Product Description

This practical guide helps readers to understand their talents and temperament and find the career or calling in which they can flourish. It takes a broad-ranging view of vocation to include all kinds of secular work, marriage and parenting, as well as callings to Christian service. Increasingly, people are looking for more than a well-paid job; they also expect to find personal fulfilment and a sense of purpose and value in what they do. Part one, "What Do We Mean By Vocation?", explores the idea of the vocational life and encourages everyone to consider what their vocation might be. It asks whether a vocation is for life, or whether it changes as we grow and it also contrasts the differences between a career and a vocation. Part two, "How Do I Find My Vocation?", is a hands-on guide to understanding one's gifts and abilities, discovering one's "inner compass" and learning to recognize the signs that tell us we are on the right or the wrong road. Full of practical advice and spiritual wisdom, this provides a map for a change of direction in life. Part three, "Living My Vocation", looks at all the practical responsibilities that follow from pursuing our true goals in life.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #38454 in Books
• Published on: 2002-01-01
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 160 pages

About the Author
John Adair is an internationally known writer and consultant in the fields of leadership and management. His 28 books, including the seminal 'Effective Leadership', have sold over one million copies and have been translated into 14 languages. He has taught at Oxford, Surrey and Exeter Universities and was the first Director of Studies at St George's House Windsor. He lives near Guildford.

Customer Reviews

Interesting mix of modern management, parables & philosophy
In the search for a career pathway, what is it that draws the seeker to this title? It is the word 'vocation'. Already those to whom it does not apply have skipped to the next book, but those who have lingered, question and ask yourself, why? Is it because you require more than just a career and that realisation is slow to surface until you read the word 'vocation'? It may have triggered a deep longing, and the book itself is no disappointment. Sometimes permission is needed before an area can be explored, and Adair grants it. The imagery used, out of necessity as it is connecting to the very depths of the reader, embraces a post-modern spirituality. Adair does have links with the established church in Britain in his capacity as adviser to the Archbishops' Council of the Church of England, but he does not dwell on religious issues, but the deeper spiritual needs. His book is an interesting mixture of modern management skills, for example 'thinking outside the box', parables - biblical fashion and ancient philosophical wisdom. It contains easy to view box illustrations with examples that tie in with the main text, useful checklists and exercises and a summary of key points at the end of each chapter. These devises make for easy reference and reading but the content of the book is best taken in slowly in order to be understood fully. Words such as 'intuition', 'hindsight', 'inner compass' and 'depth mind' give a flavour of the themes used by Adair to illustrate his theory that 'vocation strengthens the feeling that life is a journey or pilgrimage', but this is no wishy-washy book; it offers practical guidance, such as helping to identify feasible options, the way ahead. An interesting and useful book to read.

Follow this guide and you will discover a fascinating life
Maybe this book will be even more appreciatded by those that found their vocation. It really describes what is needed to find one or more tasks in your life fascinating. Experience your work as hobby, experience how your enthusiasm can be passed on to others, how you can get the best out of your team members. The link between vocation and leadership is a strong end to this fine guide which you can read in a few hours. The examples are well chosen. Just enjoy it, try it out if you did not discover yet how fascinating a task can be which you love. Those that know will have the feeling that the guide is written about themselves, so true it is.

How to find your Vocation: A guide to discovering the work you love.
An interesting read. Not just for those exploring vocation in the church, but for everyone who wants to find fulfilment in their work.