“Be You. Do Good.” by Jonathan Golden is an upbeat book about how to find not merely
a career, but a calling that makes you come alive, while allowing you to be
yourself and to do good.
Golden,
founder of Land of a Thousand Hills Coffee Company, a multi-million dollar
coffee company which provides a living wage to 2,500 Rwandan farmers, experienced
plenty of twists and turns while finding and pursuing his own calling. As a
teenager, Golden's friends assumed he'd go into the ministry - but he decided
to study psychology. He got a masters degree in psychology, then built a
successful business consulting company. Not totally at peace, he pursued the
calling of a pastor and joined the Anglican Communion. But he still felt there
was something more. A chance meeting with a bishop from Rwanda sparked Golden
to consider starting a coffee company that could make a difference in the lives
of others. He moved forward and founded Land of a Thousand Hills Coffee
Company. This venture was a way for Golden to bring together his varied
interests and passions, allowing him - as he puts it - to "be me and do
good."
Golden
says God is at work creating new ventures and he invites you to join him. To
find your calling, pay attention to the inklings you hear each day that make
you feel alive, and which lead you to help others. "When inklings are given
attention, fed, and watered,” Golden says, “they can grow into beautiful
expressions of vocation.”
My
favorite quote in the book is this: "Your calling is more than your role,
more than your job, more than the way you earn your living. It is that for
which you're made." (pg 205)
This
book is the perfect companion to the classic job-hunting guide, “What Color Is
Your Parachute?” by Richard N. Bolles. Bolles’ book might help you get a job,
but Golden’s book will help you find your calling.
I
was given a copy of this book by the publisher in exchange for an honest
review. To buy this book, click the button below.
