Review of Fast Starting a Career of Consequence: Workbook
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Miranda Fyfe
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- Latest Review: Fast Starting a Career of Consequence: Workbook by Fred Sievert
Review of Fast Starting a Career of Consequence: Workbook
[Following is a volunteer review of "Fast Starting a Career of Consequence: Workbook" by Fred Sievert.]
Fred Sievert’s Fast Starting a Career of Consequence: Workbook is an interactive guide meant for all sorts of people entering or re-entering the workplace, from college graduates to those who lost their jobs during the COVID-19 crisis. The contents take a unique religious perspective on giving career advice by invoking bible verses and anecdotes to support the career-starting process. The workbook is divided into two sections: the first five chapters highlight how to integrate biblical principles into the workplace, and the following ten chapters provide specific tips meant to maximize work performance. From the start, Sievert reveals that being a Christian and a businessperson are not mutually exclusive– rather, one can apply their inherent gifts equally in the workplace and the place of worship. By recognizing such, a person can “magnify [their] impact and accelerate [their] advancement and success within [their] chosen career.” To tie each chapter back to this cornerstone of religious integration, Sievert includes a prayer at the end of the lesson. These prayers help the reader focus on the specific takeaways of the section and manifest their goals through conversation with God.
There are multiple aspects of this workbook I like. For one, the entire layout is well-organized with a consistent structure. The action steps for each chapter, which are arguably the most important part of a workbook, are clearly laid out for the reader to follow. Furthermore, Sievert lists steps that can and should be revisited over time, making this workbook a living record of progress. I find the inclusion of tasks the reader can start immediately as well as those that should be updated over time to be a compelling way to keep the reader engaged and moving forward throughout their career journey.
I also appreciate Sievert’s note towards the end of the workbook about work-life balance. It can be easy to get entirely swept up in a new job, and Sievert reminds the reader to “always be aware of the balance–or imbalance– in your life, and take steps to ensure that all aspects of your life are getting the attention from you that they need.” It can be overwhelming to take in all the lessons contained in this book at once, and this point is valuable in reminding the reader that they do not have to tackle all of the lessons at once.
One criticism I have of Fast Starting a Career of Consequence: Workbook is that the chapters are occasionally so short as to make the “key points” recap section redundant. In a few cases, the text is copied and the reader ends up taking in the same ideas word-for-word. While repetition can be a powerful tool for knowledge retention, I wish Sievert had rephrased some of the points instead of exactly replicating them.
While you do not have to be Christian to benefit from reading this book, I would recommend it to a religiously-inclined audience as the crux of the book lies in integrating religious morals into workplace ethics. Familiarity with and access to a bible will be incredibly helpful with understanding Sievert’s frequent scriptural references. And finally, I recommend this book to anyone looking to enter or reenter the workplace, or to get more out of their current career.
I rate this book 3 out of 4 stars for its clear communication of ideas and unique perspective. It left me personally feeling more inspired and ready to tackle my professional goals. I found a few small errors which do not detract from the overall comprehension or enjoyment of the book.
******
Fast Starting a Career of Consequence: Workbook
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Fred Sievert’s Fast Starting a Career of Consequence: Workbook is an interactive guide meant for all sorts of people entering or re-entering the workplace, from college graduates to those who lost their jobs during the COVID-19 crisis. The contents take a unique religious perspective on giving career advice by invoking bible verses and anecdotes to support the career-starting process. The workbook is divided into two sections: the first five chapters highlight how to integrate biblical principles into the workplace, and the following ten chapters provide specific tips meant to maximize work performance. From the start, Sievert reveals that being a Christian and a businessperson are not mutually exclusive– rather, one can apply their inherent gifts equally in the workplace and the place of worship. By recognizing such, a person can “magnify [their] impact and accelerate [their] advancement and success within [their] chosen career.” To tie each chapter back to this cornerstone of religious integration, Sievert includes a prayer at the end of the lesson. These prayers help the reader focus on the specific takeaways of the section and manifest their goals through conversation with God.
There are multiple aspects of this workbook I like. For one, the entire layout is well-organized with a consistent structure. The action steps for each chapter, which are arguably the most important part of a workbook, are clearly laid out for the reader to follow. Furthermore, Sievert lists steps that can and should be revisited over time, making this workbook a living record of progress. I find the inclusion of tasks the reader can start immediately as well as those that should be updated over time to be a compelling way to keep the reader engaged and moving forward throughout their career journey.
I also appreciate Sievert’s note towards the end of the workbook about work-life balance. It can be easy to get entirely swept up in a new job, and Sievert reminds the reader to “always be aware of the balance–or imbalance– in your life, and take steps to ensure that all aspects of your life are getting the attention from you that they need.” It can be overwhelming to take in all the lessons contained in this book at once, and this point is valuable in reminding the reader that they do not have to tackle all of the lessons at once.
One criticism I have of Fast Starting a Career of Consequence: Workbook is that the chapters are occasionally so short as to make the “key points” recap section redundant. In a few cases, the text is copied and the reader ends up taking in the same ideas word-for-word. While repetition can be a powerful tool for knowledge retention, I wish Sievert had rephrased some of the points instead of exactly replicating them.
While you do not have to be Christian to benefit from reading this book, I would recommend it to a religiously-inclined audience as the crux of the book lies in integrating religious morals into workplace ethics. Familiarity with and access to a bible will be incredibly helpful with understanding Sievert’s frequent scriptural references. And finally, I recommend this book to anyone looking to enter or reenter the workplace, or to get more out of their current career.
I rate this book 3 out of 4 stars for its clear communication of ideas and unique perspective. It left me personally feeling more inspired and ready to tackle my professional goals. I found a few small errors which do not detract from the overall comprehension or enjoyment of the book.
******
Fast Starting a Career of Consequence: Workbook
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
