KIRKUS REVIEW
A husband-and-wife team shares tips on having a satisfying career but still finding time for life beyond the office in this debut business guide.
Today’s workplace remains seriously stressful, but the “karmic corporate employee” will “smile inwardly”—yet still effectively deal with the often “cartoon antics.” That’s the mantra put forth by William, the pen name for a husband and wife with a total of more than 40 years of government and corporate experience, including posts in Brussels. In this guide, the couple offer a narrative that includes some 50-plus tips to “apply the karmic brakes slightly earlier than we did.” They particularly focus on handling the “Scrappy-Doo syndrome” that runs rampant in organizations to “work hard all of the time, battle for everything” in an insatiable pursuit of the next “cookie” of praise from superiors. While the authors acknowledge the need to become “scrappy” during the early days on a new job, they provide many suggestions on how an employee can strive for balance and calm thereafter. These tidbits include sending release-valve rants to a private email, perhaps even during meetings, “a vortex from which few manage to escape.” The authors also supply hints on influencing bosses (try pinging these busy types on Sunday mornings; never surprise them with ideas at meetings), dealing with party receptions (stay near the door and leave early), and more. The couple underscore that there is workplace value in a “karmic jazz” slowdown, as it leads to carefully thought-out “landing zone” solutions to problems rather than the fast-moving progress often demanded by “scrappies.” These hilarious authors, who note they are “pretty sure that we are not the only household on the planet that is trying to juggle family responsibilities, corporate realities and the wish not to forget how to have fun,” present inspiring tactical advice to attain better Zen mastery over a career. Their humorous narrative is hugely enjoyable, with their clever commentary including pokes at a certain wealthy businessman-turned-politician, which may not please all readers (“Now it’s just possible that you could try to model your own ego on that of Donald Trump, but why on earth would you want to?”). But overall, this duo delivers an engaging and transformative perspective on achieving a job and life balance.
Amusing—and motivating—advice on managing workplace stress.
