Table Of ContentTable of Contents
Praise
Title Page
Dedication
Introduction
ABOUT THIS BOOK
ABOUT THE FORMAT
WRITE IN THIS BOOK.
1. Life: Your Big Picture
MY LIFE MOTTO: ONE DAY AT A TIME
JENNY’S TIPS
ADVICE FROM COLLEGE GRADUATES
EXERCISE: UNCOVER YOUR VALUES
EXERCISE: YOUR LIFE REPORT CARD
EXERCISE: DREAM LIFE BRAINSTORM
EXERCISE: GOAL BRAINSTORM
DEEP DIVE: BIG, SCARY, HAIRY GOALS
EXERCISE: BSHG CAPTURE
DEEP DIVE: STICKY GOALS
EXERCISE: STICKY GOAL STRATEGY BRAINSTORM
EXERCISE: MAKE ENVY WORK FOR YOU
TWO CENTS FROM TWITTER
NOTABLE QUOTES
RECOMMENDED READING
2. Work
MY WORK MOTTO: DON’T WAIT
JENNY’S TIPS
DEEP DIVE: A NEW TAKE ON WORK/LIFE BALANCE
EXERCISE: AIM FOR BALANCE WITHIN EACH DAY
DEEP DIVE: YOU DON’T ALWAYS HAVE TO PURSUE YOUR
PASSION FULL-TIME
DEEP DIVE: 10 REASONS I LOVE MY CUBICLE
DEEP DIVE: 10 TIPS FOR MOVING UP THE CORPORATE
LADDER
ADVICE FROM COLLEGE GRADUATES
DEEP DIVE: THE BENEFITS OF VOLUNTEERING
DEEP DIVE: IF YOU ARE NOT LEARNING, YOU ARE OBSOLETE
DEEP DIVE: THE POWER OF INFORMAL INTERVIEWS
EXERCISE: DOWN THE RABBIT HOLE—A CREATIVE CAREER
EXPLORATION
DEEP DIVE: STRESS HAPPENS, WHADDAYA GONNA DO ABOUT
IT?
EXERCISE: JOB INTERVIEW ONE-SHEETER—YOUR PERSONAL
CLIFFSNOTES
EXERCISE: CREATE A PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
STRATEGY
TWO CENTS FROM TWITTER
NOTABLE QUOTES
RECOMMENDED READING
3. Money
MY MONEY MOTTO: MONEY IS A MEANS, NOT AN END
JENNY’S TIPS
EXERCISE: FINANCIAL VALUE CHAINS
DEEP DIVE: ARE YOU CLOGGING YOUR FINANCIAL
ARTERIES?
ADVICE FROM COLLEGE GRADUATES
DEEP DIVE: LITTLE WHITE FINANCIAL LIES
EXERCISE: FINANCIAL GOAL BRAINSTORM
EXERCISE: THE EMOTIONAL SIDE OF MONEY
EXERCISE: THE FOUR-STEP BUDGET
EXERCISE: AN ALTERNATIVE TO THE SIMPLE BALANCE
SHEET—WEEKEND BUDGETS
DEEP DIVE: LIVING CREATIVELY
EXERCISE: LIVING CREATIVELY
DEEP DIVE: CRAIGSLIST AS AN EXTRA INCOME DARTBOARD
DEEP DIVE: REWARD GOALS
TWO CENTS FROM TWITTER
NOTABLE QUOTES
RECOMMENDED READING
ONLINE MONEY MANAGEMENT TOOLS
4.Home
JENNY’S TIPS
ADVICE FROM COLLEGE GRADUATES
DEEP DIVE: TIPS TO CONTROL CLOTHING CHAOS
DEEP DIVE: SEARCHING FOR THE RIGHT ROOMMATE
DEEP DIVE: CLEANING SHORTCUT—SHINY SINKS
EXERCISE: CLEAR YOUR CLUTTER
EXERCISE: INSPIRED LIVING
TWO CENTS FROM TWITTER
NOTABLE QUOTES
RECOMMENDED READING
5.Organization
JENNY’S TIPS
DEEP DIVE: WANT MORE SUCCESS AND WORK/LIFE
BALANCE? LEARN TO PRIORITIZE.
DEEP DIVE: HOW I STAY ORGANIZED
DEEP DIVE: GET THE RIGHT NETWORKING SYSTEMS IN
PLACE
DEEP DIVE: EVERYBODY NEEDS A KEEPERS FILE
ADVICE FROM COLLEGE GRADUATES
DEEP DIVE: TIME MANAGEMENT TIPS FROM A SELF-
EMPLOYED WORLD TRAVELER
DEEP DIVE: CREATE THE ULTIMATE REMINDER FILE
DEEP DIVE: GOING BEYOND THE TO-DO LIST
EXERCISE: STOP/START/CONTINUE
TWO CENTS FROM TWITTER
NOTABLE QUOTES
RECOMMENDED READING
6. Friends & Family
JENNY’S TIPS: FRIENDS
JENNY’S TIPS: FAMILY
ADVICE FROM COLLEGE GRADUATES
EXERCISE: THE MEET MARKET
DEEP DIVE: HOW TO CREATE A PEER SUPPORT NETWORK
EXERCISE: FAMILY MATTERS
TWO CENTS FROM TWITTER
NOTABLE QUOTES
RECOMMENDED READING
7.Dating & Relationships
JENNY’S TIPS
DEEP DIVE: STOP AUDITIONING FOR OTHER PEOPLE’S LIVES
DEEP DIVE: LOW STAKES FIRST DATES
DEEP DIVE: A SNAPSHOT OF MY OWN DATING UPS AND
DOWNS
ADVICE FROM COLLEGE GRADUATES
EXERCISE: RELATIONSHIP ESSENTIALS
EXERCISE: RELATIONSHIP 360—PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE
EXERCISE: SINGLE OR COUPLED? CELEBRATE BOTH SIDES OF
THE COIN
EXERCISE: PROCESSING A BREAK-UP (OR GETTING OVER AN
EX)
TWO CENTS FROM TWITTER
NOTABLE QUOTES
RECOMMENDED READING
8.Health
JENNY’S TIPS
DEEP DIVE: 5 THINGS I LEARNED FROM PANICKING
FINISHING A TRIATHLON
ADVICE FROM COLLEGE GRADUATES
DEEP DIVE: MY HEALTH MANIFESTO
EXERCISE: WIN YOUR WORKOUT BATTLES
TWO CENTS FROM TWITTER
NOTABLE QUOTES
RECOMMENDED READING
9. Fun & Relaxation
JENNY’S TIPS
DEEP DIVE: MY SANDBOXED LIFE
DEEP DIVE: TEMPERATURE CHECK—WHAT’S YOUR QUALITY
OF LIFE?
EXERCISE: CURE YOUR CASE OF “THE TOMORROWS”
ADVICE FROM COLLEGE GRADUATES
DEEP DIVE: OWN THE DAY
DEEP DIVE: HAPPINESS WITHIN REACH
EXERCISE: MY IDEAL DAY—MAD LIB
EXERCISE: WHAT’S ON YOUR LIFE CHECKLIST?
TWO CENTS FROM TWITTER
NOTABLE QUOTES
RECOMMENDED READING
10. Personal Growth
JENNY’S TIPS
DEEP DIVE: THE PARABLE OF THE TRAPEZE
DEEP DIVE: THE COMPLEXITY OF CHANGE AND THE BEAUTY
IN EMBRACING IT
DEEP DIVE: EMPTY SPACES (AND MOVING PAST LONELINESS)
ADVICE FROM COLLEGE GRADUATES
DEEP DIVE: MAKING THE SHIFT FROM RESISTANCE TO
GRATITUDE
EXERCISE: THE GRATITUDE LIST
EXERCISE: CREATE YOUR “WHY I’M GREAT” FILE
DEEP DIVE: ENOUGH
EXERCISE: INNER-CRITIC INVENTORY
TWO CENTS FROM TWITTER
NOTABLE QUOTES
RECOMMENDED READING
11. Closing Thoughts
FINAL THOUGHTS
APPENDIX: - The Essential Checklist
Acknowledgments
About Jenny Blake
Notes
Copyright Page
Advance Praise for Life After College
College is easy: you get a schedule of classes and a four-year
plan. Life is hard: you have to make the plan yourself. Thankfully,
Jenny’s book helps you make the plan, with plenty of time for both
career and life itself. Jenny’s great book lives up to its hefty promise—
read it to get what you really want. Don’t wait! “
—Chris Guillebeau, Author of The Art of Non-Conformity
“Jenny Blake is an overwhelmingly positive voice for the Millennial generation.
Here is someone who is working her way up the ladder at one of the most
prestigious companies in the world while pursuing her dream. Read this book,
become Jenny’s friend, and be privy to all the life skills and knowledge she has
learned along the way...in Twitter-sized bites!”
—Alexandra Levit, Author of New Job, New You: A Guide
to Reinventing Yourself in a Bright New Career
“I wish someone had given me this book twenty years ago!
The wisdom and maturity behind the tips and insights in Life After
College are simply mind-boggling coming from a twenty-something
author. Jenny Blake has written a guide to life that would enlighten
and equip anyone, not just college students. What a gift this book will
be to anyone who is lucky enough to read it.”
—Dr. Susan Biali, M.D. Wellness expert, coach,
international speaker and author of Live A Life You Love:
7 Steps to a Healthier, Happier, More Passionate You
“Jenny was once my coaching client, and now her book is coaching
ME. Yes, even experienced coaches can benefit from the back-to-
basics self-examination that Life After College requires of its readers.
The book is chockablock with tips, exercises, anecdotes and ideas
that can help anyone create an independent, happy, fulfilling life.”
—Ruth Ann Harnisch, President of The Harnisch Foundation
and Founder of Thrillionaires.org
“Life After College is less a book than a compass.
It’s also an interactive pep talk, a plan of attack
and a treasure trove of razor-sharp advice.”
—Phil Villarreal, Author of Secrets of a Stingy Scoundrel
“This is your real life–not a practice life. It’s important
to stop for a moment to think about what really matters to you,
what lights you up, what you truly want in life–and then to
design a roadmap to that future. Jenny’s book is that roadmap.
She helps you explore your unique genius, gives you fast-acting
strategies and innovative exercises and shows you how to make
your personal and professional dreams a reality. Most people
spend more time planning their vacations than planning their
lives. Miracles will happen when you follow the inspiring
and practical advice Jenny offers. Give it as a gift to
everyone you know who wants to get the most out of life.”
—Barbara Fittipaldi, CEO of Center for New Futures
“Jenny Blake’s Life After College should be called
The Rest of Your Life After College. It’s the smart, useful get-up-
and-go guide we all need to not only live big, but to live better.”
—Kevin Smokler, co-founder of BookTour.com
“A book that solves all your life’s problems
and gives you a big wet kiss afterwards? AWESOME!”
—Neil Pasricha, Author of The Book of Awesome
Description:Life After College is an essential manual for every graduating student and young professional. It features practical, actionable advice that helps people focus on the BIG picture of their lives, not just the details. Life After College will leave you feeling inspired, confident and ready to take act
