Career Karate is a guide to survival in the turbulent, changing economic world we live in today. In 15 chapters packed with advice and the stories of Dr. Sackett's clients, some successful in adapting and some not, he outlines specific, concrete steps you can take to increase your chances of coming out on top.
The essence of karate is to bend to the opponent's attack, using his strength against him. Hence the title of Dr. Sackett's book. If you stand up defiant against today's economic trends, they'll break you. But if you understand where they're headed and go with the flow, you stand the best chance of winning.
But the tides of change are running so strong today that even a black belt may sometimes lose. What then? The answer is in Chapter 16.
Anyone who hopes to understand today's topsy-turvy world of employment and turn its dangers into opportunities should read Dr. Sackett's book.
From the Author
Security and stability are hard to find these days. It's as though all American employees are walking on shifting sands.
The shape of companies to come is a three-part organization. The first part is a small permanent core. The second part is a collection of vendors, each also a three-part organization, to which the company outsources many functions that it once performed in house. And the third part is an assortment of temporary employees and consultants that the company calls on when it needs them.
The closest thing to security and stability that an employee can find in an organization like that is to become part of the core. But even then a merger or acquisition could threaten a downsizing.
There's an old Chinese curse: "May you live in interesting times!" You couldn't be blamed in these days if you felt you'd been cursed by an old Chinese.
It's said that the Chinese character for "danger" also means "opportunity." To see opportunity in the times we're going through requires a new attitude.
First, you have to view yourself as an entrepreneur. The company you work for is your customer. It doesn't owe you permanent employment. Nor do you owe it loyalty.
What you do owe it is a good day's work today. What it owes you is a good day's pay at the end of the day. Tomorrow? We'll see.
Second, you have to understand that the only security you have is in your own skills. As a result, you must keep those skills current.
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