As the days get longer and the temperature rises, there’s no better time to indulge in some summer reading that will make you laugh, and level up your skills as a professional at the same time. Once you’ve made your way through some excellent recommendations for books on personality styles this simmer, why not make the most of your leisurely days by delving into a couple of captivating books on career development?
This first one isn’t what you would call a traditional book on career development, but it’s still an essential read for all Career Development Professionals; Talking to Canadians: A Memoir, by Rick Mercer. You’re probably thinking, what does Rick know about Career Development? …a lot, actually. His own career development journey can easily be called unconventional, but he still managed to land his dream job. “I know I have the best job. It is a little embarrassing how much I enjoy going to work, I know many people do not have the luxury of a job that they like going to every morning. It’s a gift.” For 15 years, he crossed the country countless times, met with hundreds of people, and tried his hand at everything from air ambulance crew to zoo keeping. He also talks about his struggles with school, and how it shaped him, while recognizing the value of teachers. As Career Development Professionals, we can learn a lot from Rick, and why not have a laugh while we’re doing it?
Rick Mercer isn’t the only person who loves their job; there are lots of people who love their job, and Sandra Summerhayes might just love hers more! For her book Choosing Happiness at Work: Stories from Truly Happy People, Sandra interviewed a bunch of people from different industries, experiences and levels of employment who are genuinely happy in their jobs; everything from cruise ship staff to CEOs, everyone had a unique story to share. By reading through the stories of the people featured in the book, you can see that it truly doesn’t matter what field you work in, or what path your career journey has taken you on, finding YOUR happiness is what matters the most. If you’re in a leadership position, or you’re helping people find work, you get to play a part in people finding their happiness. These stories are inspiring and realistic at the same time.
I’m kind of old school and I like turning the pages of a paper book, but the convenience of an eBook is pretty alluring. On the other hand you can’t beat a good audio book when you’re out on a hike, or relaxing in a comfortable outdoor chair. I “read” Rick Mercer’s book while taking my dog for walks in the evening; there’s something about listening to his story told in his own voice that really made it come alive. Grab a copy of your chosen format and dig in. Once you get started, you’re going to have a hard time putting either of them down. Here’s to a summer filled with growth, learning, and endless possibilities. Happy reading, and may this season be the catalyst for a remarkable journey ahead!
Find Talking to Canadians: A Memoir at your local library, and Choosing Happiness at Work: Stories from Truly Happy People on clsr.ca or Amazon.
Brad Whitehorn – BA, CCDP is the Associate Director at CLSR Inc. He was thrown into the career development field headfirst after completing a Communications degree in 2005, and hasn’t looked back! Since then, Brad has worked on the development, implementation and certification for various career and personality assessments (including Personality Dimensions®), making sure that Career Development Practitioners get the right tools to best serve their clients.