How to Self-Destruct is a career guide in reverse.

Most career guides teach you how to succeed. In How to Self-Destruct, author and leadership consultant Jason Seiden teaches you how to fail. (Amazon affiliate link)

Today, I’m going to review the book. I’ll share my favorite insights, as well as a few things that I kind of bugged me.

How to Self-Destruct

How to Self-Destruct is an easy read. I tore through the book in about two days, casually reading on nights and weekends.

The book is organized by where you are in your career: Just starting out, new to middle-management, senior management, and so on.

Each chapter gives you a sure fire recipe to ruin your career, and then includes a robust section on what to do if you want to have a successful, thriving career instead.

Here are my favorite pieces of advice…

Make Your Own Breaks

One of the questions I hear a lot is, “How do I find a job in [insert department/team name that's not the one you're currently in]?”

Jason writes:

Get to know the decision makers in the company – before you need them. Talk to them about business, about your interests, and about their needs. Don’t call the relationship anything… it’s just two people getting to know one another.

Your goal is to become aware of challenges decision makers have as they unfold – and to simultaneously be sharing information about your skills and interests – so that when there is a match, you will fill it organically.

- How to Self-Destruct, page 13

The natural follow-up to this question is, “How do I connect with people in other departments?”

You wouldn’t believe how easy and effective it is to ask someone to tell you more about what they do over a cup of coffee.

Turn Off the Car Radio

What are you going to hear about on the morning commute that’s going to enrich your life? Try this alternative: Buy books on CD – business books, motivational books, good novels – and listen to those.

- How to Self-Destruct, pages 17 – 18

Over the last few months, I’ve become a huge fan of listening to podcasts on the ride in to work. If you have an iPod, you can find a ton of great (free) stuff that will automatically update every time you charge your iPod.

Engage

Politics just means that there is more than one person in the room… Any change that will impact multiple people will have to be won through political trade-offs.

- How to Self-Destruct, Page 63

When I first started my career, I hated the notion of corporate politics. I thought it was all about using power to manipulate and gain the upper-hand.

As I’ve gotten more experience, I’ve come to realize that politics is really about helping people meet their goals so they can help you meet yours.

Don’t get me wrong – I’ve seen the ugly side of corporate politics. But that’s not how it has to be. Politics is really about relationships.

If you need to get something done, and you need someone else’s help to make it happen, its important to understand what’s important to that person. Help them out, and it will be a lot easier for them to help you. That’s politics at its best!

What I Don’t Like About This Book

The “career guide in reverse” aspect to this book is interesting from a marketing perspective. It makes the book fun and quirky. It also gets in the way of the message at times.

Because the book is supposed to be about “how to fail,” the “how to succeed” stuff happens at the end of each chapter. And that’s the good stuff. It should really be up front.

After a few chapters, I began skipping the failure stuff and jumping straight to the good stuff. I might recommend that you do the same thing.

Also, If you’re not from North America, some of the sarcasm in the “failure” sections may get lost in translation. Sarcasm doesn’t come across as well in print as it does when spoken out loud.

That said, the book is still a good read. It’s short, jam-packed with sage advice, and very easy to read.

Click Here to Buy How to Self-Destruct

(Amazon affiliate link)