The World's Best Book Summaries
How does perfectionism in women develop? What are the downsides of trying to be perfect? In How Women Rise, Sally Helgesen and Marshall Goldsmith explain that women tend to strive for perfection because success boosts their confidence and society views failure as disgraceful. Further, they feel they need to go above and beyond to be seen as successful. Let’s take a deeper look at how women handle unrealistic expectations by trying to be flawless.
Have you followed a traditional career path? Would you like to exercise more freedom in work and life? Paul Millerd abandoned a conventional career and became a freelancer. In his book The Pathless Path: Imagining a New Story for Work and Life, he shows others how to do the same. He relates the history of the cultural emphasis on work, shares his own story, and provides advice for switching to freelancing. Continue reading for an overview of this book that could inspire you to take a new path.
How do women deal with unrealistic expectations? How do these unrealistic expectations develop? In pursuit of perfection, women tend to develop unrealistically high expectations for themselves. According to How Women Rise by Sally Helgesen and Marshall Goldsmith, these impede their progress in numerous ways. Let’s look at how unrealistic expectations of women cause negative consequences.
Is the freelancing life for you? What can you learn from others who’ve made the switch? Like most people, Paul Millerd was taught to place conventional, full-time work at the center of his life—but it made him miserable. Now, he’s a freelance blogger, consultant, career coach, and online course creator—and he’s much more satisfied with his life. Keep reading to get informed and inspired by Millerd’s story.
Why are some women ill-equipped for the future? How can they plan for the future? In How Women Rise, Sally Helgesen and Marshall Goldsmith explain the women’s tendency to focus so much on the present that they neglect to plan for the future. Thankfully, they have a few solutions to help combat this tendency. Discover how to plan for the future, one step at a time.
Is retirement necessary? What are myths about retirement that make people believe it’s the last step in a career? In Thou Shall Prosper, Daniel Lapin teaches that you shouldn’t seek to retire. He says that people commonly believe three things that lead them to think retirement is not just necessary, but also desirable. Take a look at three myths about retirement and why Lapin argues they’re not true.
Have you experienced trauma? How might you turn it into something of value? Paul Millerd embarked on a conventional career path by default. Two difficult events taught him one major lesson: stop prioritizing work, and start prioritizing life. He considers the shift he made to be an example of post-traumatic growth. Continue reading to be inspired by Millerd’s story.
How do the people around you define success? Do they get it right, or do their expectations make you feel like you come up short? Author Paul Millerd contends that many people hold two mistaken personal beliefs about success. First, you must meet certain cultural benchmarks to be considered successful. Second, there’s a certain “happiness destination” you should aim for. Read more to learn about these beliefs and what Millerd recommends you embrace instead.
How do you go about finding your niche as a freelancer? How can you be sure that you’ve found it? Paul Millerd stepped off the default career path and embarked on “the pathless path” of freelancing. He now helps others find their way. He shares two criteria that you need to look for and shares advice on how to reach those goals. Keep reading to learn how to find your freelancer niche in today’s world.
Do you work for yourself and find it hard to stay motivated? What untapped sources of motivation are out there waiting for you? With a traditional job, it’s easy to know whether you’re on the right track—either you’re performing well and achieving traditional benchmarks, or you’re not. When you’re self-employed, it’s a little more complicated. Continue reading to learn three sources of freelancer motivation you should tap into.