Book Summary: The Art of Work: A Proven Path to Discovering What You Were Meant to Do by Jeff Goins

The Art of Work: A Proven Path to Discovering What You Were Meant to Do by Jeff Goins delves into the complex process of finding your true purpose – the reason for your existence.

Based on his own experiences and conversations with others, Goins stresses that discovering your purpose is more of a journey than a clear-cut blueprint, rife with unforeseen ups and downs. He contends that individuals are constantly searching for purpose, yet genuine satisfaction comes when one’s passion matches the demands of society.

This book provides a guide to the challenges of following a career path and the life-changing influence of chasing your aspirations. By sharing engaging anecdotes and useful recommendations, Goins motivates readers to accept the path, shedding light on the road to a fulfilling life driven by genuine passion and purpose.

Book Summary Contents

1 The Art of Work: A Proven Path to Discovering What You Were Meant to Do by Jeff Goins Book Details
2 The Art of Work: A Proven Path to Discovering What You Were Meant to Do by Jeff Goins Statistics
- 2.1 Ratings and Rankings
- 2.2 Best Sellers Rank
3 The Art of Work: A Proven Path to Discovering What You Were Meant to Do by Jeff Goins Quotes
4 The Art of Work: A Proven Path to Discovering What You Were Meant to Do by Jeff Goins Table Of Contents
5 The Art of Work: A Proven Path to Discovering What You Were Meant to Do by Jeff Goins Book Summary
6 About the Author: Jeff Goins
7 Get Your Copy Of The Book: The Art of Work: A Proven Path to Discovering What You Were Meant to Do by Jeff Goins
- 7.1 >> Get Your Copy Of The Book <<
8 References :
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The Art of Work: A Proven Path to Discovering What You Were Meant to Do by Jeff Goins Book Details

Attribute	Details
Publisher	HarperCollins Leadership (March 24, 2015)
Language	English
Paperback	240 pages
ISBN-10	9780718022075
ISBN-13	978-0718022075

The Art of Work: A Proven Path to Discovering What You Were Meant to Do by Jeff Goins Statistics

Title: The Art of Work: A Proven Path to Discovering What You Were Meant to Do
Author: Jeff Goins
Publication Date: March 24, 2015
Publisher: HarperCollins Leadership

Ratings and Rankings

Average Rating:
- 4.4 out of 5 stars (1,897 ratings)
- 3.9 out of 5 stars on Goodreads (3,973 ratings)

Best Sellers Rank

Overall in Books: #282,518
Categories:
- #628 in Job Hunting & Career Guides
- #2,694 in Christian Self-Help
- #4,002 in Success Self-Help

The Art of Work: A Proven Path to Discovering What You Were Meant to Do by Jeff Goins Quotes

I used to think that your calling was about doing something good in this world. Now I understand it’s about becoming someone good—and letting that goodness impact the world around you.
Freedom is a great thing, but freedom without restriction can be paralyzing
Successful people and organizations don’t succeed in spite of failure; they succeed because of it.
Even when others don’t understand, masters recognize their allegiance is to a higher calling than pleasing the masses.
Finding your calling will not happen without the aid and assistance of others.
Flow is the intersection of what you are good at and what challenges you—where difficulty and competency meet. When your competency exceeds the difficulty of a task, you are bored. And when the difficulty exceeds your competency, you are anxious.
Frankl learned there are three things that give meaning to life: first, a project; second, a significant relationship; and third, a redemptive view of suffering. He realized that if people, even in the bleakest of circumstances, have a job to do, something to return to tomorrow, then they have a reason to live another day.
Commitment is necessary. It teaches us to exchange instant gratification for long-term reward and shows us that some change takes time
Think of it this way: if the practice is enjoyable, then you aren’t growing
Our lives are haunted by the ghosts of what might have been.

The Art of Work: A Proven Path to Discovering What You Were Meant to Do by Jeff Goins Table Of Contents

Author’s Note
Introduction: The Cancer That Couldn’t Stop a Triathlete

PART ONE: Preparation

Listening to Your Life: The Call to Something Old, Not New
Accidental Apprenticeships: The Teacher Appears When the Student Least Expects
Painful Practice: When Trying Isn’t Good Enough

PART TWO: Action

Building Bridges: The Leap That Wasn’t a Leap
Pivot Points: Why Failure Is Your Friend
The Portfolio Life: A New Kind of Mastery

PART THREE: Completion

Your Magnum Opus: What Legacy Looks Like

Conclusion: The Work Is Never Done
Acknowledgments
Appendix: Your First Steps Down the Path
Notes
About the Author

The Art of Work: A Proven Path to Discovering What You Were Meant to Do by Jeff Goins Book Summary

Part 1: Preparation

Chapter 1: Listening to Your Life: The Call to Something Old, Not New. This chapter uses the story of Jody Noland to illustrate how pain can awaken us to our purpose. It suggests that our calling is not something brand new, but rather a return to something familiar. We might find our calling by paying attention to the common themes and patterns in our lives.
Chapter 2: Accidental Apprenticeships: The Teacher Appears When the Student Least Expects It. The chapter focuses on Ginny Phang’s experience of finding mentorship and guidance from unexpected sources. It emphasizes that apprenticeships can prepare us for our future and that we should be open to recognizing and seizing these opportunities when they arise.
Chapter 3: Painful Practice: When Trying Isn’t Good Enough. This chapter highlights the stories of Stephanie Fisher, William Hung, and Martyn Chamberlin, suggesting that real practice requires intentional effort and can be challenging. It also notes that sometimes our calling might lie in areas we haven’t considered before.

Part 2: Action

Chapter 4: Building Bridges: The Leap That Wasn’t a Leap. This chapter, through the experiences of Ben and Kristy Carlson, encourages us to take small steps toward our calling instead of waiting for a big break. It uses the biblical story of Samuel to show how calling might require patience and learning to listen for it.
Chapter 5: Pivot Points: Why Failure Is Your Friend. This chapter explores how failure can lead us to our true purpose, using the stories of Matt McWilliams and the history of Samuel Adams as examples. It highlights that setbacks can lead to personal development and the acquisition of knowledge.

Part 3: Completion

Chapter 6: The Portfolio Life: A New Kind of Mastery. Using Jody Maberry as an example, the chapter proposes a shift in perspective from viewing our work as a single job to a portfolio of different activities and passions. It discusses Charles Handy’s concept of five types of work that can constitute our portfolio.
Chapter 7: Your Magnum Opus: What Legacy Looks Like. This chapter emphasizes the importance of relationships and their impact on others in defining a meaningful life, drawing upon the fictional story of Mr. Holland. It suggests that our calling extends beyond personal achievement to leaving a positive influence on the world.

About the Author: Jeff Goins

The Art of Work A Proven Path to Discovering What You Were Meant to Do by Jeff Goins — Author’s image source: Linkedin.com

Jeff Goins is a writer, speaker, and entrepreneur known for his best-selling books, including The Art of Work and Real Artists Don’t Starve. His award-winning blog, Goinswriter.com, attracts millions of visitors annually, and his insights have been featured in prominent publications such as the Washington Post, USA Today, Entrepreneur, Forbes, Psychology Today, Business Insider, The Huffington Post, and Time.

Jeff empowers thousands of creatives to achieve their goals each year. He resides just outside of Nashville, where he is known for making the world’s best guacamole.