Location: United States
Member Since: May 14, 2010

Mary Boyle

Biography

Career Consultant/Principal at Pontus Consulting, LLC. Diverse business background in manufacturing and service organizations. Employing two decades of experience in accounting and Information Technology together with Psychology training to assist others with career exploration and job search.

Where to find Mary Boyle online

Website: http://www.pontusconsult.com
Twitter: @CareerExplore
Facebook: Facebook profile
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/maryboylega
Blog: http://pontusconsult.com/careerexplore/

Smashwords book reviews by Mary Boyle

  • The Career Explorer's Journal 2014 on May 19, 2010

    I have a keen interest in career exploration--have in fact embraced helping others to explore as part of my identity--and am always on the lookout for resources that can help people as they take this journey. The Career Explorer’s Journal provides an accessible alternative to manuals that are 300+ pages long and seem daunting before ever cracking the cover. I know because I’ve read many of them and felt daunted more than once. Paul Diamond takes a conversational tone from the outset, inviting us into the explorer’s world with a wink and a hop (this is my mental image, anyway). With examples from notable explorers in history, he introduces the points (1) that sometimes we find things we did not know we were looking for and (2) that even the most impressive feats start with small steps. Having laid the mindset for exploration, I believe one of the most valuable things the author does is give the reader permission. He consistently gives permission to ponder, to not have all the answers immediately (which would be unrealistic but people sometimes expect it anyway), and to make a decision without fretting over whether it is “right” or “perfect.” Part of his model is practicing forgiveness, such that an explorer is not broken by unexpected results/outcomes but instead accepts them as part of the process. The heart of the book takes readers through questions about what is important to them, what they are good at, and what keeps them motivated. The author demonstrates how these pieces of evidence are tied into the decision-making process by providing examples of how people have used these realizations to choose a path forward. A discussion I was glad to see as part of the present-day examples is that sometimes exploration is risky, and it is prudent to weigh both best and worst possible outcomes. So long as a person understands the potential risks of an action and are at peace with the possibilities, this coming to terms can be very liberating. One of the messages I am taking from this book: Exploration is driven by the curiosity and courage to move forward, knowing that the core pieces of information needed to make wise decisions are within the self. This is my philosophy also, and I believe Paul has presented us with a thoughtful and unintimidating way to mine information to be used in making career decisions. I will note that The Career Explorer’s Journal does not provide the reader with web links or boundless resources for research, but I do not think that was the intent. The basic instructions are here for a person who is ready to start paying attention to and documenting the clues from their past experiences and current aspirations, in the context of using the information to create the future. There is also discussion of how to tie these findings into the resume, interview, and networking process. For people who are unsure how to start thinking about where they want their “career to go” next, this book offers great prompts for exploring.