Shake the World: It's Not About Finding a Job, It's About Creating a Life [Hardcover]

James Marshall Reilly (Author)

Book Description

Release date: December 29, 2011

James Marshall Reilly set out to capture the insights of today's brightest business and nonprofit leaders. He conducted in-depth interviews with Tony Hsieh (Zappos), Blake Mycoskie (TOMS), Shawn Fanning (Napster, Rupture, Path), and Jessica Jackley (Kiva, ProFounder), among many others. And he learned that despite their different fields, they're all using similar tools to seize opportunities and redefine success. Embracing a shift in generational values, these young people share a passion for driving powerful global change while creating sustainable organizations that often blur the old boundaries between business and philanthropy.

To really "make it" these days, according to Reilly, you need to break the old corporate mold, ignore the "rules," and create your own opportunities. The true game changers are the men and women starting their own businesses, inventing jobs that didn't previously exist, and committing themselves fully to attaining astonishing success, however individually defined.

Shake the World reveals the meteoric rise (and the occasional stumbles) of a new generation of business leaders. Reilly brings their stories to life and, along the way, offers clear lessons that you can apply to your own pursuits. For example, you'll learn firsthand how:

• Doug Ulman followed his passions to become CEO of LIVESTRONG.
• Blake Mycoskie of TOMS responded to ordinary events in an extraordinary way and created a sustainable organization that changed the face of giving and the lives of millions.
• Bobby Chang used counterintuitive thinking to build the global brand Incase and applies the same techniques to problem solving in everyday life.
• Jessica Jackley of Kiva and ProFounder harnessed technology in unprecedented ways to build a powerful network and enact palpable, transformational change.
• Elizabeth Gore took a small risk during college that altered the trajectory of her life and ultimately led her to become the executive director of global partnerships at the UN Foundation.

  The role models in Shake the World define themselves not by money and title but by fulfillment and happiness. This book will light your path to greatness if you too want to shake the world. This is not just a book about finding a job. It's a book about creating an inspired life.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"At Zappos, one of our core values is to 'Embrace and Drive Change.' This book is for anyone interested in inspiring their own life to change for the better, both personally and professionally!" — Tony Hsieh, NY Times bestselling author of Delivering Happiness

"A new generation wants work to be about far more than making money - they want their jobs to make a positive difference to the world. James Marshall Reilly has written a compelling and optimistic first-hand account of what it means to put this excellent goal into practice." — Matthew Bishop, New York Bureau Chief of The Economist and coauthor

"Reilly is part of a cohort of young entrepreneurial leaders who will change this country over the next few years. Their fascinating stories and his insights will inspire and guide you as you invent your career and life while making a BIG difference." — Peter Sims, author of Little Bets and cofounder and director of FUSEcor

"Charity: water was founded out of a desire to inspire a new generation of givers to solve the water crisis. In this book, Reilly introduces you to many of our friends who had the fearlessness to break the mold, and think incredibly big. Prepare to be inspired, and then to act!" — Scott Harrison, founder and CEO of Charity: Water

"In this ever complex, dynamic and demanding world everyone needs to design their lives and James Marshall Reilly shows how. If you want a principled, consequential and successful life, read this book." — Don Tapscott author of Macrowikinomics: Rebooting Business and the World

"This book shifts the mindset for anyone who reads it. Define your own success and then do what the best have already done to achieve it. Reilly has uncovered the secrets of the most hyper successful people of this generation. If you internalize their lessons you will accelerate the rate at which you achieve the success goals you have for yourself." — Cameron Herold author, Double Double and Former COO 1800GOT JUNK?

"A powerful blend of inspiration and action, Shake the World offers a life and career plan hand-crafted for the new millennium. Read this book, then head out to set the world on fire." — Jonathan Fields, Author of Uncertainty

"Forget triple bottom line companies, James Marshall Reilly documents triple-bottom line individuals-a cadre of brilliant business adventurers devoted to building a better world and-just as importantly- finding a better way to live in that world. With great storytelling and penetrating insight, Shake the World adds an entrepreneurial twist to the quest for the meaning of life." — Steven Kotler, author of Abundance, A Small, Furry Prayer and West o

"Take risks. Think bigger than you dare. Above all, embrace your deepest passions. James Marshall Reilly's profound message isn't just for young people - it will lead you and me and everyone to richer lives." — Geoff Colvin, author of Talent Is Overrated

About the Author

James Marshall Reilly is an entrepreneur, a journalist, and the founder of The Guild Agency Speakers Bureau & Intellectual Talent Management. His expertise lies in the branding and marketing of cutting- edge thinkers and connecting them with audiences worldwide. He is twenty- nine years old and lives in New York City. Visit shaketheworldbook.com

Product Details

• Hardcover: 288 pages
• Publisher: Portfolio Hardcover; 1st edition (December 29, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 159184455X
• ISBN-13: 978-1591844556
• Product Dimensions: 6.3 x 0.9 x 9.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #785,387 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

James Marshall Reilly is an entrepreneur and journalist who set out on a mission to find out exactly how the most successful of this generation--top business leaders, ideators, humanitarians and social entrepreneurs--have defined and achieved success. And what he discovered is that we have landed in a new place not only in terms of generational expectations and new technology, but in terms of education, perceived limitations, and the job market as well. Now he's teaching other people--whether they are running a company or looking for their dream job--how they can achieve a higher level of success in this new marketplace.

His book, Shake the World: It's Not About Finding a Job, It's About Creating a Life (Penguin/Portfolio, December, 2011), features in-depth interviews with Tony Hsieh (Zappos), Doug Ulman (CEO and President of LIVESTRONG), Bobby Chang (Founder of Incase, the largest supplier/designer of Apple cases in the world), Elizabeth Gore (Executive Director of Global Partnerships at the United Nations Foundation), and Blake Mycoskie (Founder of TOMS), along with many of the other top entrepreneurs, business leaders, philanthropists, social entrepreneurs, and humanitarians on the planet. What he learned was that despite their different fields of interest, they're all using similar tools to seize opportunities and redefine success. But perhaps more importantly, he concluded that the rest of us can model the behaviors of these highly successful individuals as a means to achieve and sustain success of our own, however we may individually define the term.

How is it that some people are able to convert small, seemingly ordinary life experiences into power, money, happiness and global change of unprecedented magnitude? What does microlending in Tanzania have to do with the Industrial Revolution? What can Napster and Netflix teach us about getting a job? How does acting as a disruptive force within industry relate to riding a bike or our own career trajectories? How can taking a series of small, mitigated risks result in a world-changing initiative that saves the lives of millions? How can approaching problems and challenges from unique angles lead to the development of a multimillion-dollar company? And, most importantly, how do these stories relate to us? What can we do to create the lives, careers, and opportunities that will leave us feeling well balanced and happy?

Taking the practical advice given by each of his interview subjects, and falling back on a decade of experience in branding and marketing while working with some of the most celebrated individuals in the world, Reilly hopes to outline a new, actionable blueprint from which we can all craft extraordinary success on our own terms.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Read this book. December 29, 2011

By Deirdre Honner

Format:Hardcover

SHAKE THE WORLD: It's Not About Finding a Job, It's About Creating a Life*
James Marshall Reilly

Read this book.

I received the book well before Christmas, thinking that I would have time over the holiday. While mildly annoyed that it wasn't on my Kindle or iPad, I dragged the book with me and started reading it on my trip. I never put it down. I couldn't stop reading. I didn't want to stop reading. I didn't want it to end.

Many of the comments, quotes, and praise for the book focused on a younger audience. I could not disagree more. This book is for anyone.

The book focuses on insights, experiences, successes, and fortunately, a few failures of some of the best and brightest leaders in the US today. This synopsis sounds boring. I promise you, the book is not. The stories are fabulous, told with interest, compassion, and energy that brings an excitement to the thoughts of what is possible.

As an HR professional, what I love most of the book, and the supporting stories, is how the author weaves together seemingly unrelated events in peoples' lives and ties the stories together. Good writers do this and Reilly is a really good writer. The stories are intermingled with explanations, personal narratives, and terrific insights.

The voice in my head sounded often like this: Oh how cool is that. Wow, that is so neat. Fabulous. Amazing. Terrific. And so on.

The best story, in my opinion, is the last story. I won't give it away but it could be any of us. Reilly does an incredible knitting together a rather haphazard chain of personal decisions that put the woman where she is now. Many of us have the ability to appreciate hindsight - knowing how what we did previously is connected to where we are now.... But for those just starting out, or switching gears, this is a fabulous story.

In Reilly's acknowledgement's he writes this, "To anyone whose story did not make the final edit, I apologize and can assure you that it was only an issue of space and editing." Come on, are you kidding? You have more stories? I want to hear the rest of them! Really. It's that good.

Lastly, what I appreciate most in the book is the way Reilly tells the stories - the stories of people listening to that little voice inside - the prompting, nudging, sometimes cajoling, always-present poking - with no arrogance or bravado. Rather he shares his desire and delight in telling a great story, sharing wit and wisdom and wonder. Urging us to go do something. And that something might just shake the world.

Read this book.

*I received this book as a preview copy, courtesy of the publishing company. Read more ›

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Not for 21 year olds! December 29, 2011

By Josepf J. Haslam

Format:Hardcover

James Marshall Reilly may have intended to talk to 21 year olds but his book should be purchased by everyone 45+. We all are reassessing the meaning of work and the purpose of our education these days. The old model of preparing for college, spending tens or even hundreds of thousands of dollars attending school, and then settling into a career to make it work are dead. Although Reilly is addressing the concerns of young adults about to enter a broken system his message is also a beacon to the millions of displaced 40, 50, and 60 year olds who are clinging to the fringe of the broken decaying system.

At it's essence the book is about the fundamental need to continually to learn and reinvent oneself to add value and be economically relevant. Reilly acts as a cheerleader or perhaps workout buddy, encouraging us to push a little harder to get where we want to be. I'd encourage James to write book #2 based on interviews with successful 45+ somethings who've made the switch to the new economy. Until he does I'll ask my generation to take a big deep cleansing breath and then sit down and read this book.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Education, Experience & Everything In Between December 29, 2011

By MeganH

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

I was more than lucky to get my hands on an advance copy of Shake The World. Since, I have made it my priority to be a mobile advocate for this great work of art. Why? As a renaissance thinker myself, it was one of the most refreshing books I have had the privilege of reading in a long time. I picked it up and literally couldn't put it down until I had read it cover to cover. Mr. Reilly has the unique ability to connect the dots between game-changers across several different backgrounds, interests, and professions.

The book is built on a vibe. It's tied to experience, education, and everything in between. It communicates an intangible commodity capable of mirroring a profound message through creative works. I have been thrown into a media medium mayhem; everything from what to wear, where to go, and what to think. We essentially "learn" so much about the world from others that we forget to experience it for ourselves.

An example of the centralized message: If you incorporate your passions with an inclination to be a disruptive force, it is very possible to open your own windows of opportunity. There is nothing I respect more than the value of experience and the power of knowledge. Shake The World reaffirms my belief that learning to cope with failure, appreciating life, and being persistent and determined are imperative for one's success. Time is relative, flexible, and unpredictable. It's ok to enjoy the stepping-stones toward progress, even if we don't know where they lead. They are the blessings in disguise that allow us all to continue on our journey of self-discovery.

If you do anything else this year, buy this book.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Simply Great: SHAKE THE WORLD is a must read December 31, 2011

By Alex Banayan

Format:Hardcover

James Marshall Reilly hits a home-run with this one. SHAKE THE WORLD is really one of the first books to explore the idea of your work being a means of designing a life, not just earning a buck.

From a college student perspective, this book is just what I needed to really understand what it takes to make a difference in the world. SHAKE THE WORLD shows case-study after case-study of some of the most successful people who have built their dream lives from scratch. Their jobs aren't just 9-5s, they are fulfilling activities that really make an impact on the world. Featuring interviews with superstars such as Blake Mycoskie (TOMS) and Tony Hsieh (Zappos), Reilly gives you a behind-the-scenes look at how they got to where they are.

If you've ever considered starting a business or a not-for-profit, and you want to learn how people are building lifestyles around their passions, SHAKE THE WORLD is for you!