What do you think?
Rate this book
Don't Settle: A Pick-Your-Path Guide to Intentional Work
How to Choose the Relationship Between Your Career and Passions
Choosing a career path, or starting a new one, can be daunting. With so many possibilities, you may feel a little lost, What do I want to do? What would I enjoy, be good at, or find meaningful? What am I qualified to do? How can I make enough money? How do I get from here to there?
Join George Appling, passionpreneur, on a pathfinding quest to answer these questions and set actionable steps forward. Don’t Settle guides you to identify your ideal life, then reveals five different approaches to best achieve that life. The key? Be intentional. Don’t settle for the default path; make deliberate choices and act on them. Through relatable anecdotes, engaging exercises, and opportunities for reflection, you’ll actively shape your unique income-passion relationship, whether that means your daily work involves your passion or funds its exploration in your free time.
Drawing on his expansive experiences in everything from government, arts, and nonprofits to running a mead-making company and medieval faire, George illuminates the vibrant possibilities available for your career and life when you own your choices and take intentional action. Grab a pen, and let’s get started.
Choosing a career path, or starting a new one, can be daunting. With so many possibilities, you may feel a little lost, What do I want to do? What would I enjoy, be good at, or find meaningful? What am I qualified to do? How can I make enough money? How do I get from here to there?
Join George Appling, passionpreneur, on a pathfinding quest to answer these questions and set actionable steps forward. Don’t Settle guides you to identify your ideal life, then reveals five different approaches to best achieve that life. The key? Be intentional. Don’t settle for the default path; make deliberate choices and act on them. Through relatable anecdotes, engaging exercises, and opportunities for reflection, you’ll actively shape your unique income-passion relationship, whether that means your daily work involves your passion or funds its exploration in your free time.
Drawing on his expansive experiences in everything from government, arts, and nonprofits to running a mead-making company and medieval faire, George illuminates the vibrant possibilities available for your career and life when you own your choices and take intentional action. Grab a pen, and let’s get started.
- GenresNonfiction
Kindle Edition
Published October 1, 2024
6 people are currently reading
36 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
October 11, 2024
As a retired high school teacher, I’ve spent decades helping young people discover their passions and plan for their futures, so I’m no stranger to the challenge of guiding others toward meaningful work. George Appling’s “Don’t Settle: A Pick-Your-Path Guide to Intentional Work” is an excellent resource for anyone facing that crossroads, whether they’re just starting out in their career or rethinking their path.
What I love about Appling’s approach is the way he builds on the familiar concept of Ikigai, but goes further with his five-part framework: Passion, Independence, Money, Experiment, and Balanced. He presents these paths in a way that feels relevant and accessible, encouraging readers to find a career that’s aligned with their values and what brings them joy. As a teacher, I’ve seen firsthand how powerful it can be when students are empowered to follow their own path, and Appling’s book reinforces that philosophy beautifully.
His "Take Action Challenges" are practical, giving readers the tools to actively reflect on their goals and start making progress right away. I also appreciate the attention he gives to important life skills—such as learning from mentors, expressing gratitude, and overcoming roadblocks. Appling even highlights the benefits of lifelong learning and staying physically active, which are lessons I’ve always tried to impart to my own students.
What really stands out is the tone of the book. Appling writes in such an engaging, down-to-earth way, with humor and a clear passion for helping others live more intentionally. He makes his readers feel like they’re on a personal journey with him, encouraging them to ask the right questions and pursue the life that’s best for them. With insightful exercises, free online resources, and a rich reading list, “Don’t Settle” is a fantastic guide for young adults and anyone looking for a change.
As someone who spent my career helping young people navigate their future, I can wholeheartedly recommend this book. It’s not just a roadmap—it’s an invitation to live authentically and fully, whatever path you choose.
What I love about Appling’s approach is the way he builds on the familiar concept of Ikigai, but goes further with his five-part framework: Passion, Independence, Money, Experiment, and Balanced. He presents these paths in a way that feels relevant and accessible, encouraging readers to find a career that’s aligned with their values and what brings them joy. As a teacher, I’ve seen firsthand how powerful it can be when students are empowered to follow their own path, and Appling’s book reinforces that philosophy beautifully.
His "Take Action Challenges" are practical, giving readers the tools to actively reflect on their goals and start making progress right away. I also appreciate the attention he gives to important life skills—such as learning from mentors, expressing gratitude, and overcoming roadblocks. Appling even highlights the benefits of lifelong learning and staying physically active, which are lessons I’ve always tried to impart to my own students.
What really stands out is the tone of the book. Appling writes in such an engaging, down-to-earth way, with humor and a clear passion for helping others live more intentionally. He makes his readers feel like they’re on a personal journey with him, encouraging them to ask the right questions and pursue the life that’s best for them. With insightful exercises, free online resources, and a rich reading list, “Don’t Settle” is a fantastic guide for young adults and anyone looking for a change.
As someone who spent my career helping young people navigate their future, I can wholeheartedly recommend this book. It’s not just a roadmap—it’s an invitation to live authentically and fully, whatever path you choose.
January 7, 2025
George Appling’s Don’t Settle is a refreshing, practical guide for anyone seeking a more intentional approach to their career. Whether you’re starting from scratch or reevaluating your current path, this book provides clear steps to help you align your work with your passions—or simply to secure a steady income if that’s your goal. Appling’s conversational tone makes the advice feel like it’s coming from a trusted friend rather than a career coach, which adds to its relatability. Plus, there’s an unexpected charm in receiving career advice from someone who owns a Renaissance Faire!
The book is neatly structured into actionable steps, complemented by worksheets designed to help readers reflect and clarify their goals. While I didn’t have access to the PDF worksheets, it’s easy to see how valuable they would be in the process of narrowing down a career that suits one’s passion and purpose.
Though much of the content may feel familiar to those who have explored career development resources before, Appling’s unique spin and engaging personal anecdotes keep the material fresh and enjoyable. The narration by Eric Burgher is excellent, adding a friendly and encouraging tone that enhances the listening experience.
Thank you to NetGalley, Greenleaf Audiobooks, and George Appling for the opportunity to listen to this insightful book. I’d recommend it to anyone ready to take intentional steps toward a more fulfilling career.
The book is neatly structured into actionable steps, complemented by worksheets designed to help readers reflect and clarify their goals. While I didn’t have access to the PDF worksheets, it’s easy to see how valuable they would be in the process of narrowing down a career that suits one’s passion and purpose.
Though much of the content may feel familiar to those who have explored career development resources before, Appling’s unique spin and engaging personal anecdotes keep the material fresh and enjoyable. The narration by Eric Burgher is excellent, adding a friendly and encouraging tone that enhances the listening experience.
Thank you to NetGalley, Greenleaf Audiobooks, and George Appling for the opportunity to listen to this insightful book. I’d recommend it to anyone ready to take intentional steps toward a more fulfilling career.
October 1, 2024
Years ago, I read my daughters' author George Appling's LinkedIn profile as a tale for how one should lean into your skills, build capital, and then parlay that into the work of your dreams. Why did they listen? George was the creator of their beloved Sherwood Forest Summer Camp. George is the real deal. He understands the trade-offs and paths to both making money and living your passions. He has plenty of experience with teens. In this book he lays out 2 frameworks that lets kids -- especially those like my youngest, who has a strong image of what she wants her life to look like, but no idea how to get there -- start to take ownership over their future and think about the value they can provide to the world. That intentional mindset is the most valuable thing this book imparts -- with a lot of very specific actions for our kids to take, and in doing so, start taking control of their future.
January 26, 2025
Full of insightful tips, this book is a guide to a truly successful life. The difference between a career and a job is one of the key themes throughout the book. Examples from real life experience show how to lead a fulfilling life and reach each of your goals and overcome setbacks. This is a great read for people embarking on a new path in their life.
*Thank you to NetGalley and Greenleaf Book Group for the free audio version in exchange for my honest review.*
*Thank you to NetGalley and Greenleaf Book Group for the free audio version in exchange for my honest review.*
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews