Get a Life, Not a Job: It's Your Time--Make the Most of It

by Paula Caligiuri

You can design your own career, so you love what you do! You only have one why settle for anything less? Whether you're an entrepreneur or working within a company, Get a Life, Not a Job shows how you can make it happen for yourself. You'll learn how to move towards a fulfilling career that offers greater work-life balance, financial security, and personal control over your future -- and more sheer pleasure and inspiration from the work you do. You'll learn how to allocate more time to roles you enjoy, and shed roles you can't stand... identify career choices you'll be passionate about, and build your skills and abilities to match them... improve your career without leaving your employer, and make your position more resistant to downsizing... define a mix of several stimulating and liberating wealth-building activities that keep your life engaged and balanced... keep personal relationships healthy while you pursue work you'll love. This book doesn't just teach you powerful career it profiles people in all walks of life who've used these them to build truly inspiring careers. With greater workplace uncertainty than ever, you can no longer afford to let anyone else control your destiny -- or to maintain outdated "psychological contracts" with your employer. You need to take control of your own career and future. With this book's help, you can do just that -- and make work more fulfilling than you ever dreamt possible.

Genres: Self Help, Nonfiction, Business, Personal Development, Professional Development, Psychology, How To

72 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 3, 2010

Reviews

[Ahmad · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not as what I expected. Even though the book containes nice advises, it can be summeriesed in 50 pages maximum.

Stories are repeated with different names. Ideas are not that original and attractive. The style of writing is highly affected by the acadimic background of the author. It's not that friendly and touching.

In conclusion, it's not the "inspiraional" book you want to change your life.

Not recommended.

[stinaz · Rating 4 out of 5]

A roadmap that outlines real steps to take to figure out how to have a "career" that you enjoy and excel in being a productive well rounded member of society. Simple, but good advice on all areas of career development and having a "life" and not a "job" - not just about finding something you like to do, but also how to continue your development, work towards security (professionally and financially), as well as improve your well-being (for work AND life). Plus - she talks about the importance of mindfulness! I couldn't not approve of this book.

I also enjoyed the realistic approach, in that you have to do the work. You have to actually think through the exercises and use them in order to take your career into your own hands and own it. So, despite its simplicity, this is not something to just read and forget in a few hours - to get the full benefit you need to actually work at the exercises and steps. Like anything in life that is worth doing it may be simple, but it's not easy.

[Ltorrealba · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not what I expected: this book isn't about how to determine what your ideal career is, but rather about turning hobbies or other skills into sources of revenue - for fulfillment, stability, or future full time careers. Not what I was hoping to read but there were a couple interesting suggestions.

[Ali Bony-Kaya · Rating 5 out of 5]

Some of the best advice that I've heard about career planning

Dr. Paula gives a practical step by step as to how to get your ideal career and add multiple careers on it so that you are always taken care of.

[Marie · Rating 1 out of 5]

Awful read. Repetitive and silly. Huge waste of time.

[Bec · Rating 2 out of 5]

If this book hadn't been free on amazon I would have been very dissapointed. I found the information basic, the exercises haphazard and the only part helpful the last page where it focuses on the employer getting to know the employee and realised that no company I had worked for (or probably will work for) would ever have any intrest in this information.

[MerelyMyr · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book itself was not all that informative for me at this stage, however, it did provide a good number of websites and resources which might be useful. In addition, it does provide some good exampled and stories on what might be interesting to think about in the future.

[Lucky · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like this book. Actually, this was the book that pushed me to follow my dream job. The book provides strategies from getting ready to create a career, to surviving while in between job. So it's not a yabba-yabba motivating kind of book.

[Deyaa Samir · Rating 4 out of 5]

You "can" design your own career, so you "love" what you do! You only have one life: why settle for anything less? Whether you're an entrepreneur or working within a company, Get a Life, Not a Job shows how you can make it happen for yourself.

[Lisa · Rating 1 out of 5]

Well I made attempts to read and finish this book. I really tried to enjoy the book, but just didn't. I was a little disappointed, maybe I was expecting something else and just didn't enjoy the writing.

[Monique · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm glad this was a free amazon e-book but I would recommend to anyone wanting create a better life while at work.

[Paula · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book has helped me think about multi-track options for my career and life.

[Paul Steele · Rating 2 out of 5]

While there is some good advice in this short book, it is filled with poor examples and the points are repeated several times. Lacks real content.

[Roxie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was ok. It provided a good background to why people don't find that one dream job and strategies to make all your skills work for you so work itself will be more fulfilling.

[Waqas · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good book. provides much perspective.

[Dhany Bagus · Rating 4 out of 5]

awesome book !

[Barrette Plett · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting perspective. Good points about the "new" economy that we and our youth are entering...

[Hatem Bagneid · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like

[Dasa Martin · Rating 1 out of 5]

Don't read it.

[Kristen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not the biggest fan of advocating to work more in the name of self-care and self-fulfillment.

[Rick Tabor · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great book for a new college grad.

[Peter Eysermans · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not a lot of new things for the stage I'm at in my career. Maybe for people who have just started working this could be of more value. The advice is often a bit cliché and the examples are obvious.

The summary of this book could be:
Diversify your career into multiple different careers, the author calls it 'career acts' to minimize risk. While doing this keep your work-life balance and look for career acts that give you energy and that you like to do. Pay attention that you do not burn out and don't overstress yourself. Easier said then done if you ask me...

Notes:
Look for multiple career acts
The process to manage your career is not an end state, it is an ongoing process
Take personal ownership of your career. No one will be able to create the career that is right for you.