John Middleton is the founder of the Bristol Management Research Centre. Recognized as a leading expert in personal and systems thinking technologies, he works as a coach and consultant with individuals and organisations that are determined to make best use of the future.
From 1996 to 2001 he published and edited Future Filter, a bi–monthly business digest. He is the author of Writing the New Economy and four ExpressExec books.
Smart workers know that the nation of lifetime employment in one company has all but disappeared. We are experiencing huge uncertainties about future career and job prospects. Don′t believe it? Just ask yourself whether you have the same attitude to work as your parents had. The ′job for life′ seems like a leftover concept from a very different era.
So if the future of work is destined to be ever more volatile what can we Smart careerists do to give ourselves a better than average chance of survival?
Smart Things to Know about Your Career gives you the resources and information you′ll need to thrive in the world of work, whether you′re intent on making your way inside an organisation or whether you want to join the growing number of ′corporate refuseniks′ who pursue self–employment and entrepreneurship, priziing freedom, autonomy and choice above all else.
Smart Things to Know about Your Career gives you evrything you need to know to stay ahead of the field. At the end of it you will understand the six smartest things to grasp about the world of work:
Smart careers have design and intent – ′accidental careers′ have never been more dangerous.
Enjoy your work.
Be visible. Find ways to raise your profile. Network like crazy.
Think ahead. What are you going to do when your skills and knoweldge become obselete? Becasue they will.
Remember Thomas Stewart′s observation that a smart career is one that operates in markets, not heirarchies.
Trust your own judgement.
Smart Things to Know about Your Career describes the practical steps you can take to boost your career prospects and to find the work that suits you best. It also points you towards sources of information and knowledge about the future that will enable you to make even Smarter choices as your career really takes off!