Business Book Awards 2026 Shortlisted in Work and Life category

We all play the professional game, but how far should we take it?

From our first job, we’re taught to compete for promotions, pay raises, and recognition. But in chasing success, many of us lose sight of something essential: meaning and fulfillment. A Groundhog Career: A Tale of Career Traps and How to Escape Them explores why so many professionals feel stuck, disillusioned, or trapped and how to break free.

Through the witty, relatable fable of Shey Sinope, and a deeply insightful analysis by Dr. Helmut Schuster and Dr. David Oxley, this book reveals how an individual’s shortcuts, hacks, and compromises can erode authenticity and purpose. The authors challenge you to redefine success, escape career burnout, and rediscover professional joy in a world dominated by organizational systems.

Inside, you’ll learn how to:

● Escape career traps that lead to stress, burnout, and dissatisfaction

● Find purpose and fulfillment at work, not just advancement

● Reinvent your career with authenticity and courage

● Identify and overcome professional conditioning that keeps you stuck

● Transform your mindset from survival to significance

● Balance ambition with alignment, ensuring success doesn’t cost you your soul

Blending engaging storytelling with psychological insight, A Groundhog Career is a guide for anyone who wants to futureproof their career, rediscover motivation, and thrive both professionally and personally.

If you’re ready to escape the endless loop of job dissatisfaction and live your career on your own terms, start your reinvention journey today.

Finalist in the International Book Awards for Careers and Best Cover Design

Endorsed by Sir Ian Davis (former Managing Director of McKinsey & Co.) and Trisha Conley (Global HR Executive)

An accessible written self-help book offering readers an insight into ‘career traps’, and how to be successful whilst still having a strong work ethic. A FINALIST and highly recommended! – The Wishing Shelf Book Awards

…a must-read for anyone looking to take charge of their career journey and live professional life on their own terms. We all need meaning and purpose at work, and the book is a roadmap for escaping the race for promotions and bonuses and finding a career that really matters – HR Today

So much more than a Career book! It’s the most practical advice on important life decisions I have ever received. …The chaper summaries and highlights make it so easy to incorporate some of the suggestions into every day life. Loved it! – Amazon 5*

Fantastic storytelling…It’s like a philosophical work of art which dives deep into the relationship between modern-life and employment. – Amazon 5*

Whether you’re just starting out or have been working for years, A Groundhog Career will make you laugh, think, and feel ready to take control of your career. It’s a fun and empowering read that will leave you feeling like you can tackle any work challenge with a smile. – Amazon 5*

Breaks the mold of career and leadership books – Amazon 5*

Entertaining, wise, humorous, an intergenerational approach to career and life. So much more than just a book about career choices. – Sir Ian Davis, Businessman, Former Managing Director of McKinsey Company and Rolls Royce Chairman

A Groundhog Career tackles one of the most crucial questions in work and life: how do I find my purpose? The authors provide a comprehensive blueprint for identifying what truly matters on your career and life journey. With insightful guidance and practical advice, this book will help you navigate your path to a fulfilling and meaningful career. – Daniel Obst, President and Chief Executive Officer, AFS Intercultural Programs

Career advice reimagined for our times. There is great wisdom in this highly entertaining and thought-provoking new take on how to get the most from professional life. I only wish I’d been given this book much earlier in my career as it would have come in handy! – Trisha Conley, Executive Vice President, People and Culture at LyondellBasell

A transformative guide to help you break free from career traps and find true fulfilment. The modern-day guide to finding your ikigai: what you love, what you’re good at, what the world needs, and what you can find success in. A must-read for those contemplating whether and how to reshape their career path. – Jaron Soh, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer, VODA, The LGBTQIA+ Mental Health App

If you’ve ever felt that you were getting exactly what you think you wanted… watch out, it can turn out to be a trap because you might lose yourself in exchange – just as the clever friend of this story’s hero remarks right at the beginning.

Drs Schuster & Oxley’s newest book doesn’t only provide us with a good story – and with advice for a satisfying work life, based on real-life experiences – it also provides readers young and old with ‘ingredients of joy’. So don’t miss it! – Ulrike Lunacek, Former Vice President of the European Parliament

An insightful and relatable book with practical advice on how to navigate the complexities of career progression and the sometimes-confusing choices that we face on our individual journey. A must-read. – Chan Boodhai, Chief Industry Officer, bp/ Sustainable Market Initiative (SMI)

A gripping story with wonderfully insightful introspection and thought exercises. – Oliver Carter, Online Creator and Founder of Brainy Creators

This book stands out as one of the best and most relatable guides on career advice, particularly for an 18-year-old like me. Shey’s story, which illustrates the importance of self-discovery and personal fulfilment while focusing on career advancement, is crafted in a way that every young person can truly connect with, providing essential lessons. – Sebastian Paar, Austrian Student

A Groundhog Career has been a revelation, blending behavioural science with practical wisdom. It reimagines the workplace from a grind into a source of fulfilment and purpose. For anyone navigating modern career complexities, this book is an indispensable guide. – Jendrik Sielaff, German Hockey Athlete and HR Professional

A thought-provoking read that challenges the way we view our jobs, society, and the pervasive influence of technology. This book is not just a casual read; it’s a wake-up call that compels readers to reassess perspectives on various aspects of modern professional life. By illustrating the broader implications of our work, the authors push us to think beyond the routine and recognize the deeper significance of our roles. This book is a catalyst for introspection, urging us to question our assumptions and think critically about the societal norms we often take for granted. In addition to its philosophical insights, it’s packed with useful tips and tricks. – Nitesh Prakash, Partner at Bain & Company

A beacon for anyone feeling lost in the corporate maze. Schuster and Oxley’s A Groundhog Career offers a transformative approach to professional life, urging us to break free from the system’s confines and rediscover our true selves. – Felix Henderson, Serial Entrepreneur, Co-Founder and Chief Operating Offcer of Oh

An inspiring read that captures the fear and liberation of leaving corporate life to follow one’s passion. A must- read for aspiring entrepreneurs. – Niharika Prakash, Founder of Moolae

A Groundhog Career oozes class from start to finish. A bucket list must-read for all business professionals – young, budding, aged, tenured, retired. Insightful, magnificent, awesome, fantastic, brilliant, reflective – dare say a perspective changing masterpiece. Just wow! – Ashwani Prashara, Chief HR Officer, O2C, Reliance Industries

Brilliant book that is full of career strengthening, practical advice. Highly recommended for budding entrepreneurs and aspiring professionals who want to make an impact through their actions. – Anand Verma, Green Tech Entrepreneur, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of ExpectAI

• Cover
• Praise
• Title
• Copyright
• Dedication
• Contents
• Introduction
• Part I: A Groundhog Career
  • Chapter 1: There was a storm brewing
  • Chapter 2: Into the breach
  • Chapter 3: Into the breach once more
  • Chapter 4: Whether to suffer the breaches of outrageous fortune
  • Chapter 5: A breach is what you make it
  • Chapter 6: The first day of the rest of your life – TGI Friday!
• Part II: Living Professional Life on your Own Terms
  • Chapter 7: A groundhog career – introduction to Part II
  • Chapter 8: Don’t become a captive of the career game
  • Chapter 9: Pursue your career not someone else’s
  • Chapter 10: Reframing leadership – from control to shared purpose
  • Chapter 11: And finally… a defence of formulas
• Authors’ notes
• Acknowledgements
• Supplementary notes
• Index

FORMAT / ISBN / PUBLICATION DATE / RRP

Paperback / 9781788607094 / March 18, 2025 / £14.99

Hardback / 9781788607087 / March 18, 2025 / £24.99

Ebook / 9781788607117 / March 17, 2025 / £7.99

Paperback and eBook Bundle / £16.99

Dr. Helmut Schuster

Dr Helmut Schuster is a dual Austrian/British citizen who lives in London, UK. He is the former Group HR Director of BP PLC and Chairman of the Board for Ivocar Vivadent. He currently serves on the board of several dynamic start-up businesses including ExpectAI, a Greentech enterprise. Helmut is an active entrepreneur, investor, and frequent contributor to leadership and AFS Cultural programs. He completed his PhD in Economics from the University of Vienna.

Dr. David Oxley

Dr David Oxley is a dual UK/US citizen based in Austin, Texas. David started his career as a management consultant before leading major people and corporate restructuring projects for BP PLC across Europe, USA, India, and the Middle East. He worked closely with Reliance Industries in India, one of BP’s partners, as they embarked on their big corporate restructuring. He currently spends his time researching and writing on future career trends for publications around the world including Fast Company, Forbes, Big Think, Reader’s Digest, and HR Today where he also serves as a member of the global advisory board. David was awarded his doctorate in Organizational Change at Cranfield University and his MBA from the University of Notre Dame.