Are you a recent graduate? Were you laid off from a job you’ve had for years and don’t know what to do now? Did you willingly quit your job to pursue a new career? If you answered yes to any of these questions, you should read Larry Smith’s No Fears, No Excuses. Smith is a professor who has spoken with thousands of students over the years and helped guide students to their ideal careers. This book is his way of sharing his guidance with anyone who doesn’t believe they can have their dream career.
Larry Smith is an economics professor at the University of Waterloo. Students come to him for advice on career goals and guidance. He believes that working for the weekend is a horrible way to live and encourages people to find work they love to do. This book shows many stories from former students and how he helped them to where they are today. He places a lot of emphasis in passion and planning. If you know what you love and how you can apply it to a career, you will love your job. No Fears, No Excuses is divided into three parts: “Finding Your Passion,” “Creating Your Career Plan,” and “Confronting Fears and Excuses.”
In “Finding Your Passion,” Smith explains that you can’t just be good at your job. Good jobs don’t get you the notoriety you need for a great career. Being good no longer guarantees a safe career. On top of that, people with “safe” careers are only there because it’s safe. Whether it’s the pay or pressure from others, these jobs often make people unhappy and long for the times away from work. Why should people settle for a job that makes them unhappy when they could be working toward something they’re excited for? Something they would be thrilled to share with friends and family. That is what Larry Smith is trying to get readers to understand.
“Creating Your Career Plan” explains how you can stand out in your field and making a plan to apply it. There are so many jobs out there with improvements needed and someone has to find a solution. That could be you. In this part, Smith wants to help you set your priorities and find alternatives as needed. He acknowledges that life happens or that you may have obligations, so he shares ways you can work around it. Some of the priorities can involve your goals. Where do you want to live? Do you want to travel with your work? What about your social life? You can get all you want from a career as long as you have an edge. Your edge is what helps you stand out and shows why you should be hired above other candidates.
Lastly, “Confronting Fears and Excuses” does just as it sounds. Smith distinguishes excuses from reasons, explaining that “reasons can be revisited if facts change.” Excuses don’t have any thought or action. Smith also shares that you can have a great career and a healthy family life. If you don’t know what your parents do for a living, they must not have a career they love. If their job is an enthusiastic part of dinner talk, then they’re having a great career. You should strive to have a career you want to tell others about. Who knows, your family and friends can be valuable assets in helping you get your dream career.
If you need reassurance that you can get your ideal career that will last a long time, I highly recommend you read No Fears, No Excuses. As a college senior about to graduate, this has been a fantastic book giving me ideas on what I want to work on. I now have ideas of what I want from a career and how I can improve my work to get it. No matter your age, this book is what you need if you want to reshape your career.
The Ninja Writer Blog 