Dr. Arlene Barro, The Master Coach, July 23, 2009
By David Belle-Isle, PhD (Half Moon Bay, CA)
Dr. Barro's "Win Without Competing" leads you into the inner game of
personal development with the precision of a choreographer and the
wisdom of a master coach.
As a human resource executive, in a critical and protracted
career transition, I have engaged Dr. Barro as my coach. Our journey
together has been the source of very meaningful gifts...learning how to
clarify and embrace my unique career blueprint, affirming my core
identity and teaching me how to identify and challenge those faulty
assumptions that can get in the way of achieving continued growth and
success.
You owe it to yourself to read this book...just know that it
evokes an inner call for the courage to take a new look at yourself and
learn who you are NOW and how to find the Right Fit for the future.
The result will be renewed emotional and physical energy that will enable you to play and win at your own game.
David Belle-Isle, PhD
Winning Without Intimidation, February 26, 2008
By Dan Marcus (Santa
Monica, CA USA)
It's a dog-eat-dog world. Only the fittest deserve to
survive. And you can indeed win through intimidation.
If anyone
could be expected to attest to the above, it would be a corporate
headhunter--which brings us to a new book with the unexpected title of "Win
Without Competing" by Arlene Barro, Ph.D, a prominent search consultant,
career coach, and educational psychologist. At first glance, the book would
appear to belong in the "Warm and Fuzzy Self-Help Section" of your friendly
neighborhood mega-bookstore. Well, Barro does convey warmth, but there's
nothing fuzzy about her. She possesses the mien of a caring but
uncompromising commander sending her clients into battle.
She minces
no words about the sometimes cutthroat nature of the job market; she'd be
the first to warn of snakes in the tall grass. There are no mantras here,
no clicking of ruby slipper heels--only solid strategy peppered with
no-nonsense aphorisms.
But, as implied by its title, the book is built on
a fundamental paradigm shift. Barro's stated mission is to steer her
readers to what she terms the "flawless fit"--the job and career for which
one is uniquely suited. And when this concept is broken down to a
molecular level of specificity, when a perfect DNA match is attained
between the job-seeker and the job, it can be concluded with an almost
scientific degree of accuracy that there is no real competition involved.
The match by definition is symmetrical--not only must the individual fit the requirements of the job, but the job must fit the requirements of the individual.
To know where to look for your own flawless fit, you
need to know precisely what it means for you. Thus, attaining a
clear-sighted understanding of your core self is the first step on the
journey. This quest for self-knowledge is nothing new--witness the
teachings of Lao-Tzu, the meditations of Marcus Aurelius, the writings of
Thoreau. Barro stands squarely in this timeless tradition, but presents it
from a modern, practical perspective. Included throughout "Win Without Competing" are revealing checklists and personal surveys she's developed in her years of coaching clients.
One possible outcome of
this personal assessment is the realization that you're not meant to be an
employee at all--some of us, by nature, are entrepreneurs. Barro
convincingly demonstrates that the principle of flawless fit also applies flawlessly in such instances.
Key to the strategic aspects of job search
or entrepreneurship is what Barro calls "managing the process." She
presents a detailed discussion of how to take charge and avoid succumbing
to the obstacles and turbulence you're bound to encounter on the road to
success, covering such matters as email communications, resumes, initial
discussions and final negotiations--even what kind socks not to wear to an
interview (a true-life cautionary tale shows how such a seemingly minor
detail can determine the difference between getting the job and
not).
Then Barro goes a step further and reveals a surprising reality:
in many instances, the hiring company itself is unclear about what it's looking for. This presents an additional opportunity for the job-seeker
to manage the process by presenting the prospective employer with options
which could be to their mutual advantage. Here, as in its other sections,
the book abounds with invaluable nuts and bolts advice.
The final chapter
extends the discussion of flawless fit to encompass personal relationships
and life in general. But for the attentive reader, the entire book serves
as a road map for finding one's place in the world. "Win Without Competing"
is a tangible example of its own title. It's bound to be a flawless fit for
anyone committed to meaningful personal success.
Win With This Book, October 10, 2007
By Thomas G. Lombardo (Atlanta, GA
USA)
If you're in the market to switch jobs or careers--or if you're on
the other side of the table, doing the hiring--this book is a MUST READ. "Win Without Competing" Author and Search Consultant Dr. Arlene Barro has developed a revolutionary approach that exploits her experience at fitting the right people into the right positions. That is, the one
person best suited for the job.
And when I say right people or right
positions, I mean perfect. Like pieces of a jigsaw puzzle that fit snuggly
and smoothly together.
Dr. Barro has taken the guess work out of the
search. Her savvy insight in placing perfect candidates means that her goal
is to achieve a match made in HR heaven.
The pages of "Win Without
Competing" are filled with the stories of people who have succeeded with
Dr. Barro's The Right Fit Method. Her method is explained in easy to
follow, bulleted pages. Dr. Barro's holds your hand throughout the process
of the search, step-by-step, through her stories, her charts, her
checklists. But the most fun was reading the anecdotes of real
people.
The bio of the author notes that Arlene Barro, Ph.D., founder
and president of the executive search and coaching firm barro global search, inc., who makes her living by being an angel on behalf of sparklingly competent candidates and a breath of fresh air to the employers looking for them.
Holistic Approach to Career Management, March 10, 2008
By Steven K.
Szmutko (EWING, NJ USA)
WIN WITHOUT COMPETING offers sound career
management advice for MBAs as well as others seeking to take a more
thoughtful and holistic approach. It flows methodically, yet Dr. Barro's
stories and humor enable the reader to embrace the principles contained
therein. The text and principles are interspersed with exercises similar to
many of
the things found in career services. The focus is on
differentiating yourself sufficiently so that you find the "Right-Fit"
rather than engaging in endless competitive job searches.
Dr.
Barro's book, released in 2007, examines career management from a whole-life perspective combining a methodical approach within a holistic framework. After an overview of the "Right-Fit" way, she begins with the importance of self-assessment, then branding yourself in order to present the "fit" to potential employers.
The tone of the
book is substantive, yet light-hearted with stories and humor to illustrate
what could be dry formulaic concepts. The book views her take on career
management (and life) as a drama in Four Acts:
Act I Setting the
Stage
Act II How the Right-Fit Method Works
Act III Apply the Right-Fit
Method
Act IV The Right-Fit Method and You.
The heart of the book is
Act II. It begins with self-analysis to discern your "Core Identity," in
terms of:
Focus: Profession (One Profession; Concurrent Different
Professions;
New Profession)
Function: Setting & Situation (Status;
Role; Industry)
Foundation: Passion (Fleeting or Sustained)
As the
analysis continues, the reader develops a blueprint for approaching
prospective employers and positions, providing a framework for goal
setting. Using marketing analogies, Dr. Barro develops the concept of
personal branding in terms of marketable transferable skills from the
resume building stage through the interview and negotiating
process.
Dr. Barro's reinforcement of the career management process as a
two-way street (you want to make sure the employer is right for you just as much as the employer makes sure that you are right for them) is something that needs to be reinforced. Finding the right job is more than just compensation. The book combines general ideas and concepts
with concrete and specific suggestions, including: what to bring or not
to bring to the interview, how to dress or present yourself, and the
importance of the first impression with everyone in the company that you
meet.
Later chapters deal with strategies for fixing what's broken, and moving on when required. Finally, the book concludes with the application of her methodology to other areas of life.
It is
certainly a book that I would recommend to someone serious about their
career management.
A Career Book Page Turner, June 17, 2008
By Deborah Shlian
(Florida)
Finally, a career book that focuses on "play your own game" rather than trying to outsmart your competition. According to Dr. Barro's Right Fit Method, there is no external competition. The only person you
will compete with is yourself. Barro explains her method in an engaging,
compassionate, and entertaining style. She entwines real people telling
their own personal stories, coupled with her own anecdotes and interactive
materials to convey her step-by-step system. I loved her style. It's hard
to believe that a career book could be a page turner but that's an apt
description of WIN Without Competing! which is a one of a kind in its
genre. I highly recommend this book for employees and entrepreneurs who are
searching for new solutions at any stage in their lives. It's always the
right time to learn how to
"win without competing" to succeed in your
professional and personal life.
Dr. Barro's book is the new "Career-Seekers Bible.", November 27,
2007
By Tiffany L. Calhoun
Dr. Barro's book will help anyone-hiring
or looking to be hired-find the right fit. She really goes step-by-step to
lead you to success. Her book helped me to really understand who I am in my
career and how I can use my skills to improve myself in my current job! She
teaches you to ask some hard questions about who you are (and who you want
to
hire), but ultimately all that hard work pays off in a very rewarding career! Her book is a 'must have' for any career minded individual.
This Doctor Makes Career Calls!, November 12, 2007
By Bill Gubbins
I've read more than a few of these in my day and I must say
that Dr. Barro's book is one of the very best. Lucid, no-nonsense advice
that will help you with your career--and your life.
Invest in your future: buy this book, October 30, 2007
By Marc
Kusinitz
If you're convinced that lightening will strike and you'll fall
into the job of a lifetime without your having to lift a finger, then this book isn't for you. But if you live in the real world and have to depend on your intelligence, talent, and wits to get that next great job, then invest in your future: buy this book. "Win Without Competing"
author Arlene Barro takes you step by step through a winning strategy for
leaving the harrowing world of job competition behind. When you follow
Arlene Barro's strategy you won't be wasting time looking out for the
competition because you'll be too busy crafting your resume so it literally
sings out your accomplishments; and preparing for winning interviews that
convince employers that you are the only candidate they need to talk to.
The job is yours. How does she do this? She teaches you to define your core
identity--competencies, personality, and goals; develop your personal
brand, pitch that brand, manage the interview process to keep it focused
on how perfectly you fit into the position, and set a standard that no other candidate can compete with. And how does Arlene succeed in doing this for you? Invest in your future: buy this book and see for yourself. You've got one life to live. How much is it worth to you to succeed? The cost of a book?
Great Career Preparation, October 10, 2007
By Barbara E. Mcannany
I am
currently a college student, and am on my way to entering the world of
careers. Although I don't know exactly what type of career I would like to
pursue after college, this book was an excellent help in preparing me for
future job hunting, resume writing, and interviewing. After I graduate, I
will use this book as a reference for everything to do with my job search.
Dr. Barro has a great way of directly telling the how-to's of finding a job
that is right for just you. I very highly recommend it.
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