MoonglotexasKel’s Review:
My mum is a huge advocate for Marcus Buckingham and his work. He accompanied us through COVID-19 lockdown, inspiring us with his insights and keeping us amused with his British humour. When news of a new book broke, she lined up all the clips on Instagram for us to watch! So, it is unsurprising (though I was still caught off guard) that the content in it has a familiarity to it. Based on Marcus’ life, in an almost autobiographical sense, it weaves a thread of how the world changed how he saw himself, and affected his beliefs about his career, and does the same to millions of others. Integrating research data, Marcus translates facts into story and back again to make the book an easy flowing read.
The first chapter bewildered me, I have been unbelievably fortunate in having remarkably supportive parents who never tried to “box” me into anything and encouraged me to do what I loved, at school, out of it and in work. At work (with my mum) I get to do what I love every day. So in love with my work am I that when I developed a chronic pain condition and needed to escape the pain, with pudgy sore hands, mum and a dear friend let me strategise marketing a business – a happy place for hours! Eight hours later, I could rest. My work is wonderfully distracting. My school was an incredibly driven and ambitious environment but I am a natural academic and my subjects were for the most part a space in which I was comfortable. All of this led me to wondering if this was the book for me, I didn’t relate to Marcus’ journey at all.
But, as I reflected on those in my school who struggled, those in my family and friendship circle who have battled to find their passion in work, when I see the spirits our global systems break in trying to create conformity, I found my groove with this book. So, if the first few pages don’t capture you, don’t stop!
I have already referenced it in a meeting, discussed Marcus’ perspective about school and know I’ll keep coming back to it in the future. It is a starting point, the beginning of a different conversation, it is mindset shifting. It isn’t a how to but rather a perspective on how it can be done, what can be and research touch points on the impact of making this kind of change in thinking. It is a four out of five on the enJOYment scale, highly recommended!
Ka’s Review (aka Mum):
There is an enormous amount of value in your identifying what you love; both for yourself and also for those you work and ‘play’ with. The contents of this book will help you start the journey, or provide some additional guideposts if it’s one you’ve already started on. Spending time wrestling with the understanding of who you are and your contribution is important and there are questions asked and examples given (stories told) to help the reader explore this. Self-reliance, trusting yourself and acknowledging that you are the expert on yourself (no one else), can be powerful outtakes from this book.
Marcus’s examination of some of the accepted practices will also be helpful for many, eg, believing others know what’s better for you than you do yourself. Or it could be one of his definitions, eg what our strengths are… things that make you strong, time passing quickly, things that make you feel you feel good.
These are all good things and yet I didn’t relate as well to this book as I have to others written by him I am a follower of Marcus (on Instagram and through his direct mails), so I know just how much value he adds to the business community with his research and insights as well as his generosity as he shares so much of his knowledge at no charge. While I really enjoyed his last book, Nine Lies About Work (With Ashley Goodall) and encouraged both clients and friends to buy it, it’s not as clear for me with this one. Perhaps that one felt a lot more data-driven with this one adding more of the human aspects in a story format? I think you relate to the many stories, or you don’t.
1. it’s true the classroom didn’t encourage me to explore my uniqueness but other influences did as did my passions. 2, I quickly learnt that some things had to remain hobbies while others could form out a way to earn my living. 3. I don’t work within a corporate and neither do my clients(no large teams, very little formal structure). 4. The school experience outlined was more in line with my own, but not my daughter’s – interesting! (Perhaps this content would be better made sense of, in a different space?)
So for me, “I can’t claim I am seeing my story in a new way.’ (As promised in the introduction) but I certainly appreciated the focus on the importance of Love in your life and work.
We received complimentary copies of the book from Harvard Business Review Press through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in these reviews are completely our own.
From the back cover:
World-renowned researcher and New York Times bestselling author Marcus Buckingham helps us discover where we’re at our best—both at work and in life.
You’ve long been told to “Do what you love.” Sounds simple, but the real challenge is how to do this in a world not set up to help you. Most of us actually don’t know the real truth of what we love—what engages us and makes us thrive—and our workplaces, jobs, schools, even our parents, are focused instead on making us conform. Sadly, no person or system is dedicated to discovering the crucial intersection between what you love to do and how you contribute it to others.
In this eye-opening, uplifting book, Buckingham shows you how to break free from this conformity—how to decode your own loves, turn them into their most powerful expression, and do the same for those you lead and those you love.
How can you use love to reveal your unique gifts?
How can you pinpoint what makes you stand out from anyone else?
How can you choose roles in which you’ll excel?
Love and Work unlocks answers to these questions and others, so you can:Choose the right role on the team.Describe yourself compellingly in job interviews.Mold your existing role so that it calls upon the very best of you.Position yourself as a leader in such a way that your followers quickly come to trust in you.Make lasting change for your team, your company, your family, or your students.
Love, the most powerful of human emotions, the source of all creativity, collaboration, insight, and excellence, has been systematically drained from our lives—our work, teams, and classrooms.
It’s time we brought love back in.
Love and Work shows you how.
