Michael Kaufman has been more than just a social worker and CEO during his professional career – he has been a do-gooder, someone who has help organizations and individuals have a true impact in the world.
He is one of those people everyone says should ‘Write a book.’ Thankfully, he did.
His book, Doing Good & Doing Well: Inspiring Helping Professionals to Become Leaders in Their Organizations, offers Kaufman’s unique perspective on the particular traits, skills, and aptitudes that uncommonly equip all kinds of helping professionals — from educators, health care workers, and rehabilitation specialists to youth counselors, therapists, and social agency personnel — to be exceptionally insightful and talented organizational leaders.
It encourages them to continue “doing good” for society while also “doing well” for themselves and empowers them to view themselves as being highly capable of making a powerful impact on the entities and causes to which they’re dedicated.
It has been well received.
Doing Good & Doing Well recently was named a 2024 Silver Medal winner from the Readers’ Favorite International Book Awards.
Kaufman won the award in the Non-Fiction – Education genre through Readers’ Favorite, a book review platform owned and operated by authors for authors. Every year, thousands of English-language submissions for the platform’s annual book contest come in from all over the world, with contestants ranging from first-time authors to celebrities to New York Times bestsellers.
Kaufman, now the CEO of Premier Education Partners, previously worked as a social worker for the Newark Boys and Girls Clubs, the Keansburg Public Schools and The Calais School in Whippany Lessons from all of those stops and more are in the book, he said.
“When I set out assembling the material for the book, my only intention was to share the lessons accrued over my 30-year career in the social services with other helpers who might aspire to lead, as I did,” he said. “I never dreamed I’d actually win an award for it.”
The book has also been called a “must-read” by a career autism expert, a “remarkable book that offers a fresh perspective on leadership” by a doctoral-level speech-language pathologist, and a “guide that lights a practical and noble path,” by a licensed psychologist.
It also is getting rave reviews.
In a coveted 5-star review published by Readers’ Favorite, reviewer Jennie More pointed out some of the book’s highlights:
“I enjoyed the multiple examples of people-management scenarios where Kaufman explains personnel issues and how leaders dealt with each effectively, putting his advice into perspective. Few leadership or business books provide such practical guidance and real-life examples. It can be difficult for a professional to transition to management, but Kaufman details the new skills, experiences, pitfalls, and opportunities that professionals can expect.”
Kaufman said the book guides anyone hoping to enter a management or leadership role where they will be responsible for people.
Get the book
Doing Good & Doing Well: Inspiring Helping Professionals to Become Leaders in Their Organizations is available from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and other online booksellers.
Amazon readers describe the book as a “breath of fresh air in the leadership literature,” a “roadmap for how to apply skills,” “very helpful and inspiring,” and an “incredible” and “highly recommended” book that’s the equivalent of “having a mentor on paper.”
Kaufman, who will be honored at a ceremony in Miami in November, said he has been humbled by the response.
“It’s so gratifying to know that my book is resonating with the audience it was intended for,” he said. “It’s not a step-by-step how-to book for entering the C-suite. It’s not about revolutionizing an entire industry or sector. Instead, it’s about championing an often-overlooked rich pool of leadership candidates who understand what’s needed to make service-oriented organizations and companies thrive even better than those with MBAs and finance backgrounds do.”
