Wondering What's Next? Congrats on Entering Your "Serena Season"
Wondering what’s next? Congratulations on entering your “Serena Season”! You know, Serena (as in Williams) - the athlete/businesswoman/Time cover model who recently announced her retirement (“evolution” is the word she prefers) from tennis to pursue new exciting (and as of yet, unannounced) options? You can read more about her decision in this Vogue interview.
We’ve all heard musings recently about “The Great Resignation” and “Quiet Quitting” but the concept of a “Serena Season” – a time to explore and expand - resonated most with me.
Whether you’re thinking about the last quarter of 2022 or your upcoming empty nest, what’s next for you? Whether it’s a complete change or just a smallish pivot, here are 5 books to help you think about and move forward with your next chapter.
What's next? is a question we all must ask and answer more frequently in an economy where the average job tenure is only four years, roles change constantly even within that time, and smart, motivated people find themselves hitting professional plateaus. But how do you evaluate options and move forward without getting stuck? Jenny Blake--a former training and career development specialist at Google who now runs her own company as a career and business consultant and speaker--has a solution: the pivot. Pivoting is a crucial strategy for Silicon Valley tech companies and startups, but it can also be a successful strategy for individuals looking to make changes in their work lives. This book will introduce you to the Pivot Method and show you how to take small, smart steps to move in a new direction--now and throughout your entire career. You can read more and get your copy here.
A few years ago, Debbie Travis realized that she was no longer challenged by her wildly successful TV career, yet she was so busy she was missing out on the people and things that made her happy. She dared to dream about a whole new direction in life--a plan to turn a 13th-century farmhouse in Tuscany into a unique hotel and retreat for people who need a change as much as she did. And now she is not only living that dream but sharing it with others. Her new book draws directly on her own experiences (when she started, Debbie could barely make a bed, let alone run a hotel in a foreign county) and the uplifting stories of personal u-turns shared by women who have come to her retreats. On every page, Debbie shares the tools that helped her transform her life. Her common-sense advice, often delivered with her trademark humor, will help motivate anyone who finds themselves standing at a crossroads wondering "What's next for me?" You can read more and get your copy here.
Are you where you want to be professionally? Whether you want to advance faster at your present company, change jobs, or make the jump to a new field entirely, Reinventing You, provides a step-by-step guide to help you assess your unique strengths, develop a compelling personal brand, and ensure that others recognize the powerful contribution you can make. Branding expert Dorie Clark mixes personal stories with engaging interviews and examples from Mark Zuckerberg, Al Gore, Tim Ferriss, Seth Godin, and others to show you how to think big about your professional goals, take control of your career, and finally live the life you want. You can read more and get your copy here.
Are you stuck in an unsatisfying job? In the wrong profession? An industry that just isn’t a fit? Get unstuck! Land a new career—one you’re genuinely passionate about. Switchers helps you realize that dream. Written by celebrated career coach and psychologist Dr. Dawn Graham, the book provides proven strategies that will get you where you want to go. Packed with psychological insights, practical exercises, and inspiring success stories, Switchers helps you leap over obstacles and into a whole new field. You can read more and get your copy here.
With three children at home and three hit television shows, it was easy for Shonda to say she was simply too busy. But in truth, she was also afraid. And then, over Thanksgiving dinner, her sister muttered something that was both a wake up and a call to arms: You never say yes to anything. Shonda knew she had to embrace the challenge: for one year, she would say YES to everything that scared her. This poignant, intimate, and hilarious memoir explores Shonda’s life before her Year of Yes—from her nerdy, book-loving childhood to her devotion to creating television characters who reflected the world she saw around her. The book chronicles her life after her Year of Yes had begun—when Shonda forced herself out of the house and onto the stage; when she learned to explore, empower, applaud, and love her truest self. You can read more and get your copy here.
Serena was the first guest on Meghan Markle’s new podcast, Archetypes. Meghan and Serena talk about the double standard women face when they are labeled “ambitious”. You can listen here.
Speaking of podcasts and pivots, She Pivots features interviews with women who have taken bold moves, exploring how their personal experiences have led to pivots in their personal and professional lives. You can check it out here.
Finally, I love the idea of a “grown up gap year” – read more about what it is and how to do it here.