Book Description

In The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, author Stephen R. Covey presents a holistic, integrated, principle-centered approach for solving personal and professional problems. With penetrating insights and pointed anecdotes, Covey reveals a step-by-step pathway for living with fairness, integrity, honesty, and human dignity -- principles that give us the security to adapt to change and the wisdom and power to take advantage of the opportunities that change creates. ... Read more

Reviews (558)

One of the best business/success books out there
Unfortunately, during my experience with corporate America I've had several business/success books thrust upon me. The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People is the only one that was worth reading.

This book, coupled with the First Things First training I received at work has had an enormous impact on me. Five years later, I still organize my life based on my mission statement, roles, and goals. I plan weekly and take time out to Sharpen the Saw. I don't always live up to the seven habits, but at least I'm going in the right direction. Periodically I pull this book out of my bookshelf and flip through it to reinforce the lessons it contains. It's also one of the few books I've ever bought someone as a gift.

My biggest criticism is that Covey has a tendency to beat you over the head with examples. Numerous times as I read the book I thought to myself, I get it, move on. My other big complaint is that this book coined the word "proactive," which is believed to mean the opposite of reactive, but actually means that the person using it is an idiot and needs to resort to using made-up words to appear highly effective.

This book has definitely changed my life for the better.
This is a book that has changed my life irrevocably and forever. It required great energy, patience and time to read, one with much meaning and very deep in content. In fact, after struggling through the first two Principles outlined in this book I found myself putting it away on the shelf. For nearly a year it sat there and I didn't pick it up again until I had another reason to. The second time around I could not put the book down and took prolific amounts of notes. The third time I read it I learned even more.

This book is about self, about becoming the true you and living your life optimally. This is not a pep-rally or a psychological breakdown of "The 100 Top Tips to Boost Your Self-Esteem". The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People is all about understanding where you can (should) be taking yourself in your life. The influence, the support, the understanding, the energy that Dr. Stephen Covey discusses comes from within yourself; it is not an external influence that fades as soon as the source is gone. You create it; you live it; it becomes you and you become it. These principles are not subject to the whims of others. You create yourself, you build upon yourself and you become an effective person in your life through learning to help yourself and others. You learn how to graduate from dependence to independence and then even further on to a higher level: interdependence all by looking deeply within yourself and following seven sound principles that are laid out in a very logical, rational and emotionally-sound manner. The principles behind Dr. Covey's ideas are based on faith in self, community and God. He helps you to understand the philosophy, "Love Me for Me."

In The Seven Habits, Covey talks about the Personal Mission Statement. This is a project that you create, write, rewrite over and over until it describes the person you most want to be. Then you simply spend the rest of your life living those beliefs until you become that person. It is probably the easiest, yet most difficult thing you will ever do in your entire life. Why? Because you must devote your entire life, and energy to this task. How easy it is to become side-tracked and slide into old habits of comfort. But these old habits are the ones that you want to rewrite with new, better habits. This is a difficult road to follow. It is also, without a doubt the most rewarding activity you will ever do in your entire life. After all, the most rewarding things in life are often the most difficult.

STRATEGIES FOR EFFECTIVENESS
Stephen Covey outlines the best strategies for maximum effectiveness in this great book. The fact that this book has remained a best seller for over 15 years should tell you something about the merits of the informmation that it contains.

Highly recommended book.

Definitely a must read book
I have worked for major corporations and I have been self employed in direct sales and network marketing. Hardly a day goes by when I don't find someone who recommends and in many cases, carries The 7 Habits around with them in their briefcase.

In a world of me, me, me, me. It's great to have a noted and highly respected authority like Dr. Covey teach the concepts of "Win-Win" and "seek first to understand, then be understood."

I am also happy to see that Dr. Covey has endorsed network marketing and recommends it. easy to understand why. Network marketing is indeed the wave of the future so it makes sense that the professionals of the present and the near future will be applying Dr. Coveys techniques just as those Fortune 500 companies have been doing since the 1980's.

Great book. I highly recommend it to everyone and especially network marketers who want to significantly grow their business.

Thank you Dr. Covey for a great book.

An excellent book
The way the author has deconstructed human development and potential is insightful. The author's view is that people first develop a triumvirate individual competances and skills.

1) Be Proactive.
2) Begin with the End in Mind.
3) Put First things First.

Once they have mastered this they can then accelerate the results they achieve by mastering 3 more skills that enable them to enable others.

4) Think win-win.
5) Seek first to understand.
6) Synergize.

Encompassing these 6 habits is the seventh habit which emcompasses the others is the

7) Sharpen the saw.

Though the some of the ideas are a little trite or naive together they form a good toolset. ... Read more

Book Description

"Most Americans do not know what their strengths are. When you ask them, they look at you with a blank stare, or they respond in terms of subject knowledge, which is the wrong answer."
-- Peter Drucker

Unfortunately, most of us have little sense of our talents and strengths. Instead, guided by our parents, our teachers, our managers and psychology's fascination with pathology, we become experts in our weaknesses and spend our lives trying to repair these flaws, while our strengths lie dormant and neglected.

At the heart of Now, Discover Your Strengths, is the Internet-based StrengthsFinder® Profile, the product of a 25-year, multimillion dollar effort to identify the most prevalent human strengths. The program introduces 34 dominant "themes" with thousands of possible combinations, and reveals how they can best be translated into personal and career success.

This audiobook contains a unique identification number that allows you access to the StrengthsFinder® Profile on the Internet. This Web-based interview analyzes your instinctive reactions and immediately presents you with your five most powerful themes. Once you know which themes you lead with, you can leverage them for powerful results for personal development, for management success, and for the success of the organization. ... Read more

Reviews (126)

Mentoring, not hand-holding
I've read quite a few of these kinds of books starting way back when with "What Color is Your Parachute," through "The Acorn Principle" and "Please Understand Me." This has been a long-term process of discovering my interests, talents, abilities, skills, knowledge, preferences, and potential - always with the intention of finding my true calling in life.

But this book is not just another addition to that list; this is a superior method for focusing in on very specific talents and strengths and clarifying your own thinking about your life choices. The assessment and categories of strengths are more straightforward than taking the Meyers-Briggs or other similar tests. The book confirms some of what I already knew, but completely clarified the concept of natural talent combined with skills and knowledge creating the strengths that one can use throughout their life.

People have complained in other reviews that some of the book is "fluff" or that it doesn't tell you what job to go get. This is only true for people who want one 250-page book to answer some of the greatest of life's questions. I greatly appreciate that the authors give simple, straightforward examples and their own theories quickly and pointedly. They leave it up to ME to make decisions based on that information.

If you are prepared to do the work over the course of time and use this book as a mentor (not a nanny who tells you what to do) you will gain great insight into yourself and your path.

Management, Not Psychology
As a manager, perhaps one of our greatest challenges is juggling the uniqueness of our employees. It's not our job to fix them, rather it's our job to facilitate their success.

I agree with what "First, Break All the Rules" said, in that, we should seek to build the strengths of our employees rather than fix their weaknesses. But, I walked away from that book saying "ok, that was great, but how do you determine a strength or talent?"

"Now, Discover your Strengths" gives practical insights on the strengths and inate talents of people. I was impressed by this and also by the real life examples of people displaying the stregth being discussed. The disheartening thing about the test is that it only gives your top 5 strengths when it's likely that 8-10 strenths are outwardly shown (in my opinion).

Unlike other readers, I DID NOT see this and the online test as meant to be a "personality" test. Quite the contrary. I believe it accurately measures what it says it does: STRENGTHS.

I'm looking forward to applying this information to the organizations I work with.

Since my question after reading the first book (how do you determine someone's strenghts?) was answered with "Now Discover your Strenthgs", I'm guessing that if there is a third book, it will discuss what to do with your strengths now that they're discovered.

beware of used copies
An integral part of this book is the online profile. Each copy of this book comes with a unique PIN number inside the book jacket. If you buy a used copy, the PIN number may be already used, and thus will not allow you to use the online profile. However, the book is still interesting if you enjoy reading through the signature themes and guessing what your profile would have uncovered. It is also fun to read each theme and think of people you know who come to mind, and consider ways in which you can support their strengths.

I would give this book 5 stars if an unlimited number of people could use the online profile with each book purchase.

A motivating speaker
I saw Marcus Buckingham speak at the SHRM Conference last week in New Orleans and it was an excellent complement to the book. Very motivating and enlightening as is the book. I also purchased the Emotional Intelligence Quickbook which I saw recommended on this page and that title is excellent as well.

Take these lessons beyond the work place
Excellent read, Clifton gives clarity and tools for success. I enjoyed the online inner strength tests very much and found it fascinating. While Clifton gives us the the key to unlocking our abilities and the confidence to pursue the path, it is up to us to take the journey.
I have taken this book and its philosophies into my personal life as well, filling everyday.
Everyone has different things that can free them further.

I started singing because I had always secretly found that to be exhilerating. I bought singing lessons on CD off of Amazon,
"Voice lessons To Go" by Vaccarino- fantastic!

I also purchased and carefully followed the "New Sex Now" video by Arte with my husband- it was mind blowing for us.

Just those two examples show how much I have removed my own personal fear in life. The kind that held me back and locked my strengths in. You know the strength is there in any crisis, why not manifest them into your eveyday? How powerful is that? ... Read more

Book Description

Book Description

Who Moved My Cheese? is a simple parable that reveals profound truths about change. It is an amusing and enlightening story of four characters who live in a "Maze" and look for "Cheese" to nourish them and make them happy.

Two are mice named Sniff and Scurry. And two are "little people" -- beings the size of mice who look and act a lot like people. Their names are Hem and Haw.

"Cheese" is a metaphor for what you want to have in life -- whether it is a good job, a loving relationship, money, a possession, health, or spiritual peace of mind.

And "The Maze" is where you look for what you want -- the organization you work in, or the family or community you live in.

In the story, the characters are faced with unexpected change. Eventually, one of them deals with it successfully, and writes what he has learned from his experience on the maze walls.

When you come to see "The Handwriting on the Wall," you can discover for yourself how to deal with change, so that you can enjoy less stress and more success (however you define it) in your work and in your life.

Written for all ages, the story takes less than an hour to listen to, but its unique insights can last for a lifetime. ... Read more

Reviews (1208)

Well worth your time
This little book is right up there on the New York Times best-seller list. A short read (one hour at most) on how to deal with change in your life.

Four mice named Sniff Scurry, Hem and Haw live in a Maze and look for cheese to nourish them to stay happy. The Maze is a metaphorical place where you look for what you want in life. The mice, it turns out, act like people and the cheese is a metaphor for whatever it is you want out of life.

In this charming story, the mice are faced with unexpected change because their cheese disappears. Some of the characters are able to deal successfully with this change and some are not. One of them (the successful one) writes about what he learns from this disaster on the walls of the Maze and thereby hangs the gist of this short, sweet tale. Among the "writings on the wall" are:

"If you do not change. you can become extinct." "What would you do if you weren't afraid?" "The quicker you let go of old cheese, the sooner you find new cheese." "Old beliefs do not lead you to new cheese." "Noticing small changes early helps you adapt to bigger changes that arc to come."

Well worth your time. Give a copy to your kids or grandkids. Promise (them money if thev read it, but make them write you a book report to prove they really read it...

gourmet cheese between two slices of moldy bread
Who Moved My Cheese? is divided into three sections: A Gathering, The Story, and A Discussion.

The Story is about Sniff, Scurry, Hem and Haw, four unique characters who live in a maze and look for cheese to survive. When their familiar source of cheese dries up, each character handles the situation differently.

The Story on its own is brilliant -- a simple illustration that allows the reader to assess their own reaction to change in their life. It could almost be considered (alongside Dr. Seuss' Oh, the Places You'll Go!) as a classic primer for recent graduates, displaced employees or budding entrepreneurs who know that today there is no such thing as "job security".

Where this book falls apart is in A Gathering and A Discussion. These two sections assume that the reader is not smart enough to figure out The Story's metaphor on their own, and are jammed with shameless infomercial-type dialogue.

This book has great content if you stick to the middle section. Five stars for The Story, less one star each for A Gathering and A Discussion.

Larry Hehn...

A Modern Day Parable
Some people just don't get "Who Moved My Cheese?" This is prefectly acceptable, because it will not work for everybody. Just like biblical parables, it is often interpreted in different ways. If you have not read it, I suggest that you give it a chance.

I first encountered the book in graduate school and enjoyed it a great deal. Only recently, has my cheese been moved. Although prepared for my cheese to be moved, I find myself looking for my new cheese. The theme of the book deals with the adjustments or adaptations we must make in our lives periodically. All facets of life are really based in social darwinism, or survival of the fittest. While you may not like the book, you must agree that adaptation is the key to success and satisfaction in life.

The best parable for dealing with change
I have read lots of books on change management. Most of them are dry and boring. This book shows you various reactions to change and how one arrives at the right response. How mice deal with supplies of cheese provides an entertaining and educational context for this topic. The book is well worth the investment. I would recommend reading it in conjunction with Optimal Thinking--How To be Your Best Self. Optimal Thinking is the "mental software" to make the most of any situation and will help you deal with all the emotions and thoughts that stop you from making the most of change.

Outstanding selection
This is a ourstanding book. The story or parable is set up to give the reader the information they can use to come up with a lesson for themselves. A story that we can all understand. You can almost let your children read it as a childrens book. That is how universal this book is. I've given away several copies of this book and everyone has found some value in it. I consider this to be one of the best Self help books out there. You might to. read and heed it. ... Read more

Book Description

A renowned communication expert introduces a subtle and efffective way of selling your best asset--yourself--without turning off those you're trying to impress. It is well-documented that working hard isn't enough to keep your professional star rising: Self-promotion is recognized as one of the most important attributes for getting ahead. But learning to share your talents and successes without coming across as smug or rehearsed is a tricky skill. Now, Peggy Klaus, top communication and leadership coach, has developed a program that will teach anyone to brag--and get away with it. Filled with practical examples of ways in which people in various work-life stages can promote themselves, Klaus teaches readers to communicate strengths and accomplishments without appearing too opportunistic, eager, egotistical, or self-aggrandizing. Now anyone can communicate with style and substance--in any situation--and walk away shining like the star they are! ... Read more

Reviews (11)

Yes- Brag
This is an amusing, informative book advising people how to self-promote. I read the book, and then put into practice what was taught for some telephone promotion for raising funds for a non-profit organization that I work with. It was amazing how the technique Ms. Klaus advised encouraged the return of calls previously ignored. I was so pleased. As well, it is fun to read, making you chuckle throughout. She is a great educator.

MyShelf.com Book Reviewer
In today's corporate market, competition is fierce, as people try to out do each other to get ahead. There are many techniques, but not every one is effective. Finding the right marketing technique to sell your skills is crucial. Survival is only for the fittest.

Peggy Klaus is a world-renowned Fortune 500 communication coach. Being an expert in the art of communication has enabled her to create a book based on simple-to-understand, real-life concepts. Her techniques show how to capitalize on being yourself while making the most of your accomplishments.

With her "Track 12" concept, she allows readers the opportunity to interact with the book itself by answering questions that can be referred back to at the right time and appropriate moment to make yourself outshine the competition. For instance, you will learn how to effectively throw a reference to one of your achievements into everyday conversations without sounding phony or unnatural. Her advice is golden; it provides the polished style and refined substance needed to climb the corporate ladder.

Of all the books I have ever read on this subject, I found Ms. Klaus's to have the most grace and the most overall, long-term impact. For anyone who is struggling to gain the recognition for their hard work and long hours, this is the book you will need to add to your book collection. Very highly recommended.

Wow! I think this book was written just for me!
Brag! was recommended to me highly... three different times. The third recommendation was because the book was on the "must read" list of a class I was taking on marketing. I finally bought the paperback version of the book since I was unable to find it at the local library.

I ho-hummed as I opened the book thinking it would be yet another inspirational speaker writing a book bragging about her success and that everyone else should be inspired. Inspirational speakers have never been that inspirational to me - probably because their "inspiration" lasts as long as it takes for me to get back to my car (usually at the top level of the parking lot furthest away from the auditorium). Once I'm behind the wheel of my car I am thrust back into my own world wondering what just happened. Hadn't I felt great just a few moments before? Wasn't I ready to go get 'em? Wasn't I determined to get going and make a success of my business?

I read the first paragraph of the Introduction of Brag! and Peggy Klaus had me hooked. Wait a minute. I know she was talking about her own background in her narrative, but it sounded as if she was talking about me! She speaks of her father telling her as a child, " ...don't toot your own horn; if you do a good job people will notice you." My parents and Sunday School teachers said that all the time, too, and more. "Bragging is a big no-no." "The Bible says that modesty is a virtue." No wonder I never really liked inspirational speakers. They come off as giant braggarts. According to Peggy Klaus, they're not doing it right.

Countless phrases of virtue and avoidance of being obnoxious and self-aggrandizing hang in the back of my head waiting to pounce as soon as someone asks me what I do. I murmur, "I'm a graphic designer" only half-believing that I deserve the title despite my success. "Graphic designer?" they ask. "Does that mean you do, like, brochures and stuff like that?" "Yeah," I answer. And then the conversation falls flat.

This is where Peggy Klaus picks up the pace and tells you right out that if you don't speak up for yourself, no one else will. However, there is an art to this type of communication. Peggy spends the remaining 190 pages helping you take stock of what you have to brag about while you make yourself a "Brag Bag" full of "Brag Bites" and a few good "Bragalogues" to fit various situations. She also has some plain talk rebuttals to the "buts" we all have to talking about ourselves. My favorite:

" 'But... do I really need to brag 24/7?' Like the Scouts, be prepared... to toot at any time. That doesn't mean, however, that you do it all the time or that you do it at inappropriate times or places. You do it when it feels comfortable. And learning how to make it feel more comfortable is what this book is all about."

Peggy's examples are plentiful and, if you're like me, you'll see yourself in her examples more than once. She's not just any braggart, she's the best! Her natural way of writing (read: unpretentious), extremely practical advice, recommendations and her sense of humor combine to make this my favorite book of my business reading and the book that, right now, is making the most impact in my life and in my business.
-Anna Kris Bell
Catchphrase Graphics

Keep on Tootin¿
Probably most people were taught three principles early on in life: Obey the golden rule, don't pick up hitchhikers, and let other people praise you. Author Peggy Klaus can't help you with the first two, but she debunks the third principle.

Just what is bragging? Or put more properly, WHEN is bragging bragging and when is it taking advantage of opportunities? According to Klaus, there's a time and a place for proper bragging. Bragging (or "self-promotion") can be practiced in and out of the office. It can help you get better assignments, better pay, better recognition, better relationships, and more. But you have to do it properly...

Klaus show us first how NOT to brag, citing many examples of failed bragging and how to correct them. When practiced correctly, the principles of BRAG can help you communicate your talents without coming across as obnoxious. Recommended.

193 pages

Great for Job Hunters
As someone who is looking for a new job, I am always thinking about how to make my interviews go better. This book made me see how I have been presenting myself to possible employers with an almost apologetic attitude. Klaus explains how to make up bragologues about yourself so that you can let people know who you are and what you can do without sounding obnoxious. I was skeptical at first, but for the first time in months I have been called back for a second interview. I also told my friend about this book and she said that it helped her get a new client. It's fun to read and has lots of easy to use advice. ... Read more

Book Description

Today's corporate world is much like the world of professional sports -- fiercely competitive, mentally and physically demanding, and requiring constant, vigilant, training. More than ever, to maintain health, happiness, and career success, executives and employees must become Corporate Athletes.

Based on the latest scientific and medical studies, The Corporate Athlete tells corporate competitors how to achieve maximum performance levels. Drawing on the parallels between sports and business, Jack Groppel reveals the integral roles that nutrition, fitness, and self-improvement -- mental, physical and emotional-play in giving corporate athletes their winning edge. Learn to:

* Have as much energy for your family at 8 p.m. as you have at the office at 8 a.m.
* Respond to change, adversity and crisis more constructively
* Slow down the aging process

Whether or not you can hit a home run or run a marathon, this program will train you to perform at the highest possible levels in both your professional and family life. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

OUTSTANDING!
This great book should be on the desk of every stressed out business executive.It brilliantly describes what it takes to be in a peak state of mind when you need to be.There is no question that business people as well as everyone should train their bodies to get their minds in top shape.This book illustrates that with great information about diet,exercise,and proper attitude.A wise investment.

Lacking new Insight to an age-old problem
I waited in anticipation for this book to arrive. Much hype had been made about this new research and the 21 day plan. Business men and women stuggle to balance work and home-life, and the foundation of this book is right on. If we loose weight, drink more water and exercise we will have more energy for both. The problem with this book is that it says very little more. I found myself brousing through the book looking for new ideas to give me some boost. The book does have some excellent chapters on how to deal with stress in the work place. In fact, this book is worth buying just for these two chapters. However, for those of us who read self help books on a daily basis, you might be looking for more.

At the Top of Your Game
Finally - a book that delivers on its promise to help you get to the top of your game, to help you achieve maximal performance levels in life - and does so using a common sense approach that integrates experience, study and science with focus and commitment. The key is training like an athlete whether its following an exercise or nutrition program or developing a positive attitude. What a refreshingly realistic concept in this "a pill a day takes the fat away" world! Through Dr. Groppel's convincing clarity, it all makes perfect sense. And you don't have to be in the business arena to benefit from the principles of THE CORPORATE ATHLETE. Maximizing performance can be a goal that crosses age, gender and occupational or vocational boundaries. But what makes this book stand out for me is Dr. Groppel's holistic approach - completing the palate of fitness by incorporating the physical, mental and emotional with the spiritual. It takes courage to take spirituality out of its politically correct closet and plop it onto the Board Room table, to make it a key component of performance enhancement. Could it be that the growth of courage, confidence, conviction and character is a natural end product of one's development into the ultimate corporate athlete? I am convinced, after reading the book, that this is the case. ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (55)

Steps to enhance success Emotionally!
How we need to over ride our emotions sometimes! Daniel Goleman's book is indeed an insight to cultivate one's mind emotionally. Understanding and raising emotional intelligence is essential to your success and leadership potentials. Daniel selects examples and anecdotes from the Fortune 500 companies which shows the competency to deal with various factors at workplace. The training tools, conflict management, building bonds and motivation, encouragement and inspirations are really necessary not with the IQs only but with the 'Emotional Intelligence skills' which enhance leadership to excel. The author shows the way how to manage feelings, interact, communicate and tackle with the issues in organization. Initiative, self control, optimism are some key factors of personal competency which make the emotional control board of the mind geared up to treat right, care and understand. A must read for every business. Its never an arrogance, ego or pride but be in tune with 'Emotional Intelligence'- Thats the trick of the trades for every savvy Leader.

The emotional competence framework
The author suggests five competencies in which we can manage ourselves:

Self awareness (Emotional Awareness, self-accessment, self-confidence)

Self Regulation (Self-Control, Trustworthiness, adaptiblity, innovation)

Motivation (achievement driven, commitment, initiative, optimism)

Empathy (understanding others, developing others, service oriented, politically aware),

Social skills (influence, conflict management, leadership, catalyst, building bonds, collaboration and cooperation, and team).

The book's frame-work focuses on the five competencies: Self-Awareness, Self-Regulation, Motivation, Empathy, and Social skills.

I liked the personal stories illustrating the positive effects of soft skills. The storie sources came from friends, associates, and research cases.

I disliked the conclusions drawn from the stories suggesting confidence in cause and effect of EQ results.

I liked what Dr Goleman was advocating about the importance of people skills: social radar, arts of influence, and collaboration and teams.

I disliked lack of detail methodology to achieve the desired results. I felt there was too much contrast between IQ verse EQ. The book provides a strong case argument for an investment in Emotional Intelligent.

One shocking point the author makes early in the book, states that the top 1 percent of the Emotionally Intelligent in the IT field are 1200 percent more productive. I would have liked to read more cases studies about these observations and conclusions for his study. That statement alone sparked a ton of curiousity about EQ. I'm very interested in learning how effective IT managers are in accessing the emotional needs of their employees and customers and how to implement EQ to improve performance.

I disliked the lack of practical application. There was a disconnect between converting ideas of EQ into action. I felt the book focused too much on the principles of EQ, rather than the practical application of EQ. Basically he did not effectively answer the question, " How can I uses the EQ in my job to make a difference." I didn't get the opportunity to say "cool EQ works for me"

I read both and picked the Quickbook
This book was recommended to me as a resource for emotional intelligence in the workplace. I was looking for something to give to managers here at my company and I also puchased the recommended title on this page, The Emotional Intelligence Quickbook. Working is alright and I can see how it was a good resource when it came out in 1998, but The Emotional Intelligence Quickbook is more up to date and far more practical. It also worked well for us because it comes with a free emotional intelligence test online.

Packed With Knowledge!
Daniel Goleman followed up his bestselling classic Emotional Intelligence with this equally classic sequel that focuses on how emotional intelligence is applied in the workplace. Insightful and richly detailed, Goleman's work educates and inspires without ever sounding trite or sappy, like some annoying quick-fix scheme. If you are leadership bound and think success is all about strategy and technique, this will provide some very useful insights into what people really think about managing and being managed. The most intriguing sections focus on the application of emotional intelligence at work, but it would be pretty useful at home, too (if we could just get out of the office). If you think that you don't need to be more aware of the emotional undercurrents all around you, we warn that you need to read this most of all.

Success is based on how you apply emotional intelligence
This is a wonderful book, and is truly an insightful look at what helps us to be successful in leadership positions in the workplace. The old model of senior management was based on owning all the information and knowledge and being able to understand what everyone does in fine detail, and was often the "promoted-up-through-the-ranks" type of leader. But with modern business involving so much change, and constantly shifting market demands and organizational structures, what worked well yesterday will not move the organization or your career ahead tomorrow.

The author uses as a platform the work on Emotional Intelligence, which unlike typically defined intelligence, focuses on the ability to apply emotional and inspirational information in a variety of social settings and through a vast array of relationships. It is this ability he concludes that predicts success in today's workplace.

Among the areas of discussion are five competencies in which our ability is revealed. The first is "Self Awareness" which includes emotional awareness, self-assessment, and self-confidence. How many times have we worked for or with someone who could not control their emotions and lacked the self awareness to understand how their actions impacted those around them? The importance of balancing performance while exhibiting the values of the organization through a positive culture has never been more in need. Many who have the intelligence to do the work, lack the emotional intelligence to build the relationships and culture needed to get the work done through others. The book explores these pitfalls and discusses suggestions for change.

The other areas are similar: "Self Regulation" (self-control, trustworthiness, adaptability, innovation), "Motivation" (achievement driven, commitment, initiative, and optimism), "Empathy" (understanding others, developing others, service oriented, politically aware), and "Social Skills" (influence, conflict management, leadership, catalyst, building bonds, collaboration and cooperation, and teamwork).

All of the five competencies are presented well, with examples and suggestions for improvement. Some reviewers have noted the lack of "scientific" type of analysis, but I feel that misses the point. The first hurdle to overcome if one wants to be as successful as possible is a basic awareness of the importance of interpersonal skills, and building strong working relationships with others. The opportunity for a purely autocratic style to operate in today's business is rare and therefore the majority of those leading businesses will need to focus on how they apply their EQ, not just their IQ.

This book does an excellent job at presenting what EQ success looks like and why it is important. It is not a step by step manual for improving one's business success, as that would ironically be an IQ approach. The book instead is a great eye-opener of the importance of emotions, and how we read others and interact with them. Highly recommended, and a great starting point for improving your ability to lead others in today's business environment. ... Read more

Book Description

Proven Tools for Transforming Your Work Life -

Consciousness, teaches Fred Kofman, is the capacity to observe, choose, and act in accord with your values. And "conscious business" means using that ability at every level of your work: in being aware of the needs of others and expressing your own—in seeing the hidden emotional obstacles that may be holding your team back—in making good decisions under pressure—and even in delving into such "spiritual" questions as "Who am I?" and "What is my real purpose here?" On Conscious Business, you will join this visionary teacher and founder of Leading Learning Communities to master these skills.

Higher Consciousness,Real World Results, What if you walked into your office tomorrow and discovered that others finally understood your work challenges and were ready to help you solve them…that every meeting was valuable…that everyone honored the commitments they made to you…and that your strongest talents were finally being put to use? For more than 10 years, Fred Kofman has helped organizations ranging from small nonprofits to major corporations become "learning communities" with these remarkable qualities. Now, you can learn the five specific skills you need to transform your workplace in the same way.

Becoming more conscious in business requires courage and an open mind. It means putting aside the "right way" in order to discover something better. If you’re ready to make that leap—and start turning your workplace into an adaptive and resilient community that cultivates intelligence, creativity, and integrity in every member — Conscious Business is the place to begin. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Could be called 'Conscious Living'
Fred Kofman does an outstanding of job of teaching the essentials of human interaction; communication, negotiation and implementation. His simple but profound insights are delivered in a converstational style and by the end of the program I felt like I had found a friend who inspired me to become a 'conscious leader'!

Learning to be conscious. Learning to be.
Consious Business is a wonderful way to understand that the only way of making our businesses and lives be what we want them to be is by doing the effort of becoming aware, of becoming present and becoming completely responsible players.

Interesting
Kofman presents much in the way of interpersonal relations but is weak in grounding his work in current psychological data.
Great sizzle, not much meat.

Simply Stated - Profoundly Moving
This book teaches great lessons on interpersonal relationships. Applying these lessons makes you a more real person both to yourself and others.

Want A real shift in the way you see yourself, your family and your co-workers? Give this a listen, you'll be glad you did.

Amazing and unique
I got the tapes and I believe this is a masterpiece. The way the concepts are integrated is unique. I strongly recommend this to any business leader seriously interested in living life as a player. ... Read more

Book Description

What do employees and coworkers have in common with a five-ton killer whale? A whole lot more than you think, according to the mega-bestselling author Ken Blanchard and his coauthors from SeaWorld. Whales respond best to positive reinforcement. So do humans. In this moving and inspirational new audiobook, Blanchard explains how using the techniques of animal trainers -- specifically those responsible for the killer whales of SeaWorld -- can supercharge your effectiveness at work and at home.

When gruff business manager and family man Wes Kingsley visited SeaWorld, he marveled at the ability of the trainers to lead huge killer whales in performing acrobatic leaps and dives. Later, talking to the chief trainer, he learned their techniques of building trust, accentuating the positive, and redirecting negative behavior -- all of which make these extraordinary performances possible. Kingsley took a hard look at his own often accusatory management style and recognized how some of his shortcomings as a manager, spouse, and father actually diminish trust and damage relationships. He began to see the difference between "GOTcha" (catching people doing things wrong) and "Whale Done!" (catching people doing things right).

In Whale Done!, Ken Blanchard shows how positive reinforcement and redirection can help increase productivity. These techniques are remarkably easy to master and can be applied equally well at home, allowing listeners to become better parents and more committed spouses and have happier personal lives. ... Read more

Reviews (44)

A Good Read!
Ken Blanchard of One-Minute Manager fame draws on the positive training techniques that SeaWorld whale trainers use to get their whales to want to perform. Although using whale training as a teaching model is a unique twist on the literature about training and motivating employees, the material itself is not nearly as exotic. Much of it draws upon traditional principles for getting along with others, such as building trust, emphasizing the positive and redirecting undesired actions into more productive channels. If you've read Blanchard's previous book about being aware when people do something right so you can praise them, some of this content will seem familiar, though he says this is his "most important" book. The story line tracks mythical businessman Wes Kingley's discussions with whale trainers who reveal what they do to train their creatures, gradually, carefully and with real warmth. These conversations blow some very basic points up to whale-size, but Blanchard writes with charm. We recommend this splashy manual, the first course in Whale Psyc 101.

Another winner from Blanchard
Whenever Ken Blanchard (one of my favorite authors) comes
out with a new book, I usually rush to read it . . . so when I
saw that WHALE DONE! THE POWER OF POSITIVE
RELATIONSHIPS had just been released, I got hold of
a copy and devoured it in one sitting.

You'll be able to do so, too, in that it is real short . . . but
don't be fooled into thinking that there's not a lot of "meat"
contained in its 128 pages . . . Blanchard, along with
coauthors Thad Lacinak, Chuck Tompkins and Jim

Ballard, takes a simple tale and uses it to get you
thinking about how both whales and people perform
better when you accentuate the positive . . . that information
may sound basic, but it is far too often never used.

The story revolves around a gruff manager who visits
SeaWorld and is impressed with how animal trainers
of killer whales can get them to perform amazing
acrobatic leaps and dives . . . he begins to see how
these same techniques could be applied to his
business life, as well as his situation at home . . . in
addition, he learns the difference between "GOTcha"
(catching people doing things wrong) and "Whale
Done!" (catching people doing things right).

I particularly liked the many examples that were used,
and the fact that these could be applied to countless
work and home situations.

There were many memorable passages; among them:
"The point here is that progress--doing something better--is
constantly being noticed, acknowledged, and rewarded.
We need to do the same thing with people--catch them
doing things better, if not exactly right, and praise
progress. That way, you set them up for success and
build from there."

"Killer whales can 'take out' any other animal in the
ocean. We sometimes use that information when we're
working with dog trainers. Some of them scold and yell
at their animals. They use choke chains and sometimes
hit them. When they talk about that kind of treatment, I
ask them, 'If your dog weighed eleven thousand pounds
like Shamu, the whale, how would you treat him? Would
you use a choke collar or smack him around?' I don't
think so."

If you don't hire people on a performance review curve,
why grade them on one?

My only criticism is that some of the material seems
recycled from Blanchard's first bestseller, THE
ONE MINUTE MANAGER . . . but maybe that's not
such a bad thing, in that I still consider this his best
work . . . and a "must" read for anybody who has not
yet had the pleasure of experiencing it.

An okay read!
"Whale Done!: The Power of Positive Relationships" by Ken Blanchard talks about the importance of building trust, accentuating the positive side of things and redirecting the energy when mistakes are made. According to Blanchard, it is crucial to provide recognition appropriately to either co-workers or family members. He uses the example of training the killer whale, Shamu at the SeaWorld. When it comes to training killer whales, trainers have to reward the whales when they do something right to reinforce the same behaviors and that it is basically useless to punish killer whales if they make mistakes.

I think this is an okay read because there are basically nothing new here. However, I do like the "training of killer whales" illustrations that help to reinforce what Blanchard is saying - rewarding animals/people appropriately. Like a few reviewers here, I do prefer "Who Moved My Cheese?" and "Fish!" better. I also agree that some of the lines in "Whale Done!" are sort of cheesy. It's basically an okay read.

A Good Read!
Ken Blanchard of One-Minute Manager fame draws on the positive training techniques that SeaWorld whale trainers use to get their whales to want to perform. Although using whale training as a teaching model is a unique twist on the literature about training and motivating employees, the material itself is not nearly as exotic. Much of it draws upon traditional principles for getting along with others, such as building trust, emphasizing the positive and redirecting undesired actions into more productive channels. If you've read Blanchard's previous book about being aware when people do something right so you can praise them, some of this content will seem familiar, though he says this is his "most important" book. The story line tracks mythical businessman Wes Kingley's discussions with whale trainers who reveal what they do to train their creatures, gradually, carefully and with real warmth. These conversations blow some very basic points up to whale-size, but Blanchard writes with charm. We recommend this splashy manual, the first course in Whale Psyc 101.

Simplistic book that should be no more than an article
Written as a fictional story with unnatural dialogue, very simplistic message, does not even scratch the surface of human motivation. Nothing new here, this would not even be noticed as an article by a popular magazine. A typical example of low content book that is no more than a streched and pumped-up 4-page article. Nuff said. Leave on the shelves. ... Read more

Book Description

From world-renowned motivational author Napoleon Hill comes his classic work that has inspired millions, Think and Grow Rich.

Anything your mind can conceive and believe you can achieve. That is the philosophy of Napoleon Hill, author of the world’s #1 motivational book, Think and Grow Rich. Inspired by the lessons he learned while a protégé of Andrew Carnegie, Napoleon Hill gives you the money-making secrets that earned Carnegie, and many of the world’s other most prominent people, unprecedented riches. Think and Grow Rich tells you what to do and how to do it. Apply Hill’s basic techniques to your life and you too can master the secret of enduring success.

Success is not an accident, it’s a habit. Think and Grow Rich is where that habit begins. Throughout this inspirational masterpiece, which has influenced men and women on every continent, Hill gives examples and detailed analysis of how hundreds of exceedingly wealthy people earned and maintained their fortunes. It has sold millions of copies by laying down a blueprint for a life of prosperity, and helping people become the winners they’ve always wanted to be. Napoleon Hill’s plan will inspire you, motivate you, and enable you to make your dreams come true!
... Read more

Reviews (225)

Great book--Great foreward by Melvin Powers
Over the years I have bought several copies of Think and Grow Rich but this particular edition, original unabridged version is perhaps the best and my personal favorite.

Think and Grow Rich is without a doubt one of the most prestigious and beloved books in the field of motivational literature. This version is a reprint of the original, unabridged, classic edition of Think and Grow Rich by Napolean Hill. No doubt, Think and Grow Rich has helped shape the lives of millions of people around the world. Perhaps moreso than any other book ever.

In Think and Grow Rich, Napolean Hill shares his brilliant philosophy and practical techniques for achieving your financial goals, reaching your highest potential, and ultimately creating a life that brings you great personal happiness.

Think and Grow Rich will teach you how to harness the awesome mental magic of your mind. You are given a blueprint for self mastery. You learn that there are no limitations to what you can accomplish, only those you impose on yourself.

Napolean Hill said, "If you can conceive it, you can believe it." This precept has proven true repeatedly throughout history. Did we not send a man to the moon and accomplish other seemingly miraculous feats in many fields of endeavor? Every one of these feats began as an idea that was then transformed into reality. Think and Grow Rich shows youhow to transform your dreams into reality too.

Melvin Powers inspiring foreward and indicating how this great book transformed his life adds just on more great testimonial of the power behind Think and Grow Rich.

If you were to buy just one book on personal development, you wouldn't go wrong by making Think and Grow Rich that one and only book.

Thank you Napolean for sharing your wisdom!

Bugaboos of the Mind Revealed
Why do some achieve great wealth when the vast majority wallow in poverty?

Napoleon Hill interviewed nearly 500 wealthy men (including steel magnate Andrew Carnegie) to determine the underlying causes of wealth. In addition, Hill interviewed thousands of financial failures to determine what drove them to poverty.

Think & Grow Rich is a remarkable text that outlines what Napoleon Hill learned from his vast number of interviews. Hill enables readers to emulate the traits of the wealthy while shunning those characteristics of the financially challenged.

Several highlights of the text are:

(1) Prerequisites to wealth acquisition include a statement of: (a) the amount of money desired (b) the sacrifice one is willing to give in exchange for the money (c) the deadline for obtaining the money (d) a definite plan for acquiring this money (e) a declaration of this statement twice daily once before sleeping and once after waking.

Hill remarks, "You may as well know, right here, that you can never have riches in great quantities unless you can work yourself into a white heat of desire for money, and actually believe you possess it."

(2) The subconscious mind can be a powerful ally (or foe) in the pursuit of wealth. One should truly believe that one will become wealthy and "the subconscious mind will hand over the plan that you need". This belief should be infused with emotion.

(3) Create a Master Mind group of encouraging individuals who can provide the specialized knowledge necessary to achieve wealth

(4) "Success requires no explanations; Failure permits no alibis"

(5) Common causes of failures include: Lack a well defined purpose in life, Lack of ambition, Lack of self-discipline, Procrastination, Lack of Persistence, Lack of decision.

(6) Persistence is absolutely critical to wealth. Hill mentions that "I had the happy privilege of analyzing both Mr. Edison and Mr. Ford ... I found no quality save persistence that even remotely suggested the major source of their stupendous achievements."

(7) To develop persistence one must have a: (a) specific goal with a yearning for its attainment (b) definite plan (c) mind closed against negative influences (d) friendly alliance with those who will encourage one to achieve the goal

(8) Sublimate your sexual urges to a yearning to accomplish your goals

(9) "You have absolute control over but one thing, and that is your thoughts"

This is a remarkable book that is a paean to the power of the mind and its ability to create wealth in the face of seemingly insurmountable obstacles ...

Excellent! but the hardcover version is abridged
Wonderful book, which inspires me and makes me think big and stay motivated. I love the unabridged version from wilshire book company. Unfortunately it comes only in paperback. I recently bought the hardcover, collector's edition. Unfortunately it is abridged, in some chapters several pages in total. The format in this book is among the best i've seen though. Leatherbound, goldedges etc. Anyway, great book!

It Helped Jim Carrey, myself and it can help you too...
What can I say? I bought this book at a church bookstore, ironic huh? Having been fortunate enough to attend elite academic institutions in America and Europe, I can say without a doubt that the principles espoused by Mr. Hill's writing are by far more valuable than much of what I learned in a formal academic environment--this is real education....SELF education, i.e. knowledge of Self.

Jim Carrey reputedly read this book while working a low wage job before becoming famous, applied the fundamentals and the rest, as we say is history.

I always like to point out interesting teaching points from books and here are a few:

**"Whatever the mind can conceive and believe, it can achieve"

**"There are no limitations to the mind EXCEPT those we acknowledge"

**"Both poverty and riches are the offspring oof thought"

One of my greatest ambitions is to actualize the level of success I envision for myself and in doing so, be in a position where I can mentor others about the principles of success such as those. Mssr. Hill teaches. One of the first things I shall do is give this book away in order to complete the cycle of giving and receiving.

I also recommend reading this book along side Joseph Murphy's book "Power of Your Subconscious Mind" and Claude M. Bristol's "The Magic of Believing" along with "It Works" by RJH. These books along with Think & Grow Rich can truly enable you to achieve whatever you desire not only financially but in health, relationships, peace of mind and true expression--true wealth.

I have personally achieved some wonderful results through the application of these principles and look forward to applying them even further for higher and higher levels of achievement. I hope you do so as well!

Not his best, but a great book by Napolean Hill
Think & Grow Rich is a condensed version of Hill's 17 principles of success; he course that he used to teach in over 17 lessons via weekly lectures and is still available in other books and tape programs like Your Right To Be Rich.

Nonetheless, Think & Grow Rich is an excellent intro to the principles and techniques that Hill discovered after interviewing the wealthiest people of his time.

Think & Grow Rich will open your mind and open opportunities to you. Great book by Hill. ... Read more

Book Description

We live in digital time. Our pace is rushed, rapid-fire, and relentless. Facing crushing workloads, we try to cram as much as possible into every day. We're wired up, but we're melting down. Time management is no longer a viable solution. As bestselling authors Jim Loehr and Tony Schwartz demonstrate in this groundbreaking book, managing energy, not time, is the key to enduring high performance as well as to health, happiness, and life balance.

The number of hours in a day is fixed, but the quantity and quality of energy available to us is not. This fundamental insight has the power to revolutionize the way you live your life. The Power of Full Engagement is a highly practical, scientifically based approach to managing your energy more skillfully both on and off the job.

At the heart of the program is the Corporate Athlete® Training System. It is grounded in twenty-five years of work with some of the world's greatest athletes to help them perform more effectively under brutal competitive pressures. Clients have included Jim Courier, Monica Seles, and Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario in tennis; Mark O'Meara and Ernie Els in golf; Eric Lindros and Mike Richter in hockey; Nick Anderson and Grant Hill in basketball; and gold medalist Dan Jansen in speed skating.

During the past decade, dozens of Fortune 500 companies have paid thousands of dollars to learn the Corporate Athlete training system. So have FBI swat teams, critical care physicians and nurses, salesmen, and stay-at-home moms. The Power of Full Engagement lays out the key training principles and provides a powerful, step-by-step program that will help you to:

• Mobilize four key sources of energy
• Balance energy expenditure with intermittent energy renewal
• Expand capacity in the same systematic way that elite athletes do
• Create highly specific, positive energy management rituals

Above all, this book provides a life-changing road map to becoming more fully engaged on and off the job, meaning physically energized, emotionally connected, mentally focused, and spiritually aligned. ... Read more

Reviews (56)

Tangible Peak Performance
Loehr and Schwartz have individually worked most of their careers on researching how humans achieve peak performance, and have together written a summary of what they've discovered to date. What impressed me about this book is that it's 1) based on actual research rather than theory, and 2) written in a manner that is very easy to understand and implement.

Loehr's work in the past centered around seeking the source of human capacity - what makes it possible for some people to perform at the highest levels even under extraordinary pressure. He's noteworthy for having started an institute that has worked over the years with many top athletes including Pete Sampras, Dan Jansen, Mark O'Meara, and Ray "Boom Boom" Mancini among others. Schwart's background has involved understanding the nature of wisdom - what constitutes a satisfying, productive and well-lived life. Together they've developed a model for peak living that combines the physical, emotional, mental and spiritual.

They state that which is obvious but not followed well by most of us Americans - that without physical energy and health it's impossible to follow the rest of our dreams and ambitions in life. In the physical realm their analysis specifically of top athletes shows that peak performance involves both a willingness to push the body to the limit, and also hugely importantly regular periods of rest and recovery. They apply this to the "corporate athlete" who is their target audience for the book with the following advice - seek out stressful situations that push your range of psychological muscles - AND find time regularly for recovery. They have specific recommendations for incorporating rest and recovery throughout every day. They say that in the work world we tend to live linearly - meaning working straight through long days - which results in low energy periods/burnout/unreleased stress/etc. I completely identified with this section of the book and am going to use many of their concepts successfully tested on successful athletes and include them in my business day planning.

The book acknowledges that without a personal big "why" driving what you do in life having physical energy is pointless - with the opposite holding true as well. Plentiful physical energy without a reason for existence goes nowhere and a crystal clear purpose can't be lived out without ample physical energy to make it happen. As with all of the book the chapter on spiritual energy is filled with real life examples of people who have been through their institute and whom they've helped develop a game plan for overall life performance.

The chapters on emotional and mental energy are really the glue that holds the physical and spiritual together - and are also interesting.

The book finishes with a "resource" section that includes a summary of the main points they've made, worksheets on connecting with a big purpose and on connecting the small habits (little muscles) into bigger habits and successes (large muscles).

A great read - stimulating - thought provoking - and possessing that rarest of information in today's world - some actual wisdom.

One of the best business/self-help books of the year.
THE POWER OF FULL ENGAGEMENT has the potential to change your life with one single insight: that managing ENERGY, not time, is the key to high performance and personal renewal. While I have as many hours in a day as I had in my 20s, I have to admit that my energy and productivity levels had dropped over the years. This book explains how to increase your energy levels through tapping four primary sources of energy: physical (and includes strategies for "fueling the fire" through exercise, nutrition, and sleep), emotional ("transforming threat into challenge"), mental ("appropriate focus and realistic optimism"), and spiritual ("having a 'why' to live"). The training system this book espouses asks the reader to define their purpose, to face the truth about how they're managing their energy now, and to take action through positive rituals. Since learning and putting into practice some of the ideas in this book, I have managed to at least DOUBLE my energy level during the day as well as my effectiveness in accomplishing the things that are most important to me. You can't put a price tag on results like these -- but if you could, [the price] seems like a miraculous bargain to me.

You won't regret buying this.
If you like to find real reason's for improving and growing your ability this is a great book to help with it. They base their ideas on values and on coaxing readers to solving their problems with real world solutions. The concept of building rituals into your daily life is very helpful and the tools and ideas are presented in a logical fashion with good examples from recent times. Hearing the examples of people involved in the attack on the World Trade Center was very influential.

Energy is Power
We only have a certain amount of time and energy every day to do the things that are most important to our happiness and productivity. Most books talk about effective time management but this book takes a different approach -- how do you manage your finite level of energy? If you can't seem to get everything done as you race from one task to the next then this book can show you how to stop wasting time by consistently managing your energy.

Check out Rat Race Relaxer: Your Potential & The Maze of Life by JoAnna Carey which also has practical tips for setting priorities, living a more fulfilling life and getting what you really want.

A Must Read!
Jim Loehr and Tony Schwartz offer a lot of solid, common sense advice. The authors recommend going to bed and getting up at a consistent time - not exactly Ben Franklin's "early to bed, early to rise," but close. They recommend regular exercise. They say it's good to work and to rest, and each has its place. They say to examine yourself and try to see yourself as others see you. In other words, they recommend many time-honored techniques of physical, mental and spiritual growth,combined with prioritizing how you use your energy and how you recharge your batteries. This attitude makes the book unique. The principles may be ancient, but we find the vehicle distinctly contemporary, a combo of New Age jargon and workout-style performance charting, with (at last) a key to time management that makes sense and captures all areas of one's life. Some readers will find that thrilling, others will groan. ... Read more

Book Description

"Tom Gegax has a particular talent for making real what others can only imagine."
-Deepak Chopra

Hungry for a different kind of winning? According to entrepreneur Tom Gegax, in the game of life, effective self-coaching is the first step to success that encompasses every aspect of life. Gegax should know, he thought he had it all until a three-ring wake-up call of divorce, cancer, and a business in crisis changed his game forever. Through a self-designed program of personal and professional evolution, Gegax recovered and now enjoys a life rich with family, friends, peak health, and a thriving company.
        Winning in the Game of Life, Gegax's integrated plan, merges the lessons of home and work into lessons of life. This unified approach helps you identify your purpose in life--your guiding mission--and teaches you the strategies that put it in play, including the Seven Take-Action Steps. Strategies for effective communication, better organization, and time competency smooth the way. Self-coaching plans for real wellness of body, intellect, psyche, and spirit plus ten lessons to ensure lifetime learning help keep you on a winning track. Integrating the best of Western business models, mind-body techniques, and spiritual wisdom, Gegax's comprehensive game plan will awaken your true potential and dismantle barriers to a fuller life. ... Read more

Reviews (18)

Charming self-help guide for personal improvement.
Tom Gegax has written an easy-to-read book that covers new ground for those of us in the business world. Ever had a series of events that made you believe life might not be worth living? Read about Tom's experiences and learn from the health-sustaining and life-giving techniques he discovered in turning things around for himself, his loved ones and for his company. I wonder what kind of world we'd live in if there were more executive "coaches" at the helms of America's corporations.

Mr. Gegax is hardly alone in dealing with these kinds of struggles. But his is a unique voice in discussing and transforming life's difficulties into opportunities. A "must read" for fast pacers whose lives have suddenly encountered what appear to be too many bumps in the road. Way to go, Tom!

Michael Wieland

Life changing
I was drawn to Gegax' book by the glowing enticements of Publisher's Weekly, articles in the New York Times, Fast Company,and a piece that aired on CNBC. After having the pleasure of experiencing his book I was charmed by his ideas. He has a whole new way of looking at and integrating life and work in our modern society. It is beautiful that there is discussion in the book on "Determining Your Mission". Gegax has shared his own story. After determining his life's mission, he has turned his life into one filled with love,and joy. The timing of his book coming into my awareness is perfect for me with the coming of the year 2000. I plan to implement Gegax' "Seven Take Action Steps to Manifest Your Mission" for the new year. It is comforting to know that there is a formula that can act as a quide to help me make my life more fully enriched.

Solid
This is an interesting book for someone who is just starting on a personal improvement plan. The best part about it is that Gegax's approach is holistic - he really has a strong understanding of the connection between the mind, body and spirit. The writing style is smooth and the book is easy to read. The concepts all make sense and he gives a clear plan for readers to follow in applying his steps. The parts I found most useful were the first two sections, on personal mission statements and action planning. After that, I found the book was at turns too simplistic and too far out there for me.

The caution I would give people in reading this book is two-fold. First, Gegax writes in a very autobiographical style. I learned more about him and his personal trials and tribulations than I wanted to; I'm the type of reader who prefers more theory and fewer examples. Secondly, as someone who has already read Stephen Covey and a host of other self-help/health authors, I found that alot of what Gegax had to say was old news to me.

This isn't a bad self help book to have. Some people will really value having a book that encompasses physical, emotional and mental health, and the connection between them, in one volume. If you don't mind the oversimplifications that can result in trying to bring such a range of material together, and you're interested in these sorts of issues, you may find the book of value.

Planning your work, and working your plan
I heard Tom speak at a business conference in Santa Fe recently and found his ideas very compelling. The book focuses on how to put those ideas into action, and I view it to be an excellent guide for organizing how I think about work, family, friends, emotional & spritual health, etc. As a 48 year old CEO, I have discovered you can help an pld dog pick a new path.

A worthwhile read on the Mission Statement alone
I thought the core of the book for me was in the first 2 chapters, where the author expressed the importance of a personal mission statement, writing about his own example as well. After that, I found the book a bit repetitious.

Nevertheless, the mission statement section was a worthwhile read alone, if only to stress the importance of having one for your own personal life. Just like many corporations are starting to have a mission statement, individuals should have a life mission statement. Once this mission statement is determined and articulated, your actions and choices in life can be measured against it. Part of your journey though is to think about and determine your mission statement, a journey/process of self-determination which only you can undergo. ... Read more