Creating You and Co: Learn to Think Like the CEO of Your Own Career

I read this book when it was first published several years ago and recently re-read it, curious to see how well its core concepts have held up. In fact, they seem even more relevant now than they did before as more people, each day, become -- in effect -- free agents. Here's a hypothetical question: How many of those who (let's say) retired five years ago now wish they had read this book when they first went to work full-time? (Yes, yes, I realize that this book was first published in 1997. As I said, a hypothetical question.) As Bridges carefully examines several key issues concerning career manning and management in this book, I was again reminded: If you don't know where you're going, any road will take you there. It may now be too late for retirees but assuredly this book could be of substantial benefit to their children and, especially, to their grandchildren. I share Bridges' fascination with transitions during which new paradigms reveal themselves. Some may involve countries (e.g. those in the Third World), others involve organizations (e.g. Roman Catholic Church, IBM, Nissan), and still others involve human lives. I know of no one else who better understands than does Bridges the probable causes, consequences, and implications of transitions nor anyone else who offers better advice on how to manage them most effectively. In this volume, he focuses on a subject of immediate, indeed urgent importance to anyone now encountering difficulties with managing their lives. More specifically, those who are dissatisfied with their work because it fails to satisfy and/or support them. This book is NOT about finding another job. "When you look for a [in italics] job, you are looking for something that is fading from the socioeconomic picture because it is past its evolutionary prime." Bridges goes on to explain, "This book is a do-it-yourself career development program....[Rather than seek a job,] a better course of action is to find work that that actually needs doing and present yourself to whoever needs it as the best way to get it done." Bridges offers a practical path toward locating such work and then securing the best terms and conditions by which to do it. He introduces an acronym when developing a key concept in this book: D.A.T.A. (Desires, Abilities, Temperament, and Assets). Thereby, he effectively stresses the importance of * Doing what you REALLY want to do * Developing the skills needed to ensure success as well as satisfaction while doing it * Doing what you REALLY want to do * Developing the skills needed to ensure success as well as satisfaction while doing it * Having an appropriate temperament for the given vocation * Recognizing and leveraging the assets you need (some of which you may already possess) In Part One, Bridges explains (a) how and why the workplace is now changing, (b) why traditional jobs no longer fit this world and why companies are abandoning them, and finally (c) what the alternatives to jobs are.

For anyone who makes a major investment of time, money, and energy in a college education, this reading is for you. I have been using this book with 3rd year university students who are on the cusp of searching for JOBS. Briges support for the notion that JOBS are not the best way of getting work done is a great starting point for people seeking career direction. The advise in the book is supported with exercises and activities that are simple to execute yet loaded with action steps for constructing an individual career plan.Still seeking a life's calling or a sense of purpose in the work that YOU choose to do? I would highly recommend that you start with this book.

Excellent book: highly useful, thought-provoking, very readable. Sets the stage for the topic, then gives you practical examples and things to do to take the topic further on your own. I was really impressed. One of the best in its field. Apparently Bridges' other books are very good too. This is the first one I'd read.

Some of William Bridges' best work has been in the area of helping people make the transition from "jobs" to "work". Creating You & Co. is an excellent follow-up to Bridges' book entitled, JobShift. JobShift helped many people begin to deal with the loss of their job, and the gaining of meaningful work. Creating You & and Co. helps many people be empowered to take charge of their own life and career as it relates to jobs and work.This book does not go so far as to suggest an arrogant individualism, but it does say that people need to see themselves as a marketable commodity that they control, rather than that the boundaries of their work situation controls. Individuals need to reconceptualize job skills such as education and experiences, as work skills which include, among others, desire and abilities.Loyalty and longevity in an organization for someone in control of their career will depend on regularly demonstrating that they are learners whose desire, abilities, temperament, and assets [D.A.T.A.] can be used in a variety of roles--and in a variety of companies or organizations if this one is no longer interested.People who reinvent themselves as a personal career company are probably happier employees because they have a best alternative already figured out if the specific job they hold is eliminated.This was an easy book to read, and one where a copy will be needed for each person in your organization if you really want to empower people to reach their full potential.

Creating You & Co. gives an easy to digest 'heads up' to the post-industrial job shift already in progress. For anyone looking to reinvent or rebuild their career you will find this book a must read. In chapters 3 to 6, you'll learn the importance of identifying what resources (skills, assets, desires and temperament) you bring to You & Co. and how that influences what business you should be in. I especially liked chapters 7 & 8. William Bridges outlines ways to find potential markets, identify their unmet needs and create a product to meet those needs. I found the book and exercises first, enlightening then very empowering. What I found to be invaluable is that although I have no entrepreneurial plans in the immediate future thinking of myself as CEO of my career has allowed me to see my role in my current organization differently. And as a result has given me the impetus to initiate changes that are mutually beneficial. This book has definitely helped me put things in perspective; maybe it will help you too.