"Do you wish you could throw yourself into your work, become energised and enriched by it, and leave the world a better place? Then SHAPERS is for you. Altman shows that your idiosyncrasies and unique skills are not the obstacles to achievement and purpose. They are the path." -Daniel H. Pink, #1 New York Times bestselling author of WHEN and DRIVE
"With countless nuggets of timeless wisdom, SHAPERS gently nudges readers to envision new possibilities for them to build more meaningful, joyful work and lives." -Amy C. Edmondson, Professor, Harvard Business School, author of The Fearless Organisation and Teaming
"Altman mixes together case studies, anecdotes and careful empirical research to offer wise and practical advice about how to make work better, and thus to get better work. If companies followed even a quarter of his suggestions they would foster a more productive and more satisfied workplace for everyone. And his engaging, informal style makes for effortless reading." -Barry Schwartz teaches at Haas School of Business, U.C. Berkeley and is the author of The Paradox of Choice and Why We Work
We work in places, ways, and on things that were once the stuff of sci-fi flicks. Yet the reality is that most professionals are unhappy in their work. Whether you want to reset your career, strike out on your own, or just ignite more joy in what you do - this Illuminating book shows you how to create a working life that reveals meaning while rewriting our collective future.
When we connect with something larger than ourselves, we enjoy the fruits of our labour as well as the journey - the sweat and the struggle. It's the unyielding commitment to a purpose that gives shapers their shimmer. The benefits of this shine are plentiful: enhanced wellbeing, more community engagement, a healthier economy, better work for all, and a more beautiful world.
Altman is a workologist who guides companies to leave politics and posturing behind in favour of transparent and trusting cultures. After decades facilitating culture-defining practices for leaders, you'll learn everything he knows:
Adopt the mindset for creativity, innovation, and boundless growth Amplify your career and inspire others to do the same Build fluid and engaged teams to work better together Become a better leader through the five new modes of leadership Learn what underpins the most resilient organisations in the world The stories and anecdotes in SHAPERS comefrom hundreds of interviews with innovators dedicated to improving our outdated system of work. These trailblazers include CEOs, organisational designers, social psychologists, workplace strategists, and start-up entrepreneurs.
See your work from a whole new perspective and focus on what fulfils you. If you seek the freedom to approach work in your own unique way and become energised by what you do- then SHAPERS is your guide.
Jonas Altman is a speaker, writer, and entrepreneur on a mission to make the world of work more human. As the founder of award-winning design practice Social Fabric, he creates learning experiences to elevate and grow leaders at the world's boldest organizations.
He is part of the Innovation and Entrepreneurship faculty at the University of British Columbia's Sauder School of Business. Altman coaches leaders on culture change, speaks regularly at conferences about the future of work, and travels the globe learning about the changing nature of work. His chronicles have appeared in The Guardian, Quartz, The Telegraph, and The Sunday Times.
Disruption is here, and we're in the middle of a situation that challenges some of our deepest rooted beliefs about the very nature of work. In that sense, this book is timed brilliantly, and comes at a point when one can probably pause and relook at how to find better work and find work better at the same time. Is Shapers a self-help book, or a business book?
Does it matter, really? What Shapers is all about is - providing you with actionable advice on how to craft a meaningful life and build a positive future. With beautifully told stories that create impact, and blending them with research findings and his recommendations, Jonas Altman manages to create a relatable and inspiring playbook that anyone who sees themsevles as a shaper or wants to be a shaper can use. (As someone who recently moved to being self-employed, I rather regret not having had a phenomenal resource like this much earlier in life!)
the author explores how workplaces have evolved and transformed, but the workforce experience still consists of making people 'happy' and preventing them from leaving in droves. For an individual, this book is a great guide on how to push the 'reset' button on your work life and find more meaning and joy in what you do. There are warm, fuzzy management books that leave you inspired, with the inspiration fizzing out about 10 seconds after you close the book, when you need to figure out how to apply it in real life. This is NOT that book. It's a great read if you go through it cover to cover (a little like I did), or if you decide to use it as a ready reckoner and look to it for answers as the questions come to you.
The stories in the book span across a diverse range of people, ranging from CEOs to your nondescript, neighborhood 'shaper'.
I wish I could prescribe this book to everyone entering corporate life, and help immunise them against the 'Employee Engagement Epidemic'. Or as one of my work colleagues puts it, preventing people from turning into 'The Working Dead' - folks milling around like undead zombies, without meaning and purpose, simply chasing some elusive rewards. It's taken me a while to put myself on the road to being a shaper and I think I also like this book because it validates some of my own thoughts.
Think of this almost as 'The Infinite Game' by Simon Sinek, but written for an individual. (And with very appealing illustrations as well!)
A sage thought that was shared with me recently was, "We're not all in the same boat, we're all in the same storm". This book sure helps you to learn to create your own boat. Read it, and apply it!
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Got this book because it had great reviews and was new, and, had a nice cover. If you’ve ever thought about anything at all in your life, you probably won’t learn anything new here in my opinion.
Jonas Altman’s Shapers: Reinventing the Way You Work and Change the Future is a rare page turner.
Altman takes readers through the historical context of work – a means to an end – and segues into explaining the catalysts that changed attitudes toward work. He then explains why these perceptions of work must adapt in order for companies to progress. Organizational leadership that views its people as dynamic beings who are worthy of investment (as opposed to mere inputs to production) is no longer a frivolous idea. Rather, it is necessary for cultivating worker loyalty and maintaining that all-important competitive edge. The text is filled with true-to-life case studies of companies that have gone against traditional ideas of work to more human-centric ways of existing – and found tremendous success.
Altman defines a shaper as a dynamic entity that goes against the grain to find fulfillment in work. HIs definition of shaper is not relegated to a company – shapers can rightfully be people as well as organizations. The bottom line is that shapers are ultimately the lifeblood that drives societies forward. Unrestricted by the need to please top-down management, shapers are creatives who think outside of the box and constantly invest in themselves in order to excel. Shapers understand that there is a grand narrative at play when it comes to the work they perform, and they are excited to make their unique mark.
As a freelancer, I found much of this content relatable – after all, I chose to pave my own path in the work world to gain the freedom to work at my own pace and engage in projects that I found personally fulfilling. This is one of the books I wish was available to me when I was at my own crossroads with not feeling like I fit the mold traditional corporate culture and wanting to go my own way. I am certain that many who are still at that junction – especially in the midst of such an uncertain socioeconomic landscape – can find immense value and motivation out of this read. Five out of five stars!
Reading was a breath of fresh air in an overwhelming smog of archaic work practices. So often we as humans look to history for advice on handling current situations, but there comes a time when relying on “the way it’s always been done” will fail us, and quite spectacularly so. Altman’s Shapers offers us a no-frills, entirely relatable “manual” on ridding ourselves of these archaic work practices and embracing an everchanging, vibrant and innovative future in the workplace.
This book helped me realise just how much a member I was of the Employee Disengagement Pandemic in a previous role, feeling unappreciated, unimaginative, unfulfilled. I was searching for happiness, and not meaning, in my work, which Altman draws a distinction between. I didn’t have the “why” that distinguishes Shapers from the plebeians. I knew that I used to have that “inner drive” that Altman speaks about, but I’d lost in somewhere along the way in the repetitive routines of the traditional workplace.
I’ve always thought that I had trouble with work-life balance, but quickly realised that I have spent my life being a Blender in all the wrong ways – my interests and passions did not align with my job and I spent so much time working on things I didn’t like. What resonated distinctly with me in Altman’s book, is the importance of having effective managers – or even no managers at all! You are so influenced by the people around you at work, and particularly by the managers. Having an effective management system makes or breaks an organisation – the management system needs to be fluid and understand that to ensure the best work output, the uniqueness and individuality of each working and learning style needs to be accommodated.
Altman’s book spoke to me on so, so many levels – even more so than I expected. I think every working professional and organisation leadership would benefit from reading this book, and I’ll continue to recommend it to those around me.
‘Shapers’ is a timely, contemporary book that inspires and motivates the reader to achieve their potential. The easy-going and charismatic narrative immediately puts the reader at ease whilst always encouraging them to follow a path of self-analysis and discovery. No matter your walk of life, Altman provides guidance and inspiration to be the master of your own destiny. As a manager, employee and freelancer (a “Slashie”!), I gleaned useful and practical insights for different aspects of my working life. ‘Shapers’ has reassured me of some of my management styles and given me food for thought for others. It’s also helped me to formulate plans and solidify my focus during these uncertain pandemic times. The history and breakdown of previous perceptions of work (Chapter 2) was, for me, a great reminder that the world is always changing and that I need to examine my own attitudes towards work. (I was one those guilty of overworking and trying to impress the boss) It reminded me how, in the thirty years that I have been working, the culture of work has changed. Although. the focus of ‘Shapers’ is to support you in reinventing the way you work, some of its principals can be applied to other aspects of life. ‘Shapers’ prompts the reader to think about why they are working. What it is that motivates them and how can they achieve – and enjoy! - their goal. I feel that, in contrast to Gladwell’s assertion that only specific types of individuals can instigate larger levels of change, ‘Shapers’ enlightens the reader and shows them that they can be the creator of change; not only for themselves, but for the working world at large. With a carefully constructed blend of witty anecdotes and clearly well researched analysis, Altman has created a book that will be picked up and referenced time and time again. I think that this should be compulsory reading for HR professionals and students of business. I highly recommend this book!
Shapers gives hope to a better future for the average worker. Having seen firsthand the adverse effects of an undesirable job on the individual, I now have a renewed desire to improve the lives of my coworkers. Quite often, it is not the actual job that is a burden, but everything surrounding it! The commute, the rigidity, the low pay, the mediocre benefits, the overbearing boss, and the toxic culture. These factors come to weigh down on an employee, spurring them to ask themselves, “Is this job really worth it?” More often than not, the answer is no.
Some companies have figured this out, but the majority are still stuck on the numbers. They don’t have their ‘why’ cut out. And it’s not all black and white, of course, but Mr. Altman has put a finger down on one of the root problems with contemporary society. It is time we reinvent the way we work. After all, work accounts for more than a decade of the average individual’s life!
People need money these days. This is a problem for a significant number of workers because it means they must sacrifice their precious time to support themselves and their families. This sacrifice requires them to take on jobs that may not be the best fit for them. What are we left with? Unhappy employees; better yet, unsatisfied employees. Not only does this detriment their livelihoods, but it also brings down the company as a whole.
Shapers brings a new light to the culture of work and the purpose of employees. Purpose has become a prominent issue in today’s society, resulting in the rise of nihilism and mental disorders. Finding purposeful work may be the fix for a significant number of individuals.
I would recommend this book to anyone struggling with finding a purpose. I would also recommend it to any managers, bosses, or executives who lead people. Not only will it make you better at your job, but it will also make your employees better at theirs.
"Do what you love, and you'll never work a day in your life." We've all heard this platitude and some of us have taken it to heart. But most of us are not, let's face it, fortunate enough to find employment that satisfies our spiritual and intellectual needs along with our financial ones. But Altman proposes a different way. We should not look for our dream job, bemoaning the incongruities of the working world which we find along the way. Rather, we must actively and deliberately "shape" our work and our life in order to best serve others. Only then, as a byproduct, may we enrich our own lives. Altman gives ways that shapers can change the world of work around them, from the small habits of your job to the biggest shakeups in corporate organization. The greatest attributes of a worker of the future are nimbleness, openness, honesty, and creativity, not what boxes they check on an application form. Instead of a platitude ridden self help manual, Altman lays out his case with concrete examples from the real world. From the CEO who saw phenomenal growth after getting rid of all the managers, to a community in Canada that gave everyone free money for a year, we can see how the attributes of shapers actually make a difference in the real world. The model of work we have grown accustomed to has long been outdated, and thinkers like Altman provide an idea of what may come to replace it: meaningful, flexible, creative work based on human talents and cooperation rather than Taylorist mold-fitting. "Do what you love, and you'll never work a day in your life", it turns out, is incorrect. It's more like "do what you love, and you'll work with purpose". Work doesn't have to be drudgery, if we just have the gumption to shape it.
In Jonas Altman’s book Shapers, readers are inspired to seek workplaces that do not stifle creativity, that are safe spaces where success is gained through facilitated learning and welcomed mistakes that turn into new changes through trial and error. In the first section of Altman introduces his readers to the meaning of work itself while describing the history of work as based in the Industrial Revolution where work was based in drudgery and monotony. Where many simply accept the drudgery and toil, we are encouraged by Altman to transform our perception and spiral upward in the workplace filled with creativity and meaning. The following sections provide tools to help us succeed, using technology as a tool, and cultivate modes of thinking that inspire joy and wonder at work.
According to Altman, most workplaces are not designed to cater to our intellectual, spiritual, or emotional needs. However, Altman encourages us to become shapers of our own success through changing our perceptions and creating a space of self-cultivation through nourishing ourselves and those who work with us. Altman introduces concepts that if adopted by businesses, companies, and, even education systems, will cause a paradigm shift in the workplace and revolutionize the way we approach work and learn new skills.
I am an artist and intellect. I have no desire to work within a company led by narrow-minded managers and work done in cubicles. However, the reasons why I do not want to work is because I am not looking to work as a Shaper, seeking work that is not alienating but transforming. Altman taught me to know myself, work to create boundaries that block all distractions, stay present, and be accountable to myself, my family, and others. I have felt like a shadow for the past two years and this book helped me realize why. I am not working to make a mark in this world. I allow myself to be distracted by internal negativity and outward time-eaters like my smartphone and television. Altman has inspired me to become a Shaper, make a conscious choice to be present and to use my strengths and talents to create a legacy that brings beauty and health to this world.
A lively and engaging guide to embracing possibilities in today’s changing workplace
This timely book presents a simple and lucid approach to achieving a fulfilling and sustainable work-life balance, something that many people consider to be almost impossible. “Shapers” uses direct and engaging, almost conversational prose to whirl the reader through a profound and deeply-felt road map of how you can meld together work and life to result in a productive and enriching life.
The author plucks examples from fields as seemingly diverse as Greek philosophy and the Californian surfing community and interviews a diverse range of people, all with salient observations to make, that flesh out and double-down on his ideas. The book draws all of this deep research together into a coherent set of ideas about implementing change. It encourages both employers and employees to enact practices that allow them to increase productivity through working smarter, challenge themselves because they want to and ultimately to make work a part of life rather than the thing that pays for it.
I’ve found this to be a helpful and extremely positive read, especially at this spectacularly unusual time. As a business owner, it has given me some great practical ideas on how to improve the way we operate and personally it has given me a host of ideas on how to focus, develop and ultimately do the things that I love.
I absolutely loved reading SHAPERS on my flight to and from Houston this past weekend! It is an extremely profound read for anyone who is looking to become more passionate about their life and work. One of my favorite parts is when the author compares “meaning” to “happiness” and states that it is not a destination, but more of a journey. We are able to find meaning to life when we can connect with something outside of ourselves. Reading this novel will help you achieve your full potential as an individual and productive member of society. This novel was so inspiring that I had to screenshot a few sections of the e-book so that I can look back and reference them for motivation. I also love the part where the author discusses our inner critic and how to silence it if we want to reach our full potential. Those who suffer from mental illnesses such as anxiety or disorder will find it greatly beneficial to read this book as the author suggests some very therapeutic methods in the read. I also loved the part where the author discusses how you can make any job meaningful. If you are bored at your current job, you need to reevaluate it with a different perspective or purpose. Taking charge of your environment and behavior will have a great impact on your happiness and drive to succeed in life. I found myself quite motivated after reading this novel! I would highly suggest it to anyone who is looking to pick up a new self-help or inspirational novel!
Finding out that your personal flavor is what success is made of? What!? This is great news for all those out there that fearlessly step into the unknown, and for those of us that sometimes question what our purpose is. I loved how the book Shapers intertwined applicable skills while pushing your subconscious out of its comfort zone. Even the title caught me off guard-the ability to mold something into whatever you need; the ability to adapt and reinvent an element into a new and improved resource. Jonas Altman describes a shaper as "connecting your work with yourself", and incorporating "self-awareness, self-belief, and continual growth" (14). The easy-going nature of Altman's writing relaxes your fears and allows you to process the tools and strategies that he offers up through analogies, first-hand accounts, and interviews. No one intentionally chooses to go through life being miserable; we often do just that when choosing a career, or not really focusing on the meaning of our actions or expressions. Work can be a facade of obligations that take us away from why we act. What stood out to me from Altman's writing at the core is that motivation and the investment in people seem to be the true success that leads to true happiness, productivity, and meaning in our lives. Pick up a copy and be awarded with some cool insights!
If Sunday evenings often find you humming a few bars of 'I Don't Like Mondays' this book is for you!
Altman envisages a different future for the world of work and the events of the past few months have shown us that different ways are possible, particularly if we are bold enough to take advantage of the new opportunities this situation presents.
In his lively energetic style, he examines what we mean by work, why we feel we have to do it and, more importantly, why so many of us are dissatisfied with the work we do and what we can do to change that.
Clearly, most of us work because we need to earn money, but does that have to mean we should be happy with whatever job we can get? Or is it possible that we can actually take some control of our working lives and become 'shapers' of our own future?
Those of us who discovered our vocation early in life already know that work can bring immense satisfaction, and even joy - the rest of us might do well to consider some of Altman's suggestions, many of which seem even more pertinent at this time, when many of us have no choice but to rethink our future working lives.
If you've ever thought there must be more to life, read this book and believe it!
Everyone wants to work at a job where they feel empowered and engaged, and want to make the world a better place. This book gives the details.
The problem with such an attitude is that few people actually work at such an empowering job. Large numbers of people treat their job as just a paycheck. What's worse is that some people actually hate their job, and are honestly considering sabotage. What can a company do to increase the engagement level, since an employee will be there for only a couple of years? It will take a lot more than a foosball table, and free pizza on Fridays.
If there is one buzzword to take from this book, it is "fluidity" or "flexibility." Employees, and employers, must realize (if they haven't already done so) that the days of spending your entire career at one company are gone forever. The average employee will change careers several times during their working lives.
Good bosses sometimes get noticed, but bad bosses go to the top of the list of Reasons To Quit. A great salesman may make a horrible Regional Sales Manager. It is not always his (or her) fault.
This is a very interesting book. It is recommended for everyone, but especially for those who want to feel engaged at work, but don't know how to get there
Given the context of uncertainty in the aftermath of the pandemic, as well as the widespread dissatisfaction experienced by a surprising majority of the global workforce, this was a particularly timely and relevant read.
Shapers provides readers with a new framework for conceptualising the world of work, inspiring individuals to find meaning in their work, and managers and organisations to create conditions conducive to creativity, fulfilment and innovation.
Altman draws on his wealth of knowledge from personal anecdotes of inspiring individuals he's encountered, to empirical research and groundbreaking case studies of organisations leading the way in redefining the meaning of work. In an upbeat and approachable writing style, Altman references some of the most prominent thinkers, innovators and entrepreneurs in the field, making for a truly engaging and informative read.
Currently at the crossroads in my own personal career path, Shapers has inspired me to reflect on the significance of work in my own life and has inspired me to find a career with purpose. I would highly recommend this book as essential reading for employees, managers, CEO’s, and anyone seeking greater fulfilment in their working life!
The way we work is changing. As a young person who graduated last year, took a year off to teach in Spain, got fired due to a global pandemic, fell into freelancing, and is now working on my own startup, I can tell you that I was in dire need of some perspective when I stumbled upon “Shapers.”
We live in this post-globalized world where everything is changing at a faster pace than any of us can really keep track of. We sometimes forget to ask perhaps the question that is the most important of them all: why? Why work? Is it for the money? - well, yes. But what else is there? Is there is a better way of approaching the way we look at work? Maybe even derive meaning from it.
These are some of the questions Altman answers in Shapers. He argues that we can only fully immerse ourselves in work we find meaningful. And when we do that, our life can change! Definitely a must-read for those tired of the drudgery, of the disengagement, and of this obviously broken system. The world is changing and now we have the opportunity like never before to find meaningful work and, in the process, create a meaningful impact.
Altman's snappy and digestible chunks of advice entice you from the start and show you how to be a shaper, molding yourself a life that you control, rather than letting working life shape and dictate to you.
Shapers is intelligent and well-researched, using psychology and the lessons of history to help you get to the root of what success means to you and reject the rigid template that life often hands you. It explores topics such as effective management, disengagement, self-care and how to be a team player.
As a 25-year old trying to find my place in a large corporation and pursue my dreams of long-term travel and freelancing, this book came at the perfect time for me. Altman uses the metaphor of the surfboard shaper, who tailors the design of a surfboard to meet the demands of waves or surfers, to show you the traits you need to build to survive and thrive in the current climate. With the Coronavirus pandemic set to change the course and culture of work and life forever, Shapers is a timely reflection on myths and cultural norms you may have learnt along the way and shows you how to keep your head above the water: "the grand intention here is to become unflappable".
Reinvents your relationship with work and success.
As a university student, I've only been in the workforce for a few years- but the pressure to get a high paying job, a career, has been drilled into my head for much longer. If I don't get good grades, I won't get into the right college and if that happens I won't make money and if that happens......so on.
These capitalist ideals have been ingrained in our society for so long that even when we are unhappy with our jobs and the values of the company that we work for, we don't question it. Altman provides the template to shifting your mindset from acceptance to growth- how to become somebody who finds genuine meaning in their work even within these corporations.
So often I've read books like these which detail how to find happiness and so far Altman has tackled this in the most effective way- his tone is personable, his anecdotes relatable and well-timed. He doesn't lie. This book provides real ways to manage work-life balance in order to change your life for the better. No sugar-coating.
Altman engages us from the beginning with a refreshing and interesting perspective on how we should perceive our work. We are encouraged to think outside the box- to consider what is right for us as opposed to what is expected of us. He gives us a balanced and well researched view of what 'the workplace' is and can be. He holds our hand through the complex and nerve-wrecking world of standing up and being counted, being active and present. He give us the advice and tools needed to utilise our time productively and to work smarter- not harder in the modern workplace.
I highly recommend reading this book to avoid burnout and learn to get the most out of life. In the current world Altman's words are particularly relevant in this time, when the way we normally work has been challenged with a pandemic, it may be the right time to reevaluate, to reinvent our normal. I now have wholly different outlook on the direction of my work and what I had precieved my goals to be. I am a 'Shaper' and I will be the best version of my self I can be
When you’re ready for a meaningful change that will greatly empower you in today's rapidly changing world of work and progress, read “Shapers”. When you’re ready for your work to no longer be a prison sentence, yet rather become an expression of who you are at your core level, read “Shapers”. When you're ready for your work to turn into meaningful purpose that produces long lasting joy, read “Shapers”. When you’re ready to make a lasting impact on the world around you that until now you've only dreamed of, read “Shapers”. Altman takes the complicated challenges, centered around our imminently changing world of work, and progress, and he brings new concepts forward with such refreshing inspiration that it will energize anyone who reads this thought provoking, and life changing book. “Shapers” will absolutely motivate you to finally have the courage to break the shackles off from your past prison sentence of outdated work concepts, and passionately move forward to Shape your world.
Shapers looks into the history of work, what it is in the present and what it could look like in the future. Jonas says it best when he says, “the mindset of a shaper is about connecting your work with your self…it required self-awareness, self-belief, and continual growth.” While we work, we should be feeling engaged, and motivated in what we do, feelings I must admit I lost in the job field as I felt stuck in the routine of the day to day. Individuals are swayed by the people we surround ourselves with, and if your co-workers, and managers who we spend 40 plus hours a week with just complain and give you endless tasks all the time it can really drain a person even when you leave work. They say you don’t quit the job, your quit your boss and that’s right. We need to find a balance between work and life and have boundaries so you don’t get burnt out. I would recommend this book as it’s insightful, educational, and makes you look at your life and is the work your currently doing making you the person you’re striving to be. I know it did for me.
Shapers takes an in-depth look at the shortcomings in the current culture in our workforce by looking at our current situation, our history, education system and presents insightful, well-researched solutions, tips and suggestions on how we can evolve and improve. “When we change the way we think, by whatever means, we alter not only how we feel but how we show up in the world”
The book is well written, upbeat, and focuses on how change starts with the individual and changing our perspective and habits. I learned some excellent tips on how to be more productive, achieve a better work-life balance, and find meaning in my career, just to name a few. There are a ton of interesting facts and I enjoyed reading about how some of the more progressive companies in the world are reshaping what it looks like to go to work. I highly recommend this book to anyone in the workforce, whether an employee, manager, CEO, business owner or entrepreneur!
This engaging book is an enjoyable, encouraging read when the work rules are changing once again. If you are looking for more meaning and purpose in your work, this book is a must-read.
Readers have the opportunity for a fresh perspective concerning work, to briefly view the history of the performance of labor and its evolution, and to see what the future can hold, all of which I found highly beneficial. This author gives readers new ideas, tools, and viewpoints to engage or re-engage with their choice of fulfilling work.
The author has infused this book's content itself with additional meaning by using examples of individuals living the tenets of this book, thus, finding meaning in their work and expressing their uniqueness in the process.
All in all, this is a book containing a blueprint for a better opportunity to both enjoy and excel in one's varied career path.
In today's capitalistic world, work is all around us. The construction workers down he street, the bank teller, your ex-wife's lawyer, the lady who bakes and sells cookies and has a up and coming Instagram page are all workers, trying to make a living; but do they like it? Jonas Altman uses quotes inspiring stories cross culture work references to remind us about finding meaning in what we do. He attempts to shed light on finding the why we do something and then focusing on the how. SHAPERS is not just a book on how to find work we are proud of; but how we can look within ourselves in order to discover what we really value. He helps the audience understand that once we define our purpose, the how becomes easier and less dreadful.
"When you believe in your uniqueness, you stop trying to fit a mould; you move closer to becoming your truest self. You cater to your impulse to create".
This quote stopped me in my tracks.
I realised I can break out of the mould, working smarter instead of harder. The 'hustle culture' and 'rise and grind' mentality never spoke to me. I had assumed I was lazy or incapable of such until I realised That this method of working is not for me.
This was confirmed when I read 'Shapers' and understood that I am not alone in this train of thought and I can achieve my goals and make time for resting. It is incredibly validating to not be alone in this.
The Monday-Friday dying is true, we toil away during the week for a weekend blow out and for what? I want to enjoy life now. If you want a better work/life balance where you do something meaningful, I recommend you read this book.
Every CEO, every employee, every working person should be sent a copy of this book.
This is what so many people need to hear. How we can take hold of our own lives, how we are meant to be treated as humans -- we're impulsive, we're free, we're creative, and we're always searching for meaning. And that should translate into a major aspect of our lives: our work!
At first, I was intimidated by the term "shapers," as I wondered if I, too, was such a person. But the more I dove into this book, the more I felt it was possible, or perhaps that I had already been growing into a shaper. To want purpose, to want meaning, and to always strive for these things -- that is to be a shaper. For the sake of our own lives, what a blessing it would be for us all to be shapers!
Using diverse examples throughout history, Altman provides a compelling argument for the future of the working environment.
Due to Covid, I have recently found myself without full-time work, and floundering a bit as to what I want to do in life. Reading Shapers has given me the chance to put a positive spin on things. I may have left a job, but it was a job that didn't give me the fulfillment I now believe I can find in employment. Shapers has given me the confidence and motivation to seek more in work and life.
Altman's conversational and often witty tone makes this book an insightful, accessible and dare I say ...life changing read!
Jonas Altman's book has an encouraging view of the future of employment. He talks about making your work meaningful and becoming more engaged in what you do. Since many people are unhappy with their jobs, or only work because they need a paycheck, they do not often see any alternatives. There is a work/life balance that can be reached if you learn to add purpose, and this book addresses that.
I enjoyed this book because I have also felt this way about working, and I love the idea of looking at it in a whole new way. Following the positive path millennials are creating sounds like the way to go. They are using their creativity and fresh ideas to re-invent the work force.
Great book, full of contents and reflections about how we, as `shapers` can change the way we, and our future generation, will approach work, life, and their balance.
Will those two merge? Will we have a more clear separation between the two or, as we're moving towards more interesting and challenging works, we will merge them as the work we will work on will be more in line with our desires, goals and ambitions?
Aim for work that doesn't feel like a restriction, do work that serves **your** purpose, your goals and you won't work a day at all. This sounds old and repetitive, but I've seen it myself, so true!
I'll rate it four stars because I think some concepts in this book are worth spreading.
First of all, yes, this book gave me a new outlook on the education system and the work (or better to say job) system. It also introduced me to the idea of the UBI, and further clarified the importance of shorter work weeks, automation, and new knowledge-based workforce.
Indeed, if author is right, a change is coming, and judging by the looks of it, it will be a drastic change not yet seen in history. Of course, as stated in this book, we must always learn new stuff and expand our horizons.
Wishing all the best to the current and future shapers, and good luck to me in trying to become one.