The Inventurers: Excursions in Life and Career Renewal

by Janet Hagberg and Janet O. Hagberg

Book Overview

Over the past ten years, The Inventurers has helped thousands of people discover what they truly want to do in their lives and careers. Whatever your lifestyle or career stage, Hagberg and Leider will lead you through a process called "inventuring"--an excursion into self-discovery that will help you clarify your inner values and achieve personal success.Through exercises, checklists, and reflection questions you'll learn how to: map out an individual...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0201095033
• ISBN13: 9780201095036
• Release Date: January 1988
• Publisher: Basic Books (AZ)
• Length: 252 Pages
• Weight: 0.94 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 6.8" x 8.5"

Customer Reviews

A must read!...if you are serious about making a major career or life change!

This is one of the most pivotal books in my mid-life transition during the early 90's. I was then a corporate rat. I was working in quiet desperation. I also knew that I would still continue as a rat even if I have succeeded in the corporate world. I was 43 years old then...looking damned good but actually going nowhere! Together with the Richard Leider's other books (as well as Frederic Hudson's, plus Richard Bolles' books), it dramatically changed my life for better as I am now doing what I love & loving what I do. This book introduced me to the authors' Inventurer process model - an excursion into self discovery, during which it helped me to clarify my inner values, through a series of structured exercises, checklists & reflective questions. Many of the questions were soul searching for me. Trained as a mechanical engineer, I naturally found some minor parts of the book somewhat esoteric, but on hindsight I think they are relevant if one is seeking deeper understanding of oneself. Here are the relevant chapters of the book: Section 1: The Life Inventure 1 The Inventurers 2 The Postponed Life 3 The Inventurous Life Section 2: Life Extensions 4 Adult Life Stages 5 Life Cycle Review 6 Alone Toegther Section 3: ifestyles 7 The Balancing Act 8 Body 9 Mind 10 Spirit 11 Dreams & Goals Section 4 Work Styles 12 Making a Living Work 13 The Scorecard 14 Skills, the Root of All 15 Survival Skills 16 What Species...? 17 You only Go Round Once 18 Step 1 Your Excursion Map 19 Step 2 Conclusions 20 Step 3 Getting Feedback & Ideas 21 Step 4 Reality Testing For the uninitiated, an inventurer is just one who is willing to take a fresh, hard look at oneself & consider new options, venture inward & explore. An inventurer sees life as a series of changes, changes as growth experiences, & growth as positive. At the onset, what struck me most about this book are the important assumptions which the book is based upon & the Inventurer process reflects these assumptions. Let me share them with readers as follows by paraphasing the authors: 1 Coping with change: We all have different styles of coping...you need to learn what your style is & how to use it effectively; 2 Untapped abilities: ...you possess much untapped potential that could change your life considerably; 3 Self-direction: The basic ingredient in life & career renewal is choice - the choice of taking responsibility for yourself. In any situation, you have basically two options: change the situation or change the mindset that is perceiving the situation. The choice is yours alone... 4 Organised planning: Effectively assessing life & career renewal options requires more than new insights...Your reflections must be organised & focused into an action plan... & self discipline is a virtue... 5 Risk taking: Choices involve risks. Risk is the element in career or life... This is one particular book you have to read it carefully & work with it systematically if you reall

My most recommended book....

I recommend this book more than any other! I've owned one or more copies since the late 1970s. Each time I go through a life or career transition, I reach for this book and rework the exercises inside. This is a wonderful place to start analyzing what you want to do with your life and/or your career. Each time I work through the book, I am astounded by the results.

better than 'parachute'

this book is great for anyone in any type of career/life change. The book gives you items to reflect upon, and workbook excercises that allow you to evaluate where you are in life/career. It enables you to see clearly your past, your present, and direction for your future.