Practical and authentic, this essential career handbook provides every young person with inspiration and practical pathways to overcome socio-economic adversity and achieve their career ambitions. Written by an impressive group of senior professionals who have excelled despite seemingly insurmountable circumstances, including barriers such as racism and economic hardship, this book provides the roadmap to professional career success. With students and graduates from diverse and economically adverse backgrounds specifically in mind, the book breaks from the notion that one has to become a superstar, a Supreme Court Justice, a movie star, or an internationally famous athlete to be successful. It provides a grounded and realistic approach to achieve social, economic, and professional advancement for the majority of college students. High-level professionals and leaders in industry, government, non-profit, education, medicine, military, and the law share their unique stories, each filled with spirit, hope, advice, success strategies, and approaches to dealing with failures along the way. The book offers direction and guidance for self-determination and professional development, while also inspiring excellence in organizational leadership and management, with a focus on leadership, character, and tangible skills. This is essential reading for college students and graduates from all backgrounds, with a focus on underrepresented groups in particular. It will also benefit instructors, professors, and professionals in higher education, as well as leaders in the public, private, and third sectors who are focused on uplifting students and recent graduates of adverse and diverse backgrounds.

Upon graduating college and entering the working world, many students feel lost and are often inadequately prepared. Why is this? It all boils down to the importance of work ethic, integrity, and a willingness to do research instead of just charging blindly into your professional life. This book intends to expose the mistaken beliefs of college graduates, while also providing a dedicated space for practical tips that evoke a positive mental shift. Also included is a section on career preparation, which will help you take practical steps toward discovering your potential future career. The advice given in this book covers both personal and professional life, since the level of excellence you demonstrate in one area will often impact the other. From Illusion to Reality will provide readers with a better understanding of their calling, as well as hope for the future and a passion that will drive them toward their goals. With personal anecdotes from the authors themselves as well as from graduates and working professionals from different walks of life, this book is both engaging and grounded in real life experience, not in abstract or elitist ideas. Written for average to advanced readers, this book is an easy but engaging read that will put you on the right professional track.

Five decades ago, I was challenged to read the Moynihan Report (1965). Then and now, I take issue with much of the content, which smacks of deficit thinking, blaming the victim, and a blindness or almost total disregard for how systemic racism and social injustices contribute to family structures. I recall being professionally and personally offended by interpretations of single?parent families, which were often negative and hopeless. Moral development, criminal activity, poor educational outcomes, poverty, and apathy of many kinds were placed squarely on the shoulders of these families, especially if the families were/are headed by Black mothers. Eurocentric and middle class notions of ‘real’ families like those depicted on TV shows and movies dominate, then and now, what is deemed healthy in terms of family structures – with the polemic conclusion that nuclear families are the best and sometimes only structure in which children must be raised. These colorblind, economic blind, and racist blind studies, reports, theories, and folktales have failed to do justice to the families in which there is one caregiver. Their stories of woe and mayhem make the news and guide policies and procedures. The stories of children who have been resilient have been unheard and silenced, they have been under?reported and relegated to the status of ‘exception to the rule’. Perhaps they are exceptions, but there are more exceptions than we may know. This book is designed with those stories of resilience and success in mind. The book is not an attempt to glorify single?parent families, but such families are prevalent and increasing. High divorce rates are impactful. And some parents have chosen to not marry, which is their right. While not glorifying single?parent families, we are also not demonizing them or telling their stories void of context. Yes, income will often be low(er), time will be compromised when divided between offspring, work, and other obligations. Likewise, we are not glorifying two?parent families as being ideal; their context matters too. How healthy are married couples who don’t really love or even like each other? How healthy are those parents who have separate sleeping arrangements/bedrooms? How healthy are those families who have oppositional parenting styles and goals for their children? This is the 50th anniversary of the Moynihan Report, and I am concerned that another 50 years will pass that fails to balance out the stories of single?parent families, mainly those whose children succeed and defy the odds so often unexpected of them. I agree with Cohen, co?author of the updated report: "The preoccupation with strengthening marriage as the best route to reducing poverty and inequality has been a policymaking folly”. Further, 50 years after Moynihan released the controversial report, The Negro Family: The Case for National Action, a new brief by the Institute for Women's Policy Research (IWPR) and the Council on Contemporary Families (CCF) titled, "Moynihan's Half Century: Have We Gone to Hell in a Hand Basket?," finds that the changes in family structure that concerned him have indeed continued, becoming widespread among Whites as well, but that they do not explain recent trends in poverty and inequality. In fact, a number of the social ills Moynihan assumed would accompany these changes in family structure—such as rising rates of poverty, school failure, crime, and violence—have instead decreased. (see this)

Unlock the secrets to entrepreneurial success with "What Not To Do" – your essential guide to navigating the complex world of business. This book is not just a collection of advice; it's a treasure trove of real-life experiences, distilled into powerful lessons by someone who's walked the path. Why should you read this book? Because it offers something invaluable: wisdom born from mistakes and triumphs alike. Each chapter unveils critical dos and don'ts in business, drawn from authentic scenarios. It's like having a mentor who shares not only what to strive for but also what pitfalls to avoid. With S.M.A.R.T. Goal Worksheets, the book ensures a hands-on approach, making it more than just a read—it's a transformative experience. From maintaining integrity to effect of ego on your decision-making, and balancing ambition with humility, "What Not To Do" covers it all. It's designed for aspiring entrepreneurs, seasoned business owners, and anyone in between who seeks to refine their entrepreneurial journey. By embracing the insights within these pages, you equip yourself to make smarter decisions, foster stronger relationships, and build a more successful professional life. Dive into "What Not To Do" and transform your entrepreneurial dreams into reality, one chapter at a time. It’s your key to unlocking a world of possibilities!

Welcome aboard the journey of a lifetime – a journey filled with twists, turns, and unexpected detours. In "Journey to Success: Navigating Life's Challenges and Seizing Opportunities for Young Professionals," we embark on a voyage of self-discovery, growth, and achievement. For every young professional setting sail in the vast sea of career exploration, this book serves as a compass, guiding you through turbulent waters and calm seas alike. Whether you're charting a new course or navigating uncharted territory, "Journey to Success" equips you with the tools, strategies, and insights needed to thrive amidst life's ever-changing tides. In this captivating narrative, we'll explore the exhilarating highs and challenging lows that define the journey to success. From overcoming obstacles to seizing opportunities, each chapter offers a beacon of hope and inspiration for young professionals striving to make their mark on the world. Prepare to embark on a transformative odyssey, where resilience, determination, and unwavering optimism reign supreme. Together, let's embark on a voyage of self-discovery, empowerment, and boundless potential. Welcome aboard – your journey to success awaits.

With the nation’s most respected broadcaster now exposed for cheating, The Big Story comes as a timely and highly topical satire on the television industry, where the words 'truth' and 'reality' can have quite different meanings. Written by an insider, it’s scurrilous, witty…and accurate (honest!)

Education – An Anatomy of the Discipline focuses on the development of the discipline of education, how it is understood and practised in contemporary universities, and the potential threats to its future. As the author, John Furlong argues, disciplines are not only intellectually coherent fields of study; they also have a political life, they are argued for, supported, challenged and debated. Nowhere is this more true than in the discipline of education. In this authoritative text, Furlong describes the history as well as the current state of the discipline of education in universities. He also explores the range of national and global changes that have helped to shape the discipline in recent years. Education’s final ‘arrival’ in the university sector coincided with major changes in universities themselves. Today, universities are very diverse institutions: they no longer have a sense of essential purpose and have largely accepted their loss of autonomy, especially in education where government intervention is particularly strong. If education is now fully integrated into universities, then, like the system as a whole, it urgently needs to find a voice, set out a vision for itself, and state what its purpose should be within a university in the modern world. The book therefore brings together four vitally important topics: -the changing nature of the university -the academic and scholarly study of education as a field -the professional education and training of teachers -the nature and organisation of educational research. Education – An Anatomy of the Discipline will occupy a central place in contemporary literature about education; although based on evidence from British universities, its implications are important across the world. The book will be invaluable reading for all professionals working in university departments and faculties of education as well as those with an interest in the changing role of the university in contemporary society.

Thomas Toren experienced more horror, loss, and change in his life than most. When he was just six, his mother was arrested for Rassenschande and imprisoned by the Nazis. Young Thomas would not see her again until he was almost thirty. He did not know who his father was, and the man who raised him was cold and distant. His older half-sister grew up to be an unkind, egotistical person who betrayed him and his beloved wife, Lisa. He was born in Berlin in 1931. He was expelled from two German primary schools because of his stepfathers Jewish surname. From age seven, he was raised by two women in the Russian immigrant community of Harbin, China, where he finished a Russian high school at the top of his class. Having spent his formative years there and suspecting that his biological father was either Russian or Polish, Toren considers himself Russian. This all seemed perfectly normal to the young man. Torens explanation: children accept everything as normal. Only in hindsight, after acquiring some life experience and wisdom, are we able to understand and analyse our childhood. To escape the Soviet bloc, he managed to travel to Israel, where he married his lifelong love, Lisa. In these transitions, a bit of stability emerged. Toren had a long, successful career as a qualified mechanicalengineer and brilliant inventor. Now retired, Toren felt the urge to record the stories of his unusual life, during which he has experienced four cultures and observed many more. Hes called Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and Australia home at various times of his life. These intercontinental movements were not by choice; they were imposed as a result of political upheavals of the twentieth century. Toren knows that life was not meant to be easy. Wishing and hoping is not enough. Determination and perseverance are essential. A bit of luck also helps. Life has taught Toren an important lesson. He says: We should learn to fully appreciate each one of our many blessings, which we normally take for granted. We tend to fully appreciate our blessings only in retrospect, after we have lost them!

The 'small actions' you take today can put you on the path to big career success tomorrow. If these actions are innovative, intelligent and well-timed, they can make a lasting impact and help you navigate your career journey in the face of uncertainty and disruptions.A key opinion leader on LinkedIn, Eric Sim shares practical and actionable tips to help you achieve your career goals. He draws these from his diverse real-life experience — from selling street food and training to be an engineer, to becoming a managing director at UBS Investment Bank.Arranged thematically into 66 bite-sized chapters, this book brings together a series of relatable stories and case studies. You'll learn valuable career lessons, such as why it's important to be a 'combo specialist', and how you can influence people and build your personal brand. Whether you're just starting out in the workforce or are looking to get further ahead, let this book inspire you to take powerful small actions of your own.

" In this chaotic world, filled with struggle, uncertainty, and overwhelming challenges, The Black Dot Philosophy emerges as a lifeline. Authored by Jerry Mark Fish, this book is an innovative transformative guide that turns daunting obstacles into golden opportunities for growth. The Black Dot Philosophy is a journey, a movement towards resilience, fulfillment, and success. It offers a pathway to empowerment, a strategy to transform life's black dots into beacons of hope. With a perfect blend of real-life examples and practical advice, it's a must-have toolkit for anyone facing life's trials. It promises not just to change your perspective but to redefine your approach to life's challenges, leading you to a life of purpose, achievement, and joy. "