There are many people out there right now who are trying to figure out what direction to take their lives in. High school graduates and career changers need all the guidance they can get when they ponder the greatest decision of their lives.
As someone who is still trying to reinvent myself, this time on my own terms, I can tell you that it's important to seek out a variety of resources to help you examine your life through a variety of perspectives. The first thing I did last year, after deciding to take time out from pursuing a permanent position as a classroom teacher (a post for another day), was to head to the library to seek out some really great books.
Here are just a few of the books that really helped me to analyze all of the different options I had, by first reflecting upon my own values, background and knowledge. I consider myself to be a work in progress, and this blog is only the beginning of my reinvention. So, I am by no means an expert in this area, but I hope you get as much as I did out of the following books:
- Is Your Genius At Work? 4 Key Questions to Ask Before Your Next Career Move, by Dick Richards, really makes you think about what it is that you most love to do, to the point that you'd do it without being paid. The clues lie in our everyday habits. Your "genius" is all around you, and it's fun to figure out what it is!
- Every parent should read Rich Dad, Poor Dad: What the Rich Teach Their Kids About Money--That the Poor and the Middle Class Do Not! This unique book, by Robert T. Kiyosaki, calls into question why so many parents urge their children to become employees as opposed to employers. Hey, not everyone is cut out to be an entrepreneur, but are we limiting our children (or even ourselves) by suggesting that working for someone else is the only way to succeed?
- Stirring It Up: How to Make Money and Save the World, by Gary Hirshberg (CEO of Stonyfield Farm), will inspire CEO's of the present and the future to find innovative ways to establish and maintain a profitable, yet environmentally sound company. Even if you don't like yogurt, there's much to be learned from this revolutionary book.
I recently found a fantastic blog for entrepreneurs, called The Toilet Paper Entrepreneur, and recommended this last book as a must-read for all entrepreneurs. You can find some fantastic books there, as well as some great advice. According to Mike Michalowicz, "there is a BIG change afoot," and women will be play a substantial part in that change. Read about it in his recent post "The Changing Frontier of Entrepreneurship."
I was pleasantly surprised to find some children's books on the list of Best Entrepreneur Books That You Never Expected! When I saw the Dr. Seuss book, Oh, the Places You'll Go! on the list, I quickly ran to the library to get it. I wasn't familiar with this particular book (he has so many), and it's a perfect example of how much picture books apply to people of all ages.
This picture book stresses that "you'll move mountains" but that "Bang-ups and Hang-ups can happen to you." It will inspire teenagers and adults to make their mark on the world, but to expect to encounter obstacles and times of doubt. There are not many books that are realistic, yet inspirational, at the same time. That's why this picture book is perfect for anyone who is in a state of transition, especially graduates and career changers.
Young children may appreciate the illustrations and rhyming pattern of this Dr. Seuss book, but many of them will not understand the concept behind it. An adult could simplify the messages, though, and start a conversation about the importance of having confidence in yourself, for example. You don't always have to read all of the words in a picture book to learn from it!
Wherever your life may take you, or should I say wherever you take your life, I hope you always rely on books to help you find your way. Even picture books can help you to fill in the pieces of the puzzle to reveal your "big picture."
If you keep reading, "Oh, the Places You'll Go!"
Would you like to recommend any other books that helped you to reexamine your life or way of thinking?
