by Herminia Ibarra
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Product Description
This book presents a powerful model for career reinvention that reverses conventional wisdom. It includes fascinating case studies of personal and professional reinventions - from literature professor to stockbroker, from psychiatrist to Buddhist monk, and from investment banker to fiction writer, among others. It gives readers a new way to understand change in their lives. Career change is not a step-by-step linear process - it's crooked and takes much longer than we think. Nor is change the result of one big event. Rather, many small steps add up to a successful change.
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Average Customer Review:
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful:
 Fascinating read for professionals thinking about changing their career course, 2010-02-05
This is a fascinating book discussing the process by which mid-career professionals change their career paths. The process is never linear, it generally involves a bit of trial and error, a lot of time (3-5 years for a transition to be complete), along with a determined resolve to avoid heading right back onto the path one is trying to escape. It involves coming to grips with giving up certain labels and status and gradually crafting a new identity, and testing the fit of the new identity.
The book is not directed at a general audience, but rather at professionals looking to change course. Ibarra draws her information from broad sources, but her cases studies are primarily highly-educated professionals -- physicians, university professors, lawyers, MBAs, and consultants. All have undergraduate degrees, most have postgraduate degrees. All have invested at least ten years in their fields and have achieved some level of success. Ibarra noted that these individuals have much at stake in making a career change. Although the topic is similar, this is nothing like What Color Is Your Parachute? and other books suitable for a general audience. It's also not a find-a-job book; it assumes that career reinventers have time and financial resources to engage in some leisurely exploration of options.
I found the specific case studies to be very illunimating. Ibarra shares the paths of a psychiatrist who becomes a Buddhist monk, a global management consultant who becomes a strategist for nonprofits, a Spanish literature professor who becomes a small-town financial advisor. If nothing else, it clearly shows that there are vastly different drivers for different people. One person's dream job is another person's nightmare. Knowing one's self and being true to that self is a key part of the process.
Some folks will also find the writing a bit academic. Ibarra spent thirteen years as a Harvard professor, and started the book while on sabbatical. At the time of publication, she was a professor at an MBA program in France. The academic rigor comes through in her writing -- I very much enjoyed it; others may not.
Overall, a very good book, well-researched and well-written, though not for everyone.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
 Look for a better book, 2009-12-12
Indeed, there were one or two ideas which I took abroad (repeated throughout the book), but nothing more. For me, the examples-people chosen to describe different paths to new careers were too far from where I am (by the way, did any of them had children?). I agree with some comments here that this book doesn't provide any practical navigational help for those who do have little money to bridge the move, and/or have children to take care of; or the emotional support needed to convince yourself you really have chosen the wrong path. One could say that this is perhaps mission impossible as not everybody can afford a radical career change, but then if you are not a relatively wealthy, single or a childless couple to afford this at the first place, the book is not really worth of your time.
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful:
 This Book Still Works, 2009-12-09
This book was written in 2004, so you may wonder if it's still relevant 6 years later. I definitely thought so, but agree with some other reviewers that it isn't for everyone. If you're someone who's been frustrated trying to think through what you really want and planning how to get there, this book will be a good wake up. It's a reminder that it's easy to overthink and that we often learn by "doing" instead, just trying things out. Doesn't mean you'll succeed on the first or second try, but even getting feedback can be a big help moving forward. In contrast, it's hard to get feedback when you're living in your head.
Some reviewers criticize the book's examples as being mainly for older, wealthier job seekers. While true to a point, much of Ibarra's advice has much broader relevance. For example, she talks about the importance of getting "small wins" and doing change "experiments" by identifying/taking on projects in your current job that are more in line with your interests or by doing volunteer work outside of the office to get these experiences. Anyone can do that and you don't have to risk it all by jumping into a new job to see if you're on the right track. Also worth noting that the book isn't against doing self-reflection work. It helps to have an idea of what direction you think you want to go and to find a way to move toward it. But Ibarra's key advice is to get out and actually TRY something and to do it sooner, rather than later.
Final points. I agree with the critique of several others that the book is a bit "academic" - it is written by a professor after all. But on the plus side, it is thoughtful and well written. Some of these books can sound like you're listening to a bad motivational speaker - lots of fake rah-rah stuff. Not this one. So that's my take. If you stumble on this review, I can assure you that the advice in this book ages well. The one caveat is that it's not for everyone. You may want to browse the negative reviews and critiques here too and if you find yourself nodding in agreement, maybe take a pass.
0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
An Excellent Book, 2009-02-13
I highly recommend this book for career changers. It's well written, thorough and relevant.
0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
 get going already, 2008-12-29
This book is an adventurous exploration of career change. It works well for mid-career persons who have time to jump around. i agree there can be too much analysis and not enough action. Check this book.
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