The Five Patterns of Extraordinary Careers: The Guide for Achieving Success and Satisfaction by James M. Citrin and Richard A. Smith. This is a refreshing look at the Self-Help Career book genre. Job seekers, employers, and human resource professionals - in short, anyone thats interested in enriching their career - will benefit from this book. THE FIVE PATTERNS OF EXTRAORDINARY CAREERS
1. Understand the Value of You. People with extraordinary careers understand how value is created in the workplace, and translate that knowledge into action, building their personal value over each phase of their careers.
2. Practice Benevolent Leadership. People with extraordinary careers do not claw their way to the top, they are carried there.
3. Overcome the Permission Paradox. People with extraordinary careers overcome one of the great Catch-22s of business: You cant get the job without experience and you cant get the experience without the job.
4. Differentiate Using the 20/80 Principle of Performance. People with extraordinary careers do their defined jobs exceptionally well but dont stop there. They storm past pre-determined objectives to create breakthrough ideas and deliver unexpected impact.
5. Find the Right Fit (Strengths, Passions & People). People with extraordinary careers make decisions with the long-term in mind. They willfully migrate toward positions that fit their natural strengths and passions and where they can work with people they like and respect.
The authors have developed a razor-sharp vocabulary that brings welcome dialogue about careers into the new age of business. The executives in this book are all focused on their career, this is one aspect of those with successful careers. The authors have proven that ignoring ones career can greatly supress chances at success.
Is it the best book I ever read? No, but it did help me to focus my attention on skills I was utilizing, just not to my best advantage.
