I recently got an e-mail from a guy who wanted to know if there were any entertaining career guidebooks on the market. He said he had gone to the library and taken a bunch of popular ones out (I shall not name names), but they all made him fall asleep. After I got over the initial, self-absorbed reaction of wanting to ask this guy if he realized I had written a career book, I decided to do the right thing and research some books that were both smart AND extremely funny. Here's why...
I'm a huge believer in the 10,000 hour rule, which means you need to study and read up on a subject if you want to improve. Given that each person likes a different writing style, I think it's only fair I respond to the reader's request by trying to find something that might help him stay awake long enough to learn a thing or two, don't you? He needs humor as a way to engage in learning - I can respect that. Hey, I like funny too! So, I went to work and actually found, not one, but TWO hilarious and insightful guides. Check these out:
Dig Your Job: Keep It or Find a New One - I've actually been reading the author's blog for some time now. GL Hoffman writes "What Would Dad Say," a no-nonsense and very humorous advice column for professionals. A serial entrepreneur himself, his self-proclaimed 5-word resume is "Frequently Wrong, Never In Doubt." There are over 200 short, easy-to-read career advice articles packed into this book which you can get as an e-book for only $9.99. Honestly, if you are lucky enough to get GL as your private career mentor (Hint: join Twitter and follow him), you are guaranteed to laugh all the way to a better job. For those who can't afford him (Do I even need to put the classic joke in here?), there's always the book. And, he's agreed to let me give away a copy to the person that posts the best six-word resume about themselves below. I'll be judging. The funniest six-word summary of your career woes wins! You have until this Friday (January 16th) to get in your entry.
PS - YES, you can post answers for BOTH books - why not try to sweep the contest?
J.T. O'Donnell is a nationally syndicated career strategist, author and founder of Careerealism.com. Check out the new CAREEREALISM University and CAREEREALISM Private Network which provide affordable private career coaching with JT.
