Be Happy at Work: 100 Women Who Love Their Jobs, and Why

The author identifies behavioral strategies requisite to selecting an enjoyable career that rewards and makes us happy. Specific motivational strategies include the following: - Persons displaying an innate enthusiasm and energy - Determined healers who try to facilitate disagreements rather than exacerbate them - Goal reachers who set goals and achieve them at each major milestone - Overcoming hurdles and obstacles to goal attainment This work reinforces the notion that there are no happy jobs but there are happy and well-adjusted workers. The volume would be helpful for anyone engaged in career planning. The author emphasizes constructive behaviors and strategies aimed at enhancing the work group situation during major milestones.

Don't get thrown off by the title, this is a book that every woman and man needs to read. Joanne does an excellent job of pulling together both the big picture secrets to being happier at work and the practical strategies in one easy read. I've been aware of her writing for Forbes for many years, but I was blown away by this book. There are very few authors out there who I would read whatever they wrote, but Joanne is one of them (and I wouldn't even say that about myself!). My only regret is that I can't give this book six stars.

After all, isn't being happy what we should do with our lives? But why are some women happy at work and others not? Joanne Gordon wanted to find out so she interviewed 100 women with varied careers: truck-drivers, CEOs, retailers, you name it. Then she boils down what makes them happy to a few common themes - process, purpose and people. What's great about the book? She leaves out the work-balance discussion and focuses on the work. This is a much more intriguing and thought-provoking read than Po Bronson's What Should I Do With My Life?