Make It Work: Navigate Your Career Without Leaving Your Organization

By Joe Frodsham and Bill Gargiulo

Book Overview

Yes, you can do what you love in your current organization Learn how to stay where you are and do what energizes and engages you with this sophisticated yet profoundly practical guide to career fulfillment.

Make It Work delivers expert advice and dozens of smart, easy-to-use tools to help you discover your passions, choose a direction, practice new skills, and do what you love to do-every day.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0891062084
• ISBN13: 9780891062080
• Release Date: March 2005
• Publisher: Nicholas Brealey Publishing
• Length: 228 Pages
• Weight: 0.76 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 6.3" x 9.2"

Customer Reviews

Unlike other self-help books, I never had a "what a crock" reaction

So many people that are unhappy in their current jobs look outside at what appears to be the greener pastures. A large percentage eventually succumbs to the illusion of "it's better over there" and change jobs, only to find that there really is little difference. Many of the others remain at their job, happy in the security and stability, yet inwardly unhappy and resentful. The authors make a powerful case for another option, instead of looking over the fence, scan your current pasture with an idea of applying the proper fertilizer and periodic watering. In other words conduct a detailed examination of your current company and your passions and see if there is compatibility between your passions and what the company needs. Options are that some job description needs to be changed, a current job needs to be done differently, a new one created or a job developed where there is no detailed description. The positions of the authors make an enormous amount of sense for employees and employers. The cost of losing a productive employee is enormous, so it makes economic sense for employers to be reasonably flexible in allowing employees to expand their horizons. Changing jobs is a traumatic experience that should be carefully thought out and often fails to generate an improvement in your emotional, psychological and professional well being. Therefore, if you can find or create something better where you are at, then by all means you should do so. A self-help book that makes sense, contains nothing that generated the "what a crock" reaction when I read it, and has a lot of sound, practical advice, it should be read by everyone who is unhappy in their current job.

Should Be Required Reading

"Make it Work" is a rare find. A book that gets right to the principles and practices that will transform your career and your life.

A great career guide

I picked it up and I couldn't put it down. It's got the right tools and advice for a person that career minded. It also made me realize that I can get the brio that I want out of my career, just where I am. This is a great read!

Powerful and Practical

I've read alot of career and self help books about success in organizational settings....they all primarily prescribe a formula for actions and behaviours that if magically applied somehow will lead to a better work life. Although some of these have helped me, non have really focused on the fundamental principle of success which is You. This book is powerful because it recognizes and starts with the premise that change must happen from within first....it is not about an organizations gifts or limitations but rather yours. The other powerful thing which I encountered was that it was simple and practical and led me through a few focused exercises that helped me reframe the things I love to do, what an organization is and is not, and then how to apply what I love in an organization successfuly resulting ultimately in a career that will flourish. This book is refreshing, simple, real, and enduring. It does not rehash all the old business and career advice but rather creates a practical approach to making You and your career work for you. Finally the evidence is in that career and organization hopping is a fad of the 90's...but not a requisite in the 21st century. I highly recommend this book...it has helped me deeply and it's effects will be long lasting. Sarah Winthrop (London, England)

Make it Work Is Making My Career Work . . . Finally

Simpy put, this book changed my career, and in many respects my life. Unlike so many business, career and self-help books, "Make it Work" gets beyond the hype and cliches and offers real principles and a process for building a successful career inside a company. It is both a good read, and a great system. It offers compelling theory and pragmatic principles. These powerful principles (e.g. Passionate Core) are found only here and are immensly useful in surfacing a person's unique needs and bringing them effectively into their work and career. I have given copies of "Make it Work" to the people I manage as it provides them with the tools to take ownership of their career and bring their passions to work everyday. It's a win for them and a win for the company.