Zen and the Art of Making a Living: A Practical Guide to Creative Career Design by Laurence G. Boldt

Zen and the Art of Making a Living: A Practical Guide to Creative Career Design by Laurence G. Boldt is a guidebook that helps readers create meaningful and satisfying careers. Boldt describes and prescribes practical, creative methods for designing a career path and finding success in a field you’re passionate about. He starts off by exploring the meaning of a “Zen” career—the practice of mindfulness and non-attachment that helps us to find an inner balance and be content with our work.

The book then provides readers with a series of step-by-step exercises to guide them in their own career-building journey. In each section, Boldt draws from his rich history of psychological, sociological, and educational research to provide detailed explanations of the process, from discovering your ideal goals to determining your best career path and evaluating methods of execution.

The book is divided into two parts—“Zen and the Art of Making a Living,” and “Getting Started in the Creative Career Design Process.” In the first part, Boldt explains the nature of “Zen living” and guides readers through a process of self-discovery and soul-searching that will help them determine their career goals. In the second part, he focuses on the practical side of career design—providing advice ranging from exploring different career options, developing a foundation of skills to be competitive in the job market, and building skills to bolster your success further.

Using a combination of inspiring stories, practices to consider, and inspiring quotes, Boldt encourages readers to follow their passion in a way that fits with their values and goals. He suggest that if you start by understanding yourself, your interests, and your dreams, you can better shape them into something that will bring satisfaction and a sense of purpose. Boldt promotes an individualized approach to career design, and encourages readers to listen to their intuition and work with their own inner values and goals to craft an inspiring career.

Zen and the Art of Making a Living is an inspiring guide to crafting an exciting and fulfilling career path. Boldt advocates an alternative approach to career design that focuses on the individual and their personal and spiritual growth. With Boldt’s guidance, readers can learn and apply creative career-design principles to create a meaningful career that works for them. The tips, strategies, and exercises provided throughout the book can help readers find success and satisfaction in following their passions.