🤓 What’s on your summer reading list?
+ 🔘 Poll Results from last time: How are you feeling about work these days?
Hi Friends,
Last time I took a temperature check on how you and fellow Pivoters are feeling about work these days—scroll down for those poll results.
If you (or a friend) have been impacted by recent layoffs, whether in the corporate or government sector, don’t miss Melanie Ehrenkranz’s Laid Off Substack, a favorite recent find after reading this NYT profile. You might also appreciate today’s episode of NPR’s Life Kit:
🤓 What’s on your summer reading list?
I just finished Gone Girl, only thirteen years late to the party, after finding it in the Little Free Library near my house. The book is so much better than the movie (of course), even if you know the plot twists—what a masterpiece! The social commentary is as relevant and searing today as it was then. Did you know Gillian Flynn was raised by a film professor father and a mother who taught reading comprehension? The perfect combination to weave storytelling into the fabric of her being.
✍️ If you want help with writing, check out my recent Free Time update on tools to leverage AI as a writing partner (not a crutch).
The New York Times Book Review put out a Summer Reading Bucket List; click the link for some starting suggestions under each prompt.
As for their Best Books of the 21st Century, well, those come across as 500+ notable authors trying a little too hard to sound erudite. I prefer the Readers Picks list, compiled after chuffed subscribers complained about how high-brow the initial list seemed, failing to account for many beloved commercial bestsellers. For example: Gone Girl doesn’t place on the hoity-toity version, while it’s #49 based on readers’ favorites.
📚 Is anyone else a member of the Book of the Month Club? Next year marks the 100-year anniversary (!!) since their founding in 1926. I joined a few months ago, after their marketing hooked me with this irresistible hat:
This one was tempting too 😂
🏖️ Last but not least, check out these summer reading recs for any mood, with thanks to , and to Sarah Young for sharing the link with me!
🔘 Poll Results: How are you feeling about work?
Last time I shared an article from , “Everyone I know is worried about work,” whether “finding a job, keeping the one they have, or what will happen when the work they do no longer exists.”
For the 78% of you who are feeling numb, anxious, afraid, or even mid-meltdown, hang in there! If you are looking for more support, I can’t recommend my friend (and first career coach) ’s Career Pathfinder program highly enough. Apply promo code PIVOT for a discounted rate, and 🎧 listen to our Pivot podcast conversation playlist here »
Now let’s examine the next energizer (or not) in our Strengthscope series . . .
💪 Strengthscope Deep Dive: Empathy
Is empathy an energizer or a drainer for you?
🔋 If empathy energizes you, you readily identify with other people and can see things clearly from their perspective. It’s not just a strength you have—it energizes you to care about others in this way, imagining how they feel and what they need.
Who annoys you: People who really struggle to “walk in others’ shoes” — to identify with others’ feelings, background, and their situation. To you, they might come across as unconcerned, self-centered, or insensitive.
Who is annoyed by you: People who are very task-focused, analytical, or self-sufficient might find your empathy overkill. They might see you as too concerned with others’ views and feelings.
🥵 When in overdrive: You can become so immersed in others’ situations that you may take them on as your own, losing the ability to provide objective support and guidance.
🪫 If empathy is a drainer for you: You may struggle to walk in others’ shoes—to identify with their situation, feelings, and context. Others may see you as unconcerned or insensitive.
Reframe it by reflecting: Which of my energizers could help me pause before reacting or proceeding, to see from other perspectives?
📊 Get to Know Your Significant Seven Energy-Strengths
If you want to dive deeper into the 24 energy-strengths, including an assessment that will show your biggest energizers and drainers:
Individuals: Purchase the Strengthscope report here and get instant access to your results and a 45-minute Upgrade Your Energy pre-recorded workshop to better understand your unique profile, with tips to find more flow at work.
Or book a 45-minute 1:1 with me that comes with a Strengthscope report; together we’ll talk through your results and develop a customized strategy based on your Significant Seven energy-strengths.
Teams: If you work within an organization and have the budget to run this as an in-person half-day team-building workshop, we are now booking for next quarter. Learn more and inquire here »
That’s it for now . . . thank you for reading!
❤️ With Love,
I too would like to read Gone Girl, as the film was really good! I am working my way through The Great Initiates, a classic by Edouard Shure (it's not heavy!) and am about to dive into Antidote by Karen Russell. I read an excerpt from it on substack and the writing is superb and original. It's a big hardback book, but it should carry me thru the summer.