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Description
How do I decide what to do with my life when there are so many things I want to do? It is conventional wisdom that there is one true path in life for each of us. But what about those with a wide array of interests, a dynamic curiosity about the world, and an ever-renewing wellspring of passions? Margaret Lobenstine calls these people “Renaissance Souls,” and in this groundbreaking book, she offers a life-planning strategy in tune with their dynamic, change-loving personalities. Renaissance Souls often get stuck, moving from entry-level job to entry-level job, degree to degree, or hobby to hobby, unwilling to settle on just one thing to do “for the rest of my life.” Or, after achieving success in one field, they yearn for new challenges and begin looking around for something different. Yet they are also afraid that if they pursue their changing interests, they will have to give up on financial security, becoming “a jack of all trades and master of none.” The Renaissance Soul, the first book devoted to this personality type, not only shows that it’s possible to design a successful, vibrant life built on multiple passions, but also gives readers the practical advice to do so. Lobenstine arms the reader with powerful life-design strategies, including how to: *Understand the exciting and powerful difference between choice and focus *Transform your day job so that it carries your dreams forward *Manage your time the Renaissance Soul way *Thrive on many interests without feeling scattered *Get paid for your passions *Learn a new field without going back to school *Get inspired by Renaissance Souls from ancient times to the present, from Leonardo da Vinci to Ben Franklin to Oprah Winfrey Stocked with creative exercises, relevant resources, and interviews with successful Renaissance Souls, this profoundly inspiring guide will show readers the way to a richer, more fulfilling life—big enough to embrace all their dreams.… (more)
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User reviews
Offers plenty of good advice for pursuing multiple passions while remaining focused 'on task.'
-Organized layout of chapters and sections
-Applicable advice
-Good examples from author’s clients
-Exceedingly relatable
-Plentiful resources for further reading
-Understanding tone
Cons:
-Sometimes a bit dry, but never unbearable
Notes:
-One of the first books I’ve found about people with
-Even though it’s aimed at “renaissance souls”, there are a lot of good exercises that could help anyone who’s feeling stuck or afraid in terms of their work choice, productivity, and satisfaction.
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I think I was more in a space for this the first time I read it. This time, on the re-read, I found myself feeling impatient with it. Basically, I
It also struck me again that what works for advice in terms of personal mental health and individual projects doesn't necessarily translate into making a living. She keeps claiming that it can, but it takes a certain sort of confident, forceful personality to make a career out of job-hopping, and I know I'm not that kind of person - especially since most of the things that interest me are not things I'm good enough at to make money at. (Believe me, I've tried.)
It rather sucks in that I had, at one point, found the perfect career "umbrella" for my interests and skills - but the market's gone for that career. So the problem for me isn't not knowing what to do (as she implies) but rather it's getting someone to pay me to do it. In a world in which employers still assume single-track skills, it's a lot harder to be employed if you have irregular work experience than she suggests.