A YP Perspective on Jon Gordon's The Seed

I don’t normally do book reviews, but I had a rather frustrating moment a couple of weeks ago.  Someone I consider to be my mentor came into my office and handed me a book to read. As someone who has spent her entire life in school, I’ll admit it I was annoyed. I have read so many books. Books on business, books on student development, books on spirituality, how to close a sale, how to network, how to lead.  Just another book to add to the “To read” pile.

It’ll be no surprise to those I work with that I’ve been struggling a bit lately. A lot of change in my position, new job description, new boss, new priorities, new metrics. A lot of change in my personal life, finishing grad school, finalizing the divorce. It’s all left me feeling a bit lost I suppose.  A little unsure of my purpose perhaps.

After carrying the book, The Seed by Jon Gordon, around with me for over a week, I cracked it open at a coffee shop last week. Almost begrudgingly, I might add. About two hours later my latte was gone and I had read the whole thing cover to cover. I also had a parking ticket on my car, but that’s neither here nor there.

In short, the book was about the process by which people arrive at their purpose. Throw in a dog’s internal dialogue, a spiritual component, and a road trip and I was sold.  The story, in it’s simplest form, is about a young professional who loses his passion for his current job and is faced with the decision whether or not to leave. In the end (spoiler alert) he learns through a series of quasi-mystical encounters, what his passion really is and that he could live passionately within his current position.

Basically, it’s about how to find purpose. It resonated with me. Your purpose isn’t a place it’s not a destination. I’ve often think about happiness in this same way.  It’s not in the job, it’s in how you approach the job. Purpose=Happiness. Find your purpose, find your happy-wherever you are and in whatever situation you are in.

Cheesy, most definitely. But, that's how I like to take my advice. I love a good cliché, a solid metaphor, and a dog’s perspective…It’s not surprising that I loved this book. Needless to say, my mentor was right, I did need to read yet another book. Not one on politics, time management, financial planning, or techniques for weathering change. But, one that at it’s core is about me. If I learned nothing else, it’s that sometimes people know what we need even if we haven’t verbalized it yet, that reading a book is never a waste of time, and that dogs are so much smarter than people.

Clearly, books like this can't solve your problems, they won't inherently change your life, but they can provide a little clarity, a new perspective, a maybe even add brevity to the situation. Plus, what have you go to lose? Besides about two hours and $25.00 in parking violations.