No comments about Lead Like Jesus: Leadership Development for Every Day of the Year.

5 comments about Fish! A Remarkable Way to Boost Morale and Improve Results.

1. I have met Jim Bergquist and been to his seminars and almost quit my job because if it. He preys on anyone who seems vulnerable so he can say they had a "breakthrough". This is no different than bringing in a church leader and breaking people down and calling it revival. I don't understand how this and others like it (landmark Education) has become acceptable in the workplace. I think it is a money making machine and they prey on the gullible. In his seminars they never pick on the bosses who are paying instead they stroke their ego. I would recommend anyone forced to go to these seminars to question why and not be afraid to walk out.
   
   I also agree 100% with the post copied below another person left.
   
   
   "As to the first, I do not believe that a company can motive or change a person. That is the business of missionaries, evangelist and philosophers. Business has no business in shaping the beliefs and ideas of the employees. These motivational programs all have silent value-statements, and to propagate these is a a form of intellectual evangelism. In short, you manager is a missionary for the gospel of corporate success. Unless you specially work for a church, or a philosophy-specific organization, such as the Freemasons or a political party, this smacks of violating conscience. "



2. I loved this book. Simple and direct, it makes you reflect about all that can be done in our day to day to make it superb. It does not rely on magic formulas or rocket science, the author just leaves it in our hands... He does not deny the fact that businesses are overwhelmed with emotions and percetions, which in the end are much more powerfull than we realize.
   
   It is written in the format of a story which makes this book a pleasure to read. Once I started I wouldn't stop !



3. We used Fish! as a team-building exercise at work. We read about 20 pages a week and then discussed. Even people who don't like to read, enjoyed it because it's such a quick, easy, story. I did get CD's for a few people. This was a group that needed to become cohesive, and after the second week, everyone was animated about Fish! People shared their own experiences as it related to the story. Very easy discussion starter. Now they want to take a field trip from Kansas City to Seattle to visit Pike Place Fish Market!



4. I really liked this simple, small book. I really did. However, as a director of human resources, I was hoping for more depth. While the book is a fun tale, the lessons contained therein are too whimsical to really help corporations with their real problems. Sure, everyone wants to strive for fun, teamwork, etc., however, the daily arena does not allow such graceful answers.
   
   Once again, I liked the book just don't expect to be pointed in a corrective position.
   
   Michael L. Gooch, SPHR Author of Wingtips with Spurs



5. Other posters have commented on outside services associated with this product, but all I can speak of is the book itself. Fish! is the best book out there on finding the fun in work and turning dreary days into high energy activity.
   
   As for a book that builds teamwork between peers, gets management and subordinates working well together, and creates top-notch performance that everyone can be proud of (not just the boss) there is no better book than Squawk!: How to Stop Making Noise and Start Getting Results

1 comments about Little Wave and Old Swell: A Fable of Life and Its Passing.

1. This book provides a great message for people of all ages. It is a beautifully illustrated little book about the lessons Little Wave learns from his teacher, Old Swell, as they travel across the sea.
   
   Little Wave ignores his teacher's warnings and as a result learns for himself what happens when we allow jealousy, fear, anger and desire to rule our lives.
   
   Old Swell is always kind and loving when Little Wave returns from his misadventures and ultimately teaches him the secret of "don't hurry; don't stop."
   
   This is a wonderful little parable that reminds us to stop and look within whenever life becomes too overwhelming.

5 comments about Death and Letting Go.

1. DEATH AND LETTING GO was light and easy-does-it reading. I found myself smiling and nodding. This book would be good introductory reading for someone who is not-so-comfortable with the subject matter.

   For individuals more interested in hard, brass-tack reading, I'd suggest DEATHING: AN INTELLIGENT ALTERNATIVE FOR THE FINAL MOMENTS OF LIFE by Anya Foos-Graber. Like the saying goes, "When the student is ready the teacher appears." Ellen Tadd is a good teacher for people who are having a hard time even thinking about reading a book about death. Ms. Tadd is tender, a good storyteller, and her book is as pretty as they come. Foos-Graber is a good teacher for those who are well on their quest...people who are ready to study hard.




2. Full of unique and powerful insights into the afterlife, Ellen Tadd's "Death and Letting Go" is a timeless treasure that I will reread many times. I bought a stack of her books to share with friends, and I know I'm going to need more!



3. Death and Letting Go, by Ellen Tadd, is a welcome breath of clarity. As a student of Ellen's, I know personally of the profound truth and efficacy of her teachings. Her book contains the distilled wisdom of years of contact with spirit guides. In it she writes with authority and confidence about death as an integral part of life. Whatever your spiritual practice, you will find the tools, both practical and spiritual, for living a more conscious and enlightened life. I highly recommend this book.



4. Like so many others, I did not want to read or think about death. Ellen Tadd's book changed that. One short sentence has remained with me ever since I read the book: "Light dispels darkness" (74). Recalling my reactions, even as I led up to that sentence, my thinking was being transformed to embrace death as an extension of life. In a strange way, I was comforted while I read. Vague childhood recolletions surfaced, how then (and now), I would suppress the onset of an out-of-body experience,or silence the voice of my deceased parents who wished (wish?) to talk with me. If anything, Ms. Taddd account has stregthened my belief in eternal life, moreso in reincarnation. I thank her for enhancing my understanding of the life/death marriage anad their intrinsic love.



5. I have read and re-read Ellen's Blessed book, in both times of personal and professional crises. She is a guiding light which opens us to the True Light, which we all will face directly one day, and are here to learn from and through, while on Earth.
   I use multiple copies of the books in a lending library for my neurosurgical patients who have lost a loved one or are dealing with their own illness or issues of loss. It has transformed them all to a great degree, and I will keep my office always well stocked with this thoughtful, insightful, and enlightening guide to our own search for our inner selves, while here on Earth, and into the thereafter.

2 comments about AVIEN Malware Defense Guide for the Enterprise.

1. This is the book I wish I had when I started in the field back in 1988. Every one of the contributors to the book are great and knowledgeable folks. Unlike the other books on this subject everyone who contributed is highly regarded, experienced and active in the career field.
   
   This is a MUST for every Corporate IT library.



2. If your book budget only allows for one book this year, this is the book you should buy. If you're a malware administrator for a small to large size enterprise this is the book that will help guide you through your day to day activities.
   The section on detection a piece of malware that may be running on a user's machine is extremely helpful, the tools mentioned in that chapter will all become staple items in your outbreak "jumpkit" after reading that section.
   There really isn't any other book like this out on the market today. The entire book was written by global top professionals in the field that live with the malware threat on a daily basis. They are not people that are locked away in a lab somewhere only dissecting threats sent to them, although that is a part of many of their jobs. These authors know what it's like to be in the trenches, trying to protect their enterprise environments while still maintaining that extremely delicate balance that allows their users to perform the daily activities that they require to make the enterprise run smoothly. These authors help walk you through their sections as if they are right there with you guiding you along and answering your questions.

2 comments about The One Minute Golfer: Enjoying the Great Game More (The One Minute Manager).

1. This is the best mental book on golf I have ever read. Blanchard known for The One Minute Manager and other best selling management books is a golf fanatic and founded the Golf University, located at the Rancho Bernardo Inn in San Diego, based on these concepts. If you want to have fun playing golf this is a must read . As Blanchard says "I never met a golf game I didn't like."



2. It is an excellent book, well written and easy to read. It is not a manual, but something more: it really helps you to understand the game of golf.

5 comments about Leadership by the Book: Tools to Transform Your Workplace.

1. This is yet another parable by Ken Blanchard in his characteristic style for driving home powerful messages. This story is around Michael the executive and his friends the minister and the professor. It clearly brings out the pressures experienced by a high-flying executive in his pursuit of success, that soon he loses his links with friends and guidance from the Lord.

   Business leaders tend to assume themselves as masters to get things done through lesser mortals to achieve business goals. Their egos start bloating, denying them the true unconditional love bestowed on us by the Lord. EGO is aptly described here as "Edging God out".

   The leadership model as described in this book is based on Jesus and, in my opinion has not been discussed in most management books on the topic.

   Let there be leaders....who lead as servants of the Lord.

   Highly recommended for all men and women who would like to lead in leading.




2. Leaderhsip By The Book is another in a great string of management books. While many books scratch the surface of management and other delve into the minute details, Blanchard and his co-writers deliver practical, useable ideas in a common-sense manner that will allow the brightest of managers see new insights and the newest of managers see the bigger picture of the challenges ahead of them.
   The story is told in parable format, similar to Raving Fans and Gung Ho (two books referred to within LBTB), which allows Blanchard, et al. to tell the story of a hard-charging businessman who had built a solid foundation for his direction and effort and had lost his way getting caught up in the fever of big business and big EGO. I'm confident most managers can identify with some of the mistakes made by Michael, the good guy that gets turned around, has a heart attack and finds his way back. The heart attack is symbolic of what often confronts leaders that allows them to see the wrong choices they make that are casued by EGO or other motivators that are not aligned with the idea espoused in this book called servant leadership.
   You have to read this book. I am leading a leadership program at work and this book is the capstone of the program. Buy it and get a copy for all your employees who are in the position of leadership, whether in management positions or line positions.



3. I was absolutely bored to tears while reading this book. I think that a lot of the suggestions towards better leadership are very well intentioned and are good ideas, but it is very heavy in religion. If you are a strong believer in JC then this book might appeal to you. I was sick of the many religious references by page 30. The story was also poorly written. I found myself having to re-read portions of the book to understand the point. The only thing I will remember from this book is EGO (you'll get it once you've read it).



4. This is a unique book in both its purpose and style. Blanchard, Hybels and Hodges set out to teach servant-leadership by returning to its religious roots. Leadership by the Book is written in the form of a parable or story. It portrays the interaction of three different leaders: a professor, minister and young business professional. The purpose of the book is to teach management skills and ethics by examining the example of Christianity's founder, Jesus Christ. As the authors state in the introduction, "We believe there is a perfect practitioner and teacher of effective leadership. That person is Jesus of Nazareth, who embodied the heart and methods of a fully committed and effective servant leader."
   
   
   
   However, this book is not intended to be either sectarian or a promotional treatise on Christianity and its founder. The authors continue, "In this book we invite students of leadership from all faiths, cultures and experience to take another look at the leadership genius of Jesus." Throughout the text Blanchard, Hybels and Hodges endeavor to cite various examples of Jesus Christ as a source for learning valuable lessons in effective leadership. They also suggest basic strategies for bringing values and vision to any organization.
   
   
   
   Many books written on servant leadership are authored by intellectuals who make this essential philosophy difficult to grasp and appreciate. This book is different. Leadership by the Book can be called a primer on servant leadership and is written in an easy to understand linguistic style. Don't let the number of pages fool you. With large print and generous word spacing, it can easily be read in one or two sittings.



5. As a professor of leadership myself, I am struck by how this book perpetuates stereotypes.
   
   The first stereotype is about the role of women. The wives in the book are nothing more than interchangable helpmates who provide nice homes and emotional support. I suspect that during the editing process it was suggested that the women be assigned degrees and "jobettes"...but even so, it is clearly the men who make thing happen and who sit and ponder the Great Ideas for the book's conclusions. The women are supporting characters, and reinforce the stereotype that leadership is a game for men.
   
   A similar stereotype exists about the nature of jobs. In the book it is the business person who lets his job pressures and focus on the bottom line get the better of him. This same scenario has been played out time and time again in discussing the work/life balance to the point of it being a cliche.
   
   In addition, the main characters seem to perpetuate a stereotype of a "dominant culture" in which the world is full of happily married white-collar suburban couples (who I would bet are Caucasian), with husbands who play golf, and who have the cash to buy vacation homes.
   
   When combined with the Christian perspective, one is left to wonder whether Christianity is solely relevant to these stereotypes of people. I would have hoped for broader thinking from authors with such credentials.

No comments about Manager al Minuto, El.

5 comments about Aligned Thinking: Make Every Moment Count (Blanchard, Ken).

1. I could not DISAGREE with T. Tom more!!
   Yes, this is a SIMPLE book, but simple is not SIMPLISTIC!! This book presents in story format a profound lesson for living ones life to the fullest. Although similar to other time management and accomplishment books/methods that tell you to set your goals and plan steps to get there, this is the only one I have found that provides the process to help you understand & envision WHAT you goals really are! In addition it is one of the few that emphasizes the importance of setting goals for your personal life as well as your business life.
   Having taken one of the first courses with Jim Steffen many years ago, the Aligned Thinking method has made a tremendous difference in my life; through my years as a corporate manager and now as president of my company. And now this book makes it available to everyone. Read it. Then read it again and again.



2. I read this book and it has made a change in my life. I am a Real Estate agent with comstant demands on my time. Jim's use of the MIN enables me to priortize what is most important now and act on that. The concept of a "holding pen" works well as I list everything that needs attention but I don't lose my focus as I have had in the past with a to do list. Lastly, the concept of looking at my MIN throughout the day helps to really stay focused. This is a terrific book and a must read for everyone. Great job Dr. Steffen!



3. This is a self-help business oriented book.
   
   That probably turns you off, it sounds pretty dull, and that it's like about 700 other self-help business books.
   
   But this one is honestly different. It is written in the form of a novel. A two career couple (Isn't everyone these days?) who are buried under work, family and other obligations that seem never ending. They use to-do lists to get things done, but then find that the to-do list is not only never ending, but getting longer and longer.
   
   I especially liked the way it starts out, Ray, the leading character is looking back on his day. 'What have I really accomplished today?' I've asked myself that too many times, I know that I worked hard all day, but what did I really get done?
   
   His approach to writing the book is to make it like an adventure story. Instead of simply dumping his theories out in the open, he leads you through a discovery. To me this makes the lessons he is trying to teach more meaningful, more clearly understood.
   
   Now don't get me wrong, this isn't nearly as good a novel as say the latest 'Harry Potter.' But then again, its point is to teach a lesson, and it does that very well indeed.



4. To determine what you really want and work toward it, use the tools of "aligned thinking" - including the "MIN" or "most important now" secret - to reframe your attitude about your work and personal life. Tying your work to your long-term goals will make you more motivated to do things you once thought of as chores. The secret of success, according to author Jim Steffen, is to make every moment part of your master plan. In other words, "be here now." You have heard that advice before, but this book describes how to apply it. This is a short book (and could have been shorter), but nonetheless, it imparts useful techniques for getting more out of your time and life. Steffen takes you through a basic prioritizing and time management process to help you clarify where you're going in life, how to get there and how your daily tasks fit that goal. We recommend this book to you if you've really never sat down before to figure out your deepest desires and how to attain them.



5. While most of the information in this book is common sense, we all at times can use a reminder. The basics of "what's important now", "life balance", and "staying focused" are things that we often forget when dealing with everyday problems. Written in the story-telling method of the One-Minute Manager this book serves to remind us to slow down and focus our lives if we want to improve our quality of life.

No comments about The Leadership Pill: The Missing Ingredient in Motivating People Today.