A Career Carol

A Career Carol is an irreverent take on the classic Christmas Carol, graduation commencement speakers, and Generation Z expectations. A wry and insightful take on how to successfully navigate a 30-to-40-year professional career. A Career Carol, bridges analogue and digital eras. What constitutes a successful career may have dramatically changed over the last 50 years, but the deeper journey we make as human beings across different life cycles, is eternal.Drs Schuster & Oxley’s take a different and decidedly modern approach to business and life advice. They set out to share real stories of how to navigate the big crises that most of us will have to navigate at some point. In the process, they give the past an entertaining and relevant future.The world, and business literature in particular, is overdue for Shey Sinope. As we witness his journey from reclusive cynical social critic to tentative member of a flawed, and sometimes unkind society, we are amused, provoked, saddened, but ultimately uplifted.

Helmut Schuster and David Oxley are long-time collaborators and former work colleagues. It is their shared outlook that has bound them together as authors. They are optimistic futurists, advocates for next-generation talent, pioneers of new approaches to work, enthusiasts for new technology adoption, and crusaders against entrenched thinking.

As Drs Schuster and Oxley, they have set out to address several subjects that have been over-intellectualised, complicated, misdiagnosed, or outdated. With a whimsical eye and deep belief in humanity’s strength to prevail against the absurdity of aspects of modern society, they are committed to presenting helpful business and leadership concepts for the next generation.

Dr Helmut Schuster is a dual Austrian/British citizen who lives in London, UK. He is the former Group HR Director of BP PLC. Helmut is currently Chairman of the Board of Ivoclar Vivadent AG, an active entrepreneur, investor, and frequent contributor to leadership and AFS Intercultural programs. Helmut was awarded his doctorate in Economics from the University of Vienna.

Dr David Oxley is a dual UK/US citizen based in Austin, Texas. David started his career as a management consultant before leading major people and corporate restructuring projects for BP PLC across Europe, the USA, India, and the Middle East. He worked closely with Reliance Industries in India, one of BP’s partners, as they embarked on their big corporate restructuring. David was awarded his doctorate in Organisational Change at Cranfield University and his MBA from the University of Notre Dame.

Customer Reviews

5.0

52 reviews

Josh

First business type book I've ever read that I've genuinely enjoyed. Writing offers excellent advice alongside fun and creative stories. Full of great advice for anyone already in or looking to get started with business
D&S

Lovely book, with great wit and surprise wisdom. Can see how this would appeal quite broadly, particularly anyone worrying about a big career step. But regardless, it’s just a really fun story with some sharply drawn observations about life, careers, and people. The authors then offer some frames to build your resilience. But it’s all very carefully done to be practical, relevant, and straightforward.
Matthew Needham

Super engaging and full of really sage advice. Perfect for anyone starting out in their career. Can't recommend enough!
João

A captivating read that delves into the myriad perspectives on careers, providing insights for both beginners and seasoned professionals. Shey's journey often mirrored aspects of my own, offering humor that added depth to the realization that the career path is a universal challenge, regardless of one's starting point. One person found this helpful
Jacob Ward

This book was extremely insightful. As a young man who runs a business, this modern approach to business and life advice is one of a kind. I liked the fact that real stories were included in the book. These stories will provide useful tools in allowing me to tackle life's biggest challenges. Would definitely recommend it to a friend!
Amazon Customer

I am in my 20ies and I really liked that the book started with a story about a guy I could very much relate to. His dilemmas where than analysed in the second part of the book with practical advice from the authors and a number of young entrepreneurs. Never read a book like this - loved it! One person found this helpful
R Mac

The Career Carol brings a great deal of reflection to the reader. The real life insights shared in part 2 helps the reader to relate and to think about what is possible. For those at a cross roads, it will hopefully create some talking points and perhaps some light bulb moments when deciding on the next step! I have already recommended it to a few individuals and look forward to following up with them on their reflections. A great source for exploring your options and a great gift for those who are looking for some inspiration.
Ektoras

I recently picked up "A Career Carol: A Tale of Professional Nightmares and How to Navigate Them" by Dr. David Oxley and Dr. Helmut Schuster, and I can't recommend it enough! This book is an absolute gem for anyone pondering their career trajectory. The authors seamlessly blend engaging storytelling with invaluable insights, making it a fun and enlightening read. The narrative truly hits home, unraveling the nightmares we often face in our careers and offering practical guidance on how to triumph over them. It's a game-changer, providing a roadmap for success while keeping you entertained throughout. Don't hesitate to pick up this book if you're in need of career inspiration and direction—it's a delightful journey you won't regret!