Reading with motivational themes

Here we are again, about to turn the corner from summer to fall. Are you ready? That’s an impossible question these days, since we don’t know quite what we’re trying to be ready for. With daily uncertainty about where and when we’ll be going to school or work, it’s taking all our resiliency just to manage our lives.

Ah well. At least one tradition can still be observed: Although I’m a little late with my summer reading list, I think there’s still time to grab iced tea and flip flops and head outside with a good book. This year I chose motivational themes, with the understanding that you can never have too much optimism when the world is so tumultuous.

“Blue Collar Cash: Love Your Work, Secure Your Future, and Find Happiness For Life,” by Ken Rusk, HarperCollins, 2020, $31. As motivational books go, this is an interesting hybrid. As the title indicates, the topic is about making a living with a blue collar career path. But Rusk’s approach is hardly conventional. In addition to making the financial case for an alternative to college and student loan debt, he makes the spiritual, psychological and community case as well.

As the owner of a construction business himself, Rusk is well-positioned to explain the rewards of both trades work and entrepreneurship and he does so with stimulating challenges to the reader’s mindset, as well as an inspiring array of success stories. This is one of the most readable books

I’ve encountered this year, and one that would work well for most ages.

“Own Your Everyday: Overcome the Pressure to Prove and Show Up For What You Were Made To Do,” by Jordan Lee Dooley, Waterbrook, 2019, $19. While the context is different, author Dooley hits upon many of the themes sounded by Rusk, including the importance of following your own path and the joy of doing something you’re good at.

But instead of contrasting one type of career path with another, Dooley digs deep to discuss issues of imposter syndrome, shame and perfectionism. Her message of self-forgiveness and compassion for others could sound sappy in other times, but I think it hits just the right note for today’s patchwork world. Although this title isn’t specifically “gendered,” it feels as if Dooley had her eye on working women when she wrote this. Another easy read with thought-provoking ideas that will stay with you.

“The Most Powerful You: 7 Bravery-Boosting Paths to Career Bliss,” by Kathy Caprino, HarperCollins Leadership, 2020, $28. If Caprino’s name sounds familiar, you may have encountered her on TEDx talks, or on her podcast, Unlike Dooley’s book, Caprino’s is gender-targeted, with the stated mission of helping women “access bravery and power.” That said, I found the points to be transferrable to anyone who has felt impacted at work by personal trauma or coping mechanisms they’ve developed over the years, including those who have struggled with systemic bias. Read Caprino’s list of “7 damaging power gaps” and see if you don’t agree:

1) Not recognizing your special talents, abilities and accomplishments; 2) Communicating from fear, not strength; 3) Reluctance to ask for what you deserve; 4) Isolating from influential support; 5) Acquiescing instead of saying “stop!” to mistreatment; 6) Losing sight of your thrilling dream; 7) Allowing past trauma to shape and define you.

This is a workbook as much as a self-help or motivational title, with exercises for internal exploration and external action accompanying her discussion of each “power gap.” To get the most from this book, you’ll want to set aside time for reflection.

“Own Your Weird: An Oddly Effective Way For Finding Happiness in Work, Life, and Love,” by Jason Zook, Running Press, 2019, $24. Okay, I saved the goofiest for last. If you’re not inspired, motivated or uplifted by the other titles on this list, you can at least find a good-natured laugh in the career antics of author Zook.

Don’t know that name? Well maybe you’ll recognize him as Jason Headsetsdotcom, his legallychanged name after he auctioned rights to his moniker for $45,500. Altogether, he banked nearly $100,000 doing this. When Zook tells you to “own your weird,” he knows what he’s talking about.

Despite his many moneymaking stunts, it would be a disservice to classify his book along those lines. Jason Zook is a smart and engaging author and his chapters on debt management and working to live are some of the best I’ve seen since the 1993 classic

This is a book full of solid advice that will also make you laugh.