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Blink 3 of 8 - The 5 AM Club
by Robin Sharma
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The New Rules of Work summary
Alexandra Cavoulacos & Kathryn Minshew
The Modern Playbook for Navigating Your Career
22 mins
Brief summary
The New Rules of Work by Alexandra Cavoulacos & Kathryn Minshew is a practical guide for navigating the modern workplace. It provides actionable advice on networking, job searching, and career development to help readers stay relevant in today's ever-changing job market.
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The New Rules of Work
Summary of 8 key ideas
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Key idea 1 of 8
Identifying your personal values will help you differentiate between the job you think you want and the role you’ll actually enjoy.
Ever found yourself on a job-search website staring at the blank search bar, wondering what to type? Traditional searches like this are only helpful if you already know what you want to do. So, if you’re not sure what that is, you’ll need to identify your values.
Every person’s idea of happiness is different. Think about what you need to feel happy and fulfilled. Perhaps you need a creative outlet, the opportunity to travel or the ability to make a positive impact in the world. These are your values, and they should determine what you look for in a job.
Chances are, if you’re reading this, your current job might not line up with your values. Kathryn, one of the authors, once found herself in exactly this situation; though she’d landed the job she always wanted, she wasn’t fulfilled.
Kathryn majored in international relations and French and dreamed of a career in the foreign service. But a few weeks into her dream job at the US embassy in Cyprus, Kathryn realized the pace at which policy changes could be implemented wasn’t what she’d expected.
It was so slow as to be incompatible with her need to see the results of her work: Kathryn needed a job that fulfilled her need to roll up her sleeves and make a noticeable impact.
As you consider your own needs, be conscious of outside influences, such as your parents’ expectations for your career, and don’t be swayed by external pressure. That’s something Alex, one of the authors, realized early on.
Alex grew up in France where school pupils must select a course of study – either science, literature or economics – at age 15. Alex chose science. In her senior year, she then had to choose between biology, math and physics. She chose biology and developed an interest in genetics.
It was only after relocating to the United States to study genetics that Alex realized she didn’t enjoy the everyday lab work that would be a large part of her job if she were to continue in the field. She was faced with the challenge of reassessing what she thought she wanted. She ended up pursuing a career in consultancy, where she met Kathryn, and cofounded their consulting company, The Muse.
Just think, if Alex and Kathryn hadn’t taken stock of what was important to them, they’d never have met, and this blink wouldn’t exist!
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What is The New Rules of Work about?
The New Rules of Work (2017) is the definitive handbook for navigating the modern workplace. Authors Cavoulacos and Minshew recognize that the way we work has changed in tandem with the advancement of technology and that the way we think about career paths has evolved accordingly. Modern workers expect a job to do more than just pay the bills – work has to be fulfilling, too. Their New Rules will help you discover the career that fits you best and give you the tools to succeed in the modern job market – from application to promotion.
Who should read The New Rules of Work?
- Students and graduates still unsure of their career path
- Anybody stuck in a career rut
- Employees who started their careers under the “old rules” looking to understand the current landscape
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