Synopsis
Do you feel like a square peg in a round hole sometimes?
Do you feel like what you're doing is not really meant for you?
Would you rather be doing something else entirely but don't know where to start?
In our lives, we don't ask ourselves enough questions. We follow the lead of others because they seem to know what they're doing. Along the way, you may lose track of who you really are. You mistake your identity for your job. Deep down, however, you know you were not meant to be living like this. You even have a plan to switch gears. But you never do.
Looking for answers? Try asking questions instead!
Daniel has been through the journey of switching careers. He's not offering you answers, though. His goal is to help you ask yourself LOTS and LOTS of questions to get where you want to be. This helpful book is what he wishes his past self had at his disposal.
Hopefully it can be useful to you on your own journey!
You're Not Your Job: Going Above and Beyond for Yourself is a self-help / personal development guide by debut author, Daniel Voigt Godoy. Godoy enters the creative profession with over 25 years in a variety of roles, from technology scientist to teacher.
In what could be seen as a 50-20-10 split between guidance, personal experience and thought-provoking exercises for the reader, this is a guide that can easily be consumed in one sitting. The reader exercises are also helpfully repeated in the two appendix sections towards the end of the book, which is great for those wanting to see them all laid out in one place.
As a book of 127 pages go, this is a tidy and manageable read, with a strong cover design and pages that are beautifully formatted with the inclusion of simple illustrative diagrams and note-style sections to encourage reader engagement. The tone of voice strikes the right balance of professional and informal, and gives the strong impression of an author who has been there, done that and got the t-shirt to prove it. The content treats readers as equals and supports them to see beyond the 9-5 day job, in a way which they are unlikely to receive from a traditional employer (for obvious reasons).
Personally, I was not always convinced by some of the recommendations made by the author. For example, the attitude of "living for the moment" when it comes to financial savings and some of the slightly probing questions placed on readers at the end of the opening chapters. It is a difficult tightrope to walk when trying to get people to see the bigger picture, but when author suggestion dips into something akin to formal guidance, that is when a reader should be seeking the guidance of someone who knows their onions (and is fully qualified for them too!)
You're Not Your Job is a thoroughly engaging title and one that would suit the majority of those in any form of employment. Godoy's entry into the publication market is a strong one, an author you could probably have a laugh or two with over a coffee. Entirely personal opinion, but just a hunch.
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