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What to Do Next: Taking Your Best Step When Life Is Uncertain
If you want to change your career and circumstances but aren't sure how, this practical guide from business leader Jeff Henderson will help you reevaluate your purpose and determine your next best step. Navigating what's next in life--whether in your career, personal life, or relationships--often brings a level of uncertainty and anxiety and presents more questions than answers. Entrepreneur, speaker, and pastor Jeff Henderson has experienced this firsthand--first when he left his marketing position at Chick-fil-A to start a church and nonprofit, and then again when he left that nonprofit in the middle of a global pandemic to . . . well, he didn't know. He just knew he needed to make a move. This insightful book outlines the process he used to determine the next best step for him and how you, too, can pursue more meaning and purpose in your life and work. Sharing personal stories and best practices he's learned along the way, he eloquently and practically guides you through the minefield of knowing what's next by helping The next chapter of your life starts today, with one simple step. And you'll know how to take that step because you know What to Do Next .
240 pages, Hardcover
Published August 23, 2022
63 people are currently reading
3,085 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
December 3, 2024
This took me a bit longer to finish because it’s chock-full of information that I needed to take notes on. Let’s start with this:
Start where you are.
Use what you have.
Do what you can.
That in itself is golden. Evaluating where you are right now and figuring out just one small step that you can take that would move you forward towards your goals is a step in the right direction.
Reading this book will help you to evaluate what callings you are drawn to, what gifts you have and what timing might be right. It also will encourage you to reach out to someone who is doing exactly what you would like to do so that you may follow in their footsteps and potentially have them as a mentor.
This book is full of stories that will help you to envision the possibilities, if only you follow some of the steps provided in this book.
One step that you can take right now, read this book and take notes and then take action. Good luck!
Start where you are.
Use what you have.
Do what you can.
That in itself is golden. Evaluating where you are right now and figuring out just one small step that you can take that would move you forward towards your goals is a step in the right direction.
Reading this book will help you to evaluate what callings you are drawn to, what gifts you have and what timing might be right. It also will encourage you to reach out to someone who is doing exactly what you would like to do so that you may follow in their footsteps and potentially have them as a mentor.
This book is full of stories that will help you to envision the possibilities, if only you follow some of the steps provided in this book.
One step that you can take right now, read this book and take notes and then take action. Good luck!
November 3, 2023
This book is a clear source of inspiration and guidance for those pivotal moments when facing the daunting question of "what's next."Drawing from his journey filled with career shifts and unexpected challenges, Jeff Henderson provides a roadmap for those seeking more meaning and purpose. With tools like the Career Risk Calculator and insights on planning for change, cultivating "optimal options," and making sound decisions, this book equips you with the confidence, freedom, and purpose needed to move forward. Whether you're standing at a crossroads in your career, personal life, or relationships, "What to Do Next" empowers you to take that crucial first step toward a more meaningful future. It's a compelling and invaluable resource, and I loved it so much that I'm planning to revisit its wisdom, as it not only answers your questions but provides a practical roadmap for transformation.
February 3, 2024
What To Do Next: Taking Your Best Step When Life is Uncertain by Jeff Henderson
Having read a host of self-improvement books that include lessons like "it's okay to make a mistake, so long as you learn from it and apply the lesson going forward," my purpose in reading this book was to ensure I was making the best possible decision possible in order to avoid potential regret a year from now. I came across this book at a discount one night when I was stressed about a major career decision I had to make. I related immediately to the opening pages of the book "What was next for me, according to fear, was failure. But fear wasn't the only voice chiming in. Its distant cousin, constant uncertainty, had a few other things to say as well. Not to mention his twin brother, doubt" (p. 4). Serendipitously enough, the author's inspiration for the book was his decision to leave the very same place that I was making a decision about returning to. I enjoyed this book more because I was very familiar with the author's context, namely metro Atlanta (and my wife is also a UGA alum and avid fan). Trying to review this objectively, it is a readable book with several personal anecdotes; there are several portions that can help anyone systematically approach a decision. It can help you develop some new patterns of thinking as you analyze what may be next for you. There are doubtless more spiritual aspects to his personal decision that he leaves out of the book; it is written with a non-Christian audience in mind. A Christian reader may be frustrated that he is not more overtly spiritual. But the book is upbeat and readable.
The author has a website where one can take a free assessment to help examine aspects of the pending decision to change jobs and get feedback in the form of a score -- a red, yellow, or green light. Henderson pushes back on our internal voices debating and stressing about whether we're "behind," or the "money wall" is unscalable, etc. We should initially take stock of what we do have -- experience, resources, a network, a current job. ("The path to your dream job often leads through your day job," p. 25) He gives some good pointers, such as humbling yourself and working hard in the initial days to expand your network, and to recruit a panel of advisors. For most of us, a decision requires an uncomfortable waiting period in which we should "wait actively" to leverage the time and our current day job to our advantage-- to create "optimal options...financially, relationally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually" (p. 79). Having changed careers a few times, a tough one for me has always been to finish strong at the current role I'm departing. Henderson offers practical advice, such as sharing your "finish plan" with your team so that expectations and output are practically managed. Writing thank-you notes and making sure not to "leave muddy footprints" is also important.
The book also contains an assessment for gauging where your "dream job" may be that I found helpful. Essentially, the "NEXT," is the middle of a ven diagram of calling, gifting (ie: strengths), and timing. Clues about calling come from thinking about what problems you tend to want to solve, or what you may feel the most pleasure doing. Strengths are those listed by the StrengthsFinder survey. "Calling asks, 'Shouldn't someone do something about that?' Gifting asks, 'Could that someone be me?'" (p. 145). Timing is helped by examining the assessment mentioned above and other specific factors. "Find something that bothers you, breaks your heart, or you can't stop thinking about. Line up the opportunity to see if your gifting matches what you can uniquely bring to it. And ask, 'If not now, when?'" (p. 148). I found this section to be the most helpful.
The most introspective part of the book for me was Chapter 8 - Letting Go. "We can't receive what's next until we let go of the past" (p. 151). "What is holding us back is something we've never let go," (p. 164). This requires letting go of past mistakes, specifically forgiving others who may have hurt you in the past, and letting go of what others say. This is a multi-step and continual process. It helps to make a short list of people whose voices truly matter to you, to help you filter out others you've been worried about in the past. And this thought is critical for me, I've been helpfully wrestling with it since reading it: "One of the most freeing decisions you can make is to let people be wrong about you. You don't have to defend yourself...every moment you defend yourself against what others may say, that's one more moment you rob yourself of pursuing what's next" (p. 164).
Henderson helpfully includes a section on what to do when the dream dies-- using anecdotes of entrepreneurs he knows who experienced failure or bad timing in their venture, learned from it, and were able to resurrect it. "There can't be a great story without villains such as challenges, defeats, and obstacles to overcome," a reminder that the "dream job" or right decision won't come without difficulties (p. 182).
He provides some suggestions for turning negative thoughts around. Convert "I don't really know what I'm doing" to "I'm learning how to do something I've never done before" (p. 195). Ultimately, "don't build a life you won't enjoy," (p. 205).
Perhaps the weakness of the book is that, while the author made a career decision that required much thought, stress, and the proper mourning process afterwards, he really didn't have much to lose. He was already a nationally-known speaker and pastor with decades of experience, a wide network, family support, and with one child already out of the nest. The greatest threat was perhaps to his pride, which he addresses in a helpfully open fashion in the book. People asking him why he would leave his calling as a pastor at a large church to pursue an independent role with something perhaps less concrete or harder to explain. That example alone may be something most people cannot relate to.
In all, I give it 4 stars. It was very helpful.
Having read a host of self-improvement books that include lessons like "it's okay to make a mistake, so long as you learn from it and apply the lesson going forward," my purpose in reading this book was to ensure I was making the best possible decision possible in order to avoid potential regret a year from now. I came across this book at a discount one night when I was stressed about a major career decision I had to make. I related immediately to the opening pages of the book "What was next for me, according to fear, was failure. But fear wasn't the only voice chiming in. Its distant cousin, constant uncertainty, had a few other things to say as well. Not to mention his twin brother, doubt" (p. 4). Serendipitously enough, the author's inspiration for the book was his decision to leave the very same place that I was making a decision about returning to. I enjoyed this book more because I was very familiar with the author's context, namely metro Atlanta (and my wife is also a UGA alum and avid fan). Trying to review this objectively, it is a readable book with several personal anecdotes; there are several portions that can help anyone systematically approach a decision. It can help you develop some new patterns of thinking as you analyze what may be next for you. There are doubtless more spiritual aspects to his personal decision that he leaves out of the book; it is written with a non-Christian audience in mind. A Christian reader may be frustrated that he is not more overtly spiritual. But the book is upbeat and readable.
The author has a website where one can take a free assessment to help examine aspects of the pending decision to change jobs and get feedback in the form of a score -- a red, yellow, or green light. Henderson pushes back on our internal voices debating and stressing about whether we're "behind," or the "money wall" is unscalable, etc. We should initially take stock of what we do have -- experience, resources, a network, a current job. ("The path to your dream job often leads through your day job," p. 25) He gives some good pointers, such as humbling yourself and working hard in the initial days to expand your network, and to recruit a panel of advisors. For most of us, a decision requires an uncomfortable waiting period in which we should "wait actively" to leverage the time and our current day job to our advantage-- to create "optimal options...financially, relationally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually" (p. 79). Having changed careers a few times, a tough one for me has always been to finish strong at the current role I'm departing. Henderson offers practical advice, such as sharing your "finish plan" with your team so that expectations and output are practically managed. Writing thank-you notes and making sure not to "leave muddy footprints" is also important.
The book also contains an assessment for gauging where your "dream job" may be that I found helpful. Essentially, the "NEXT," is the middle of a ven diagram of calling, gifting (ie: strengths), and timing. Clues about calling come from thinking about what problems you tend to want to solve, or what you may feel the most pleasure doing. Strengths are those listed by the StrengthsFinder survey. "Calling asks, 'Shouldn't someone do something about that?' Gifting asks, 'Could that someone be me?'" (p. 145). Timing is helped by examining the assessment mentioned above and other specific factors. "Find something that bothers you, breaks your heart, or you can't stop thinking about. Line up the opportunity to see if your gifting matches what you can uniquely bring to it. And ask, 'If not now, when?'" (p. 148). I found this section to be the most helpful.
The most introspective part of the book for me was Chapter 8 - Letting Go. "We can't receive what's next until we let go of the past" (p. 151). "What is holding us back is something we've never let go," (p. 164). This requires letting go of past mistakes, specifically forgiving others who may have hurt you in the past, and letting go of what others say. This is a multi-step and continual process. It helps to make a short list of people whose voices truly matter to you, to help you filter out others you've been worried about in the past. And this thought is critical for me, I've been helpfully wrestling with it since reading it: "One of the most freeing decisions you can make is to let people be wrong about you. You don't have to defend yourself...every moment you defend yourself against what others may say, that's one more moment you rob yourself of pursuing what's next" (p. 164).
Henderson helpfully includes a section on what to do when the dream dies-- using anecdotes of entrepreneurs he knows who experienced failure or bad timing in their venture, learned from it, and were able to resurrect it. "There can't be a great story without villains such as challenges, defeats, and obstacles to overcome," a reminder that the "dream job" or right decision won't come without difficulties (p. 182).
He provides some suggestions for turning negative thoughts around. Convert "I don't really know what I'm doing" to "I'm learning how to do something I've never done before" (p. 195). Ultimately, "don't build a life you won't enjoy," (p. 205).
Perhaps the weakness of the book is that, while the author made a career decision that required much thought, stress, and the proper mourning process afterwards, he really didn't have much to lose. He was already a nationally-known speaker and pastor with decades of experience, a wide network, family support, and with one child already out of the nest. The greatest threat was perhaps to his pride, which he addresses in a helpfully open fashion in the book. People asking him why he would leave his calling as a pastor at a large church to pursue an independent role with something perhaps less concrete or harder to explain. That example alone may be something most people cannot relate to.
In all, I give it 4 stars. It was very helpful.
April 12, 2023
Listened on Audible during a long road trip. Would recommend the book to anyone needing a vocational change but not entirely sure where to start. He gives very practical tools and advice that I found useful. I found his writing style a bit cheesy at times (a bit 'raw raw business man' jargon, but I'm probably being a bit tough on the book).
Couple of notable quotes that resonated:
- When you don’t know what to do, find your who who inspires you. Walk their path until you find yours.
- Your dream job is found through your day job.
Couple of notable quotes that resonated:
- When you don’t know what to do, find your who who inspires you. Walk their path until you find yours.
- Your dream job is found through your day job.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 31, 2023
Excellent, excellent nuggets in this book. I met Jeff in Aug of �22 at a Maxwell Leadership Conference and he signed this book for me. It’s been pivotal for me as I make my way through a career transition. Thank you Jeff for the encouragement along the way and for writing this! It’s one of those that I highlighted, wrote in the margins, starred meaningful phrases and will re-read time and time again.
November 1, 2022
What's so helpful about Jeff's books (Know What You're For and now What To Do Next) is that every piece of advice is based on his real experiences. He's lived the challenges, victories, and losses. Having myself made two significant job transitions that seemed to make no sense to some people, I can relate to his story and recommend the path he lays out for exploring What's Next.
January 28, 2023
a great guide for when you know a change is coming
I knew a change was coming. I didn’t know what or when, but I started this book on its release date a few months into knowing a change was coming. It was a great companion through the change process for me as I would wholeheartedly recommend this for anyone in a place of career change.
I knew a change was coming. I didn’t know what or when, but I started this book on its release date a few months into knowing a change was coming. It was a great companion through the change process for me as I would wholeheartedly recommend this for anyone in a place of career change.
November 15, 2022
You all, this was the most practical and helpful book I have ever read. Not exaggerating!! Even if you aren’t thinking about The Next Step, it just helps to process your life. It is truly a gift! You will want to buy a copy because you will mark it up and return to it over and over again.
December 6, 2022
While this volume may be directed for a niche market, it is very well focused for those individuals to whom it applies. It is filled with practical advice and encouragement. If you are looking for what to do next in your career, I highly recommend this book.
January 7, 2024
I wrote down so many things from this book. I checked out the ebook from my public library (Thank you, public library!!), but now I think I need to order the print book so I can underline and make notes to my heart's content. Thank you Mr. Henderson.
January 26, 2023
I’m not sure there ever was a book that was as timely as this in my adventure! Solid, sound and practical steps to helping determine what God has planned next for me! Inspired, motivated and excited to find out ‘what’s next� for me!
August 27, 2022
An easy read but filled with practical advice on moving on to whats next!
November 9, 2022
Very practical and informative. Five stars if you read this in the right season. Could be boring for someone reading this not looking for how to make better life decisions and at the wrong time.
December 29, 2022
A great follow-up to FOR.
February 19, 2023
I’m not one to mark in my books, but this had to be the exception to the rule. Highlights everywhere!
March 16, 2023
Very good for all
March 25, 2023
So many gold nuggets - very helpful and balanced view in change and periods of transition in life.
June 28, 2023
Short read with some helpful thoughts. Not life changing for me but could be a helpful resource for younger professionals in the midst of life changes.
August 6, 2023
Author has great insights but seems like things I have read from other authors- addresses more of the from one career to next but not necessarily for the encore part of life after a long career
August 15, 2023
Easy to read and very insightful. Currently going through some career crisis and this is a very timely read. Will read this again someday.
December 18, 2023
A useful book which gives a practical guide for determining what to do next in one's life. It provides some good nuggets to reflect on, guides to action, and questions to ask oneself as one seeks to move forward to that next thing to do with and in one's life. It is a book that I will read again to cement the ideas as I seek to take action in my own life and help others do the same. Some truths like�"sometimes the biggest risk isn't leaving; sometimes the biggest risk is staying" and nuggets like�"when you are waiting don't wish the time away; work the time away" and "the scariest place is to be in the same place as last year, no growth, no challenges, just the same" provide needed impetus for action that will move you in the right direction.
November 27, 2022
Jeff deliver again. If you thought Know What you're For was amazing, you haven't seen nothing yet. Regardless of whether you are considering a major life change or not this book is for you. Like Jeff says, "Finishing well starts on the first day of you job!"
Thanks Jeff for chronicling a very important, but personal journey in your life and sharing it with the world!
Thanks Jeff for chronicling a very important, but personal journey in your life and sharing it with the world!
March 3, 2024
While the book offered a handful of insightful ideas, I found myself wishing for a more concise summary.
While the concepts were valuable, the overall presentation left me feeling that a condensed version would suffice.
While the concepts were valuable, the overall presentation left me feeling that a condensed version would suffice.
December 31, 2022
This is a fantastic book, perfect for anyone considering a transition.
February 23, 2024
A couple of nuggets of knowledge that I took away from this one, but I had to dig through a lot of privileged white male bloviating in order to get to it.
August 21, 2024
The writing is fine, but the advice is very good.
January 10, 2025
I enjoyed the author as narrator but it's a little cheerleader-ish for me. The bones are good practices & I like the assessments.
November 26, 2022
Happened to pick this up off a table, and it was pretty disappointing. It was basically listening to a wealthy conservative Evengelical white guy decide to change jobs with the help of man other wealthy conservative Evangelical white guy connections, doing something that they would like.
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