The Explore My Path Career Resource Guide, compiled by Reginald C. Bean, was created to help bridge critical gaps in access to reliable career information for young people exploring their future paths. This essential resource empowers counselors, parents, and students with clear, actionable guidance to navigate the many options that shape a successful career.
What SPARKed your interest in writing this guide?
The inspiration came from wanting to better understand why so many families in our region face obstacles to economic mobility. Again and again, it came down to a lack of access to information—reliable, consistent, practical information that can truly help people move forward.
When I set out to create this guide, I knew it wasn’t enough to just compile facts. I thought carefully about how people would actually receive and use the material. I could have gone the digital route—built an app or a website—but I kept coming back to the idea of physical accessibility. A printed guide is something you can hold, share, and reference without needing technology or an internet connection. For me, it was all about meeting people where they are, and making sure the information remains clear, dependable, and always within reach.
Who is this guide for?
We designed the guide with three main audiences in mind.
• First, K–12 counselors, who are often the first point of contact helping families plan for the future. This resource extends their capacity to guide students with confidence.
• Second, parents, who play a crucial role in shaping their children’s paths. The guide helps them explore options and have informed conversations.
• And finally, students themselves—whether they’re just beginning to consider life after graduation or comparing specific opportunities, this guide offers a clear, comprehensive view of what’s possible.
What part of the process was harder than you expected, and how did SPARK Publications help you through it?
It’s funny—everything always seems perfectly organized in your head. The challenge was taking all those ideas, all the research, and translating them into something structured and cohesive.
That’s where working with SPARK Publications made such a difference. I came to the team with concepts scribbled on napkins, and you all helped me shape them into something polished and professional. A great example is the visual side of the book. I knew what I wanted to say, but I hadn’t considered how images could elevate the message. Now, I hear more comments about the chapter images than almost anything else!
SPARK’s team brought a balance of engaging visuals and thoughtful design that I hadn’t imagined at the start. Those details—what might seem simple on the surface—turned the guide into something people connect with immediately.
Reginald’s thoughts on working with SPARK Publications:
“Working with SPARK Publications is always a pleasure. For 15 years, I’ve trusted your team to take my rough ideas—even the ones scribbled on a napkin—and turn them into something impactful.
You’ve never hesitated to be honest when something wouldn’t work, and more often, you’ve shown me how to bring my vision to life even better than I imagined. That combination of expertise, creativity, and integrity is why I keep coming back with bigger and more complex projects.”
How will this book impact your business and your career moving forward?
To give you a concrete example, when I started the year, I anticipated the book would account for maybe 10% of our revenue. It’s already on track to be 50–60%—and growing. We have entire school districts ordering thousands of copies.
This guide has become more than a resource—it’s a catalyst for expanding our impact and sustaining our business in ways I couldn’t have predicted. It’s opened doors, deepened relationships, and positioned us to double our revenue this year alone.
What piece of advice would you give to a business owner or thought leader who is thinking about writing a book to help build their business?
Whether you’re launching a business or stepping into the world of publishing to expand your impact, my biggest piece of advice is to get laser-focused on the specific problem you’re trying to solve or the audience you’re committed to reaching.
When I started this project, I knew there was a gap. I thought it was a moderately large issue. But as soon as we published the book Harvard came out with The Project on Workforce’s ‘Navigating the Opportunity’ report at Harvard, literally the next week confirming that the number one barrier for low-income families in accessing career information was exactly what we were addressing: reliable, consistent information. I remember thinking, Are you serious? The timing was surreal.
That moment completely reframed how we talked about the book. Instead of trying to convince people that this was a good idea or an important topic, we could point directly to Harvard’s findings and say, Here is the problem—and here’s a resource designed to solve it.
So my advice is: know the problem you’re solving as clearly as possible. Because when your work aligns with an urgent need, the value speaks for itself.
Purchase the guide
Individual guide purchases via Amazon
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