Parachute Author Speaks in Seattle
Posted on June 26, 2008
Filed Under Advice |
By Marc D. Snyder, Editor
Richard Nelson (Dick) Bolles, author of the hugely successful What Color is your Parachute spoke at Seattle’s Town Hall, last evening, June 25. In a visit organized by the UW Alumni Association, Centerpoint Institute and the Puget Sound Career Development Association, Dick discussed the history of the book and how he became involved in the field of career development. Dick was introduced and interviewed by Seattle TV personality and motivational speaker, Tony Ventrella.
Ten million copies and counting, What Color is Your Parachute?, is the world’s best-selling job search and career book, first published in 1970. The first edition was self-published by the author, who was an ordained Episcopal priest at the time. He had lost his own job, but had found a new one supervising campus ministers in the western U.S. He soon discovered that many ministers were losing their own jobs in the budget-crunch at the time. He typed out a handbook of his own suggestions and insights and had them copied at a local printer. Soon, he was receiving many requests for his ‘book’ and the ‘Parachute’ industry was born.
It was a lively night with many humorous insights into how best to find the best career in the 21st century. The book’s basic message hasn’t changed all that much in the thirty-eight years since first appearing on the bookshelves. How one goes about the career search is what makes all the difference. It’s about strategies. Some simply don’t work well at all (like resume bombing.) Dick believes that what does work well, and he has the scholarly studies to back him up, is simple : figure out what you truly enjoy and do well — and then go about finding the organization that needs people like you.
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