I recently received an advance copy of asoon-to-be-published English language book called “The Way Up — How to KeepYour Career Moving in the Right Direction.”
The author, Donald Hurzeler, is adistinguished 40-year veteran of corporate America, a published writer andpublic speaker, an accomplished amateur photographer, marathon runner, anddespite being retired and a grandfather, still an avid surfer and diver.
In other words, he knows a thing or twoabout competing and achieving success in a sustainable way at the personal andorganizational level.
Career advice, on the surface, seems likeone of those topics that has been so widely written and spoken about over theyears that it would be difficult to find anything new to say.
On the other hand, career advice is a bitlike advice on personal health. The basic principles don’t change, but newknowledge can improve our grasp of current realities and opportunities, whichare subject to change for a host of reasons.
With careers, there is also the additionalfactor of generational differences, in attitudes, educational experience,average economic circumstances, entry-level job opportunities, etc. — and theseare significant in shaping attitudes, habits and expectations towards work.
In other words, revisiting the subject ofcareer advice is useful and timely. It’s especially relevant today to the largenumbers of college graduates who are having trouble finding jobs (in the U.S.as well as China), and facing the challenge of making career choices that canhelp them differentiate themselves and gain competitive advantage in the jobmarket.
“The Way Up” is written from an Americanperspective, mainly with the North American reader in mind; but a lot of thewisdom contained in it is fairly universal in its application. It is aimed atrecent graduates, as well as for mid-career types who want to enhance theirprospects of success.
One chapter also addresses the situation ofpeople who have been fired from their job. This chapter has the reassuring titleof “Everyone Gets Fired At Least Once.”
One aspect of the book which I like is theauthor’s ability to dig up and insert relevant quotable quotes.
The first chapter deals with issues oftimeliness and having a positive mental attitude.
On the importance of always being timely:
“You will find the key to success under thealarm clock.”
■ Benjamin Franklin
The second chapter of the book deals withaccountability. On the importance of building a personal reputation based onbeing accountable for your performance, chapter two contains these quotes:
“You can’t build a reputation on what you aregoing to do.”
■ Henry Ford
“Responsible persons are mature persons whohave taken charge of themselves and their conduct, who own their own actionsand own up to them, who answer for them.”
■ William J. Bennett
The fifth chapter talks about pursuing ongoinglearning beyond the confines of your current job.
It opens with:
“The World is a book, and those who do nottravel read only a page.”
■ St. Augustine
That same chapter closes with:
“The whole purpose of education is to turnmirrors into windows.”
■ Stanley J. Smith
The eighth chapter deals with the value ofhaving personal coaches and mentors, and starts out with:
“A good coach will make his players seewhat they can be rather than what they are.”
■ Ara Parseghian
The same chapter concludes with:
“I never cease to be amazed at the power ofthe coaching process to draw out the skills or talent that was previouslyhidden within an individual.”
■ John Russell
I like this book, for its practical, realworld, experience-based advice, most of which can transcend nationalboundaries.
It is due to be published early in 2011 inthe U.S., and I hope a book publisher in China soon acquires the Chineselanguage rights, so that Chinese readers can benefit from it.
Full disclosure:my big brother, Robert E. Gorman, isthe editor of this book. One interesting thing about that is that the author,himself a widely published writer, sought the value-added services of a goodprofessional editor, which demonstrates humility and commitment to bringing thebest possible product to market.
The author, Mr. Hurzeler, and I havesomething in common, because I often seek my big brother’s advice, on editingmatters as well as many other things.
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