BoomJob is an interview-based book about the work and careers of successful professionals from the boomer generation. Loyalty, perseverance, commitment, low need for praise & affirmation, working through & overcoming challenges, and getting the job done are common characteristics of successful Boomers. If you believe in teaching other generations about the work ethic and values of the Boomer generation, then supporting this book is critical.
The audience for this book is non-boomers who appreciate and value learning about successful professionals. It is also for anyone looking to choose the kind of work and career that will be rewarding, obtain insights on how to overcome career challenges and transition their careers from success to significance.
I personally conducted 20 in-person interviews and asked 12 questions.
1. Tell me about the work you do now?
2. What do you like most about what you do?
3. What was the first work you did where you were paid? This can be work of any kind at any time in your life.
4. Who have been some of your strongest influences of your attitudes about work and what did you learn from them?
5. What has been the work that asked most of you physically?
6. What has been the work that asked most of you intellectually?
7. Many people have shared that their early career was focused on success – the striving to get ahead – and later in their career is focused on significance – the desire to make an impact. How does that compare to your career experience?
8. At some point in every career, challenges – seemingly insurmountable – present themselves. What have you faced and how did you respond?
9. In your career, have you ever wondered if you were taking the right path?
10. How have your attitudes toward work evolved from your first paying job to today?
11. If you could imagine future generations reading your comments, how would you describe for them what work is like in the 21st century?
12. Have you always been paid what you’re worth?
The funds for this project will be used to hire expertise and services including 1) Editor and graphic designer for content, layout, and jacket design 2) Website builder & social media strategist, 3) Writer/publicist to create promotional materials/press releases, 4) Videographer/editor to make promotional video, 5) Print first run of paperback books.
The Children’s Center for the Visually Impaired ( www.ccvi.org) will receive $1.00 of all book sales.
This is my first book which is the first challenge. I have colleagues and friends who have written books and have patiently let me pepper them with questions over several hours and many cups of coffee to understand how to write a book. The second challenge is production… editing, layout, book cover design, printing, distribution, and promotion. The final challenge is funding which is where you and KICKSTARTER fit in. I hope you see the value in this project and choose to fund it. The Boomer generation has much to teach us and I believe their stories are valuable and know you will too!