8 Motivating Books to Make You a More Driven Professional

8 Motivating Books to Make You a More Driven Professional 8 Motivating Books to Make You a More Driven Professional No matter what career stage you’re in, you might be in a seeking phase- seeking upward mobility through a promotion, seeking a new job within your chosen career field, or seeking a new career entirely. Whether you’re just beginning your career or you’re ready to make a significant career shift in the second act of life, you may be wishing for some career advice and motivation. But where can you go for much-needed advice? The good news is there are many motivating books that offer inspirational advice about career advancement and that can help guide you through a career transition. Check out these eight motivating books to read as you navigate through your career path: The 2-Hour Job Search Author: Steve Dalton The 2-Hour Job Search offers a step-by-step guide to getting to the ever-important first interview. The book is based on a science-based process that carves specific steps to a job search into “manageable pieces, each requiring at most 15 minutes, to help those looking for work conduct the best job search possible.” Getting from College to Career: 90 Things to do Before You Join the Real World Author: Lindsey Pollak When you’re just starting out, it can seem like you have to climb mountains before you reach your career destination. How do you obtain your career with no experience beyond your college education? This guide informs you on building experience, skills, and the confidence necessary to land your first post. The book includes 90 action points and strategies to secure a career position. Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead and Lean In for Graduates Author: Sheryl Sandberg Sheryl Sandberg is Facebook’s COO, founder of LeanIn.org, and the author of several books stemming from her highly acclaimed TED talk, “Why We Have Too Few Women Leaders.” Sandberg offers career advice in her most recent books Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead and Lean In for Graduates. In both books, Sandberg offers negotiation techniques and tips for building a career you love. In Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead, she offers specific guidance and steps for women to obtain career success and personal fulfillment. Lean In for Graduates  includes the complete text from the original bestseller and new chapters on finding your first career position, negotiating your salary, and leaning in for women of color as well as millennial men. The book also includes stories from young professionals around the world who have achieved their career goals. Second-Act Careers: 50+ Ways to Profit from Your Passions During Semi-Retirement Author: Nancy Collamer Ah, the second act of life. A comfortable retirement is the hope of many who have spent most of their lives working. However, working during retirement may still be a reality- not only to continue to earn money but also to remain mentally acute and physically active. This motivating book is designed to help you identify your personal passions that could allow you to continue earning. The book will guide you to “create a profitable and meaningful semi-retirement on your own terms and in your own way.” Love Your Job: The New Rules for Career Happiness Author: Kerry Hannon What happens when your dream career turns into a monotonous drone of endless tasks after years on the job? This motivating book is designed to help you re-engage and re-motivate yourself to love your work again. Through simple techniques, you’ll learn how to get your head back in the game, which can lead to further advancement in your career. The book will help you develop new work habits, celebrate your successes, identify negative patterns, and engage in an entrepreneurial spirit again. What Color Is Your Parachute? Job-Hunters Workbook Author: Richard N. Bolles What Color Is Your Parachute? Job-Hunter’s Workbook  offers user-friendly exercises to identify your personal interests and form them to marketable career skills. Through a series of simple worksheets, you’ll identify your values and goals as well as your transferable skills that will help you pinpoint your career path. Once you’ve completed the workbook, you’ll have a clear vision of your dream job. Bolles has written numerous motivating books on identifying your true career path. Getting to Yes: Negotiating Agreement Without Giving In Authors: Roger Fisher, William Ury, and Bruce Patton Every career will require some level of negotiation skills. Whether it’s getting a job offer or negotiating your entry salary or future promotions, Getting to Yes is based on the work of the Harvard Negotiation Project, a group that deals with all levels of negotiation and conflict resolution. This guide offers the necessary steps to learning the art of negotiation to see you through any personal or professional dispute. In the market for a new job? Check out the top 100 companies with remote jobs.