Author: Alysia Silberg | Genre: Non-fiction, Memoir | Pages: 155 | Publisher: Sabre & Quill

In Unemployable, How I Hired Myself Alysia Silberg shares her incredible journey from a childhood math and science prodigy in Johannesburg, South Africa, to a successful venture capitalist in Silicon Valley. It all began with a pair of pretty pink roller skates and a small business selling old suits on the street. Alysia’s story is one of pain, perseverance, love, romance, and the pursuit of the “American Dream.” Through a gripping memoir and a practical guide, she offers valuable insights into overcoming challenges, achieving financial freedom, and finding purpose. As Alysia invites you to put on your roller skates and join her on this extraordinary journey, you will be inspired to change your life for the better and embark on your own path to personal and financial growth.

That’s the trouble with other people’s dreams.
They’re other people’s dreams. I had different
plans in mind. I wanted to be the maestra
of my own destiny.

The mood for ‘Unemployable’ by Alysia Silberg is set right from the word go, firstly with it’s tagline ‘How I Hired Myself’ and secondly with this quote above. When Alysia took a career test and she was thrown off by the results that inferred ‘Unemployable’, the author knew the path ahead was hers to carve. But she won’t be daunted. Instead she was kindled to do what most people are afraid to do – follow your dream.

“You’ve got to find what you love,” he says. “And that is as true for your work as it is for your lovers. The only way to do great work is
to love what you do. If you haven’t found it yet, keep looking. Don’t settle.”

‘Unemployable’ takes us through the author’s life right from childhood to adulthood and the present day. It’s a woman’s journey from Johannesburg to the United States, becoming the influential personality she is today. It gives us a taste of her experiences that have been rich with challenges, adversities, failures, and opportunities. Very early in life, the author understood what it took to become financially independent and luckily for her, her parents didn’t get in the way of her experiments. With her father, she had a pleasant relationship; one she always reflected back upon in life. However, with her mother, it was strained one. As she grew up, she realized, she wanted to be free, independent, bold, fearless, and consequently, she never shied away from doing what her heart desired.

Superpower = something you’re good at and
obsessed with + a way to make money from it.

‘Unemployable’ is a peak inside a young woman’s mind and unveiling how she carved a successful fate for herself despite hurdles, fears, or doubts. She goes on to explain everything in life comes for a price but one must be willing to pay it if one has to make their dreams come true. In her case, there was comfort, stability, security doing what she was doing but she constantly challenged herself to go out of her comfort zone and grow. She kept making it big, one win after another. The way her life’s snippets are portrayed here make one really consider what’s in store if you really ‘never give up’.

The book is thoroughly uplifting with powerful monologues interspersed through the book. The simple language and narration, make it an engaging read. It’s not just another memoir but truly aimed at imparting direction to the clueless, instilling courage in the hopeless, boosting confidence in the hapless. Smart prose, lucid writing, relatable life snippets, motivating tone, and a noble cause at core, make this book worth every reader’s time.

My life has been a journey across peaks and valleys,
good roads and bad. While I appreciate the good times, I also recognize the lasting impact and potential value of the bad. Sometimes, the
worst experiences can mold and shape us for the better.

‘Unemployable’ is about the author’s ‘Never Say Never’ attitude but more than that it’s about her resolve to keep empowering oneself through sunny and rainy days of life. There’s a lot to take home from her determination, self-belief, grit, passion, and courage. Today, Alysia Silberg inspires millions around the globe through her efforts and initiatives, and this book is just another cog in the wheel that’s aimed at nudging the readers follow their passion in life.

Have you read ‘Unemployable: How I Hired Myself’? Do share your thoughts below.

P.S.: I received a review copy from the author but the review remains unbiased.