Drs Schuster & Oxley have been reflecting on how #ACAREERCAROL came to be. In this post they share the very first origin story for the book.
"We searched back in our files for the document we constructed for publishers in October/November 2022. It's fascinating to read now. At the time we had written some of the A Career Carol story but it wasn't finished until February 2023." recalls david. "Here is what we said to publishers."
We are frequently asked what career advice we would give to someone just embarking on their careers. The temptation is to address this in cliched terms, education, entrepreneurship v’s employment, fulfillment, critical thinking…. We reject this approach. Instead, we recognize and embrace the contextual nuances of our audience. GenZ and young millennials start and evolve their career in a very different context from previous generations. They learn, communicate, socialize, and adapt in very different ways. Storytelling, role models, entertainment, humor, and focused sound bites are key to getting their attention.
"Sounds like a solid intro I think" says Helmut.
"Yes, you must have written that." replies David. "We went on to say"
Our book is cognizant of the reality that there are different professions, possibilities and choices people have these days. The very definition of careers has changed. What is desirable has also shifted. For example, 30 years ago being in advertising was cool and made you good money. Advertising now needs to compete for people who aspire to be TikTokers or YouTubers with Wednesday Addams their ultimate icon. To reach our audience we will deliver our insights embedded in a parable reflecting current reality for so many young people and supplement that with practical advice about managing broader life phase change.
"I was very much into the Wednesday Addams series at the time." says David.
"Well, it's a good solid explanation. I think the temptation is to try to reinvent things based on where they ended up. But I think we didn't really stray from this pitch." Helmut observes.
PREMISE AND HOOK
"And this is the most interesting thing to read. In October 2022, this is what we said was the crux of the first book." says david
What if the most famous graduation commencement speakers of all time formed a ghostly society and started haunting the most cynical college student you know? An irreverent take on Christmas Carol, commencement speakers, and generation z expectations. A super fun and surprisingly helpful book which everyone attempting to navigate a 30–40-year professional career should read.
"You really were committed to the commencement speaker angle weren't you?" asks Helmut.
"Well, yes. Whether you agree with it or not, I think it's a great hook for the book. It allowed us to play on graduation anxieties, the lack of personalized good advice, and how it can feel like you are the only one who doesn't get it." David replies.
CENTRAL STORY AND CHARACTERS
"And this is where the Dicken's Christmas Carol theme also came in. The idea of a foretelling of the challenges ahead." Helmut points to this next section.
We will use a variation on the evergreen Christmas Carol construct, with the central character inspired by a modern version of Salinger’s Holden Caulfield being visited by 4 career ghosts, that capture the essence of the main concerns many young people have. The ghosts share provoking and revelatory stories about how different career journeys turned out.
"Ah.. and there is Catcher in the Rye! I remember that. You made the observation there was some Holden Caulfield in Shey. I think I ran with that." says David.
"Yes, I still feel that's true. Catcher in the rye was such an important book for me in my youth. And the character of Holden means a lot to me. When we first read about Shey I saw an instant connection." reflects Helmut.
"Well, that can't be a bad thing." David responds.
Drs Schuster & Oxley reflect on the publication of A Career Carol. This is the second in the series.
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