KO#21: The Problem with Business Books
Welcome to the 21st issue of the Knockout Your Sunday Scaries Newsletter, an every-other-week newsletter by me, Kristy Olinger, with a focus on workplace communication and self-development. I’m glad you’re here. Was this forwarded to you? Get yours: Subscribe here
Sunday, January 5th, 2024
Hi there,
Here is my current ‘beef’ with business books:
Too many seek out to share the most sensational stories of the top 1% to illustrate their points. While it’s super interesting to read about NASA missions, a Major League Baseball Star, or a deaf percussionist (this is a real example)… it’s not relatable. Even the more ‘down to earth’ examples are always about C-Suite executives.
Where are the business books with real stories of successful mid-level corporate professionals?
I’m talking about regular people who find meaning in their work, enjoy it, and are good at it… but at the same time work is not their whole identity.
People who do work nights and weekends sometimes, but they also leave at 4:00 to get their kids to activities or to drop off dinner for their aging parents and spend some time visiting.
People who don’t aspire to the executive level because they know that to do so would be choosing a lifestyle that doesn’t align with their values or interests. They recognize that they can contribute meaningfully without oversubscribing to work in a way that requires them to give less in other places.
The world is flooded with messages, and business books, about living life at a level of intensity that’s 1) not for everyone and 2) not required in order to be ‘successful’ both professionally and personally.
If these books and messages are creeping into your mind and causing Sunday Scaries, I need you to know that it is possible to love your mid-level corporate life. Linking here a manifesto of sorts that I wrote last January about why my mission is to eliminate the Sunday Scaries and how I believe that communication is the key to making work easier, more effective, and more fun. READ IT HERE
📚 What I’m Reading: The Life Impossible, by Matt Haig
One of my favorite books read in 2023 was The Midnight Library by Matt Haig so I picked this one up with high hopes. It has some similar qualities… a combination of fantasy/magic and philosophical life questions. I’m not enjoying the pace and there is an attempt to build suspense but it’s unveiling too slowly to keep my interest. I contemplated a DNF, but I’m pretty close to the end.
Content Round Up - In Case You Missed It
In this section I link to all of the content that has launched in the last 2 weeks because even if you’re following me on social media, the algorithm may or may not put my post in your feed. Here is what has launched over the last 2 weeks:
NOTHING.
I took time off to celebrate Christmas and the New Year with family and friends so I didn’t create any new videos, podcasts, or blogs.
You made it to the end! Congrats & thanks. ❤️ Have a great two weeks.
Stay Curious,
Kristy
P.S. Start the new year with WORK JOURNAL, a printed journal with prompts that help you build a reflection habit that turns every situation into an opportunity for growth.
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