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As the author has talked to people around the country about Intelligent Courage some common questions have cropped up. . .
Why write this book?
When talking with colleagues about our work experiences, I noticed that they accumulated substantial wisdom about how to be an effective professional. That wisdom has yet to be systematically captured for others to draw upon in designing their own career choices.
Who is Intelligent Courage for?
Students preparing for a career, professors who are teaching these students, and currently employed practitioners. It will interest anyone curious about how to improve personal effectiveness as a natural resource professional.
How is this book different?
Little is written about the how natural resource professionals can manage careers to greater levels of effectiveness, especially in the unique working environment of Public Trust issues.
What points do the narrators seem to be stressing?
A major concern of the narrators is about professionals failing to show conservation initiative. They expressed regret and frustration that they and other professionals missed too many opportunities. The narrators generally told stories about why showing initiative is so difficult in our working environment.
Who did you most like interviewing?
I've had some favorite moments but I picked a diversity of narrators on purpose. Each has something unique to offer. Each provides a story with a message. And each offers wisdom from their personal professional experience. That way the reader can construct a composite of advice not just pick one "hero" to emulate.
Why long interviews from a few narrators instead of short interviews with many narrators?
Long, in-depth interviews simply help move us past the superficial. When I engage people in a long dialogue we eventually get to a discussion of root causes.
Is this another book for 'fast-trackers' trying to climb the organization's career ladder?
No. The national study of effective fish and wildlife agencies found that natural resource professionals have high career motivations unrelated to traditional trappings of career success. They want to make a difference in long-term, natural resource stewardship. Intelligent Courage is about this kind of personal mission. While some of the narrators have had traditional career and promotional successes, they all stuck to the notion of personal mission success as the motivation for their life's work.