Career Advice from a Comic Book? Meet Johnny Bunko

I just received my copy of Dan Pink's new book (thank you, Dan), The Adventures of Johnny Bunko - The Last Career Guide You'll Ever Need, and I am already writing about it. Dan and I corresponded about manga at the time he went to Japan months ago. The impact of a comic book that teaches lessons applicable to business did not hit me until now that I have the book in my hands.

Manga is the word for Japanese (or Japan-inspired) comics. In Japan, manga isn’t just for kids. You can find manga histories, manga how-to guides, and manga cookbooks. In fact, one—fourth of all printed material in Japan is in comics. And the form has become wildly popular in just about every other country on the planet. As Forbes says, manga is the “hardiest and most voracious cultural virus presently known to human society.”

Susan Berfield writes in Business Week, that the Johnny Bunko experiment comes at a time when business book publishers, like any others, are contending with readers who have less time to gather information from the printed page.

The Story

Bunko is an office jockey at Boggs Corp., a bumbling Everyman trapped in a job he loathes, wondering how he got there. Enter a supernatural career adviser, Diana, who emerges from Bunko's chopsticks late one soulless night at the office. She is sarcastic, tough, and wise and reveals to Johnny the six essential lessons for thriving in the new world or work.

The story itself can be enough to draw us in, after all, who has not had a similar experience? Well, aside from the magic character... unless you did. And, drawing us in is exactly what Pink plans to do with the activities surrounding the book launch.

Pink Does Social Media

Readers will be asked to send in photos of the Johnny Bunkos in their offices, suggestions for the seventh lesson, and narration to accompany drawings. I see many more opportunities with the book, which I read in less than one hour last night.

For example choosing a color palette, adding characters that are custom to your experience, and changing the marketing challenge to something that resonates more with you.

One note of interest is that Rob Ten Pas, the artist who worked with Pink on the book, is a graduate of the Minneapolis College of Art and Design (MCAD), the school I had the privilege of visiting last week. Pas is the winner of TOKYOPOP's annual Rising Stars of Manga competition.

What advice would you give someone who is just starting their first job?

Comments

[John Wall]

Very cool, I will have to check that out. I read Japan Inc. over 10 years ago, and just finished all 20-some volumes for Lone Wolf and Cub.

[Susan]

Listen. Listening is key.

[Dion Hughes]

The format of business books has been begging for fresh air for a long, long time. I hope this loosens the entire genre up... not just for the sake of doing something different, but to address the readers' issues - all the ones you point out, time, info-overload, info-sameness, info-blahness.

[Valeria Maltoni]

@John - the Japanese culture is fascinating and this new vehicle to carry information looks much more interactive and interesting. In a couple of weeks when the book comes out, I will be running a Q&A with Dan Pink here. Stay tuned.

@Susan - I think that is one of the lessons in the book. As with marketing, it says "it's not about you."

@Dion - info-blahness is the most egregious. It's risk management, but ends up becoming sameness. Dan Pink has pioneered the whole "Free Agent" notion, and the idea of "Whole Braininess".

[Carolyn Ann]

I'd give the following advice:

1. Never become wedded to the job. It's a job - not a life. (Unless you're doing something absolutely amazing, like being an astronaut, a spy, or race car driver...) If you've picked politics - your life is your job.
1b. Never get yourself so far in the hole that you absolutely must stay in the job, just to pay your bills!
1c. Always leave yourself an "out". That way, you can go looking for better opportunities, or even change careers, without penalty.
1d. Remember that changing careers is almost expected, these days. It used to be that getting laid off carried a stigma; these days it seems like a stigma is you haven't been laid off!
1e. Remember that while the employer says they want your loyalty - you don't have to give it to them. They'll be loyal to you (yeah, right), right up to when they lay you off. See 1c. There's that old cynicism: if you want loyalty, get a dog. It's an oldie and goodie because it's fairly accurate.

2. Get a mentor. This is easier said than done, however.
2b. Figure out how to develop a good reputation. (Hint: it's not by being a faceless drone in a cubicle.)
2c. Be willing to take chances. And responsibility. Not just "yes, I'll get that done", but own up to your mistakes. It's not making mistakes that gets us - it's how we deal with them. Be different to your fellow workers, and own up to being human. Turn the screw ups into lessons and tales that you can laugh about.
2d. Join a trade and/or social organization.
2e. Contribute to aforementioned trade group - you need to build your reputation!
2f. If someone offers advice, you're not bound to accept it. If it's unsolicited - it usually comes with a hidden cost. Watch out for when that unknown payment is due. (This bit of advice comes free of any encumbrance; and you're free to do with it as you will! :-) )
2g. Don't pretend to be above the office politics fray; but be honest about it. It's a job - the stakes aren't as high as you might think. On the other hand - if you've worked yourself into a debt hole, you might need to be really good at office politics. (Don't want to be involved in the knuckle-dragging? Work for yourself.) 2h. Lose the political battle? Suck it up - and count yourself a team player.
2i. Win the battle? Be fair - just remember that we always meet those we climbed over to get to the top on the way down.
2j. Don't do anything stupid. Don't think you'll get caught? Neither do all those who get caught doing something stupid. Do something dim, and you will be caught. An honest mistake is one thing, a monumental lapse of judgment is quite another.
2k. Learn for yourself. Employer not sending you on those courses? Figure it out for yourself. Don't rely on your boss to manage your career; they won't. They're too busy trying to manage their own! The boss will help you realize his or her goals, which aren't going to be the same as yours.
(This was something that I continually found, as a manager. My staff wanted me to manage their careers, and training. Like that was going to happen! I was happy to approve the money for training courses - that were relevant to my, the CIO's and the organizational goals, but I certainly wasn't going to develop their careers for them!)

3. Accept change. That's one thing about the world that's not going to change. (Sorry...)
3b. As that old saw goes: be the change you want to see.
3c. Be willing to change your job or career, and in your job or career. Goodness knows - if you're not willing to change, you'll find your employer more than willing to change you. For someone else more accepting to the "proposed" changes.
3d. Whew. That was a lot of change. :-)

And finally: enjoy what you do. You spend enough time at work, getting there and back, and it will generate enough stress, anyway, that you might as well work in something you find interesting!

Mostly it's about treating others to the same consideration you want yourself.

Carolyn Ann

[Ricardo Bueno]

Hmm...advice to someone starting their first job...

There's no need to be nervous! You've made it past the application stage and the interview stage. That alone earns you the confidence to walk tall.

Then, ask questions and listen attentively. Doing this will allow you to learn and grow in your position with your confidence in-hand.

On another note, I love the idea of manga!

[Mike Wagner]

Thanks for the heads up on Dan's new...book!?

How does one refer to Manga? (grin)

Your keen eye has picked up on how Pink is "drawing us in...with the activities surrounding the book launch."

This is marketing as "context building".

Where there is no context for our marketing messages marketers must create one.

Keep creating,
Mike

[Valeria Maltoni]

Carolyn Ann:

I am wowed! What come back do I have to such wealth of suggestions and practical advice? I found myself referring to this information in several conversations today.

I also posted to Twitter that folks should read the comments here. It' fascinating how you grouped the items as well. One of the reasons why I love books is that they give me a chance to learn from ideas that I can then try in real life.

When you say contribute to a professional association/trade group I'd also add if there isn't one, create it. Then you get to test your ideas in real time and receive feedback. That's tremendous learning and a sure path to experience.

Love what you do, yes. When I talk about marketing and how I intend its meaning, I light up. That energy can be transmitted.

Thank you for the thought and time you put into this.

[Valeria Maltoni]

@Ricardo - manga is way cool. First time I opened a business book with true glee. Confidence is key. Believe in yourself, don't second-guess your moves. Balance that, as you say so well, with an inquisitive mind open to learning. That's actually how I got to where I am ;-)

@Mike - it's very exciting that Dan would agree to do a Q&A at book launch here. I'm sure we're all curious to see how we are drawing meaning together. Marketing as context building, perfect pick up line!

[Joe Raasch]

Hi Valeria,

Starting one's first job? Some simple advice:

1. Listen
2. Get a mentor, formal or informal. Your college or business or a friend can be a good source
3. Learn exactly how your business makes money. Not what it sells or where it gets revenue - how it makes money.
4. Google "Ram Charan" and read EVERYTHING.
5. www.sethgodin.com
6. Try to move to a job that is either in direct contact with clients or on the leading edge of change/innovation - you do good there and you'll always be challenged...and employed.
7. Volunteer for service projects at work - great way to connect with people outside your department.
8. Find three great blogs, like this one, and read every morning.
9. Mentor someone else once things are going good for you.
10. Max your 401k if you have one.

[Valeria Maltoni]

Thank you for your kind words, Joe. To me the two key ones are learning how your business makes money and being in direct contact with customers. You should want to be where the action is. That's also where the greatest satisfaction is.