This book was written for everyone who has ever wondered, “am I doing this right?” when thinking about their lives and careers.

Leveraging the collective experience of hundreds of professionals, this book is the ultimate early career desk reference! When readers finish reading, it is not the end, but the beginning of a successful career and a fulfilling life.

Write in the margins, highlight key insights, answer questions, and come back to this book often as your career grows!

About the Authors

Tony D. Thelen is a lifelong learner whose career has spanned roles in manufacturing, sales, marketing, technology, strategy, and finance. Tony is a lifetime member of Trout Unlimited and currently writes from his home in West Okoboji, Iowa.  He is currently the Chief Product Officer of John Deere Financial where his role involves leading an agile transformation with over 65 agile teams in India, Brazil, Luxembourg, and the US.  He began his career as a chemical engineer, then went into factory supervision roles, moved on to sales, customer support, and marketing roles, followed by four years leading the company’s precision ag organization. For the last eight years he has had various leadership roles in finance. Over the last five years he has coached more than 100 people helping them navigate their career including beginning, middle, to senior level positions. He has been certified as a NeuroLeadership Coach and is a member of the International Federation of Coaches and the Institute of Coaching.

Matthew C. Mitchell aspires to be a servant, leader and constant pilgrim in this journey of life. As a business professor at Drake University and Founding Partner at Bâton Global, he enjoys serving individuals and organizations all over the world. Matthew earned degrees in Physics, Math and an MBA from Rollins College. He received his PhD in International Business from the University of South Carolina – the world’s leading program in international business. He serves as a Fellow of the Royal Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce and is a recipient of numerous research and teaching awards including the Algernon Sydney Sullivan Medallion Award and the Madelyn M. Levitt Teacher of the Year Award.  Matthew regularly writes about executive leadership, strategy, purpose and organizational culture and consults/speaks on these topics. He has traveled, lived, and worked in more than 75 countries, but now lives in Des Moines, with his wife and three children.

Jeffrey A. Kappen is a founder and managing partner of Bâton Global, a research-driven advisory firm working in the areas of strategy, leader- ship, and innovation. This includes serving as an advisor and consultant to private and public sector organizations supporting them with the development and execution of their global strategies, leadership development programs, and market analysis. Concurrent to his leadership role at Bâton Global, Jeffrey is also Associate Professor of Management and International Business at Drake University. In addition to teaching in the areas of leadership, management, global studies, and sustainable development, he maintains an active research agenda on the formation of transnational partnerships, the influence of culture and religion on business, and diversity in organizations. Jeffrey is active in the community serving on the boards of organizations focused on financial literacy, international relations, and youth issues. Jeffrey holds a BA with honors in International Relations, French, and Russian from Beloit College, an MBA from the University of Wisconsin, and a PhD in Management and Organization Studies from the University of Massachusetts.