Career Coaching and
Business
Coaching
By the Book
The Cathy Goodwin Branch of Amazon.Com
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The
Definite Dozen: My
Top 12
Career Books
Working Identity: Unconventional
Strategies for Reinventing Your Career by Herminia Ibarra. If
you're wondering why conventional career counseling doesn't usually
work, here's the book you need. Based on solid research with real
midlife career-changers.
One
Person, Multiple Careers by Marci Alboher. One of the best career
books I've read in a long time. Inspiring yet realistic advice for
balancing challenges and joys of multiple careers by a lawyer who is
now a full time journalist and author.
The Cult of
Personality by Annie Murphy Paul. Why
personality tests really don't work. Only for the open-minded.
Confidence by Rosabeth Moss Kanter. How organizations and individuals
can recover from losing streaks and make the most of winning streaks.
Fascinating -- a must read.
Making Work Work by Julie Morgenstern. Some career books seem to be
recycling old advice. This book offers unique, timely tips for thriving
at work in the 21st century.
Fear and other
Uninvited Guests by Harriet Lerner, Ph.D.
Excellent advice on careers and emotions. Be able to live without your
job. Unhappiness requires courage to change, but living with
unhappiness cam help us become brave enough to change. Commonsense
meets wisdom and inspiration.
Finding Your Own North Star:
Claiming the Life You Were Meant to Live by Martha Beck.,
Ph.D. If you have to pack ONE book for your transition journey,
choose this
one. Now in paperback.
The Comfort Trap by
Judith Sills, Ph.D. Are you riding a dead horse? Sills offers
realistic, effective guidance to finding a lively replacement. Don't
look for airy platitudes here. She's not afraid to use the D word --
discipline. Recognize the pain, she says. Look back at your life: Do
you have a pattern of riding dead horses? Of course, reviewing history
can become another trap. Do you have a vision? Can you take even small
steps to move to your vision? Sometimes Sills sounds more like a coach
than a therapist -- but no matter. I'm not aware of any other book that
addresses this increasingly important topic.
The Sound of Paper by
Julia Cameron. When your creativity seems to have dried up, says
Cameron, hang in there. Keep working. Commit to a structure. This
latest book from Julia Cameron (famed for The Artist's Way) has a
message that is very similar to Judith Sills's call to discipline --
but very different package and style.
Creating the Work You Love :
Courage, Commitment and Career by Rick Jarow, Ph.D. Want an
anticareer instead of a career? Jarow, a professor of Eastern
religion, has written a book that is extremely practical and
down-to-earth. He offers much food for thought -- not a quick fix.
First impressions by Ann Demarais PhD and Valerie White PhD. First
impressions count. These authors tell you how to make the most of
encounters with business and relationship partners.
Embracing Fear and Finding the
Courage to Live Your Life by Thom Rutledge. One of the most
intelligent, insightful books you can find about fear and other parts
of
life. No quick fixes, no jargon, no glitz. Solid wisdom based on the
author's life experience. Perfect gift for a friend in transition (and
you, too).
Walking in this World: The
Practical Art of Creativity by Julia Cameron. Sure, there's some
repetition from earlier books. But if you want to keep progressing in
the Artist's Way, this book has some terrific new ideas and insights.
The Artist's Way : A Spiritual Path
to Higher Creativity by Julia Cameron. A classic. A workbook, not
a "read-only." Follow this program and change your life.
The Artist's Way at Work: Riding
the Dragon.by Mark Bryan, Julia Cameron and Catherine Allen.
Those whose lives are firmly rooted in the business world may prefer
this later version of The Artist's Way.
The mentor's spirit : life lessons
on leadership and the art of encouragement by Marsha Sinetar. From
the author of Do what you love, the money willl follow, an audiotape to
challenge your beliefs about mentors.
What Should I Do With My Life
by Po Bronson.
Not a self-help book -- a collection of interviews with real people who
changed careers -- or wanted to. Messy and uneven -- just like real
career changes -- and extremely valuable.
The Big Sister's Guide to the World of Work: The
Inside Rules Every Working Girl Must Know by Marcelle Langan DiFalco
and Jocelyn Greenky Herz. Targeted to beginners and women but I think
almost anyone -- male, female, newbie, experienced -- will learn a
lot.
Tools for the Job Search
BRAG! by Peggy Klaus. I'm
shameless! But often
my clients
are reluctant to acknowledge their positive qualities, let alone flaunt
them. Whether you're changing jobs, strategeizing for promotion, or
promoting your business, you need to present yourself
How to Say It In Your Job Search by
Robbie Kaplan. The best I've seen so far: resumes, cover letters,
thank yous for the 21st century mid-career professional. A must for the
midlife job-seeker.
Don't Send a Resume by Jeffrey J.
Fox
Not for everyone. But if you have a successful
track record, a gift for problem-solving, and an ability to sell
yourself, this book mayhelp you move faster than any other. Read the
reviews first.
The New Job Security by Pam
Lassiter. A realistic look at career strategies for those who have had
a successful corporate track record. Read before you need to act! Not
for mavericks and limited help for drastic career change.
Second Acts by Stephen Pollan
with Michael Levine. Based on the author's own "second act" and stories
of those he coaches and supports. Second on "what could I do next" is
especially valuable.
Business
Choices
Go it Alone by Bruce Judson
offers realistic guidance for about starting a business after corporate
life. Some critics say he doesn't offer clear guidance on choosing your
direction, but I believe he does offer some excellent suggestions --
and after that, you're on your own or working one-to-one with a coach.
Pitch Like a Girl (by Ronna
Lichtenberg) argues that men and women have different styles. Recognize
the style of your target person and your pitch will be more
likely to succeed, whether you're hoping for a raise or a sale to a
major account. The pink vs.
blue may be too cutesy for some but she does get drive her point home
(if I may continue the
metaphor).
The E-Myth Revisited by Michael
Gerber. Ask almost any business consultant or coach to recommend a book
-- and you're likely to end up with this one. Great content, although
most readers wish he'd get an editor.
The Naked Employee: How Technology
is Compromising Workplace Privacy by Frederick S. Lane. You're
not paranoid: Big Brother has arrived! However, Lane offers a balanced
view, demonstrating why companies have stepped up their concerns.
Internet Marketing
for Less Than $500/ Year by Marcia Yudkin.
Indispensable guide for the newbie e-preneur -- and valuable tips for
experienced web business owners too.
The Tipping Point: How Little
Things Can Make a Big Difference by Malcolm Gladwell. A wonderful
collection of New Yorker articles about contemporary marketing
phenomena. Why do men buy Dockers? How did Hush Puppies make a
come-back? Do men and women read ads differently? And a whole lot more,
delivered in the appealing style of a novel.
Free Agent Nation: How America's
New Independent Workers Are Transforming the Way We Live By
Daniel H. Pink. If you're surfing this website, you've probably
considered becoming a Free Agent yourself. This quiet revolution
transforms our institutions, from education to politics to medical
care. A must-read.
To build the life
you want, create the work you love: The spiritual dimension of
entrepreneuring by Marsha Sinetar, Ph.D.
The Psychology of Business and
Careers
The Gifted Adult: A
revolutionary guide for liberating everyday genius by Mary-Elaine
Jacobsen and Cheryl Woodruff.
Gifted adults can be accused of being scattered, hyperactive,
oversensitive and blunt. They're often lonely and frustrated -- and
reading this book can change their lives.
Mistakes were Made (but not by me)
Why We
Justify Foolish Beliefs, Bad Decisions, and Hurtful Acts. By Carol
Tavris and Elliot Aronson.
A rare combination of scientific knowledge and readability. Explains
the way we think about our
mistakes and shows how this style of thinking can be deceptive and even
dangerous. Recommended highly
for coaches, consultants, and anyone who wants to understand how our
minds really work.
Healing Through the Dark Emotions:
The Wisdom of Grief, Fear, and Despair by Miriam Greenspan. Draws on
her own experience with grief and her years as a clinician. A key
point: When we try to suppress emotional discomfort, we get a boomerang
effect, which may be self-destructive. By surrendering and attending,
we transform dark emotions into gratitude, faith and joy.
My Time by Abigail Trafford, a
book about midlife transition, has become controversial. My own review
on amazon.com was rather critical and an amazing number of people
took the time to write to say, "I disagree!" You decide.
The Positive Power of Negative
Thinking by Julie K. Norem, Ph.D. Are people always telling you to
"Look on the bright side" and "Stay positivee?" Norem argues against
one-size-fits-all strategies. Some people perform at their best when
they embrace their pessimistic style and meet anxiety head-on.
The Tending Instinct by
Shelley Taylor, Ph.D.
Taylor, a distinguished research psychologist, highlights male vs.
female reactions to stress. Summarizing research from several
disciplines, she notes that nurturing, traditionally associated with
women, is crucial for the well-being of society. Recommended for
readers interested in stress as well as those pursuing the eternal
question: How do men and women differ, psychologically speaking?
Toxic Emotions at Work by
Peter Frost, Ph.D. Written for managers to want to help employees
survive on-the-job-pain, a welcome recognition that jobs can be
harmful. Frost uses metaphor of toxins that spread around an
organization, poisoning the members, and warns that toxin-handlers, who
save others, may do so only by sacrificing their own needs.
The Gaslight
Effect by Dr. Robin Stern. How
to deal with people who are trying to control and manipulate you at
work and elsewhere. Lots of
common sense here and a very enjoyable read. Will remind many of the
assertiveness training so popular in the 1970s.
The Breakout Principle: How to
Activate the Natural Trigger That Maximizes Creativity, Athletic
Performance, Productivity and Personal Well-Being by Herbert Benson and
William Proctor. From the best-selling author of Relaxation Response, a
surprising technique to bolster performance in any area of life.
Coaching for
Performance by John Whitmore. What coaching
is and why it works -- demystified. Based on Gallowey's Inner Game
principles. Very helpful!
Executive Coaching:
Pratices & Perspectives edited by
Catherine Fitzgerald and Jennifer Garvey Berger. A thoughtful, sensible
book by successful executive coaches. Excellent sections on coaching
practice and midlife changes. Highly recommended.
The Myth of Laziness by Mel
Levine, M.D. Not accomplishing as much as you like? Stop beating
yourself up, says this psychiatrist-author: you may need to compensate
for cognitive and other functional deficits. And ifyou have children,
this book may make the difference between being ridiculed as a failure
and becoming a triumphant successful adult.
How People Change by Allen
Wheelis, M.D.
Small, insightful book. A warning: This book was written over thirty
years ago and some sections will be offensive to today's readers. Read
for the gems of wisdom sprinkled throughout and for the commonsense
view of change. The author writes from experience, not from textbooks.
Excuse
Me Your Life Is Waiting by Lynn Grabhorn
Even if you don't buy into Grabhorn's phillosophy and the whole Law of
Attraction concept, the author's recommendations make sense.
Leverage
your best, ditch the rest by Scott Blanchard and
Madeleine
Homan.
An introduction to mainstream coaching (which is not what I offer). As
I wrote in my review on amazon.com, the authors are probably great
coaches -- but they didn't learn their skills in coach school.
Just for Fun
The Craggy Hole in
My Heart and the Cat Who Fixed It by Geneen
Roth. Beautiful memoir of food, cats and family. A wonderful holiday
gift for
the cat-lover in your life.