The Brazen Careerist: The New Rules for Success by Penelope Trunk is two-thirds of a great book. The good parts are about finding a job or career and then finding success therein in the new world with new goals, objectives, and dreams. The other third of it is dated, because it was written in 2007 and things have changed. In reality, this book is great to read and then promptly discard in favor of finding an actual mentor.
Trunk comes right out with why she wrote this book: “to provide a road map that I wish I’d had when I started out in business. This isn’t a book by a career coach, advising you on how to navigate a world she never had to navigate. These are firsthand stories and practical advice on how our generation can successfully maneuver in the new workplace, from someone who’s been there.”
But the world has moved too far too fast for all of this book to be relevant. That said, the two-thirds of this book that aren’t dated hold surprisingly steady relevance despite the evolution of the workplace since its initial publication in 2007
The book gives some great advice and insight regarding resumes, job hunting, interviewing, first-time managers, and office politics and discrimination.
It also goes into great detail about the generational differences between Boomers and those generations that have come since. It doesn’t go far enough, however, because in 2007 we didn’t know enough about the other generations to come, now known as Gen Z and Gen Alpha. Generations X and Y are fairly linear to those new generations with regard to dreams, goals, and expectations, as well as technological understanding, mobility, and flexibility in the workplace and within careers.
But the dated nature of this book does show its head when it comes to understanding the internet and its uses. Cold calling, which Trunk suggests, isn’t what it used to be in 2007. Today, an unknown caller will be dumped into voicemail, so the opportunity to talk yourself into anything is almost void. Blogging, which I enjoy doing, is no longer a way to increase your “network because a blog is about introducing yourself and sharing information,” though that could be said about my podcast.
In sharing what she has learned, Trunk has made an excellent case for finding yourself a mentor. This doesn’t have to be someone at your company, or even in your field, or even someone still working. It’s just a professional or retiree who wants to share what they have been through who can give you more specific and perhaps more relevant insights than this book. This book reads like the things you should learn from 12 monthly lunches with a good mentor.
Now, perhaps the book is more well-rounded in its insights because it covers everything from the search for a job, the first steps into management roles, and the ways to find balance and reach for more. What it lacks, dear reader, is the personal nature of a mentor who understands who you are and who can give you genuine personal insights.
Is the Brazen Careerist worth picking up almost two decades after its publication? If you want to learn specifically about the divide between Boomers and every generation coming along afterward, sure, go ahead. It’s very detailed in that regard and as accurate as you can be in broad generalizations.
But if you want help looking for a job or advancing in your career, the CliffsNotes for this book is to go out and find yourself a mentor. If you can’t find a mentor, this book might be at least a step in the right direction.
The latter chapters about the new American dream are particularly interesting, especially when comparing what younger professionals are looking for. To give you a taste, I think Trunk hits it out of the park when she writes:
“Choices are difficult today because the new American dream is not as measurable as the old one. You cannot look at your bank statement or count your bedrooms to assess your success. The new American dream is about fulfillment, which is a murky, slippery goal, but you will know it when you feel it.”
So there is still some good in this book, but it’s no substitute for a mentor.