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INTERVIEW: Books, Books, and More Books

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What are the benefits of reading for career service providers?

This is my annual December interview where I invite fellow book-lovers to talk about books we have read in 2021 and also discuss why we think it is so important for career service providers to read books in our field.

My guests today are Margie Cherry, (Associate Director of Alumni Career Services at Lafayette College), Elizabeth Craig, (Certified Master Career Strategist), and David Lee, (Career Coach).

Here are my questions:

– As a career coach, what is the best book you read in 2021?

– Do you have any other favorites this year that might be more recreational?

– What do you see as the benefits of reading as a career coach?

Note: Below the Bio’s is a list of all the books mentioned in this interview

Watch / Listen to the interview now

https://youtu.be/3ddL74Ehn9s

BIO: Elizabeth Craig, MBA, Master Career Change & Job Landing Specialist is the Founder and CEO of ELC Global, LLC (https://www.elcglobal.com)  Elizabeth is a multi-certified National Career Development Association (NCDA) Certified Master Career Strategist-CMCS as well as FCD-Instructor. She has received multiple awards for her work in the field including the * Jules Kerlan Lifetime Outstanding Achievement Award – Minnesota Career Development Association * Distinguished Alumni Award – University of Minnesota College of Education & Human Development * Outstanding Career Practitioner Award – National Career Development Association. For more than 25 years her private practice has helped hundreds of career clients with career change, job landing strategies and career advancement. 

Margie Cherry, has been a happy career professional for over 20 years. Her multiple identities include being the current Associate Director of Alumni Career Services at Lafayette College, speaker, reinvention guide, former long-running cartoonist, and short-lived stand-up comic. She adores empowering people to discover and manifest their best selves for life and work. Margie holds an MA in Counseling Psychology and is the author/illustrator of “Mom’s Comedy Coloring Book“. She brings her humor how-to “The Comedy Cure” to organizations in need of stress relief and a good laugh!

David Lee,  is the founder of HumanNature@Work and  a career coach with Heart At Work Associates. Much of his work  focuses on career changers and young professionals trying to decide on a career direction. His approach is influenced by his previous career in the trauma and mind/body medicine fields as a hypnotherapist, as well as his interest in health, wellness, and resilience. A lifelong lover of reading, he grew up in a family that would bring home a large box of books from their monthly pilgrimage to the library. You can connect with him on Linkedin here.

Jim Peacock is the Principal at Peak-Careers Consulting and writes a weekly email for career practitioners. Peak-Careers offers discussion-based online seminars for career practitioners focused on meeting continuing education needs for CCSP, GCDF and BCC certified professionals as well as workshops for career practitioners and individual career coaching.

He is the author of A Field Guide for Career Practitioners: Helping Your Clients Create Their Next Move and The Adventure of Finding Me in New Zealand. He is also the recipient of the 2020 Kenneth C. Hoyt Award from the National Career Development Association and the Mid-Atlantic Career Counseling Association’s Professional Contribution’s Award in 2020.

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Books we discussed

  • Help Wanted: An A to Z Guide to Cope with the Ups and Downs of the Job Search by Karen Litzinger. (Jim)
  • Designing Your Life: Burnett & Evans (Margie and Jim, and probably David too- I think he nodded in affirmation. haha)
  • The Poacher’s Son by Paul Doiron (Jim)
  • John C. Maxwell’s, 15 Invaluable Laws of Growth: Live Them & Reach Your Potential. (Elizabeth)
  • Lean In – Women, Work, and the Will to Lead by Sheryl Sandberg (Elizabeth)
  • Don’t Slurp Your Soup:A Basic Guide to Business Etiquette by Elizabeth Craig is available at https://www.elcglobal.com
  • “Live Smart After 50! The Experts’ Guide to Life Planning for Uncertain Times by the Life Planning Network (Elizabeth is a contributing author)
  • Think Again: Adam Grant (Margie)
  • Recalculating: Pollak (Margie)
  • How to Think Like Leonardo da Vinci: Michael J. Gelb (Margie)
  • Life Launch: Hudson & McLean (Margie)
  • Is Your Genius at Work? Dick Richards (Margie)
  • Tales of a Female Nomad: Rita Golden Gelman (Margie)
  • Switchers: How Smart Professionals Change Careers — and Seize Success by Dawn Graham (David)
  • You Turn: Get Unstuck, Discover Your Direction, and Design Your Dream Career by Ashley Stahl (David)
  • SuperBetter: A Revolutionary Approach to Getting Stronger, Happier, Braver and More Resilient–Powered by the Science of Games by Jane McGonigal (David)
  • The Right Questions: Ten Essential Questions To Guide You To An Extraordinary Life by Debbie Ford (David)

INTERVIEW: Reading books for inspiration and growth

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This interview was inspired by my annual theme each December of reading. Mostly reading books for professional development but also for personal growth and entertainment.

My blog this month was on training your brain to do “deeper thinking” by reading books…any kind of books, but books that require more thinking than short articles or what you read on social media. (Read that blog).

My guests today are fellow readers, Crystal Debrah-Ekolie, Meg Gerry, Mark Danaher, and Betsy Sheets. We explore the following questions.

1. Tell us about your favorite professional book you read in 2020

2. Why is reading books so important to you? How does it help you in your work?

Note: See the books (title / author) they each talked about at the bottom of their bios (see below).

WATCH NOW

BIO’s

CRYSTAL DEBRAH-EKOLIE is the MD and Career Change Coach at Vorai Career Coaching.  She currently hosts the Change and Transition career podcast advising on career change and interviewing inspiring guests! Crystal is the author of 2 books “What They Don’t Tell You about University” and “What They Don’t Tell You When You Graduate” which help people to make challenging transitions in their lives. She is a non-practicing Solicitor Advocate where she previously represented clients across the UK. Website: https://voraicoach.com/ Free career clarity guide available: https://voraicoach.com/ Podcast: https://anchor.fm/candtpodcast

MEG GERRY is an experienced Certified Career Services Provider (CCSP), Global Career Development Facilitator (GCDF) and Academic Advisor that manages a private practice, Academic & Career Advising Services, LLC, based in Kennebunk, Maine.  You may visit that website here:  Link

She is a member of the Adjunct Faculty at the University of Maryland-Global Campus, UMGC where she teaches Career Planning Management and Program and Career Exploration.  

Meg created and co-hosts the popular podcast called All Things College and Career where Meg and her cohost, Bobbie, interview College & Career Experts as well as professionals currently working in their field so listeners can learn what a typical day is like on the job, the advantages and drawbacks of an occupation and what sort of education and training is best to break into the field.   Meg is also a nationally trained FCD Instructor. 

BETSY SHEETS is a Career Coach with 20 years’ experience working in managerial roles in public, private and non-profit sectors, and is an entrepreneur with her private career coaching practice focusing on career exploration, transition, and the federal job application process. She is a co-founder of a non-profit veteran service organization located in San Diego for senior-level military members and spouses transitioning into the civilian workforce, where she’s served as program manager, board secretary and volunteers her time facilitating workshops and coaching participants. Visit her website: www.betsysheets.com

MARK DANAHER, LPC, BCC, CCSP is the founder of Mark Danaher Training and Coaching (www.markdanaher.com) and Retire to the Good Life (www.retiretothegoodlife.com). He helps successful business leaders reduce stress and burnout, regain balance, and thrive in their life and career. Mark has been a career counselor and coach for over 25 years, working with students and adults ranging from high school age through retirement. Through his private practice, Mark presents workshops and training for career professionals, universities, businesses, and organizations throughout the United States. His commitment is to help people find the work and life they love and deserve. He has a passion to for helping people reinvent themselves to be ready for their next adventure. Mark has served as President of the National Career Development Association (NCDA) and the Connecticut Career Counseling and Development Association. 

JIM PEACOCK is the Principal at Peak-Careers Consulting and writes a weekly career news email for career practitioners. Peak-Careers offers discussion-based online seminars for career practitioners focused on meeting continuing education needs for CCSP, GCDF and BCC certified professionals as well as workshops for career practitioners and individual career coaching. He is the author of A Field Guide for Career Practitioners: Helping Your Clients Create Their Next Move.

Sign up to receive my TOP 10 TIPS WHEN WORKING WITH AN UNDECIDED PERSON. You can also receive the career practitioners weekly career email which includes a variety of career topics, industry news, interesting events, and more.

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INTERVIEW: With a Few Book Lovers

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This is a follow up to my blog last week on my 2019 Book Reviews my annual blog for book lovers…like me.
 
Typically, I do an interview related to my blogs each month, and this month is no different. What is different about this interview is that I interviewed three people “live” while attending the Mid-Atlantic Career Counseling Association Conference (MACCA) 2 weeks ago and then “discovered” another book lover on LinkedIn and just had to add her!
 
Special thanks to Jane Finkle, Karen Chopra, Paula Brand, and Lametra Off for talking with me about books…one of my favorite subjects.
 
Book lovers interview with Lametra and Jim
Also special thanks to Jessie Parsons, my Virtual Assistant, who edited three videos together to make one 🙂

Watch Now 

Bio’s of interviewees

Karen James Chopra, LPC, CCC, NCC, is the founder of Chopra Consulting for Consultants , which helps therapists, counselors, coaches and other consultants create thriving businesses.  She also has a well-established career counseling private practice in Washington, D.C. (www.ChopraCareers.com), and has helped hundreds of clients with career exploration, job search, and career management.  A former U.S. Government trade negotiator, she is the author of Coaching Career Clients on Salary and Other Workplace Negotiations and numerous other articles on the business and practice of career counseling. MCDA has honored her with both their Outstanding Career Practitioner and Lifetime Achievement awards

Lametra B. Off, MS, GCDF, CCSP, Life and Career Coach, is the principal coach, founder, and owner of LBO Career Coaching & Consulting LLC. LBO Career Coaching & Consulting LLC is a career discovery and career development firm that offers individual and group coaching and leadership development seminars for small businesses to solve career needs and employee training or development initiatives. With a diverse background that brings a facilitative, mindful, holistic approach to career coaching, Lametra is unique in the career development world and offers a different perspective to coaching – essentially “coaching from the inside out.” In her spare time, she is working on her first book, tentatively titled, “YOU?!”  Lametra reads (and writes – check out her blog) about topics related to personal and professional development. She enjoys assisting others to accomplish their goals through self-discovery and self-efficacy. Lametra also loves to spend time with family, run “Rock n Roll” half marathons, eat good food and laugh with Interesting people.    https://lbocareercoaching.com  

 PAULA BRAND founder of Brand Career Management (BCM), is a Global Career Coach & Consultant, LinkedIn Expert, Speaker, Trainer and Facilitator with more than 20 years of experience in workforce development, education, human resources and career counseling. She helps professionals strategically manage their careers, apply effective job search techniques and leverage social media tools to secure their best career options with ease. Paula has a passion for empowering mid-career to executive women. You can find out more about her and BCM at https://www.brandcareermanagement.com/

NOTE: The book Paula reviews is What’s Mom Still Got To Do With It? by Illana Tolpin Levitt http://www.whatsmomthebook.com/  

JANE FINKLE, MS, NCC Jane has over 20 years experience in helping individuals with career assessment, planning, job search strategies, and workplace adjustment.  Prior to founding her practice, Jane served as Associate Director of Career Services at the University of Pennsylvania, where she designed and administered career programs, developed resources, and provided career counseling and advice on employment trends for students and alumni of the College of Arts and Sciences and the Wharton School. Jane created and led the “Wharton Career Discovery” seminar and served as liaison to recruiters from major corporations. She has been published in Huffington Post, Psychology Today, mindbodygreen and SmartBrief. Author, The Introvert’s Complete Career Guide: From Landing a Job to Surviving, Thriving and Moving on Up  Learn More at http://janefinkle.com/

 

JIM PEACOCK is the Principal at Peak-Careers Consulting and writes a monthly newsletter for career practitioners. Peak-Careers offers discussion-based online seminars for career practitioners focused on meeting continuing education needs for CCSP, GCDF and BCC certified professionals as well as workshops for career practitioners and individual career coaching. He is the author of A Field Guide for Career Practitioners: Helping Your Clients Create Their Next Move

Sign up to receive my TOP 10 TIPS WHEN WORKING WITH AN UNDECIDED PERSON. You can also receive the career practitioners newsletter which includes a variety of career topics, industry news, interesting events, and more. https://peak-careers.com

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The Corner Office. By Adam Bryant

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This book review is from Alease Copelin, a prolific reader I serve with on the NCDA Training & Education Council (TEC). She inspires me to read more. Last time we talked about books, she mentioned she was in two book clubs!

The Corner Office

The Corner Office, by Adam Bryant, invites the reader to look at leadership from a fresh perspective – one apart from the standard stock fluctuations and quarterly dividends so often linked to success at the top.  The material is a result of the author’s interviews with more than 70 CEOs and other top executives at large companies, small companies, nonprofit organizations as well as educational and artistic institutions.

The focus on personal lessons learned from ups and downs, mistakes made as well as how leadership styles were developed over time provide insight not often found in books on business leadership.   From the corner office and the top of their profession, these leaders have learned how to identify what sets potential future leaders apart – they have a feedback loop that has allowed them to hone the skillsets that have resulted in achievement.

Bryant asks the questions that illicit responses that share the important answers.  “How did you learn to do what you do?”  “What lessons have you learned that you can share with others?” The Corner Office provides answers that challenge the reader to look at leadership from a new perspective.

Alease Copelin