Customer Reviews

Should I Do What I Love?: Or Do What I Do - So I Can Do What I Love on the Side?

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

 

 

This book really helped me put the struggles I was facing at work in perspective. McColl is very funny amd entertaining as a writer (I think she is the best writer at Jane!). She interviews a very diverse group of people, and gives insight into many professions and "life routes." Life since graduating college has been harder than I expected. If you had an older, wiser, funny friend who worked in twenty or more jobs over the years but was still down to earth and young enough to give you advice you could use, you wouldn't need a book like this. But for anyone questioning their career path who hasn't found that "perfect" mentor (if one even exists)---read the book, and laugh along knowing you are not the only one out there going through this.

This book begins on a note that I was able to IMMEDIATELY relate to. The nagging feeling that I am doomed to spend the next several endless years slogging along in a job that seems to lead me down a road I am unenthusiastic about... Katy McColl very accurately names the confusion & panic twenty-somethings encounter and attempts to alleviate some of these feelings with humor, wit and the affirmation that this is a shared experience by many young people everywhere.

From this introductory part of the book, McColl goes into a second part with subsections addressing ten career "aspirations" and how her contributors from each of these job types got to where they are. For me, these subsections proved mostly irrelevant. I do not aspire to be a "rock star," "director," "gamer," or "DJ," to name a few of the highlighted career paths. I was hoping for something a little more down to earth.

Despite the fact that an average of 80% (about 160 of 200ish pages) was of little use to me, the other 20% of the book thouroughly validated my experience. For me, this 20% made the book worth buying.

I'm not the only one!!! :-) I happened upon this book on the New in Paperback table in my local chain bookstore, and thank goodness I did!! I'm a 23 yr old, College educated young woman, smack in the middle of what author Katy McColl refers to as the 1/4 life crisis. Just when I was getting lathargic with indecision, I'm now, at only page 33, incredibly relieved that I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE, and things will get better soon! :-) If you're frustrated with where you are, and not sure where to go, how to get there, etc. you need this book. With just enough witty humor to calm you after the panic attack induced by potential life-altering career choices; and a healthy dose of realistic, creative solutions and brainstorming techniques, Katy's a great pep-talker. I now believe it's completely in my power to have a fulfilling, enjoyable, creative job, and NOT be answering someone else's phone for the next 47 years. And I might even have a CLUE what I want to DO for the next 2 or 3! :-) Thanks!

A book that relates to every starving artist's life decision, do what I love and starve, or do what I do (so you can survive) and make your dream a hobby? An okay read, nothing you would not know already, I suggest you read it at a library and save your money.

Everyone has been hit by the recession in one form or another. Some of us more than others, but if you're just breaking into a new industry and aren't too sure that you should be committing this much time for a position...then pump the breaks and open this book. This is best for those that are just graduating college/ & young professionals that are already a few short years into the work force still trying to get yourself to a level you believe you belong on. This if for the ones that always catch themselves asking "should I be here doing this? Am I wasting my time? Should I go for the dream job and just live pay-check to pay-check in the mean time? Hopefully some of the professions that they highlight in this book is a job you'd hoped you would become...if not, it's a great fork in the road decision maker too.