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From the acclaimed newspaper columnist who has entertained and inspired countless readers comes the on-the-job guide that doesn't promote reengineering, TQM, or anything with ""one minute"" in the title, but believes that solutions to workplace problems come from the person with the best qualifications: you. *Burdened by co-workers? WORKING WOUNDED shows you how to keep other people's baggage off your toes. *Cursed with a bad boss? WORKING WOUNDED teaches you how to put him or her under your spell. *Feeling the entrepreneurial itch? WORKING WOUNDED gives you the keys to setting up shop. *Stressed out? WORKING WOUNDED reveals how to punch back when the clock punches you. *Stuck in the Web? WORKING WOUNDED offers tips on how to make technology your partner. *About to be let go? WORKING WOUNDED teaches you how to toughen your exit and soften your landing. Fortified with polls, quizzes, and e-mail from fans that will make you chuckle and cry at the same time, WORKING WOUNDED is your suit of armor and secret weapon in the war of the workplace. ... Read more

Reviews (11)

Must read, must buy if you don't like your job
First Aid for the Working Wounded by T.S. Peric' Most of us, at some point in our working career, labored within a crummy company, faced-off with a bullying boss or suffered the ignominy of a firing. Most of us have shared workplace horror stories or listened sympathetically to someone who really took a battering. Let's face it. Workplace dissatisfaction ranks high on the angst scale for the 90s and this is the audience to which nationally syndicated columnist Bob Rosner directs his book, Working Wounded: Advice that Adds Insight to Injury (Warner Books). While bookshelves are littered by the bunches with titles on job hunting, job coping and job escaping, Rosner manages to whip out a bouquet that offers a few, fresh petals. Too many job-help books sound like a dry managerial tract from some experimental work environment which exists only in the mind of the writer. Rosner's laboratory is real: true-life stories culled from calls for help he gathers through a weekly column and a Working Wounded website (workingwounded.com). Fortunately, Rosner manages to describe this with a sense of humorous outrage that makes for a good read. Rosner's faces the task about changing a bull-headed boss' inflexibility to your way of thinking in "Hold the Garlic! I Want My Boss to Shape-Change". He goes on to note "His [the boss] name was Dick-but we called him 'Cold Shower' because that's what he gave to every new idea that came across his desk. After collecting more bullet holes than a stop sign on a country road, I finally decided to bring him an idea he couldn't shoot down-one of his own." Rosner dispenses advice from the experts who are familiar with the workplace, covering basic issues such as "Poked From All Sides: How to Cope with Your Co-Workers" to gathering confidence in our burgeoning techno-state with "Stuck In The Web: How To Score Points with Technology". Rosner offers advice in a lively, succinct fashion, sprinkling the book with timely tidbits abou!t working that leave you nodding in agreement or shaking your head in anger. First, there's "The Working Wounded Quotebook". "Experience is the name everyone gives to their mistakes." Oscar Wilde. Second, you have the Working Wounded List. "They Asked You What . . . Real Questions Asked During Real Job Interviews A Wall Street bank asked women MBA graduates, 'Would you have an abortion to stay on the fast track?' While discount department store asked interviewees, 'How long can you hold your urine?'" Finally, my favorite: the e-mail received at Working Wounded. 1) "The Best Way to get a Promotion "Be on time, learn your job, go the extra mile, and don't suck up to the boss. 2) "The Other Best Way to Get a Promotion Two words: kiss butt!" 3) "Scrooge Lives. Last year at the Christmas party, the boss gave us all Christmas cards. We opened them up only to find pink slips inside. He said he thought the party atmosphere would take the edge off of being let go." And if you ever tire of reading of reading about the workplace, as a diversion you can relax with drawings from The New Yorker cartoonist Robert Mankoff which are found throughout the book. What Rosner never forgets in Working Wounded is that real people populate the workplace and that a deft combination of experience, inspiration, information and humor is the key to surviving a fresh wound and, if you recover, there just might be hope for you on the next job. How good is this book? When my sister Millie (an erudite, eclectic reader with a varied work history and a cool disposition to self-help employment books) leafed through the Working Wounded, she had a single comment: "When you're done with this, could I take a look?" She also like the cartoons. Regardless of the type of work you do, Working Wounded's message is about emotional protection on the job. Every smart police officer hits the streets with a bulletproof vest. That's how you should regard Working Wounded: Try it !on for size and it'll help you survive the bullets. - 30 -

It's a Biography....
I read the book Working Wounded in a couple of days. It is actually a quick read and rather humorous at times. There is a lot of great reference material in there.

The author was really writing his own biography throughout most of the book. I am thrilled that he had such wonderful oportunities in the past and in his future.

This book is best just for the Bibliography. Unfortunately, it doesn't have one so you have to read it chapter by chapter to get the books that may be relevant to what you need additional information to.

Good Luck, Bob! To everyone else, buy a different book, see if someone will loan you theirs, go to the library. Save the dough, because I don't think you will find it as insightful as the title implies.

Yuck.
The one word that comes to mind after reading this book is: Vapid. The cartoons are pretty good though.

Working Wounded. As If Dilbert Came To Life...
I bought the "Working Wounded" as a gift for the members of a team I once worked on. I felt that many of the situations that Bob Rosner brought to light measured up with how we dealt with our day. It went over quite well, and was entertaining as well as enlightening. I look forward to a second volume.

jeepers
love the premise. loathe the execution. a mile wide and less than a milimeter deep. ... Read more

Book Description

From the bestselling author of Getting Organized and The Organized Executive, a powerfully enlightening yet practical audio program for restructuring your life to meet the conflicting demands on your time and energy.

• Do you ever feel that there simply aren't enough hours in the day?

• Are you worried that your schedule gives your children short shrift?

• Has your career fallen short of where you had hoped it would be by now?

• Is your schedule too tight to exercise as often as you would like?

• Are you frequently late for appointments or meetings?

• Does the pace of life sometimes feel downright overwhelming?

If you've answered yes to some or all of these questions, it may be time to make adjustments, or even some major changes, to your life. From daily work and home-related tasks to the larger, long-range concerns of career and family ambitions, Getting Out From Under will help you break vague discontents into manageable problems and offers concrete solutions to ease the pressures of an overwhelming world. Listen to this audiobook and start getting out from under! ... Read more

Reviews (1)

A Must-Have for everyone who is OVERWHELMED Daily!
Having prevously enjoyed Stephanie's writing, I was not surprised to see her newest book, but was extremely pleased at the appropriateness of the content. Who hasn't felt OVERWHELMED by the responsibilities thrust upon them each day? This audio is especially useful for those pressured for time and desiring to frequently review specific topics such as reflection on priorities, etc. A real investment that will keep on giving back to you- day after day! ... Read more

Book Description

In this revolutionary book, Peter Block shows how a far-reaching redistribution of power, privilege, and wealth will radically change all areas of organizational governance, and shows why this is our best hope to enable democracy to thrive, our spiritual and ethical values to be lived out, and economic success to be sustained.

Organizations that practice stewardship, Block explains, will succeed in their marketplace by choosing service over self-interest at every point and by a far-reaching redistribution of power, privilege, and wealth. Without this, little real change will result.

Stewardship explains how to integrate the management of work and the doing of work, to redistribute purpose and power within an organization. It speaks about how this can affect work flow, quality control, performance appraisal, pay systems, supervisory methods, job design, and human resources.

Managers who are dissatisfied with the superficial changes resulting from currently popular programs, will learn how to achieve lasting, broad-based improvements in their organizations. ... Read more

Reviews (13)

weLEAD Book Review by the Editor of leadingtoday.org
Business consultant Peter Block is no stranger to controversy. A number of his previous works explored the reaches of transformational management, including his bestselling book The Empowered Manager. In an even bolder way, Stewardship - Choosing Service over Self-Interest offers a dynamic new organizational structure for our young century. Block defines stewardship as "the means of achieving fundamental change in the way we govern our institutions." He believes that stewardship is a choice "to preside over the orderly distribution of power." This means giving individuals at the bottom of the organizational structure the choice on how to best serve their customers, citizens and community". It also means accepting accountability at all levels. Block continues to define stewardship as being accountable to the larger organization by "operating in service, rather than in control, of those around us." His philosophy is centered on a need and commitment to service rather than self-interest.

Peter Block challenges the modern notion of strong leadership and suggests replacing the term with stewardship. His problem with leadership is that he does not believe it has the capability to create fundamental changes in our organizations. He also believes that leadership "inevitably becomes self-congratulatory and over-controlling. We expect leaders to choose service over self-interest, but it seems the choice is rarely made." Perhaps Block would have better made his point by discussing the various philosophies that pass as leadership rather than neatly collecting them all in one term. Indeed, leadership is often a vague and misunderstood term.

Stewardship - Choosing Service over Self-Interest is a book with three parts. The first part discusses the basic concept of stewardship. It highlights the promises offered by developing a passion toward stewardship in contrast to what we experience in traditionally managed organizations. The second part of the book discusses the redistribution of power in a practical way. This controversial section of the book butchers many managerial "sacred cows" and offers a vision of what stewardship can be like in action! Part three examines the reform process and explores how you and your organization can get from where it is today to an environment of stewardship.

If you are one who is not satisfied with the status quo, you will find this book exciting and refreshing. Sometimes written in almost theological terms, Block inspires the reader to expect more from our institutions and ourselves. This book should find itself on the bookshelf of every person interested in the study of leadership.

Todays management for a successful business.
Peter Block has taken the principles and Edward Demming and put them into a usable methodology that will not only help any business owner focus on the essentials necessary for success but will also inspire members of the team at all levels. Block, who has written two other books on management, focuses on the prime issue for a success business: that those who are doing are the one's who should be making the decision on how to serve the customer. He writes that the old way of doing business, that of patriarchy, can never succeed in today's world that demands business be able to move with the customer at a moment's notice. The books is insightful about how to go about implementing a pardign change in a business and in your way of thinking about how business is being conducted. Block speaks of bottom up management, where the key to success as a mnanager is not to be in control, yet still be responsible. It is a life-changing typoe of book for any manager who can see that this is a style of management which will set free the entire work force to become successful stewards of your business.

Yes!
I sat at the bookstore reading this book and nodding, saying "Yes, this author knows! He gets it, he gets it!"

Peter Block asks the important questions, gives pearls of wisdom highlighted among the content. He clearly understands what he is facing and moves the reader easily into seeing solutions which work and those which are simply adding more of the "old ways" of coercion, patriarchy and adding more "disease" to the organization instead of the RECREATION which will move the organization to its highest level possible.

This quote from Chapter 15 Sums up Block's attitude and approach... and had me want to stand on the table and applaud.

"If we took responsibility for our freedom, committed ourselves to service and had faith that our security lay within ourselves, we could stop asking the question, "HOW?" we would see that we have the answer. In every case the answer to the question, "How" is YES. It plays the location and the solution in the right place - with the question.

When will I finally choose adventure and accept the fact that there is no safe path?

I even smiled at Block's titling of the Bibliography as "Lost and Found."

Chapter 13: Recreating Our Organization Through Leadership is exceptionally strong as is Block's approach to the Cynics which inhabit (and have the ability to very simply destroy and dismantle ) positive growth.

Deming All Over Again - We Never Learn
Although he captured me with his initial quote from Shakespeare's Richard III as rationale for a practical means to insure corporate survival, I found Peter Block to be the most refreshing thinker I've yet had the privilege to study. I used this book in a Doc course where we included a fairly lengthy conference call with Block, thus giving our rather small cohort (12 of us) a good opportunity to quiz him on some of the gritty application details. I must admit that I finished the course with a distinct impression that Block may well be the next Deming. Unfortunately, the mistakes of the past seem to be repeating in that although a new generation of managers understands his philosophy and may be buying into it at a fairly respectable pace, the bulk of corporate thinkers are just not willing to jeopardize the thinking that got them into place. The problem is typical....one of my earliest lessons in administrative thinking was a CEO who told us to use that new CQI process because he was going to foster change in our org.....right up to where he told us to find a way to make sure the results of the process met his goals for the org.

There is no doubt that Block is challenging the big thinkers to have the guts to give up the power while still holding the responsibility. Like Deming before him, he's a prophet with a message everybody believes in but few are willing to sacrifice adequately to reap the enlightenment. I'm not a CEO, but I've used his principles fairly successfully the past 4 years, occasionally I can't make it work, but when it does, the results have been spectacular. What's important for me is that I think of myself as a steward entrusted with a valuable resource. There are some great lessons on how to do this in any serious biography of Henry II of England's administrative structure - which established the concept of English Common Law, among other achievements. (By no stretch of imagination could Henry II be considered a modern manager, but his concept of stewardship certainly was as radical in his day as Block and Deming in ours - the lessons of history are worthwhile.)

It's the subtitle of the book that provides the clue to the difficulty of the concept.....Choosing Service over Self-Interest....it's extremely hard to carry this out. Block himself tends to simply inform those who challenge him that he cannot provide assurances of security, that if the outcome were a sure thing there would be no need for commitment, and then he sometimes talks about installing living democracy in organizations in place of autocracy. This is radical.....so radical that the cost of believing is more than most of today's administrators can afford to risk, so perhaps the philosophy will take root in those who are listening now in anticipation of their time. When it finally happens, the world will once again become a better place.

Communism Has a New Name
Once upon a time the Soviet Union conducted a grand experiment: In the name of equity and empowerment, management would be eliminated, and the power and control would be redistributed to the common man. The working class would enjoy the power to make their own decisions and to control their own destiny under the guidance of just a few unobtrusive leaders. Industry was re-organized into cells and cooperatives, each operating as an independent entity within loose guidelines provided by the state. The workers worked in small teams of comrades and were paid based on the success of their cooperative. The watchword of the day was self-sacrifice for the good of the team, for the good of the whole. This system of governance was called communism, and the capitalists in the west declared it one of the great evils. But here it is again, rearing its head right in our midst, right in the thick of corporate culture - and the corporate bigwigs seem to be eating it up - CEO's and Vice-Presidents from Levi Strauss and Bell Telephone to AT&T sing its praises (cover sheet). So what did it take to get the corporate culture to buy into communism? Simple. A change in name and in scale. Instead of calling it Communism, Peter Block has given the new culture the name Stewardship and he applies it, not to countries, but to corporations. The coating on the pill is different, but the same bad medicine is still the same Lets examine just some of the similarities between Communism and Stewardship:

The communists eliminated all but the uppermost positions of privilege. The Stalins and Gorbachevs retained their wealth and privilege, but the middle positions were eliminated and the responsibility was redistributed to the workers. Block states: "Service-based governance strategies mean the redistribution of power, privilege, purpose and wealth" (pg 43). Naturally, the elimination of these middle positions would terrify someone like the CEO of Levi-Strauss if it were applied to an entire society. In a countrywide system, the power and privilege of the CEO would be passed down to the workers and the CEO position would be eliminated. But, when applied to a corporation, there is still a place for the top dogs (Block says "there is still a place for bosses, just not so many of them" (pg 107). The result? The CEO saves his company labor costs by eliminating costly management positions, while the worker is asked to take on the responsibilities that used to belong to his supervisor and his hope for advancement is eliminated. Block recognizes that there will be no hope of advancement in Stewardship when he says: "In essence we are redefining our ambition. We are letting go of advancement and pleasing bosses as the measure of our success.... Our career progression is about as much in our own hands as our choice of parents and birth order" (pg 89). More stock options and bonuses for the CEO who meets his labor cost goals, less opportunity and incentive for the little guy. No wonder the recommendations in Blocks book all come from senior management while middle management and the worker, the people Block seems to want to champion, are not heard from.

Communists are hopeful that the enlightened comrade will sacrifice his own interests for the good of the organization. Block demonstrates that he agrees when he says: "The antidote to self-interest is to commit and to find a cause... To be part of creating something we care about so we can endure the sacrifice... Let the commitment and cause be the place where we work." (p 10). He seems puzzled that workers aren't eager to take on these additional responsibilities when he says "Many managers open the door to their employees and no one walks through it.... When the open hand of partnership is offered to us, we know there is a price to be paid. The price is uncertainty and anxiety" (pg 33). Block seems to have forgotten that another price to pay is a lot more work for little or no compensation. Managers are often eager to pass their responsibilities along to their subordinates in the name of empowerment. Teachers have kids trade papers and grade the work in class, it saves the teacher the trouble of doing it himself. Principals ask teachers to evaluate each other - it saves the principal the trouble of evaluating the teacher himself. And Stewardship's reward to the teacher for taking on these additional responsibilities at the expense of vacation, lunch breaks and time with family? A chance for promotion? No, we already established that that is not an option. More pay then? No, instead Block offers something fuzzy called "choice" when he says "When we tell subordinates we can no longer take care of them and no longer choose to control them, we also need something positive to offer. What we are offering is real choice in defining and creating an organization that has purpose and meaning for them....the offer in return that has the most currency is choice. The last thing to offer people for more effort is money" (pg 89). Again and again Block informs us that we cannot expect an increase in pay for our individual effort. Instead, we must depend on our comrades to have the same drive and ambition as ourselves. If they don't, we don't meet our quotas, and our individual effort is useless. "Paying primarily for individual effort is rewarding self-interest. Stewardship pays primarily for teamm and department effort" (pg 163). "The reward systems need to tie everyones fortunes to the success of the team, unit, and larger organization. Paying for outstanding individual performance becomes a minor element of pay" (pg 67).

In Stewardship, like in Communism, Block makes a call for a revolution. He calls for eliminating much of the management class in our organizations, and to be honest with the working class and tell them there is no hope for advancement. Instead of having these higher positions of privilege, a position that anyone, with hard work and perseverance could hope to someday achieve, we would ask the worker to take on additional responsibilities, to sacrifice time with family and self for the good of the organization with no real tangible reward. For anyone who has not been paying attention, here's a newsflash: the Communist experiment has failed. A victim of its own impracticality and its failure to provide incentive. Communism was born of revolution, but died of apathy. With no opportunity for advancement, with no rewards for individual achievement, people just stopped trying, and the whole system fell apart. I predict the same for Stewardship. ... Read more

Book Description

This best-selling course is the ideal next step for students who have completed Working in English.The existing New International Business English Teacher's Book, Workbook and all audio material can be used with the updated edition of the Student's Book.Fifteen topic-based units cover a wide range of business situations. There is frequent opportunity for discussion and thorough vocabulary development throughout the course.The Teacher's Book offers a complete introduction to the aims, design and principles of the course, step-by-step procedures for each section, including suggested timings, and photocopiable resource material. The Workbook contains a valuable grammar review.The New International Business English Student's Book is now sold with a free BEC Vantage Preparation CD-ROM that contains an introduction to the BEC Vantage exam and a full practice test including audio. ... Read more

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Essential for ESL instructors teaching business courses
This book [and separate tape are] essential for ESL/EFL teachers who teach intermediate or advanced communications courses.Each chapter focuses on a business theme such as negotiation, business meetings, telephoning.The tapes are slow for learners above an intermediate level; however, the speaking activities can easily be used by both intermediate and advanced learners.One good aspect of the tapes is the British Accents which makes a nice contrast to my North American accent for learners in EFL situations.You can even stretch certain exercises into writing exercises.However, the book lacks any structured grammar lessons.At an intermediate level in some contexts you might find the book a bit thin because of this.The teachers guide is unfortunately essential because you often can't complete exercises without having the companioned instructions.Which means more of a cost outlay for some teachers.This book absolutely cannot be used for self-study or one-on-ones.Nevertheless, it is the best resource I've had for these types of courses so far.Definitely worth investing in. ... Read more

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An "Eye-Opener" to life!!
This book will help you see where your current lifestyle is leading you...to a well-rounded life or to an early grave. It gives wonderful insights about life that may just give you the spark you need to move you towards a wonderful life ... Read more

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This video showcases a variety of entrepreneurial careers and the skills necessary to succeed in these more individual pursuits. It focuses on young people running small businesses, keeping records, looking for new opportunities, and sticking to the job. This program features occupations with entrepreneurial possibilities such as official court reporter, home health aide, jeweler, production assistant, cook, baker, animal caretaker, direct sales representative, ranch hand, and dog groomer ... Read more

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Steps that work
This lady really explains clearly why we do what we do. She gives excellent step-by-step directions on goal setting. Now the hardest part is the "doing daily" next steps. I know she can help anyone, if you put these into practice. A great resource for any day and age, especially as we enter the new millenium. ... Read more

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Here Michele uses her MusiVation™ technique combined with creative visualization. This is an extremely powerful tool to accelerate the mind to new thoughts of wealth and prosperity. The subconscious thinks in pictures so utilizing MusiVation's visualization technique allows your subconscious to literally see your dreams on the screen of your mind. This is a very powerful technique to assist in accelerating your power of money magnetism and also helps reduce stress. Begin today right where you are with Michele's Magnetic Creative Visualization Program. ... Read more

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A Wonderful Relaxing Meditation
In the first part of this program, Michele Blood reminds us that wealth and success can be achieved by people on a spiritual path. The second part is a guided meditation that is oriented toward positive thinking. Her techniques of combining music with visualization are very powerful. Since using this and other of Michele's audio programs, I have actually had measureable improvement in my financial situation. I highly recommend this audio cassette program.

Michele's Magnetic Visualization Program
I have been listening to Michele's tape for a few months now and I'm finding my negative thoughts gradually being replaced by positive ones. But most amazingly, unexpected money has begun to come to me. Mostly small amounts but enough to get my attention. I'm a believer!

WONDERFUL!!
This product helped me so much, the guided meditation is just what I needed. This is a must have for everyone interested in getting focus in their life, reducing stress and learning how to attract wealth. Thank you Michele!! ... Read more

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