Whistle While You Work

by Richard J. Leider

In Whistle While You Work, Richard Leider and David Shapiro counter the clichéd query about what you want to be when you grow up with a more intriguing "What is your life's calling?" The authors define calling as "the inner urge to give our gifts away in service to something we are passionate about in an environment that is consistent with our values." Drawing upon psychologist James Hillman's metaphor of the acorn programmed to grow into an oak tree, Leider and Shapiro guide readers to discover their "core gifts" and the work they were born to do. Each chapter describes a conversation with a cabdriver in a different city to introduce a key idea about the process of heeding your life's calling. These lively conversations are followed by stories of individuals--from a Motorola executive to a building security guard--who have identified their calling. The stories are paired with bulls-eye exercises that allow readers to discover their calling. Tools include "calling cards" to identify core gifts, a "calling journal" and the "calendar/checkbook" exercise to align values with time management. The book would have been strengthened with more narrative about the relationship between choosing a calling and maintaining a positive cash flow. Yet the clarity and conviction of its approach sets this book apart from other do-what-you-love career books. It is an eloquent and practical blueprint for being at home in the world by making a living with your uniqueness. --Barbara Mackoff

Genres: Self Help, Nonfiction, Business

Paperback

First published January 1, 2001

About the author

Richard’s ten books, including three best sellers, have sold over one million copies and have been translated into 20 languages. Repacking Your Bags and The Power of Purpose are considered classics in the personal development field. Richard’s “inventures” in writing books have taken him to events with readers in all 50 states, every Canadian province, and 15 countries.

As co-author of Life Reimagined, he is the Chief Curator of content for AARP’s Life Reimagined Institute. Widely viewed as a visionary and thought leader on the “power of purpose”, his work is featured regularly in many media sources including, PBS public television, and NPR public radio. He is featured in the PBS Special – The Power of Purpose.

As a keynote speaker, he is one of a select few advisors and coaches who have been asked to work with over 100,000 leaders from over 100 organizations such as AARP, Ericsson, Mayo Clinic, MetLife, National Football League (NFL), and United Health Group discover the power of purpose.

Richard holds a Master’s Degree in Counseling and is a National Certified Counselor (NCC), a National Certified Career Counselor (NCCC), and a National Certified Master Career Counselor (MCC). As a Senior Fellow at the University of Minnesota’s Center for Spirituality and Healing, he founded The Purpose Project. He is co-chairman and dean of the World Purpose Forum, co-chairman of the Linkage/Global Institute for Leadership Development, and a member of the Council Advisors of the FRED Leadership Forum. He is also a board member of Youth Frontiers, and Life Coach in Residence at The Marsh: A Center for Balance and Fitness.

He is a contributing author to many coaching books, including: Coaching for Leadership, The Art and Practice of Leadership Coaching, Executive Coaching for Results, The Leader of the Future, and The Organization of the Future.

Richard’s work has been recognized with awards from the Bush Foundation, from which he was awarded a Bush Fellowship and the Fielding Institute’s Outstanding Scholar for Creative Longevity and Wisdom award.

For 30 years, Richard has led Inventure Expedition walking safaris in Tanzania, East Africa, where he co-founded and is a board member of the Dorobo Fund for Tanzania. He and his wife, Sally, live on the St. Croix river outside of Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Reviews

[Janet · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this book about life calling.

Since I got it from the library, the cards didn't come with it but I was able to download them for free and do the exercise with them.

This book was to help me learn to make a living doing what I was born to do. I didn't agree with all they said but I did add some of what they said to my Words to Live By doc I keep on my computer to refer back to at certain times of my life.

It did make me laugh that a lot of the stories were about taxi drivers but hey to each your own, right?

[Sandeep Gautam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful book about discovering a calling and making it your life's work. Practical, with a tool called 'calling cards' that is based around RIASEC, it is useful to a person at every stage of his life/ career.

The insight that your talents are your gifts to be shared, and that your gifts along with your passions and values are the right way to go about finding your calling, is very instructive.

The book is peppered with stories of other people that illustrate how they are living their callings- people from security staff to presidents and CEOs. Each chapter begins with a reflection on a conversation/ interaction with a taxi driver, that sets the tone for the chapter. I found the writing style good and the psychological and career guidance principles on which the book is based sound.

[Benzon Barrientos · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book suggests some practical answers to complex questions about one’s calling or life purpose. Reading this book feels like listening to relatable narratives of people from different walks of life. The authors’ straightforward writing style will make you read the book in one sitting.

Read this book and discover what it means to “whistle while you work.”

[Beth · Rating 3 out of 5]

a nice career book to read. Interesting anecdotes and advice on being honest with yourself and not settling for unhappiness in your career. Now that I've finished the book I'm not sure what I should be doing to put their suggestions into action.

[LuAnn · Rating 5 out of 5]

More helpful to me than the once popular “A Color is Your Parachute.” Very readable and relatable, the exercises are simple but powerful. Helped me recognize and own my calling to teach in various capacities, though not traditional children’s school. Highly recommend.

[V Massaglia · Rating 5 out of 5]

An important book that informed my approach to career counseling. It's been a few years since I read it and am eager to revisit it.

I highly recommend it to all especially for those seeking their purpose.

V

[Carrie McKoy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A thoughtful and unique approach for those desiring a meaningful job, compared with typical bookstore fare. The authors focus on the idea of "calling" as the basis for career decisions rather than simply one's skills and interests. Besides including practical ways for discovering this calling, they also intersperse the instructional information with interviews with, and stories about, people in various jobs. Interestingly, some of those come in the form of conversations the authors individually had with random NYC taxi drivers on trips to meetings or hotels. Very encouraging reading.

[Todd Kruse · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall a good, not great, book with some inspiring life stories. However, several of the stories seem to be about taxi drivers so perhaps the authors needed to expand their range of data collection!

The primary lesson for me was two fold - 1.) instead of hiring high school guidance counselors students could read a book like this one or even better the wonderful book - "The Monk who sold his Ferrari" (highly recommended.) 2.) the "gap year" concept of waiting a year (to work, travel, study on your own, etc.0 before you enter college makes even more sense so I hope I can convince our two kids to follow this advice.

[Betsy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is one of those books you think is boring then you find yourself going in the direction this book encourages. I learned to accept gifts you have, let others question. The people that do not question are usually intellegent , sensitve, and most important genuienly happy. Feels good when you get to "the calling". Lots of struggle for me (the journey to get to the calling). Pieces adhere to your subconscious and boom one day you arrive.

[Sheridan · Rating 5 out of 5]

An interesting and insightful book that helps you discover your "calling". I liked that the authors did two things: encouraged you to follow that calling into whatever work will best fulfull it. AND, practically, helped readers see ways to fulfill their calling in the work they are already doing.

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book would have been a 3 except that I specifically enjoyed the calling card exercise included in the book. They had very pointed, thoughtful questions throughout to get you thinking about your own journey and that was useful.

[Eliot Fiend · Rating 3 out of 5]

enjoyed this book. good exercises.

[Inayah Lie · Rating 4 out of 5]

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[Melissa Hedges- Rankin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Provides a lot of helpful information when exploring career choices, and what will provide long-term job happiness.