Larry Smith

What you NEED to do to Have a Great Career

Known as the “career-whisperer”, Dr. Larry Smith joins AQ’s Blog & Grill to share insights from his new book, “No Fears, No Excuses”. After a 2011 TED Talk that garnered millions of views on YouTube, Larry found himself answering thousands of questions stemming from the talk. “I always knew people struggled with careers,” he states. “But that gave me a sense of the scale that I’d honestly not imagined.” The messages Larry was receiving in relation to the TED video showed him what people wanted answered. This led him to create a truly market-tested book, tested by real people asking real questions.

In this Q&A, Larry describes the structure of the book and what the reader will find, including pragmatic guidance and the “unsexy subject of planning”. Larry tells us the difference between having a strong interest in something and being truly passionate, and how that passion will shape your career. He also discusses the vexing issue of work/life balance and how not having a balance can cause your startup or business to fail. “Just because you work hard does not mean you will be successful.”

About Our Guest

Dr. Larry Smith is an adjunct associate professor of economics at the University of Waterloo. He has counselled more than 23,000 students on careers, representing more than 10 percent of UW’s alumni. His efforts at the university led to his receiving the University of Waterloo’s Distinguished Teacher Award. His TEDx Talk, “Why You Will Fail to Have a Great Career”, has been viewed by millions.