1 rating | 0 reviews | avg rating:5.00

Ray Blasing’s Followers (6)

Ray’s Bookshelves

to-read (1)
currently-reading (0)
read (3)
career (2)
career-success (2)
entrepreneurship (2)
innovation (2)
leadership (2)
management (2)

Ray’s Friends

Ray hasn't connected with his friends on Goodreads, yet.

Ray Blasing

Goodreads Author

Genre

Business, Self Help, Nonfiction

Member Since

December 2024

edit data

Learn more
Ask the Author

To ask Ray Blasing questions, please sign up.

Popular Answered Questions

How do you deal with writer’s block?

Ray Blasing Sorry about my delayed response - I'm just now freeing myself up to answer questions on a regular basis!

Writer’s block is often described as a lack of…moreSorry about my delayed response - I'm just now freeing myself up to answer questions on a regular basis!

Writer’s block is often described as a lack of ideas, but I’ve found it’s usually the opposite—a traffic jam of thoughts all trying to merge at once. In General Career Intelligence, I talk about how procrastination, overwhelm, and self-empathy shape our ability to think clearly. Writer’s block has the same fingerprints. It appears in countless forms in life: when a student stares at a blank college-application essay, when a project leader struggles to craft a clear plan, or when we search for the right words to comfort someone who has lost a loved one. The common thread isn’t “stuckness”—it’s a moment when the brain is trying to separate signal from noise.

My own method is not linear. I allow myself to bounce between chapters, ideas, and even unrelated tasks—something I encourage readers to embrace. Shifting gears is not avoidance; it’s often the cognitive reset needed to let deeper ideas surface. In the book I explore the value of “productive distraction”—those moments when stepping away is not indulgence, but strategy. When I return, the fog has usually thinned, and the path forward becomes obvious.

Writer’s block can also stem from imposter syndrome—another theme I address. When you’re writing slightly beyond your comfort zone (which is where all meaningful work happens), your confidence may falter. In those moments, I try to apply the same advice I give in my chapters on inner strength and foundational character traits: extend empathy inward. Let yourself be human. The ideas are still there; they simply need space to reorganize.

And finally, I remind myself that writing a book is more than writing sentences. Outlines, structure, chapter titles, sequencing, imagery, even the rhythm of the table of contents—these are all forward motion. So even on days when the prose refuses to cooperate, I take satisfaction in knowing that the project is still advancing.

In other words: writer’s block isn’t a wall—it’s a pause. And sometimes a pause is exactly what clears the way.(less)

flag

like
Comment

What’s the best thing about being a writer?

Ray Blasing Sorry for the response delay!

For me, the greatest joy of being an author is the sense of creation—the same feeling I’ve always had when inventing some…moreSorry for the response delay!

For me, the greatest joy of being an author is the sense of creation—the same feeling I’ve always had when inventing something new in my engineering and entrepreneurial life. Writing a book is like designing a technology that didn’t exist the day before: you conjure something into the world using nothing but your thoughts, your ideals, your experiences, and the insights you’ve gathered over a lifetime. It’s an act of building from scratch, with a keyboard as the workshop and your own perspective as the blueprint.

In General Career Intelligence, I write about the value of leaning into your strengths—how we thrive when we operate in the zone where passion, proficiency, and purpose intersect. Writing lives in that zone for me. It feels natural, energizing, and deeply satisfying. And while many people struggle with writing, shaping ideas into clear, compelling prose is something I’ve grown to see as a superpower—one that can elevate virtually any career or creative pursuit, a point I reinforce throughout both books.

Another part I love is the freedom: as an author, you answer to no one but your own conscience and craft. You’re not writing for a boss or an investor; you’re writing because you believe the ideas matter. It’s a lot like good consulting—the “payment” is knowing that something you wrote might help someone think differently, solve a problem, navigate a challenge, or simply feel seen. That’s its own reward.

And there’s a quiet magic in the permanence of it all. Long after the keystrokes fade, the ideas remain. Somewhere, someday, a reader you’ll never meet may stumble across a line or concept that shifts their direction, calms a fear, sparks ambition, or reinforces their own inner strength. That possibility—that your lived experience can be repurposed as fuel for someone else’s success—is, to me, the best part of being an author.(less)

flag

like
Comment

See all 6 answers from Ray Blasing…

Combine Editions
Ray Blasing’s books

Average rating: 4.92 · 13 ratings · 3 reviews · 2 distinct works

	Advanced Career Intelligence: Master your Journey with Purpose, Integrity, and Grace 4.86 avg rating — 7 ratings — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	General Career Intelligence: Ignite your Potential with Essential Insights and Expert Advice by Ray Blasing (Goodreads Author), Guy Kawasaki (Goodreads Author) (foreword) it was amazing 5.00 avg rating — 6 ratings — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

* Note: these are all the books on Goodreads for this author. To add more, click here.

5 posts
Ray Blasing's Blog

Book Award - Advanced Career Intelligence

I'm thrilled to announce that my most recent book, Advanced Career Intelligence, was recently awarded the prestigious Literary Titan Award: Nonfiction.

The Literary Titan Book Award recognizes outstanding nonfiction books that demonstrate exceptional quality in writing, research, and presentation. This award is dedicated to authors who excel in creating informative, enlightening, and engaging works Read more of this blog post »

Like • 0 comments • flag

Published on November 17, 2025 08:37 • Tags: advanced-career-intelligence

View all 5 posts »

rss
Ray’s Recent Updates

Ray Blasing made a comment in the group Goodreads Librarians Group — adding books to listopia lists topic " Ray wrote: "Emily wrote: "If you would like a series created please post in the Serieses folder and provide links to the books." Where is the series fo ...more "
Nov 23, 2025 07:35PM
Ray Blasing shared a quote “I’ve always believed that quotes are one of the most powerful tools we have for sharpening ideas and amplifying wisdom. That’s why I spent years researching and embedding hundreds—famous and obscure, from Aristotle to Oprah Winfrey—throughout both General Career Intelligence and Advanced Career Intelligence. A well-chosen quote does more than decorate a page: it crystallizes an idea, places an exclamation point on a lesson, and anchors a moment in memory far better than prose alone ever could. And when the insight comes from someone we admire or trust, it lends a resonance and credibility that deepens the message. Bravo to the greats—and the quieter voices—whose few well-crafted words continue to guide, inspire, and steady us. I’ll end this first comment with one of my favorite reflections on why reading matters: “By reading the writings of the most interesting minds in history, we meditate with our own minds and theirs as well. This to me is a miracle.” — Kurt Vonnegut” Kurt Vonnegut
Nov 17, 2025 09:24AM · like · more quotes by Kurt Vonnegut
Ray Blasing answered Goodreads's question: Where did you get the idea for your most recent book? The idea emerged the moment I retired from a 39-year career in high tech. As I packed up my office, I found myself staring at the mountain of books I’d accumulated across nearly four decades—engineering, leadership, management, program execution, inn See Full Answer
Nov 15, 2025 10:52AM · like
Ray Blasing joined the groups The Book Visibility Circle and Goodreads Librarians Group
Nov 12, 2025 09:05PM
Ray Blasing has read Advanced Career Intelligence: Master your Journey with Purpose, Integrity, and Grace by Ray Blasing (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Nov 08, 2025 05:20PM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Advanced Career Intelligence by Ray Blasing. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Advanced Career Intelligence by Ray Blasing <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Ray Blasing is accepting questions on their profile page.
Feb 24, 2025 07:20PM · Be the first to ask Ray Blasing a question
Ray Blasing entered a giveaway Less Than One Percent: How Disruptors Defy the Odds by Imamu Tomlinson (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Feb 12, 2025 08:10AM · like · see giveaway · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Less Than One Percent by Imamu Tomlinson. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Less Than One Percent by Imamu Tomlinson <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Ray Blasing has read General Career Intelligence: Ignite your Potential with Essential Insights and Expert Advice by Ray Blasing (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Dec 05, 2024 09:14AM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of General Career Intelligence by Ray Blasing. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — General Career Intelligence by Ray Blasing <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Ray Blasing rated a book it was amazing Think Remarkable: 9 Paths to Transform Your Life and Make a Difference by Guy Kawasaki (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Dec 04, 2024 09:00AM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Think Remarkable by Guy Kawasaki. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Think Remarkable by Guy Kawasaki <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">

More of Ray's books…

Ray’s Quotes

“I’ve always believed that quotes are one of the most powerful tools we have for sharpening ideas and amplifying wisdom. That’s why I spent years researching and embedding hundreds—famous and obscure, from Aristotle to Oprah Winfrey—throughout both General Career Intelligence and Advanced Career Intelligence. A well-chosen quote does more than decorate a page: it crystallizes an idea, places an exclamation point on a lesson, and anchors a moment in memory far better than prose alone ever could. And when the insight comes from someone we admire or trust, it lends a resonance and credibility that deepens the message. Bravo to the greats—and the quieter voices—whose few well-crafted words continue to guide, inspire, and steady us.

I’ll end this first comment with one of my favorite reflections on why reading matters:

“By reading the writings of the most interesting minds in history, we meditate with our own minds and theirs as well. This to me is a miracle.” — Kurt Vonnegut”
― Kurt Vonnegut

tags: reading-books

0 likes