If You Don't Know Where You're Going, You'll Probably End Up Somewhere Else: Finding a Career and Getting a Life

by David P. Campbell

This updated edition of a widely successful book offers sound, practical guidance for attaining the best possible future for yourself. Written by David P. Campbell, co-creator of the popular Strong-Campbell Interest Inventory, this easy-to-read book urges you to do things you like, things that interest you, and things you can do well, emphasizing how the daily choices you make will bring you closer to your ideal future. Campbell offers a simple method for setting goals, followed by advice for prioritizing, pursuing, and ultimately realizing those goals as a means to securing the future you've hoped and planned for.

Genres: Self Help, Nonfiction

123 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1974

About the author

David P. Campbell (1934-2021) was an American psychologist. He earned his BS and MS at Iowa State University and his PhD in Psychology at the University of Minnesota, where he went on to become Professor of Psychology. He co-authored the Strong-Campbell Interest Inventory and created the Campbell Skills and Interest Survey, both widely used in career counseling and management. Dr. Campbell was the recipient of numerous awards and honors and was the author of many books. He was also known for having the largest private postcard collection in the world, having accumulated nearly 300,000 postcards on his extensive travels.

Reviews

[Pmarquez]

I read half of this book back in 1999 when I was in High school and I am reading it again. This book is an exellent motivational book. what I learned is that motivation is one of the most important keys to win and succeed. Everything is about planning and taking it to action, without motivation and without setting up your goals and making a plan you cant really accomplish anything or reach where you want to be.

[Ainsley]

Short, sweet and to the point. I especially liked the emphasis on being "intense" about at least one thing in your life and the section dedicated to the infectiousness of succeeding. Read it in about 2 hours and really liked it. The end is a little slow, but you can skip the parts that don't apply to you without feeling guilty.

[Paul Gough]

This book changed my life. I read it when I was in my early teens because I found it, somehow, in the remainder aisle of the Barnes and Noble Outlet in downtown Boston in the late 1970s. I don't know why I was drawn to it, but I was. I taught me about planning, about being serious, about focus, and it followed me throughout life.

[Henry]

A short book, with much great wisdom, given to me by a great friend whose opinion on life I much value.

[Julienflower]

I read this book two years ago.. introduced to me by my grandfather, truly inspiring book..

[Tim Schannauer]

“Be glad of life because it gives you the chance to love and to work and to play and to look at the stars”

[Alicia]

Weird book, but the typographic choices were nice

[Katelyn Stallings]

If You Don’t Know Where You’re Going, You’ll Probably End Up Somewhere Else: Finding a Career and Getting a Life by David P. Campbell was actually quite enjoyable. This has probably been my favorite book I’ve ever read so far. The book didn’t over exaggerate things or extend the topic longer than they needed to. There was also illustrations throughout the book once in a while which I enjoyed because they were simple and cute plus gave me a tiny break to admire the art before flipping to the next page. I learned quite a few things from it and because of it, I’m currently working on skills that might help me in the future. I would probably recommend this to a young person to help them get started on the path to success.

There were no characters in the book due to the fact that it was an informational book so I couldn’t have a favorite or least favorite.

“No one likes to feel that their work is worthless….” cited from Page 83. Gratitude is a major thing that nearly everyone enjoys to hear. It doesn’t really matter the person, praise is always appreciated and when you receive none, you feel that what you’ve spent your time on, was pointless because no one appreciated it like you hoped.

The book’s point of view is like they’re having a conversation with the reader. I enjoyed that they spoke this way because it made me feel more impulsed to actually do the things they were saying since it seemed like were my own personal motivator. They use the words: us, your, you, our, etc.

[Max]

I would like to liken this book with The Elements of Style (a sign that this is a great book, because of how much I revere TEoS): it's short enough and packed with enough meat that I, a very slow reader, could consider actually rereading it; its advice is complimented by whimsical and funny illustrations; the author knows his stuff (he has a PhD working in career guidance); and the advice in this book will help you succeed in life. I would recommend it especially to high school/college graduates, or anyone in a transition period.

[April]

May
3/5 stars

I found this book in a small used bookshop in Antigua, Guatemala. It is a motivational book that really put my future aspirations into question. It included tips and guidelines on choosing the best path for you and how best to achieve what you really desire in life and I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. It was a quick, easy read which made the book very appealing. Some of the motivational parts were very general and boring to get through, hence my absence of 5 stars. I would recommend others to read this once in their life!!!

[Bec]

Has some very basic life advice, but aside from being out of date, it reads like the author thinks most people are stupid, and honestly, there's better advice, summed up more succinctly, that can be read in far fewer minutes, in online social media forums.

[Jodi]

Good book for high school kids to get them started thinking on careers and futures.

[Sera]

A fast read, good reminder to always keep going and to create a path for yourself.

[Miranda Geurin]

Very good and informative book. I feel it was more for high school students or college students than for me personally but I still learned a lot and it was an interesting read.

[David Hensley]

My mother gave me this book when I was a child. I reread it decades later as an adult. It's still pertinent today. I love the illustrations.

[Daisy L]

It really is more oriented to someone just leaving school but it has some good reminders even for later in life.

[simu]

Precise

[Dani Ament]

my favorite part of this book was when he told me to rip out the last page and put it above my bed

[rem]

kaka a quick read

[Androosh]

old review:

This book was a cute motivational read, could’ve take a lot less time than I took to read it all, but it’s the little victories that are important. Nonetheless, filled with small drawings and wholesome quotes about the journey of life this self help book disguised itself as a basic motivation guide. It essentially focuses on the importance of career, and seeing the journey instead of the destination.

[Jared Gillins]

Nothing revolutionary here. The information Campbell presents and the questions he has you ask yourself are old and well known. But he's got them all in one place, and in the right order. I recommend this for anyone who's trying to figure out where she's going, or to anyone who's realized that he's somewhere else.

[Abeer.]

I benefited from it greatly in improving several aspects, the most important is time management and focus on the goal.

[Jinu]

It to a very to-the point book. It is a quick read and have good advice for people struggling with finding a direction in life and career.

[Jodi]

Definitely a great read for kids in high school so they can plan. good reminder for adults as well because you are never too old to continue developing.

[Phil]

Good read

Quick and easy book to read. The author made some good points to keep life in perspective. I found it decently helpful

[Virginia]

Do what you have the skills for. The end.