Steps to Academic and Professional Success Book Review

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Success: Make College Easier, Fire Up Your Dreams, and Get a Great Job … by Patrick Combs and Jack Canfield

In the first ten chapters of their book, Combs and Canfield emphasize the importance of entering and completing college, but stress that the process is not sufficiently rewarding unless students take advantage of this opportunity and actively seek out the knowledge they need to succeed in the workplace. Although opportunities in the United States may be limited by family background or intelligence, the authors point out that the ability to master a skill is not. The distinguishing ability to master a skill is an overwhelming desire that characterizes those with extraordinary drive. In other words, Combs and Canfield encourage their readers to pursue a career field for which they have a passion. For instance, in chapter one, Combs and Canfield write, "Working in a career you love is ESSENTIAL to success" (emphasis authors') (4). Indeed, Combs and Canfield reiterate this point a number of times and cite the benefits that can accrue to working in a dream career.

In addition, and more pragmatically, the authors emphasize the need to learn how to do something that people will pay them well to do (e.g, "No McJobs"),but they also note that this should not be the overarching factor that determines a career path. For instance, in chapter four, Combs and Canfield advise, "Many people have found that the best way to pick a job is by the amount of ENJOYMENT, SATISFACTION and LEARNING the job has to offer" (emphasis authors') (26). The authors' guidance concerning maintaining a journal sound like so much mumbo-jumbo when they assert that journaling can create an individual's reality until they explain that in many cases, people do not know what they really want from life until they codify it and have the information right out there for all to see (or at least the journalist).

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According to Canfield and Combs, "What you write about comes true quicker and often in seemingly strange and coincidental ways. . . . One explanation for this is that you must know what you want" (35-36).

In addition, a useful commentary concerning the impact that fear can have on successful thinking and pursuits is provided by the authors in chapter seven. Of course, a certain amount of fear is a natural survival response, but unwarranted fear is an entirely different issue. For instance, fear can represent a major stumbling block to success, they argue, but there are some proven steps that can help young people overcome their fears to achieve their personal and professional goals, but they may not be easy for some people whose fear has frozen their personal developmental progress. In this regard, Combs and Canfield cite five "prescriptions for fear" that can facilitate success as follows:

1. Feel the fear and do it anyway

2. Get support from friends who believe in you

3. Remember, you are equipped to handle anything that comes your way

4. Know that fear is a False Expectation of Risk

5. Replace your fear with faith (40).

These prescriptions for overcoming fear will likely be useful for students who take the authors' advice in chapter eight to pursue work and study opportunities abroad in order to broaden their cultural and academic horizons during this formative period in their career development. Many young people may feel that they have rest of their lives to travel abroad (and they do, of course), but the college experience in particular can be significantly enhanced….....

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