A few years ago I read a book called The Adventures of Johnny Bunko by Dan Pink.
It was the first career book I ever read and enjoyed.
Johnny Bunko: Even the cover was different!
Now I’m not saying books about work and careers aren’t any good,
But I am saying that the career books I read before this one didn’t excite me in the same way as a reader.
Johnny Bunko was entertaining, it was encouraging and it wasn’t talking down to me.
The author and the book weren’t telling me what to do, in fact they were doing the opposite…
Asking what I wanted.
It might sound odd but Johnny Bunko helped me realise I wasn’t alone. At least one other person was having similar thoughts and feelings about work.
I now know there are plenty of people in the same position.
This book got me started with new questions, and because I had listened to people telling their stories about work for almost all of my career, I set about studying them. Not for universal answers or a lone voice for everyone to follow, instead to see if there was a way to support more people who wanted to figure things out for themselves.
Without Johnny Bunko’s inspiration and Dan Pink’s vision, I wouldn’t have explored my career in the same way and I wouldn’t be here right now encouraging you to do some exploring of your own.
One thing leads to another and new things become possible along the way.
My career experiences have proved this to me beyond question, that’s why I want to share them with you.
That’s why I want you to share your career experiences and your stories here too.
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Find out more about Johnny Bunko here
See just how excited I got when I reviewed this book on my blog
See the world through the eyes of manga artist Rob Ten Pas on Twitter.com
or share your own story with a comment below…
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
I know what you mean Paul – so many books are either telling you what to do, or reciting the tales of some super-hero who seems to bear no relation to our own muddling along lives.
It’s also good to be reminded how one thing can lead to another… something social media is particularly good at
Hi Joanna,
I remember waiting for this book to arrive in the mail and being genuinely inspired when I saw the subject brought to life with the light touch of an artist, both in the writing and in the illustrations.
As you say, it wasn’t all about the ‘expert’ telling me what to do. It focused on the guy at the heart of the story and all the questions and doubts he was facing.
It’s funny because now I think that the super-hero might just be the girl or the guy starting their journey by saying, “I don’t know what I want or where this is going”.
When you’re courageous enough to start there, one thing definitely can lead to another and new and good things do become possible along the way
excellent points and the details are more specific than elsewhere, thanks.
- Norman
Thank You Norman (or should I say Schönen Dank Norman!),
I appreciate what you have said because seeing the details is a big part of exploring. When we look closely at the specific details of our careers, one thing does indeed lead to another.
All the best to you for now,
Paul