Personal Growth Princess » 5-Minute Book Reviews

Lift – Becoming a Positive Force in Any Situation [Book Review]

Nina East — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 15:09:22 +0000

This 5-Minute Book Review is provided by guest reviewer Gloria DeGaetano.

Lift: Becoming a Positive Force in Any Situation

By Ryan W. Quinn and Robert E. Quinn
Berrett-Koehler Publishers 2009
254 pages
Hardcover & Kindle versions

After reading Robert E. Quinn’s book, Change the World: How Ordinary People Can Achieve Extraordinary Results, I thought to myself, “This man wants us all to become saints!” Why? Because Change the World describes eight “seed principles” that if taken seriously and acted upon naturally leads to a course of compassionate action on behalf of others.

Robert Quinnn’s new book, Lift: Becoming a Positive Force in Any Situation, which he co-authored with his son Ryan Quinn, an assistant professor at the University of Virginia’s Darden’s School of Business, deepens that journey toward “sainthood.” Lift reports a way for us to become positive change agents immediately in any situation we encounter by asking ourselves four basic questions: 1) What result do I want to create? 2) What would my story be if I were living the values I expect of others? 3) How do others feel about this situation? 4) What are three (or four or five) strategies I could use to accomplish my purpose for this situation?

Robert Quinn, who holds the Margaret Tracy Collegiate Professorship at the University of Michigan and is professor of management and organization in the Ross School of Business, has authored sixteen books. Considered an innovative thinker and authority on positive change processes, he developed ACT-Advanced Change Theory-which the Parent Coaching Institute uses as integral to our successful parent coaching model. The four questions discussed and promoted in Lift, provide a foundational focus for applying ACT more thoroughly in daily activities when the business of life can often interfere with our good intentions to be kind, thoughtful, or proactive.

How do people change and how do they do it deeply and sustainably in order to catalyze transformative societal changes? is a question that captures our human longing to make a positive difference. Robert Quinn’s books can be counted on to address and effectively answer this question. Now in Lift, with his son Ryan, the two provide a practical framework for keeping that longing alive and fulfilled. Lift is defined as a “psychological state in which a person is purpose-centered, internally directed, other-focused, and externally open.” This dynamic internal state keeps us “lifted” thereby making us reliable lift-ers of others. And soon, as the authors demonstrate, our sphere of influence infuses with positivity and possibility-we natural become role models for others as we enthusiastically undertake the self-discipline necessary to monitor and adjust our psychological states. “As within, so without,” never seemed truer as I poured over the wisdom in this book.

The book begins with an informative overview of positive influence and the psychological state. As the Founder and CEO of The Parent Coaching Institute who has worked with parents for over 30 years, I was struck by one of the stories in the first chapter by Ryan in which he explains using the four questions with his 6 year old son Mason. When we’re dealing with a child who is having behavior issues such as Mason’s on-going, seemingly illogical tantrums it’s perfectly natural and normal for parents to be outside this graced psychological state of lift. In fact, it’s only human impulse to coerce, impose, and strive for control as the situation escalates out of control. Parent and child become more closed, demanding and often angry. It’s a mess. We’ve all been there as parents. Finding our way out can takes its toll on our relationship with our child because most often parenting advice is “to take” charge; or “speak firm and stand your ground,” shutting our kids down even more…What parenting advice would have us: “Walk a mile in your son’s shoes?”

The power of lift it is to center deeply on how the other is experiencing the situation as we stay centered in our purpose and integrity. As Ryan explains how he tried hard to really understand his son, he got a flash of intuitive insight that resulted in a blessed moment between father and son, deepening understanding and respect for both of them. Throughout his story about Mason, Ryan shares how using the four questions brought him more in touch with his intuition and personal agency. It’s a moving story and it really shows how lift can make a positive difference not only in the immediate but for the future, as well.

I won’t ruin the story for you by telling all. You have to read it. Beyond the sweetness lies the enormous power in surrendering and allowing for authentic connection to occur. At the PCI, we strive to help parents connect authentically and have found successful strategies embedded in Appreciative Inquiry and Living System principles. The authors add an important layer here. Yes, while tried and true prescriptive parenting formulas often can work to resolve the immediate problem, it is difficult to translate an allowance strategy (rather than a doing strategy) such as found in Lift into practical application for parents. Well, two business professors have done exactly that. Parent educators and parent coaches need to take note. With the backdrop of the book’s four central questions, a practical framework, questions, and strategies can be developed to bring out the best in others, in any situation-even cranky six year olds given to habitual tantrums.

Chapter Two introduces the science, history and metaphor of lift. It is here the reader finds an understandable graphic that illustrates a competing-values framework, often used for organizational effectiveness. It consists of understanding the interaction of collaboration, control, creativity and competitiveness. For instance, the value of collaborating often competes with control. Control is necessary at times in order to move forward, to make decisions, but collaboration is a powerful approach for productive teams. And while competitiveness in the marketplace is essential, it often constrains creativity of individuals within the organization to compete effectively. Bob and Ryan Quinn use this framework to move from deep change to the psychological state of lift, juxtaposing the four central questions with each of the four competing values. Control enables a person to be internally directed, examining his or her integrity. Collaboration keeps us other focused, to see others as people with legitimate needs, feelings and wants. Creativity enables us to remain externally open. And competitiveness enables us to keep our purpose, which is usually used to create extraordinary results. This chapter is extremely helpful for understanding the interaction between and among the four questions, demonstrating the dynamic energy inherent in their execution.

Chapter 3 provides an overview of ways to move from problem solving to what the authors call “purpose finding.” This is a very inspirational way to look at challenges, and fits beautifully with the concept that our challenges, although always there, don’t have to drag us into despair or alienation. The chapter sets the stage for the next eight chapters-the core of the book.

These chapters are paired around the four basic questions. For instance, Chapter 4 explains how to become more purpose centered, while Chapter 5 looks at ways that get us out of being purpose-centered. Combined, the two chapters provide a wealth of information for staying within our purpose and answering question 1): What results do I want to create?

The next two chapters focus on becoming more internally directed, and support our living by values we expect of others. Chapters 8 and 9 examine how we can truly understand how others feel about a situation we would like to have changed. An important component of becoming other-focused according to the Quinns is not being afraid of feedback from others. This is a common human obstacle to positive change and the authors normalize our fear of feedback, allowing us to use our fear for deep curiosity about ourselves and others rather than through anxious judgments which really have no deep change effects.

Chapters 10 and 11 help us think about becoming more externally open. Chapter 11 contains a table that summarizes the characteristics of lift. This table is an easy reference tool for the important components and qualities that will keep us purpose-centered, internally directed, other-focused and externally open. With a glance at the table, readers recognize effective strategies to stay in these states as opposed to the states of ” comfort-centered, externally directed, self-focused, and internally closed.” Those are the easy ones to revert to-especially when confronted with our children’s tantrums or too many bills to pay or other common everyday stresses.

Despite all the challenges, Robert and Ryan Quinn call us to be more-more fully present-more deeply engaged-more thought-full all around. They urge us to move from “comfort-seekers” to “creators of opportunity;” from spectators to fully-engaged participants. While this isn’t exactly sainthood, it’s still tough work, worth every laborious minute-not for our reward in Paradise, but for those daily rewards like when our children melt into our arms after a meltdown and show us they know who we are, that they know we love them beyond measure, and all is well. Pure Heaven! And Lift brings us many more such moments. Count on it!

*****
Would you like to see this book, or others by Robert Quinn, summarized as part of your membership in PersonalGrowthPrincess? Make a comment below and let us know why, or why not.
*****

Gloria DeGaetano http://GloriaDeGaetano.com/ is the founder and CEO of The Parent Coaching Institute, (The PCI™), http://thepci.org. the originator of the parent coaching profession.

An acclaimed keynote speaker, Ms. DeGaetano is a sought-after favorite for major national and international conferences because she is a recognized leader in family support and parent coaching, sharing her real-life experiences with wit and humor, to convey compassion and empathize with her audiences.

Ms. DeGaetano, a best-selling author, has written Screen Smarts: A Family Guide to Media Literacy; Stop Teaching Our Kids to Kill: A Call to Action Against TV, Movie, and Video Game Violence (with Lt. Col. Dave Grossman), and manuals for educators and child advocates. Her latest book Parenting Well in a Media Age, has won the 2007 i-Parenting Media Award for excellence. Ms. DeGaetano’s books and articles have been translated into Spanish, German, Danish, Romanian, Korean, Chinese, and Turkish.

Article Source: EzineArticles.com

Do More Great Work – Michael Bungay Stanier [video] [Book Review]

Nina East — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 16:04:08 +0000

Michael Bungay Stanier, author of Find Your Great Work, has written another book – Do More Great Work. As you would expect, he has a way of capturing exactly what you and your clients are thinking about busy work and great work.

His message is: Stop The Busywork!

We’ve all been there, right? You’re up to your eyeballs answering email, returning phone calls, attending meetings, scrambling to get things done. But when did being busy become a measure of success?

Here’s a video he created to share a little about the new book.
(Secretly I have video-envy when it comes to Michael’s videos. They are truly great!)

You can see this and the rest of Michael’s Possibility Virus resources on his website.

Let me know what you think of the video – and the books – in your comments below. I’m especially curious to know how you might use this in your own work.

It’s Not That I’m Bitter [Book Review]

Nina East — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 14:30:56 +0000

This 5-Minute Personal Growth Book Review was submitted by guest reviewer, Gini Cunningham.

is a great one if you are ready for a female dose of reality. Regina Barreca takes the oddest of feminine concerns and transforms them into hysterical scenes of humor. She re-teaches us that laughing is a cure for most of our ills and foibles.

From problems with weight and purchasing an appropriate swimsuit to advertisements that trick us into believing that this special product will produce amazingly glamorous results, Barreca forces readers to examine the quirks and thrills of being a woman. A gift displayed in the author’s writing is guiding the reader from fits of laughter to quiet reflection. These still moments are also filled with humor but allow the reader to calmly reflect on serious topics of life like unfairness at work or dealing with those who dislike our hard work and dedication.

This is the perfect book club book, best friends read, or mother/daughter share. As my daughter and I read it together sitting side-by-side during our girls retreat, we laughed, we paused in thought, and we discussed the key points of each chapter with enthusiastic dialogue and thoughtful insight. Why is it that women can laugh so hard at themselves while also recognizing the truth and reality behind each peal?

It would be interesting to discuss with a group of men. Would they find the book funny or too sarcastic and caustic for their liking? Would they be able to laugh at themselves with the same gusto that women are able to or would they find it biting and bitchy? Reading about women and thinking about our unique character traits, astute perspective, and our ability to dissect and re-dissect each event of life has made me appreciate the greatness of being female. This book puts all of those thoughts into words.

Quotable Quotes from the book include titles of chapters such as “What Do You Mean, ‘Lose Weight Fats?’” or “Why Is Nostalgia Not Like It Used to Be?” These give you an idea of the humor presented in the book. Each chapter quickly envelops the reader in the realness of the day along with the absurdity of it too. This is a great book to share with friends and co-workers, with significant people you know who need to laugh at the oddity of life.

Gina Barecca is also a master with words. If you are looking for twists with language, enriching vocabulary, and appreciating past knowledge as it builds to current understanding, you will be rewarded through the carefully constructed sentences and intriguing scenarios. The play with words and intertwining events of history are enriching. Writers seeking to enlighten their own craft will benefit from reading this book.

Warning: If you find no humor in life or if you think toying with “womenness” is corrupt and unconscionable, skip this read. If laughing about chin hairs and screeching over the unnecessary worry about others while failing to stick up for yourself (as you shiver or sweat thorough a conference), you will enjoy each word, each phrase, and each page of this easy-read, amusing book.

*****
Would you like to see this book, or others by this author, summarized as part of your membership in PersonalGrowthPrincess? Make a comment below and let us know why, or why not.
*****

Gini Cunningham is an educational consultant, free lance writer, life coach, and professional development presenter.

Article source: EzineArticles.com

Beach Money by Jordan Adler [Book Review]

Nina East — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 18:29:54 +0000

This 5-Minute Personal Growth Book Review was submitted by guest reviewer, Andrea Kropp.
(I can also personally vouch for this book – I found it so valuable that I photocopied the cover and have it taped to the wall above my desk! – Nina!)

It is an almost must to set aside a portion of your business-building budget for personal development. You might spend that in any number of ways from CDs, to books, to conferences, to dinner invitations with mentors. What is the purpose of all this stuff? It is continuing education. I’m sure you are aware that teachers, doctors and CPAs all need a certain number of course credits to renew their license each year. If network marketers want to be regarded as professionals, shouldn’t we do the same? If you want generate the type of “walk-away” income that the leaders have, you too need to continually invest in your people skills, mindset and posture.

One of my mentors gave me Jordan Adler’s book as part of my continuing education. Who can resist the cover image of Jordan reclining on the beach with his laptop unfurled? I could review the whole book, but instead I want to draw out the nuggets that really spoke to me. While this is no substitute for reading it yourself, it will paint a picture of Jordan Adler’s life and key success principles. After you read it for yourself, share it with your downline.

Five Messages in that Spoke to Me:

1.The Road to Success is Filled with Potholes.
From Beach Money: Jordan Adler failed or quit at 11 network marketing companies before becoming a legend in his current company.
What I took away: Success was always inside of him. Success requires tenacity and devotion. The skills of network marketing take time to acquire and master. The only way to acquire those skills is to keep going. After all, most entrepreneurs in ‘traditional’ business go out of business the first time. Nine out of 10 start-ups fail. Without a few ‘learning experiences’ behind them, many venture capitalists won’t even fund an entrepreneur. Facing, learning from, and moving past adversity is an essential trait in a leader.

2.Multi-Level Marketing is an Investment.
From Beach Money: If your life is yardstick, the time you spend building your network marketing business is only a few inches.
What I took away: This got me thinking about a typical day. The time I devote to reading, listening to CDs, and talking to leaders in my lifetime is very much like the time I spend reading with my kids in any given day. It is a small percent of my whole day, but it will have a lifelong impact and no one can ever take it away from me (or them). Education is always an investment (not a cost). Stop looking at the cost of that book, cost of that conference, cost of that training package and start thinking about how quickly you can apply what you will learn to get the greatest return on your investment.

3.Don’t Just Build a List; Nurture Your List
From Beach Money: Did you know that every business card in your rolodex is worth $100? Jordan will show you that it is with some simple math. Do you treat each card as if it is a $100 bill? Your success it determined by two things…the size of your rolodex and the strength of your relationships with people in that rolodex.
What I took away: My husband summarizes this point exceptionally well. He says, “It’s not about WHAT you know and it’s not about WHO you know. Instead, it’s about WHAT you know ABOUT WHO you know.” So true. Just knowing people is not enough. You have to know ABOUT them – their hobbies, motivation, dreams. If you’ve ever needed to ask for a favor and thought to yourself, “I can’t call that person because…”, start giving to that person, not just taking.

4.Go DO Something…Then Do It Better Next Time
From Beach Money: Jordan’s tip #9 is “Act and Adjust; Don’t Analyze.”
What I took away: As a former scientist, almost all on my early training taught me to analyze and study before taking action. Remember measure twice, cut once? It is essential that network marketers with this tendency become self aware about it. When you do something new will it be just right the first time? No. Perfection is not the goal. The goal is to always get better. You have to take an action before you can improve upon it.

5.Friends and Family Mean Well; Be Grateful for Their Pessimism
From Beach Money: Jordan colorfully relates a Thanksgiving dinner that ended abruptly after a shouting match with his Father about his newest network marketing company.
What I took away: Family and friends have good intentions. They are trying to shield you and in the process don’t realize the damage they may do. I’m a parent. If my sons were involved in something I thought was shady, dishonest or a waste of time, I would try to deter them. It is human nature. It is also human nature that the more they persisted that more I would try to counter. Parents flock and hover to protect their young. So, the next time someone in your immediate family criticizes your choice to pursue network marketing, look at it through a changed lens. See these comments as an expression of love. The best way to love then back is simply to express appreciation for their concern. Try something straightforward like, “Thanks Mom, you are always looking out for me.”

*****
Would you like to see this book, or others by Jordan Adler, summarized as part of your membership in PersonalGrowthPrincess? Make a comment below and let us know why, or why not.
*****

Andrea Kropp mentors network marketers in the art and science of Attraction Marketing. She is authority on multi-level marketing branding where she teaches a powerful combination of lead generation online and traditional relationship building to propel her team to success. Andrea believes passionately in continuing education and personal development through books, CDs, events and personal mentoring.

Article Source: EzineArticles.com

(In reference to #3 above, I personally use Personal Growth Cards, as a way to make people feel better, but also nurture my network. –Nina!)

The King’s Legacy: A Story of Wisdom for the Ages [book review]

Nina East — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 14:08:37 +0000

This 5-Minute Personal Growth Book Review was submitted by guest reviewer, Leanne Hoagland Smith.
Since it references a story about a king, it seemed especially appropriate for a site dedicated to unleashing the personal growth princess inside you.

The use of a compelling story or parables (fables) is a great way to deliver a message. In The King’s Legacy: A Story of Wisdom for the Ages, Jim Stovall creates such a compelling story about leaving an enduring legacy and how to find such a legacy.

He invents a story about a king who wants to leave his mark for future generations. The King being very kind and open seeks the counsel of others including the:

Merchant
Solider
Poet
Farmer
Physician
Jester
Teacher
Parent
Traveler
Town Crier
Banker
Hunter
Historian
Laborer
Scientist
Judge
Elder

Each of these individuals testifies as to his or her perspective as to what is the wisdom of the ages. After each testimony, the Kind engages in reflection and acquires more insight, but not the answer to the question.

Finally after all of these interviews, the King did not have the answer he was seeking until a small slip of a girl presents a very old and tarnished medallion. The elder reads it aloud with this final message: Wisdom is not in the having. Wisdom is in the seeking. Always seek wisdom and ye shall have it. The King becomes very excited about this revelation and encourages all in the kingdom to embrace the sharing of wisdom.

Stovall’s detailed description of each of the witnesses is exceptional. He provides opportunities for each witness to argue a compelling case as to what is the wisdom for the ages. One would think his characters are from the 21st century instead of some time long ago.

There are three central messages within this book. First is simply seek and ye shall find. If we choose not to seek, we shall not find what we are looking for and possibly settle for less than the best. The second message is connected with our ethics and beliefs and how we integrate those beliefs within our decision making process. Finally, one must take action. Just to think without action is nonsense.

(Certainly in keeping with the Princess philosophy!)

*****
Would you like to see this book, or others by Jim Stovall, summarized as part of your membership in PersonalGrowthPrincess? Make a comment below and let us know why, or why not.
*****

Chicago Executive Coach Leanne Hoagland Smith helps to achieve your organizational goals because the real issue is not “Do they or you know it (Knowledge), but “Do they or you want to do it (Attitudes)? Check out her first business book on how to be the Red Jacket in the Sea of Gray Suits.

Article Source: EzineArticles.com

Get Unstuck and Get Going…on the stuff that matters [book review]

Nina East — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 19:51:44 +0000

This 5-Minute Personal Growth Book Review was submitted by guest reviewer, Terri Zwierzynski.

First thing I noticed about Get Unstuck and Get Going, by Michael Bungay Stanier is it’s not really a book! It’s not something you sit down and read cover-to-cover – in fact I don’t even know how you would go about doing that, because the format is so unique. I was reminded of a learning tool I bought for my children to help them learn to spell simple words, where all the letters of the alphabet are arranged in 4 columns and they flip them until they get the right letters lined up. Except in this book, the columns are rows, and they contain three intriguing sets of tools full of awesome wisdom in easily absorbable “bites”.

The first tool is a set of 50 inspiring stories. Little real-life bites, some familiar, others obscure, but all emotionally powerful. The second is a set of provocative quotes. (I’m a sucker for quotes so this is my favorite section!) The third is called Powerful Models, and contains various simple but potent human dynamics models. So when you are stuck, you can open this book and flip through the various combinations (125,000 of them!) to find one or more that shakes loose your thinking, inspires you to action, or simply helps you let go of something that is holding you back. Plus there is a simple template called the Action Acceleration(tm) sheet that guides you through the process quickly and easily (you can download the sheets online, also.)

*****
Would you like to see this book, or others by Michael Bungay Stanier, summarized as part of your membership in PersonalGrowthPrincess? Make a comment below and let us know why, or why not.
*****

Terri Zwierzynski, MBA (UNC-Chapel Hill) became a corporate refugee in 2001, after 15 years of employment with technology companies big and small. A non-conformist at heart, Terri Z is now The Solo-CEO: a self-employed internet marketing consultant to solo entrepreneurs and a grassroots promoter of the “solo entrepreneur lifestyle”. She runs www.Solo-E.com, the resource website for solo entrepreneurs which attracts thousands of visitors monthly from over 100 countries on six continents.

The Jackrabbit Factor [book review]

Nina East — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 18:45:13 +0000

This 5-Minute Personal Growth Book Review was submitted by guest reviewer, Terri Zwierzynski.

Occasionally a book comes along that you just know you are going to keep, and read over and over again.

Many famous books teach the concept that what you THINK is more important than what you DO: Think and Grow Rich, The Power of Positive Thinking, Rich Dad Poor Dad. , by Leslie Householder, belongs on your bookshelf right alongside these classics. With a mesmerizing style that draws you in, this book is an easy and compelling read, and a clever use of a story to explain the Law of Attraction.

The Jackrabbit Factor tells the tale of a young father (Richard) who wants badly to make a comfortable life for his wife (Felicity) and son — and just can’t understand why his much-less-hard-working brother enjoys such easy successes, while he toils away. Even when he takes his brother’s advice to “do this” or “try that”, things just never seem to work out.

One day, he storms out of the house in frustration. With nowhere else to go, he takes a walk into the woods and eventually collapses into an exhausted sleep — a “power nap” that will change his fortunes forever. As Felicity has her own breakdown of sorts, Richard enters a dreamland full of encounters with cleverly-named characters, each with a lesson for him to learn.

This book can truly be a life-changing experience for the reader. I can’t wait to re-read it often and, at the right moment, share it with my children.

*****
Would you like to see this book, or others by Leslie Householder, summarized as part of your membership in PersonalGrowthPrincess? Make a comment below and let us know why, or why not.
*****