Excuse Me, Your Job Is Waiting
Attract the Work You Want
The ultimate edge in a successful job search is energy—the swirl of thoughts, beliefs, and feelings surrounding people and situations. Long-time human resources professional and consultant Laura George, inspired by Lynn Grabhorn’s bestseller, Excuse Me, Your Life Is Waiting, tailors this concept of energy and the law of attraction to understanding and using “vibes” that are inherent in the career process. She tackles the typically nuts-and-bolts subject of job hunting with a new slant saying, “Procuring employment is a solid marriage of energy principles with traditional job-search techniques. … Your energy has the potential to turn your job search into a smorgasbord of opportunities.”
She wants readers to partake of all those opportunities. In Part One, “Energy,” chapters resonate with anecdotes, definitions, and an especially helpful section offering “Remedies” (for low or negative energy). For example, she explains a technique to “flip” the energy of “don’t wants” into positive “wants” to spin positive energy. In Part Two, “Economics,” chapters focus on typical job search topics—types of companies, resumes, dressing, interviewing, and dealing with rejection—while weaving in energy principles that explain certain job interview vibes—both positive and negative. In Part Three, “Equilibrium,” she brings together these seemingly dichotomous aspects of job searching. Both are important, she emphasizes, for job searchers, those going solo, or people reinventing themselves. She also explains how to conduct an energy audit for those not getting results and how to focus on providing value.
While the law of attraction is getting a lot of play, skeptics question the approach. The author was a skeptic. Readers accompany her as she journeys through job search (and on-the-job) hell and recounts her own career-related ups and downs. She didn’t always buy into these energy principles. At one point, she notes, “I had to look at my life in retrospect to confirm the idea … My 20/20 hindsight gave me the confirmation I needed to start working my energy.” A clearer sense of what actually transpired that shifted her focus might help others whose disbelief keeps them from pursuing this valuable approach. She offers a concrete illustration of “What we focus on shows up in our lives,” in an exercise she calls “the Color Game.” One of her own moments of unbelief proves people’s predilection not to see what is right in front of their eyes.
Whether unemployed, underemployed, or just considering possibilities, all those looking for an edge in their careers should explore the path with George, a friendly guide who advises action along with reflection. George gives skeptics space to explore the disbelief and try out experiments to see what happens. She hopes they’ll conclude, as she did, “This stuff works.”
Reviewed by
Bobbye Middendorf
Disclosure: This article is not an endorsement, but a review. The publisher of this book provided free copies of the book to have their book reviewed by a professional reviewer. No fee was paid by the publisher for this review. Foreword Reviews only recommends books that we love. Foreword Magazine, Inc. is disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
