Do What You Love for the Rest of Your Life: A Practical Guide to Career Change and Personal Renewal

By Bob Griffiths

Book Overview

An inspiring book for anyone who wants, or needs, to change careers is offered by someone who has done it smoothly and successfully. This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0345441397
• ISBN13: 9780345441393
• Release Date: December 2003
• Publisher: Ballantine Books
• Length: 336 Pages
• Weight: 0.65 lbs.
• Dimensions: 8.2" x 0.7" x 5.5"

Customer Reviews

Wow--Bob Griffiths wrote this book for me!

I was attracted to the title of this book since I have been in the same field for 30 years and have begun to feel burnt out. I didnt see a way out before normal retirement, until I read this book. This book has been very helpful to me since it includes a step by step guide to identifying your passions, what you do well, your fears, your financial picture (including differentiating between needs and wants), family concerns and more. Equally encouraging are first person reports from people who actually made dramatic life style changes and are doing what they love. I have gone over the sections and am just finishing evaluating my finances and feel that I am in a better position to make a change in the next few years. I now see that some lifestyle changes, an early or normal retirement with a reduced income and a part time job could give me options that will improve the quality of life for myself and my family.Sometimes you need a nudge or another way of seeing things differently. This book has given that to me and I highly recommend it.

Wish I had this book 4 years ago!!

When I left the corporate world in June of 1998, it was quite a difficult period -- after 14 years, I left a high-paying job at a movie company in Hollywood and moved to a small Northern California town (without a paying job waiting for me) to write plays and screenplays. It was trial and error all the way -- with the emphasis on Error. This past Christmas I was given this book as a gift. Wow! What common sense guidelines, interesting case histories, and superb advice from Mr. Griffiths! While I can't undo past mistakes, this book is STILL useful in helping me plot out my goals and do it successfully. I urge anyone who is thinking of changing careers in mid-life (or even before) TO READ THIS BOOK! It will save you a lot of grief. Take it from one who knows!

Bob Griffiths' book changed our lives!

When my husband was down-sized a few weeks ago from his corporate job, with its hefty salary, we were both depressed and fearful about the future. Then, we read Bob Griffiths' intelligent new guide to career change and personal renewal. My husband had been an industrial chemist for years, but had often felt that he had chosen the wrong profession. Secretly, he felt that he belonged in academics. Bob's sage advice in his book encouraged him to apply for a job teaching college chemistry at a prestigious college. At the time, he believed that he had no chance of landing an interview, let alone being offered the position. However, he was chosen over forty other candidates, and there is an excellent chance that his contract will be renewed for next year. It is true that he makes less money in academics than he did in industry, but he has never felt better about himself and his life, and that makes me happy, not only for him, but about our marriage, which had suffered because of his dissatisfaction with his former job. We both feel that we have a new lease on life. I highly recommend Bob Griffiths' book to anyone who is tired of the same old grind. He's a superb coach who inspires you to realize your dream in life, but he is also a Dutch-uncle when it comes to helping you deal with the practical and financial aspects of changing your career.

Well-written, intelligent guide to reinventing your life.

This is a must-read for baby boomers who feel like tearing up their resumes and starting over again. Griffiths' own story of how he reinvented his crazy Wall Street life is compelling and instructive on its own, but he has added to that the stories of many others who faced all those obstacles that keep most people from doing what is right for them, instead of what our culture tells them is right. The writing is crisp and clear: "Money ruled me for most of my life," he confesses. "Despite all my outward success, I had little sense of self worth." He made more money than he ever imagined, and was deeper in debt than he could ever handle. At age 50 he made a sharp turn and since then has become a nationally recognized, award-winning playwright, an actor, director, and, now, author: a satisfying life. It's easy to say, "I hate my work/life." It's another to find the courage to make the sacrifices necessary to do something about it. Griffiths provides a clear and compelling road map for the mind, the wallet, and the family of people who know they want a change, but need some help figuring our how to go about it, from the dream to the reality.

Powerful, moving, and immensely helpful!

"Do What You Love" stands miles above the rest. It's not just another "here's how to right a killer resume" kind of book, but rather deals with the whole person - especially the fears surrounding a big move like this. Griffiths, along with the other career changers he surveyed, share how he did it and the issues they all had to work through. Their personal testimonies are inspiring, besides offering practical help. It's also great to read Griffiths' sensitive treatment of the spiritual component. He encourages us to de-compartmentalize our lives, to integrate our personal, professional, and spiritual selves, and take time to get to know ourselves before we embark on this major life change. On top of it all, he's an excellent writer.