Ray Blasing
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, innovation, communication, problem-solving, the whole arc of a career in one sprawling collection. As I boxed them for donation, it struck me: Why not distill everything I’ve learned—and everything the best experts have taught me—into a single, coherent, soup-to-nuts guide I could leave for my children before my expiration date arrives?
What began as a handful of “dad notes” quickly grew into something far more ambitious. Once I started writing, the scope expanded exponentially. The two volumes ultimately published this year originated from more than 1,200 pages of early drafts, each pass sharpening the content, structure, tone, and depth until the final books reflected exactly what I’d hoped for: clear, crisp, deeply human guidance that goes far beyond superficial career tips.
Both books were shaped by the themes I explore throughout—cognition and bias, foundational character traits, integrity, inner strength, emotional management, leadership, decision-making, and the uniquely human abilities that AI cannot replicate. In a world captivated by artificial intelligence, my titles were intentionally designed as counterpoints: General Career Intelligence and Advanced Career Intelligence are reminders that human intelligence—rooted in ethics, empathy, curiosity, and adaptability—remains our greatest competitive advantage.
Somewhere along the way, the project evolved into something much larger than a legacy gift to my children. It became a mission: to help people reconnect with the humanity that underpins every interaction, every decision, every career milestone. We’ve become so distracted by speed, noise, and digital shortcuts that we sometimes forget our power to uplift others, influence culture, and ripple outward in ways that strengthen our companies, communities, and families.
In short: the books grew from a desire to pass down wisdom, but they became a blueprint for returning to what makes us human—and extraordinary—in the first place.
What began as a handful of “dad notes” quickly grew into something far more ambitious. Once I started writing, the scope expanded exponentially. The two volumes ultimately published this year originated from more than 1,200 pages of early drafts, each pass sharpening the content, structure, tone, and depth until the final books reflected exactly what I’d hoped for: clear, crisp, deeply human guidance that goes far beyond superficial career tips.
Both books were shaped by the themes I explore throughout—cognition and bias, foundational character traits, integrity, inner strength, emotional management, leadership, decision-making, and the uniquely human abilities that AI cannot replicate. In a world captivated by artificial intelligence, my titles were intentionally designed as counterpoints: General Career Intelligence and Advanced Career Intelligence are reminders that human intelligence—rooted in ethics, empathy, curiosity, and adaptability—remains our greatest competitive advantage.
Somewhere along the way, the project evolved into something much larger than a legacy gift to my children. It became a mission: to help people reconnect with the humanity that underpins every interaction, every decision, every career milestone. We’ve become so distracted by speed, noise, and digital shortcuts that we sometimes forget our power to uplift others, influence culture, and ripple outward in ways that strengthen our companies, communities, and families.
In short: the books grew from a desire to pass down wisdom, but they became a blueprint for returning to what makes us human—and extraordinary—in the first place.
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