Average Rating:
Rating:  - Post 9/11 Career Reflections
I am a New Yorker who was living here on September 11th, 2001. 9/11 is shorthand for so many things these days, I suppose it is something different for all of us. For me, the events that unfolded here, among many other things, caused me to reconsider the professional choices I have made. If our lives can change (or be taken from us) in an instant, then I had better be satisfied with who I am and what I'm doing in my career...Since then, I've been looking for books and other resources to help me sort through how to decide what I want to do next in my life. I've bought a couple of books on this topic, but overall they been very unsatisfying. Second Acts is the best resource I've found to sort through how I create the career and life I want in uncertain times. What's best about the book is that the steps outlined by Pollan and Levine are concrete and helpful--a rarity with this kind of book, and I feel like I can really learn from the examples they've taken from other peoples lives. Already, the book has helped me to create a plan to take actions that will help me make changes in my professional life that will enable me to lead the life I want. I wholeheartedly recommend this book!
Rating: - Dreams Can Come True: And This Book Proves It!
This book changed my life. Literally. Stuck in a job rut, unsure of how to make my long held dreams come true, I picked up "Second Acts". Not only do Pollan and Levine carefully lay out a strategy for distilling your dream down to its essence, but they also guide readers through the most common obstacles those trying to change their life encounter, many of which are actually self created. Their advice is simple, straightforward, and easy to understand.If you've always dreamed of making a change in your life, either small or large, but were too afraid or unsure of where to start , then this is the book for you . Buy "Second Acts"-then start yours!
Rating:  - Excellent resource for midlife career changers
Stephen Pollan draws on his background as lawyer and financial advisor, once again demonstrating that life is the best preparation for a career as a life coach. His book offers the familiar promise, "It's never too late," but with some surprising twists.The best part of this book is the section on deciding what you want to do with your life. Pollan's exercises are original and would, I believe, help many people to discover their own next step. For instance, Pollan urges readers to review activities that they love -- and also places that draw forth a passionate response. His question, "What need does this passion address?" is extremely helpful and, unfortunately, rarely asked. Implementation sections are helpful but I would encourage readers to seek supplementary guidance. Pollan suggests that a degree from University of Phoenix may be as helpful, in some cases, as a degree from Harvard. I encourage my own clients to talk to alumni from any school. Some doors will be closed to Phoenix alums, including some adjunct teaching options. On the other hand, a fifty-plus career changer who wants to set up shop as a counselor would do as well with a degree from the fastest, lowest-cost school whose courses are recognized by the state in question.
Still, I would be careful. I have heard first-account accounts of degree programs losing acceptability by accrediting bodies. Pollan urges readers to omit dates from a resume. If you're using a back-door method to get a job (as you should!) that strategy will work. However, if your resume goes through a human resource department, it will most likely get tossed or you will be asked to submit traditional resume with dates. Finally, I was disturbed by the grammar errors distributed lavishly through the text. A top publisher should have provided a copy editor! In particular the author writes "I" instead of "me"
("he showed my wife and I...") Despite these qualms and quibbles, if you're a midlife career changer, you'll find this book more helpful than most. If nothing else, the author is a fine role model.
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