Smart Careers - by Jess Annison (Paperback)

About the Book

An essential guide to creating and sustaining a work life and career that is both engaging in the moment and deeply fulfilling over time.

Book Synopsis

Have you dedicated your working life to climbing the corporate ladder, only to discover years later that your work has become unsatisfying and unfulfilling? Would you like to do something about it? Jess Annison is here to give you the tools to turn your mid-career crisis into a rewarding and meaningful work life.

Mid-career crises are on the rise. It's no wonder: working lives are getting longer, 'jobs for life' are a thing of the past, and there's more opportunity than ever before to change roles, companies or careers. As a result, more people are questioning whether their work is truly serving them - in emotional, spiritual, and practical terms.

Yet mid-career crises can also become the springboard to finding greater meaningfulness at work, resulting in huge psychological and performance benefits. In Smart Careers, Jess Annison shows you how to craft your career by designing and sustaining a work life that is deeply satisfying and fulfilling.

This accessible and hands-on guide deals with the deepest questions of meaning and purpose, and how they impact both what we do and how we work. Once you understand your personal sources of meaning at work, you can make changes that boost and amplify those experiences, from small day-to-day tweaks to a complete career change, and everything in between.

Smart Careers includes:
- A simple framework to help you find more meaning at work, whatever your starting point and aspirations;
- Real-life stories and evidence-based insights from positive psychology and career development science; and
- Practical exercises to guide you through your career crafting journey.

Review Quotes

"Packed full of possibilities for people who are stuck mid-career. And with a beautiful view into coaching conversations and what else a thinking space can offer." --Claire Pedrick, author of Simplifying Coaching and The Human Behind the Coach

"A career isn't a ladder, it's a landscape, and Smart Careers is the map we all need. Smart Careers is essential reading for anyone feeling stuck or searching for more at work. Combining the latest evidence with real stories and clear steps, Jess Annison equips you with the mindset and methods to navigate your now and shape your next. This isn't just a book, it's a toolkit for designing a work life you actually want." --Rob Baker, founder of Tailored Thinking, author of Personalization at Work

"Smart Careers is honest, optimistic, and full of the kind of clarity we crave when the question 'is this it?' won't go away. This isn't another 'follow your dream' pep talk. It's a grounded, practical guide for people who want work to feel meaningful again, without feeling the need to burn everything down to start over. The personal stories ring true and the exercises create momentum to act. If you're feeling stuck, restless or just quietly fed up, this book won't just help - it might help you be happy." --Susie Palmer-Trew, founder, Everyday Change and The Growth Club

"Smart Careers is a treasure trove of practical, compassionate, and wise advice. It's the book I wish I'd had at key crossroads in my career - one that will support so many in crafting their own meaningful path." --Ruth Cooper-Dickson, Positive Psychology Practitioner & Thrivership Coach

"If you're thinking about your next career move, and wondering how to get more meaning from your next step, Jess' brilliant book is essential reading. It's smart and practical and it takes you by the hand and guides you through your past, current and desired future, step by step. I loved it." --Dr Lucy Ryan, author of Revolting Women: why midlife women are walking out and what to do about it

"Smart Careers is the practical guide you need to help you find your most rewarding work life." --Rachel Clark, careers coach

"As an Executive Coach, the utility of this book in helping my executive coaching clients re-find their purpose will find me returning its frameworks over and over. It cleverly takes the personal and subjective matter of 'meaningfulness' into the tangible and actionable. It helps me support my clients as they reroute back to meaningfulness." --Jess Dooley, Executive Coach

"We don't need to suffer foolish co-workers, unethical bosses, or soul-withering working conditions anymore! Jess Annison gives us a friendly, approachable, and authoritative playbook for filling our lives with rewarding, meaningful work instead. Turn your mid-career crisis into the most joyful stage of your working life with the stories, research, and exercises packed into Smart Careers." --Michael F. Steger, PhD, Professor and Director of the Center for Meaning and Purpose

"Jess has written the kind of career book that coaches and career consultants dream of giving their clients - it's thoughtful, real, and is packed with practical tools to help people take charge of their careers and to explore and find meaningful work that will have a positive ripple effect on those around them." --Jimi Wall, founder of Upwrd

"Smart Careers is an empowering read for anyone feeling stuck or unfulfilled in their professional journey. Jess Annison unpacks the complexities of modern careers with clarity and offers a robust framework for intentional career crafting. This book isn't about quick fixes (because there aren't any) but is about building a sustainable foundation for a deeply meaningful work life. It's a vital resource for professionals who want to take control of their narrative and create lasting impact." --Ben Legg, CEO & co-founder, The Portfolio Collective

"Beautifully woven with metaphors, this book hooks your curiosity from the start - like an exciting novel. The blend of stories, theories, and practical tools brings a realistic optimism that balances hope and caution, encouraging you to wonder: What if I could craft my career? It's not a typical "do this, do that" formula - rather, it offers a wiser approach, inviting you to explore your own story while following the thread of career crafting." --Dr Ayse Burcin Baskurt, CPsychol, FHEA

"Jess Annison has written the book we need now: honest, human, and unflinchingly useful for anyone seeking more meaning at work. Smart Careers is part workbook, part wake-up call. It doesn't pretend the journey will be easy - but it makes sure you're not alone on the path. With the clarity of a coach and the depth of a scholar, Jess offers a toolkit for shaping a working life that actually works - for you and the world. This isn't just another career book - it's a field guide to making work matter, backed by evidence and brimming with heart." --Andrew Soren, founder & CEO, Eudaimonic by Design

About the Author

Jess Annison, OBE, MSc is a positive psychology practitioner, accredited coach, facilitator, researcher, and author. Having navigated her own mid-career crisis, Jess helps individuals and teams to create their most meaningful work life. Her evidence-based approach is underpinned by the science of positive psychology, in which she has published scientific research. A career highlight of hers includes five years planning and delivering aspects of the London 2012 Olympics.