Enter: Adulthood                    

Relationships: Must-haves, Deal-breakers, & Jenny Blake (book giveaway)

I’m giving you some homework.  That’s right, homework.  What, you thought you were done with homework now that you are out of school?  Well, this is the kind of homework you want to do.  (And you get a reward for it too.)

Jenny Blake has provided us with the ultimate homework assignment.  Her new book, Life After College: The Complete Guide to Getting What You Want, helps you navigate your life in your own way…with no due dates.  This book is about YOU, for YOU.

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 action toward creating the life you really want.

This isn’t a book where Jenny is talking at you..it’s a workbook.  Jenny calls it “Twitter meets What Color is Your Parachute for 20-somethings” and that is exactly what it is. It includes tips, advice from college graduates and twitter followers, coaching exercises, deep dives on topics, quotes, and recommended readings.  

I had the pleasure of meeting Jenny IRL (in real life) in New York for one of her famous cupcake tweet-ups.  She’s absolutely as fabulous as you imagine her to be.  So when my advanced copy of the book came in the mail, I was extremely humbled.  I had actually already pre-ordered a copy!  (Which I will be giving away to you.)  

As I dove into the book, I realized that some questions were easy to answer and some were not.  And that’s how I knew this book was good - I started avoiding certain questions Jenny was asking me.  

One of my favorite exercises was called “Relationship Essentials.”  For your significant other, she asks you three questions: 

• What qualities in a significant other are “must-haves”?
• What qualities in a significant other are “nice-to-haves”?
• What qualities in a significant other are deal-breakers?

Why is this important?  Because you need to know what you want.  If you don’t know what you want, then your relationship could be a huge waste of time for both of you.  Sure, you may give in on some things but ultimately, you need to know what is absolutely necessary in your relationship and what you absolutely won’t put up with.

Back to your homework.  I asked Jenny what her answers were to these questions to start us off and I included my own that I wrote in the book.  

Now, you have to tell us your answers.  Tell us one (or more!) things that are must-haves, nice-to-haves, and deal-breakers.  Your reward?  A copy of Jenny’s book.

Jenny’s answers:

Must-haves: Respectful, Kind, Driven, Loyal/Trustworthy, Good communicator, Supportive, Optimistic, Passionate about something! 

Nice-to-have: Athletic, Loves watching football, Loves dogs, Doesn’t mind that I don’t cook, Tolerates my cupcake obsession

Deal-breakers: Addictions, Smoking, Anger issues, Pessimistic

My answers:

Must-haves: Ambitious, Communicator, Romantic, Has wild dreams-but acts upon them logically, Physically fit (must be more fit than me!), Ability to express love, Trustworthy, Supportive

Nice-to-have: Loves to travel, Nice family, Good taste (in food, clothes), Calm/Easy-going

Deal-breakers: Bad addictions (smoking, drugs, alcohol), Dishonest, Disloyal, Can’t/Won’t get along with family and friends, Can’t express feelings

 There are two ways to be entered into the giveaway to win Jenny’s book:

1. Leave a comment below with your answers AND Like the Enter: Adulthood Facebook Page.
2. Like the Enter: Adulthood Facebook Page AND leave a comment on the Facebook page with your answers.

(If you already are a fan of the Facebook Page, half of this is done!)

I will randomly choose and announce the winner on Tuesday, April 5th.  That gives you 4 days to think up your juiciest answers and let us know!

Good luck!  You will love this book!

Jenny Blake has worked at Google for five years, and is currently a Career Development Program Manager and internal coach. She is the author of the upcoming book, Life After College: The Complete Guide to Getting What You Want (Running Press, 2011) and blogs at LifeAfterCollege.org, where she provides simple, practical tips about life, work, money, happiness and personal growth. Jenny’s goal is to help people focus on the BIG picture of their lives…not just the details. Follow her on Twitter @jenny_blake.

(Links to the book are Amazon affiliate links.)