Early career development gets the bulk of social attention, and rightly so because starting a career takes work. Failure to do so can lead to vast social and economic consequences. But the middle of a career also deserves some attention, as Basu points out in this book. It has its own host of crises. Successful resolution of these can lead to even greater career fulfillment in later days; failure to resolve these, however, can lead to stagnation, bitterness, and a plateau of growth. This book seeks to provide stories to guide readers through this career stage.
Basu is a sort-of career mentor, and he provides limited advice on each topic related to mid-career. But the overall strength in this book is his storytelling. The stories simply speak for themselves, and they teach readers how to have the right mindset with facing challenges. They teach us to listen to the small voice within instead of the myriad of confusing voices around us all. For Basu, it’s about fulfilling your own personal hopes and dreams instead of following the masses – all the while enjoying each step of the journey. He illustrates the dozens of potential pitfalls in this process by tightly observing human behavior.
Stories about mid-career are certainly helpful, and more of these stories in the literature can help us all as our careers progress. But I take issue that having “a crisis,” whether mid-life or mid-career, is inevitable. An “MCC” (as Basu repeatedly abbreviates) is not an assured state of development. Further, it’s neither guaranteed that one will face only one crisis. Whether in early-, mid-, or late-career, we all must avoid pitfalls by listening to others’ experiences. Thus, while I appreciate the educational value of listening to stories (a value which this books contributes to), I take issue with the organizational construction of this book.
This book is aimed towards business professionals (especially those in corporations) who are in mid-career. They have likely achieved goals of their early career and are entering a phase of confusion about what to do next. They might be looking for a so-called second wind to guide further career growth. This book says that growth only lies within a person, and Basu seeks to teach us to listen to our inner voices better for lasting fulfillment. Despite the conceptual flaws mentioned above, I still find that aim laudable and worthwhile to pursue. Listening to others’ narratives can help us find our own way, certainly, and I appreciate Basu’s contributions to that task.
Mid-Career Crisis: Why Some Sail Through While Others Don’t
By Partha Sarathi Basu
Copyright (c) 2015, 2020
Harper Business
ISBN13 9789381364924
Page Count: 170
Genre: Business, Career Development
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