Customer Reviews

The Ultimate Anti-Career Guide: The Inner Path to Finding Your Work in the World

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I bought "Creating the Work You Love" about a year ago. It clicked with me. He's writing for people who come to life from a spiritual perspective, and have grown fairly skillful at that side of life, but are awkwardly deficient in the nitty gritty of reality. Jarow understands that the nitty gritty is also spiritual, and so he approaches the good old question of jobs and career from a wise and spiritual place, plucking examples inspirations from both Eastern and Western ancient traditions (although he organizes the process through the system of the chakras), but also from history and popular culture and his own life and counseling practice.

But I had a hard time focusing on the book. It's full of meditation exercises, which can be hard to take from text into meditation. Also, I never felt like I was sufficiently "done" with a chapter--after all, when have you ever done enough connecting to "abundance"? So I would recommend the audio tapes over the book.You can listen to it again and again, focused and meditating deeply, or absentmindedly, or in a more rationally conscious state. It speaks to all three states.

Personally, I know where I want to be in, say, five years. But I'm still struggling and dragging my feet about the short term necessities. And Jarow's approach helps connect the unglamorous aspects of the job search with the nourishing and challenging spiritual work that I'm more comfortable with.

Rick goes well beyond the typical carreer change guides and focuses on what you want at a fundamental level. He uses the Indian 7 chakras model as a guide to understanding your purpose and freeing your energy. Don't just take another job. Find the one that you were born for. He tells you how to understand it, how to pursue it, and how to align all you do.

Rick Jarow provides a much-needed alternative to the conventional "write a winning resume" and "knock 'em dead in your job interview" approach to finding a livelihood. Most career seekers are told to HUNT for a job -- i.e., use the hunter-gatherer model to find a position that just happens to be open at the specific time you are looking for a job. Once you've bagged yourself a job, then you are expected to mold yourself to fit the parameters your new employer wants you to fit into. Jarow advocates an more organic approach where finding a job is an outgrowth of creating a life that is right for you. As you associate with people/organizations whose values resonate with you, you will eventually connect with people who can steer you towards work that fits YOU. It is the difference between showing off a series of stuffed, mounted trophies on a wall as opposed to a lush, colorful garden you've cultivated yourself to represent your life's work.

A lot of tapes to listen to and I didn't find myself bored. A lot of ideas about the energies around work and new ways to think about those energies. Not a advocate of empty productivity, he is a supportive voice for not working, if that's the direction you lean in, or taking less pay if it means a higher quality of life. Lots of different angles on abundance. A lot of personal stories and anecdotes keep the meditations down to earth. He is very likable on tape.

I've felt stuck for quite a while now and anti-career tapes have opened me up. The guided imagery exercises are great--I made many discoveries along the way (I really enjoyed listening to his soothing voice, too!) Initially, I thought the chakra component was too New-Age-y for me, but to my surprise, I'm moving forward with less fear, and I really believe that "aligning" the chakras, as Rick suggests has helped a lot.

I have much respect for any author who can draw from many religious and spiritual traditions, as Rick Jarow does. The material he presents is intelligent, compelling, and practical.

I read in one of the Harvard Business Review Journal series how people learn best by reading or listening. Most are a combination of both but we all tend to one side or the other. If your a listener and your ready for a life change then you owe it to yourself to listen to these disks. They are mesmerizing and refreshing. So much of career books and tapes today are all about setting goals, listing accomplishments, competeing, negotiating, conquering. I think a reflection of our culture in America. The success oriented approach may get you a great paying job but will it make you happy? When I first started listening to Rick I tried to understand what his main point was. And this is what I came up with - success does not equal happiness. Not writing down goals, wandering, following a whim, getting lost in a project that has no apparent meaning or rational may be the beginning of something magnificent. That is not a quote just some added thoughts about the audio book. Thanks Rick.

Rick brings out excellent points about how our circumstances, household, upbringing etc affect our lives and our thought process. He brings out very well how our complex thoughts, our anxieties, apprehension, fear, perplexity, dissatisfaction in professional lives may affect our personal lives as well. With excellent example from his own life he explains how all these feelings may eventually agitate a person so much that they decide to take up career changes He has done an excellent job in non-conventional career counseling. Overall the set of cassettes are extremely mesmerizing.

Rick Jarrow has a wonderful way of relaying his message in such a calming and soothing voice....yet the message is powerful and inspiring. He has the ability to convey the message in a way that anyone can relate. His analogies to real life situations and experiences makes it easy to understand the concepts he is trying to convey. I have read and listened to many self-improvement books, speakers, and career development guides, but only this one connects what I truly am as a person including my history to what my destiny is in my life's work.

This program has shaken me out of the doldrums of feeling stuck in my present work situation and has opened my mind to some exciting new ideas. While I enjoy the work I do, I have found myself feeling restricted by the corporate environmental mindset. With this program I am able to look at my work with new eyes...inspired by a new vision. While it's my intention to leave my present job to free lance...I have been able to tune into a more abundant mindset where I am. I am able to see results in my world already. I believe I was really ready for this program...the timing was perfect. To be able to create abundance at a time when everyone is fearful for the economy and it's gyrations is impressive indeed. Thanks Mr. Jarrow for your passionate pursuit of the UnCareer! I believe that this is the present trend for many...to pursue a path of meaningful rewarding work and workplace.Pass this along to anyone you know who is experiencing burn out, mid life crisis, etc.

This is my first Amazon review. Rick Jarow's Anti-Career CD series literally changed the course of my professional and spiritual life. It provided insight that led to one epiphany after another for me. After two years, I still find myself listening to his words to help me gain perspective and each time I hear something new. I can't recommend it highly enough.