Look Out Above: The Young Professional's Guide to Success

by Bob Slater, Nick Slater

Look Out Above! is an essential guide for the young business professional. Here you will explore the path to workplace success with guidance on how to:

· Contribute to and connect with your team
· Communicate concisely
· Present to coworkers and clients
· Pitch ideas, lead, and advocate
· Navigate the modern, hybrid workplace

Look Out Above! reveals a comprehensive approach to each of these skills, one not taught in undergraduate school, graduate business school, or even in company training. Written with great clarity and humor by a young professional and a seasoned executive, this book will have you blazing a new trail of personal discovery and transformation that will serve you throughout the ever-changing career landscape, wherever you go and whatever you do!

Genres: Business, Self Help, Nonfiction

278 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 25, 2023

Reviews

[Stephanie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Goodreads Giveaway Win: I was willing to cut these guys some slack and hoping for a really good book to recommend to new and emerging talent. But….a lot of it was just bad advice. A few glaring things…..the constant typos, even in the section about proofing until your document is error free. One author advocated for editing via a printed document and the other for editing on screen. They presumably did both and still couldn’t produce.

I felt the younger Slater didn’t have much to contribute that was useful, a few anecdotes from major league sports coaches was really all he came up with. The older Slater was woefully out of touch. I haven’t heard the term “Headhunter” widely used in over 20 years and though there are some of those still around, they are typically courting senior leadership, not the target audience for this book. If you ARE the target audience, you are looking for an agency recruiter. That’s all.

Please also, ignore most of their advice on resumes. Your resume should be a one to two page document with relevant info on how what you have done in the past is aligned with the job you are applying for. Don’t “use humor” (WTF). Or take up valuable real estate with “Four-inch vertical leap and cat-like quickness,” in your skills section, even though elder Slater claims he did it and people loved it. Trust me, it’s memorable in a not-good way.

Honestly, you don’t need a book for this stuff. Start following Ask a Manager online. It’s free and she covers a wide variety of workplace and job hunting scenarios.

[Sofi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Forget dusty textbooks and generic advice. "Look Out Above!" by Bob Slater is the rocket fuel your young professional soul needs. This book is more than just a guide – it's a candid conversation with two mentors, a seasoned exec and a young go-getter, sharing their hard-won wisdom in equal measure.

Slater and Slater tag-team to crack the code on early career success. They ditch the fluff and focus on the real-world skills that matter: communication, collaboration, critical thinking, and the art of influence without authority. Each chapter explodes with actionable insights, peppered with relatable anecdotes and genuine humor.

Whether you're navigating office politics, crafting that killer presentation, or pitching your next big idea, "Look Out Above!" has your back. It's a treasure trove of practical tips, like building meaningful relationships, mastering clear writing, and becoming a team player who shines.

This book isn't just for fresh grads – it's a wake-up call for anyone wanting to level up their game. It's a sharp reminder that success isn't about titles or degrees, but about the mindset and skills you bring to the table.

So, ditch the career confusion and grab your copy. "Look Out Above!" is your launchpad to a fulfilling and thriving professional journey. Trust me, your future self will thank you.

Five out of five stars, and a standing ovation for its practical wisdom and motivational punch.

[Mary Maciejewski · Rating 5 out of 5]

Look Out Above, (Second Edition): The Young Professional's Guide To Success, by Bob Slater, is the finest nonfiction guide to workplace success. This book includes information on how to connect with a team, how to communicate bluntly, pitch ideas, and guide the workplace. The book also tells ‘how’ to approach the above skills. The main point is that these skills are not taught in college, graduate school, business school, or company training. They are the indispensable manoeuvres every professional needs.
All of Slater’s self-improvement advice in this book is worth its weight in gold. If you have the gumption to go forward, this book will empower you to succeed at being a professional in the workplace. Maintaining the courage to take that next step is worth getting excited about.

Look Out Above, (Second Edition): The Young Professional's Guide To Success, by Bob Slater, is a definite five-star read, every young person should have and keep as a workplace Bible. This book is packed with great insight and practical advice to blossom in the workplace.

[Píaras Cíonnaoíth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Invaluable insights and practical advice...

Bob & Nick Slater, a dynamic duo consisting of a seasoned executive and a young professional, bring their combined expertise to deliver a comprehensive roadmap to success. Whether it's fostering collaboration within your team, mastering concise communication, delivering impactful presentations, or championing your ideas with confidence, this book covers it all."Look Out Above!" empowers the reader to pitch ideas, take on leadership roles, and become influential advocates for their visions. With a focus on adaptability, the book addresses the challenges posed by the modern, hybrid workplace, providing practical insights on how to thrive in this evolving landscape.

An indispensable companion for young professionals embarking on their career journey, this guide is a treasure trove of wisdom, providing invaluable insights and practical advice on how to thrive in the workplace. Highly recommended.

[Aparna Preethi · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Look Out Above (Second Edition): The young professional's Guide to Success" by Bob Slater is an exceptional book that offers valuable insights and practical advice for young professionals embarking on their career journeys. With a distinct focus on success, this book provides a fresh perspective that sets it apart from other self-help guides in the genre. One of the most commendable aspects of Slater's writing is his ability to connect with readers. He adopts a conversational tone throughout the book, making it relatable and easy to understand. Whether you're a recent graduate or someone who's already established in your career, Slater's words resonate with readers at different stages of professional development. The book is organized systematically, covering various aspects that are crucial for success. The chapters flow seamlessly, allowing readers to absorb information effortlessly and apply it to their own lives.

[Ashley Mitchell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Look Out Above (Second Edition): The young professional's guide to success by father and son duo Bob and Nick Slater is a how-to book for those looking to start a successful entrepreneurial lifestyle. Nick is a young professional that, “practiced law for about 20 minutes”, before entering the business world. Bob is a trial lawyer and experienced businessman, who believes in the value of mentorship.
I picked up this book because I think mentorship is one of the most lacking resources for modern professionals. I appreciated the humor of the Slaters, but that the intended teaching points are clearly laid out and executed. The skills taught are “soft skills: communicating orally and in writing, working with others, making decisions, solving problems, thinking critically”, which the two claim to account for 85% of success in business. It’s a recommended how-to for young people entering the business world.

[Yolanda Gomez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Look Out Above: The Young Professional's Guide to Success by Bob Slater and Nick Slater is a comprehensive and relatable resource that offers valuable insights, practical advice, and actionable strategies for young professionals. Drawing from their expertise, the authors cover a wide range of topics essential to success, providing clear and concise guidance. The book's well-structured organization, interactive elements, and relatable anecdotes make it engaging and easily navigable. The accessible writing style ensures that readers at all career stages can understand and apply the complex ideas and strategies. Emphasizing continuous learning and personal development, the book encourages a growth mindset and motivates readers to embrace change and seek new opportunities. Overall, this must-read guide empowers young professionals to excel and reach new heights in their careers.

[Susan B · Rating 4 out of 5]

Look Out Above! by Bob Slater is a thought-provoking comprehensible guide that delves into the intricacies of connecting with employees, communicating concisely, pitching ideas, leading effectively, and advocating for their needs.
Written by an experienced author in the field of leadership and human resources, this book offers valuable insights and practical strategies for managers, leaders, and anyone seeking to establish strong connections with their employees. It serves all sorts of readers.

It is well-structured and it has been written with a very easy-to-follow approach. Not only that, but it is also highly informative and it provides solid information for those seeking to foster positive relationships and improve their communication with others in the work field.

[Ivan M · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bob and Nick Slater are the authors of this guide that is called Look Out Above! This insightful and playful book will help the readers evolve in their professional careers providing extensive knowledge and critical workplace skills, which are the key to this reading. The authors also provide certain exercises to put the knowledge to work creating a 2 way street situation that gives this guide a way more dynamic vibe.

I really enjoyed this book, not only because it has a lot of new information but also because it was fun reading it. There is one line of this book that stuck with me: "Don't confuse activity with productivity" and to be honest, I think this is that type of guide; a productive one that was built to actually help the reader! I highly recommend it.

[Margarita Garcia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bob Slater and Nick Slater wrote this very interesting book for all those people who just graduated or will soon graduate. ''Look Out Above: The Young Professional's Guide to Success'' is a guide that prepares new professionals for the reality of working life. We know that usually university doesn't teach us what the ambiance is like or how to solve problems correctly.
This book has the best tools that we can use on these cases and more. Likewise, the authors show us with their experience the best way to deal with these new experiences and how to take advantage of them. This book is great and contains valuable information, and it is not just for professionals, everyone who is starting a new job can take advantage of this it.

[Juan · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Look out Above!” is a crucial manual written exclusively for young business people looking to succeed in the contemporary corporate environment. This book offers a thorough road map to assist the reader in navigating the complexities of the workplace, fostering successful teamwork, and excelling in their professions. It is jam-packed with useful information and innovative methods written in an easy to understand and comprehensible way.
The authors’ perspective on the topic is novel since they are aware of the particular difficulties experienced by young professionals in the fast-paced, constantly changing corporate world of today. The book's logical organization ensures a seamless transition from one subject to the next.

[Pearl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Plenty of remarkable stuffs! As a young professional, I take it very seriously when experts give advices on how to improve ourselves - be it in the workplace or in any aspects. This book Look Out Above: The Young Professional's Guide to Success by Bob Slater gives us the idea that you can be anything you want to achieve as long as you have the will and the guts to do it. The book offers great tips and it covers interpersonal skills that are very important. I love that this book also has humor on it. Those quotes included just made me think and ponder. I see so many benefits in reading this book and it definitely reminded me to continue to pursue the better version of myself.

[Mariela Semprini · Rating 5 out of 5]

Look Out Above (Second Edition): The young professional's guide to success is a wonderful and really useful guidebook meant for young people to bridge the gap between formal and practical education. The book combines the expertise of Bob Slater and the fresh and millennial view of his son Nick. This amazing combination makes the book a must read for any youngsters who is eager to learn and success in their new working life. I truly loved the illustrations of the authors giving examples and telling their own life experiences. I found the book easy to read, full of practical and helpful tips and ideas. It is a remarkable up-to-date business guidebook. Highly recommend it!

[Aneley Sánchez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Useful tips!

Look Out Above: The young professional's guide to success is a guide to the young business professional written by Bob Slater, a seasoned executive, and Nick Slater, a young professional. It combines experiences and knowledge with enthusiasm and innovation to cope with working life and find a workplace.
The "ideal" world and the "real" world are really different and going from one to the other is not an easy task. This book tries to prepare you to function more easily in the world of work. It is written in a simple way and with humor, so reading it is really entertaining. There are a lot of helpful tips that I will definitely use at work.

[Dani Savante · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very inspiring book aimed mainly at young professionals who, after acquiring all the necessary knowledge in technical matters, perceive that they lack skills that will greatly help them in their professional work.
It has a clear structure and is clearly written which allows easy understanding and implementation. It is developed as a guide to acquire skills that professionals learn through many years of experience, research, and practice. The author's goal with Look Out Above is to make all those years available to the reader in just a few pages so that new professionals can develop much more quickly.
I have read it, put many of its tips into practice and highly recommend it!

[Liz · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Look Out Above" is an interesting book written by Bob and Nick Slater. Primarily, this book is a guide for business professionals who want to move forward and look up. As we know, relationships in the business world are not easy, but the authors help us to improve and be able to communicate correctly with colleagues and clients. That is why the authors recommend maintaining a solid network of links with your own colleagues.
I really liked the approach proposed by the authors; without a doubt, it is fresh and modern. Each of the pages is full of valuable information and undoubtedly, I recommend it to all those young professionals who want to progress and improve in the business world.

[Brenda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Personally, I think this guide is a great resource for anyone planning or working on being business professionals. It has a very comprehensive approach to crucial skills for finding success in this area. One of the things I noticed that I really enjoy was the tone it was written with, clarity and humor mixes really well together in a book with a lot of info to process. This makes it easy to absorb everything the authors are explaining.

It guides the readers to find teamwork, communication, leadership and figure out how to navigate the modern workplace. To sum up, I think Look Out Above has two unique perspectives to find personal and professional growth.

[Kristy Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Goodreads giveaway winner, it was a good read, learned some good techniques

[Carlos mutua · Rating 4 out of 5]

nice one

Look out above is that kind of book that will make your the world from a totally in a different dimension.

[Carol & Russell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good book!

[Hannah Taylor-Loyd · Rating 1 out of 5]

Full of meaningless mottos and cliches. DNF around 50%.

[Mayra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Look Out Above! was written By Bob and Nick Slater. This co-authors father/son share some strong pieces of advice in this book. Bob got his degrees from Vanderbilt University and Virginia School of Law. Nick got his from the University of Georgia and the University of North Carolina. This book is their debut publication. ‘Our challenge is to be creative, take initiative, and have the courage to take risks.’ These are their main words. Each of the author provides different highlighting points to the book. Nick offers the energy and courage of youth. While Bob offers his vast knowledge. What I liked the most about this work is the way in which it was written. I'm not a business woman and I still can get the ideas the authors want to pass on. I recommend this book to anyone who want to open up their minds.

[Märtha Custis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Drawing on their extensive years of experience, Bob and Nick Slater’s Look Out Above!: The Young Professional’s Guide to Success is a goldmine of helpful information for anyone wanting to establish or further themselves in the workplace.
Written in a direct and easy to follow manner, the book breaks down the best series of steps to follow and common pitfalls to avoid whilst participating in the world of work.
I found the examples and methods of explanation very helpful and insightful, especially after having personally worked in a variety of industries and environments.
Overall, a great read for anyone looking to make a best first impression or even just to realize and tap their hitherto unexplored potential, Look Out Above is a wonderful resource to refer back to repeatedly.

[CarlitasFox · Rating 4 out of 5]

A must-read
If you´re about to finish your career or you've just got your degree, then this is the book that you must read. “Look Out Above” is an interesting and helpful book written by Bob and Nick Slater.
It's addressed to young professionals to guide them to become successful in their fields and to enjoy what they've studied. Throughout the chapters, the writers include necessary information related to companies with plenty of examples or other people's experiences. This helped me to understand some of the companies' procedures.
In a nutshell, this is a concise and well-developed book that's easy to understand and then apply some of the ideas mentioned. Everyone can benefit from reading it, that's why I think it's a must read.

[Kourtney Bradley · Rating 5 out of 5]

ideal for young professionals

Look Out Above is the perfect reading material for a young professional who is looking to get involved in the world of business and learn from some of the most impressive techniques. The most impressive aspect of the book for me was the insightful way that readers are introduced into informative techniques for presenting and pitching ideas. For some, this might come naturally, but for me, this was something I had to take the time to learn and if I had this guide at the time, I think that process would have been significanty less stressful for me. If you're a young professional who is looking for some tips for success, this is a great place to start.

[S Tyty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Depending on the job we do in our daily lives, we have to unfold different skills. The skills necessary for someone who is a teacher are not the same, for example, as those of someone who works as a police officer. So, I guess this book is enlightening in that sense, it helps us see the skills we already have, develop some new ones and use the correct ones depending on where we are standing in this world.
Its approach is easy, practical and really informative. Contributing at work and participating actively gets easier after reading these pages. Besides, it is written in a fun way, loaded with real-life examples and quotes from books and famous or successful people.

[Mia C. · Rating 5 out of 5]

With a simple cover, Look Out Above caught my attention. This guide to success is informative, clear and very interesting. The author, Bob Slater, has a good writing style that makes things clear and he makes the reading enjoyable. I really liked the author’s perspective on this topic. It is certainly thought provoking.
This guide is helpful to say the least; I’ve learnt and also started thinking differently thanks to this. I don’t want to spoil anything from these pages so I can just recommend reading it. It is a must read, in my opinion.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Look out above!

Written and updated for today's hybrid work force, this book is fantastic for any recent college grad or new professional entering the workplace. Learning how to effectively work with a team, communicate concisely and how to negotiate are essential tools needed in any professional toolbelt. This book will take you step by step and explain the reasoning behind the rules and examples which can help reinforce the ideas. Fantastic book!

[Jessica Foster · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is for a niche age group (21-26 year olds). After that, it’s common sense and before that age, I doubt they care. I read it because my CEO wanted all millennials to read it in the company - pretty sure I’m the only one who read it. Some helpful tips came about (asking for a raise) but most of it was common sense for me at my level in the company.