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How to Create Your Ultimate Job and Make an Extraordinary Contribution

Do you wake up each day feeling like you HAVE TO work and put food on the table?

If the previous sentence resonates with you, then you need to change your approach and start building a career, instead of just doing a “job.”

And we will tell you why and how to do it.

Who Should Read “Great Work, Great Career”? And Why?

Yes, it has been discussed many times over: you need to build a career, which will bring you a long-term satisfaction, instead of just momentary benefits.

However, rarely anyone says it better than bona fide guru Stephen R. Covey and co-author Jennifer Colosimo.

In “Great Work, Great Career” they try to change the way people go about making their professional choices and inspire them to start building a career instead of just looking for ways to make a living.

We recommend this magnificent book to Covey fans, job seekers, people who want to change their existing patterns and service industry personnel.

About Stephen R. Covey and Jennifer Colosimo

Stephen R. Covey is a writer who established himself as one of the most excellent businessmen, philosophers, theorists, and speakers of the 20th century. He is the author of the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, First Things First, The 8th Habit.

He is a co-founder of FranklinCovey, where Jennifer Colosimo is chief learning officer.

“Great Work Great Career Summary”

There are two types people in this world: those that want a job that puts food on the table, and those who want a career who people admire.

Which type are you?

Now, we will tell you why just having a job will not make you happy in the long run.

We understand that you need to pay the bills and buy food at the moment. However, if you just do your job, without painting a bigger picture, you will pay the price later.

What we are saying is that a career is not equal to the sum you have in the bank.

Yes, you can have a great career without being that rich. Money and benefits are not the only goals of those people who want to build a career for themselves. There is much more to it.

But how do you build a career?

A career is a mix of three characteristics: loyalty, trust, and contribution.

Let’s explain them briefly.

Your contribution consists of your “talents, passion, conscience” and “need.” As such, it is unique.

Trust and loyalty are “the fruit of your character and your conscience.”  

If you decide to walk the path toward a career, instead of a high paying job, you will feel satisfaction each day. You will work with a smile on your face, knowing that you are building something bigger than yourself.

The good news for you is that contrary to what you may believe, not only workaholics, corporate-ladder climbers and backstabbers have a chance in creating a career for themselves. In fact, anyone can have one – and should have on.

Giving everything you have to your job and using your skills and talents to their maximum is the only way to contribute fully.

You do not have to change your position to start building a career. You just need to look at your work differently.

Do not go to work thinking of it as an obligation. Instead, learn to love it and see it as a possibility to improve yourself, to push yourself, and to make your maximum contribution.

We promise you that everywhere you work, you will be rewarded for such kind of behavior. But that is not everything – you will feel much better and start finding meaning and purpose in your work-life.

Now, sometimes, the markets shift and present many problems that need to be solved.

It is your choice how you will see these problems. Will you see them as something that will destroy you, or as an opportunity to grow?

What we are trying to say is that you will live a much better life, have a much better career and feel happier if you learn how to appreciate what is there, and try to make the most of it, instead of dwelling on something that is missing.

Optimism can take you places.

So, tomorrow, when you wake up for work, what will you choose to feel like? What will you choose to see your workplace as?

We encourage you to be excited, start loving what you do and become the best worker there is.

Key Lessons from “Great Work, Great Career”

1.      The Solution Contribution
2.      Six Steps to Writing a Contribution Statement  
3.      Claim What You Deserve

The Solution Contribution

Change your mindset and become a problem solver. Finding solutions to problems and implementing them is key to your survival.

Write a contribution statement to articulate “the high purpose you want to serve.”

A good contribution statement connects the problems you want to solve with your strengths and skills. It will help you focus on creating value.

Six Steps to Writing a Contribution Statement  

• • “Write a homage to an influential person.”

• • “Write tributes you would like to receive”

• • “Review your strengths”

• • “Examine your cause”

• “Share”

Claim What You Deserve

Create the job you want – that actively pushes you toward exploiting all your talents and experiences. Create a circle of people that will only help you progress.

Like this summary? We’d Like to invite you to download our free 12 min app, for more amazing summaries and audiobooks.

“Great Work, Great Career” Quotes

Our Critical Review

“Great Work, Great Career” presents another way to look at things.

Hence, if you are not a lover of alternative ways of thinking, and you don’t want to make changes in your existing paradigm, you might want to find something else to read.

However, if you are ready to change your old habits and change the patterns that exist in your professional life, Covey and Colosimo’s book is just what you need.

Emir Zecovic

Emir is the Head of Marketing at 12min. In his spare time, he loves to meditate and play soccer.