boss has evaporated. Pension plans are shakey. Sally Hogshead has given us the insights and plans to level the playing field!

I am an entrepenour and am always looking for a book or dvd that can help me motivate, focus, and ultimately push well past where I currently am.
My life is not just my work. I have a wife of 10 years and a little girl. It is not always easy to balance the equations and give everybody and everything their deserving attention.
Along came Radical careering. Amazon recommended it to me the same day that a good friend brought it up. So, what the hell one more book for the shelves.
This is like no other book I have ever read. It is creative beyond anything I have encountered. I read 5 pages here and 5 pages there and feel like I always stumble upon some nugget that motivates me and pushes me right back on track.
I have purchased 7 copies and given them to my employees. I can only hope for them the same experience I got from reading this amazing book.

This book is on my must read list. It came to me at a time I felt stuck in my job, my career and my creativity. People and situations were sucking my soul. Radical Careering inspired me and reminded me of what I already knew and had forgotten about myself and the potential of life. I had my company buy copies for everyone to see if it could help the general malaise that had hold over everyone. It really opened up conversations and made people more aware and empowered. Did it fix everything? No. But it did help make a shift in thinking at the company. And me? I moved on and am pursuing my dream. And I refer back to the book whenever I need a kick in the pants.