Book SummaryI Wish Someone Had Told Me..., by Dana Perino

1-Page Summary1-Page Book Summary of I Wish Someone Had Told Me...

How often do you receive truly life-changing advice? If you’re Dana Perino, it’s a regular occurrence. As a Fox News host, she meets people from many walks of life and a variety of backgrounds. In her online column, Short Questions With Dana Perino, she asked her guests to share their best advice on career success, life purpose, and more. After two years, she compiled the highlights into I Wish Someone Had Told Me…, adding her own tips for success.

Perino is a political commentator and former White House Press Secretary. Serving under President George W. Bush, Perino was the first female Republican in this role. She also founded Minute Mentoring, a women’s leadership program. Perino has written several books on career and life advice, including *[And the Good News...

I Wish Someone Had Told Me... Summary Finding and Living Your Purpose

Whether you have decades of job experience or are just starting out, you’ve probably wondered how to make your career and life purposeful and fulfilling. Perino argues you can build a meaningful life and career path by following your interests and being open to the unexpected. In this section, we explore three key pieces of advice from Perino and her guests:

1. Look for meaning, not just success.
2. Chase your joy.
3. Be willing to change your plans.

Look for Meaning, Not Just Success

Perino argues you should try to make a meaningful difference, not just achieve success. Meaning can come from your work, your volunteer pursuits, or even the donations you make. When you contribute to something meaningful, you transform your professional success into something more substantial and personally fulfilling. This prevents the feeling of meaninglessness that can come from achieving professional success without a deeper purpose, and it allows you to find fulfillment regardless of your job. Perino suggests two key ways to pursue meaning in your life, both at work and outside of it:

• Imbue your daily actions and choices with meaning. Don’t expect your employer to...

I Wish Someone Had Told Me... Summary Laying Your Foundation

Once you know what direction you want to follow, how do you get started? Perino and her guests believe that the first years of your career are all about learning, whether from your own experience or from the more senior professionals around you. This section explores five key pieces of advice for early-career professionals:

1. Choose the boss, not the job.
2. Request feedback.
3. Love what you do.
4. Nurture your network.
5. Master communication skills.

Choose the Boss, Not the Job

Your supervisor plays an important role in your career development, so think about who you’ll be working for when you evaluate new opportunities. Marketing consultant Mora Neilson argues that you should choose your job based on the learning and mentorship opportunities it’ll bring, not the title you’ll have or the organization’s prestige. By prioritizing learning from experienced mentors, you’ll gain insights that aren’t available through formal training. To find a boss who can also be a mentor, assess whether your potential new boss will be able to show you what others can’t, such as important aspects of the industry, the job, or yourself as a professional.

(Shortform note:...

I Wish Someone Had Told Me... Summary Developing Your Career

After learning the ropes, it’s time to move on up. According to Perino and her guests, mid-career is when you make bold but conscientious moves to propel yourself forward. This section explores four key pieces of advice for mid-career professionals:

1. Recognize your tenacity.
2. Set yourself up for promotion.
3. Never leave on bad terms.
4. Accept that there’s no recipe for work-life balance.

Recognize Your Tenacity

If you feel vulnerable and anxious as you navigate the challenges of your career, Perino says you should recognize your inner tenacity and resilience. You don’t need external safety measures, such as a fail-proof financial cushion, because you are your own source of security. Your education, relationships, skills, and past successes are a strong foundation that can catch you if you fall. When you trust yourself to overcome adversity, handle obstacles, and recover from difficulties, you feel less anxiety and have greater self-confidence.

To build this self-trust, take an inventory of your resources and accomplishments. Reflect on your past achievements and support systems, reminding yourself of the skills and relationships that have helped you...

I Wish Someone Had Told Me... Summary Growing Into Leadership

As you advance in your career, you’ll find opportunities to become a leader. Perino and her guests argue that you can become a great leader by focusing on a vision and your team. This section will explore three key pieces of advice for leaders:

1. Choose to lead.
2. Start by listening.
3. Give genuine feedback.

Choose to Lead

Former NYPD inspector Paul Mauro says you should choose between merely managing—keeping things running and playing it safe—and truly leading, which involves breaking new ground and guiding people toward a vision. If you decide to lead, consider who you’d like to be led by, and then emulate that person’s leadership style.

(Shortform note: You might want to keep Mauro’s advice in mind before you get to a leadership position. Recall Perino’s earlier piece of advice to choose the boss, not the job. If you choose well, you’ll also be choosing a positive leadership model to emulate as you climb the ranks.)

Also, tell your team where you want them to go rather than dictating how they should get there. This empowers teams to use their ingenuity and inspires people to follow you rather than just comply. However, Mauro warns that most people...

Shortform Exercise: Apply Perino’s Work-Life Balance Advice

Perino’s advice can help you find a version of work-life balance that works for you through the different stages of your career.

Perino argues that there’s no such thing as a perfect balance between your professional and personal life. How would you describe your current circumstances? What aspects of your life are you currently prioritizing?