Review of Fast-Starting A Career of Consequence

[Joseph Dunn]

[Following is a volunteer review of "Fast-Starting A Career of Consequence" by Fred Sievert.]

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4 out of 4 stars

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Fast-Starting a Career of Consequence by Fred Sievert is a comprehensive manual for success in the workplace. Whether you are new to the workforce, changing careers, or an experienced veteran in your field, this book provides you with practical and actionable advice on bringing the principles of faith into your profession. Sievert provides articles, Biblical passages, and his experience as the chief executive of a Fortune 100 corporation to support his premise that our lives are enriched and pleasing to God when we use our spiritual gifts in our careers.

Fast-Starting a Career of Consequence begins by first establishing the necessity of the synergy between faith and work. The author suggests that since we spend so much of our lives at or doing work, it is our responsibility to find work that aligns with our spiritual gifts. He then provides a resource to help us identify our unique and specific spiritual gifts. Before jumping into tips to “fast-start” your career, he establishes guidelines for Christian conduct in the workplace. Early on, Sievert outlines biblical principles that provide general guidance for Christians, including relying on the Holy Spirit and applying the Golden Rule. This information is practical in the workplace, but it is also generally applicable to the Christian life. The book then launches into the fast-start tips that may benefit readers regardless of faith or where they are in their careers. Sievert tends to speak to Christians who are new to the workforce and those changing careers; however, I found most of the material, such as planning for presentations and thinking strategically, could be useful for anyone.

In my opinion, the most positive and beneficial aspect of the book is the integration of the gospel message with workplace behavior. Sievert uses passages from the Bible to start sections and chapters, which help show the relevance of scripture to our daily conduct. By adding these passages, he also shows the positive effects of following Biblical guidance in our careers and the beneficial impacts of Christianity in the workplace. From his unique perspective as a retired business executive with a master’s degree in Divinity, Sievert effortlessly navigates from faith to profession, and the two become indistinguishable.

I found nothing negative about this book. Even though the book is written from a Christ-centered perspective, readers of other faith backgrounds could benefit from the information. The book does not try to convert the audience, but it shows the applicability of Christian principles to positive workplace outcomes.

I enjoyed this book and found it very useful, so I rate it four out of four stars. The book certainly provides practical Christ-centered advice for the workplace, as the subtitle suggests: I will personally use it as a reference tool to ensure that I am optimally using my spiritual gifts. This book is clearly for a Christian audience, but I would suggest it to anyone hoping for career advancement and increased job satisfaction. The author provides advice from his personal spiritual life, but his guidance is impactful and far-reaching.

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Fast-Starting A Career of Consequence
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[Kenesha Latoya Fowler]

Well done on this informative review! I'm in total agree with your take on the book. And like Sievert, I hope that I'll also be able to make my faith and profession indistinguishable. Thanks for your insight.