Apochromatik Book Bundle 4: Career Planning
Today we are releasing Apochromatik’s fourth book bundle, and it is on the topic of career planning.
There is so much conflicting advice out there on career planning that it is easy to wonder if it is even possible to plan your career. As a result, many people simply give up and slide along without taking ownership over their career.
Amy M. Gardner is presenting a webinar on this topic November 12, 2019 for the University of Chicago. Join the webinar here, or watch the replay free. There is no cost, and no University of Chicago affiliation is necessary to join. Register here.
First, the disclaimers: These are books we’ve read recently; this isn’t a “best of feedback” book list.
Second, if you really want to deliberately plan your career, reading a book is not necessarily the ideal way to do it. (Recently I saw a book called You Can’t Teach a Kid to Ride a Bike at a Seminar. The concept is the same: While you can learn about career planning and improve your skills by taking action on the concepts in a book, just flipping through a book is not really the pinnacle of leadership development.)
But, if you view reading a book as a way to learn and grow, and possibly as a springboard to a more in-depth experience, books can be a great way to learn some new concepts and techniques. (And, of course, when you’re ready to really get noticeable results quickly, you should contact us about one-on-one coaching, mastermind groups, or ask your employer to hire us to do a workshop. . . .)
While you can scour the internet for great resources on career planning, muddle through recommendations, and slowly work through reading lists, we know your time, energy, and resources are limited. So this week we are announcing our fourth Apochromatik Book Bundle. These books are short (200-250 pages) and each is a relatively quick read while still providing a solid foundation so that you can build your skills and achieve your goals on the given topic.
Here are three books we’ve read recently that you might want to check out. Amazon links to purchase hard copies of these books are included below, but you can get them on any reading app, library, or even the used book store.
So without further blog text…here it is, the Apochromatik Book Bundle 4: Career Planning
Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance
Paperback – August 21, 2018
by Angela Duckworth (Author)
In this instant New York Times bestseller, Angela Duckworth shows anyone striving to succeed that the secret to outstanding achievement is not talent, but a special blend of passion and persistence she calls “grit.” “Inspiration for non-geniuses everywhere” (People).
The CEO Next Door: The 4 Behaviors that Transform Ordinary People into World-Class Leaders
Hardcover – March 6, 2018
by Elena L. Botelho (Author), Kim R. Powell (Author), Tahl Raz (Author)
Based on an in-depth analysis of over 2,600 leaders drawn from a database of more than 17,000 CEOs and C-suite executives, as well 13,000 hours of interviews, and two decades of experience advising CEOs and executive boards, Elena L. Botelho and Kim R. Powell overturn the myths about what it takes to get to the top and succeed.
Their groundbreaking research was the featured cover story in the May-June 2017 issue of Harvard Business Review. It reveals the common attributes and counterintuitive choices that set apart successful CEOs—lessons that we can apply to our own careers.
Your Best Year Ever: A 5-Step Plan for Achieving Your Most Important Goals
Hardcover – January 2, 2018
by Michael Hyatt (Author)
We all want to live a life that matters. We all want to reach our full potential. But too often we find ourselves overwhelmed by the day-to-day. Our big goals get pushed to the back burner--and then, more often than not, they get forgotten. New York Times bestselling author Michael Hyatt wants readers to know that it doesn't have to be this way. In fact, he thinks that this is the year readers can finally close the gap between reality and their dreams.
In Your Best Year Ever, Hyatt shares a powerful, proven, research-driven system for setting and achieving goals.
If you do want to go deeper, one way is through intensive experiences with active learning (particularly through coaching). Another way is a one-off workshop with active learning (where real-world application is on your own). We have found that, while active learning with ongoing support is generally the gold standard, the vast majority of professionals aren’t ready/willing/able to adopt that approach. In those situations, it can be better to start with a book on a given topic, and then the professional either decides to go further (maybe stepping up to a workshop down the road).
Of course, if you can benefit from further assistance processing feedback you’ve received or honing your skills and planning your career, don’t hesitate to contact us directly as we regularly work with clients on these issues.
For resources on Executive Presence, check out our Apochromatik Book Bundle 1: Executive Presence.
For resources on Leadership, check out our Apochromatik Book Bundle 2: Leadership.
For resources on Feedback, check out our Apochromatik Book Bundle 3: Feedback.