The Fred Factor: How passion in your work and life can turn the ordinary into the extraordinary

The Fred Factor: How passion in your work and life can turn the ordinary into the extraordinary
Average customer rating:

The short and sweet of customer service

Let's be more like Fred

Fred Factor

Choosing to Make a Difference is Leadership

Learn to be a Fred

The Fred Factor: How passion in your work and life can turn the ordinary into the extraordinary
Mark Sanborn
Manufacturer: Currency
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Motivation & Self-Improvement | Business Life | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0385513518
Release Date: 2004-04-20

Book Description

Meet Fred.

In his powerful new book THE FRED FACTOR, motivational speaker Mark Sanborn recounts the true story of Fred, the mail carrier who passionately loves his job and who genuinely cares about the people he serves. Because of that, he is constantly going the extra mile handling the mail – and sometimes watching over the houses – of the people on his route, treating everyone he meets as a friend. Where others might see delivering mail as monotonous drudgery, Fred sees an opportunity to make a difference in the lives of those he serves.

We’ve all encountered people like Fred in our lives. In THE FRED FACTOR, Mark Sanborn illuminates the simple steps each of us can take to transform our own lives from the ordinary – into the extraordinary. Sanborn, through stories about Fred and others like him, reveals the four basic principles that will help us bring fresh energy and creativity to our life and work: how to make a real difference everyday, how to become more successful by building strong relationships, how to create real value for others without spending a penny, and how to constantly reinvent yourself.

By following these principles, and by learning from and teaching other “Freds,” you, too, can excel in your career and make your life extraodinary. As Mark Sanborn makes clear, each of us has the potential be a Fred.THE FRED FACTOR shows you how.

Customer Reviews:

The short and sweet of customer service.......2007-10-19

This is a quick read and it hits right at the key elements of providing exceptional customer service. Grab a copy and read it on your next plane ride. You'll hit the ground running with a few simple changes in your perspective that will help you to have move 'Fred-like' moments. As a training support tool, you'll find additional resources to use at www.fredfactor.com.

Let's be more like Fred.......2007-09-14

The Fred Factor
The Fred Factor is a rather small book that gives the details on how someone can, by its own motivation, get the extraordinary out of something rather common. The book gives an explanation of how the behaviour of someone can change when and if they commit to it. Some of the topics in the book are rather obious, but re-reading them every once and a while makes one reflect again on how we sometimes can go the extra mile and make a huge different.

We all have values. This book is about making sure that we don't forget about these values when we are doing our job. Let's all care and have a little Fred in us..

This book is worth the reading.

Koen
(review first posted on my blog on http://koen.blanquart.be/blog/item/99/ )

Fred Factor.......2007-09-10

Buying new from Amazon is almost always the best way to go. As a school secretary having them delivered to our door is always a plus. You are quick and accurate. As a college student I like to buy used and you take your chances doing this. BUT if you review who you are buying from FIRST you should have no problems. I have greatly appreciated the deals that I have gotten thru Amazon.

Choosing to Make a Difference is Leadership.......2007-08-28

Every day, in every individual interaction, we have a choice; a choice to make the interaction transactional or relational. That choice will make all the difference in the world to the quality of our lives.

In "The Fred Factor", motivational speaker Mark Sanborn tells the very real story of his postal delivery person, Fred - and how he gave definition to his job as a `service provider' by making mail delivery a relational interaction. Sanborn says that Fred exemplified 4 principles: Everyone Makes a Difference; Success is Built on Relationships; You Must Continually Create Value for Others and It Doesn't Have to Cost a Penny; You Can Reinvent Yourself Regularly. All very real and very useful principles, but perhaps the most valuable principle in this story and the other examples in the book is the principle of choice: Everyone has the choice to be a Leader, by making a difference in the lives of others. This book is highly recommended as a gift for those who say, "Why bother?"

Learn to be a Fred.......2007-08-23

This is a pass it forward book. I am a Fred and I have helped others find the Fred in them. I really enjoyed this book and recommend it for everyone who is tired of seeing grumps in the office or in their home and wants to make a change. One person can make a difference if that peoson is a Fred.

The Gospel According to Starbucks: Living with a Grande Passion

Average customer rating:

The Church According to Starbucks
DO YOU CRAVE AUTHENTIC EXPERIENCES?
Gospel According to Starbucks
Love Starbucks and the Gospel?
Captures the contextual intelligence that Christians can gain from studying the Starbucks way of doing business

The Gospel According to Starbucks: Living with a Grande Passion
Leonard Sweet
Manufacturer: WaterBrook Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1578566495
Release Date: 2007-01-16

Book Description

Introducing the life you’d gladly stand in line for

You don’t stand in line at Starbucks ® just to buy a cup of coffee. You stop for the experience surrounding the cup of coffee.
Too many of us line up for God out of duty or guilt. We completely miss the warmth and richness of the experience of living with God. If we’d learn to see what God is doing on earth, we could participate fully in the irresistible life that he offers.
You can learn to pay attention like never before, to identify where God is already in business right in your neighborhood. The doors are open and the coffee is brewing. God is serving the refreshing antidote to the unsatisfying, arms-length spiritual life–and he won’t even make you stand in line.
Let Leonard Sweet show you how the passion that Starbucks ® has for creating an irresistible experience can connect you with God’s stirring introduction to the experience of faith.

Customer Reviews:

The Church According to Starbucks.......2007-07-17

Leonard Sweet is the E. Stanley Jones professor of evangelism at Drew Theological School in Madison, New Jersey. In this book, he attempts to exegete culture by using the medieval methods of literal, allegorical, tropological, and analogical. To do that, he uses the example of Starbucks, the twentieth century success story and compares it to the failure of the contemporary church (which by implication is a failure).

Starbucks, by the marvels of modern branding, marketing and giving people the illusion of what they needs, makes people willing to pay top dollars for a simple cup of coffee. Why are people willing to pay so much? Sweet answers, "They pay so they can enjoy the Starbucks experience. The value comes with the experience that surrounds the cup of coffee. Starbucks lovers connect with the warmth of friends as they enjoy the warmth of their favourite drink." (p.4)

Starbucks attains this success by giving people the Starbuck experience. Sweet postulates that the church can be revived by giving her members a similar experience, which he terms E.P.I.C. spirituality. EPIC is the acronyms for

Experience
Participatory
Image-rich
Connecting

Starbucks offers EPIC is the experience drinking coffee in the ambience of a Starbuck outlet, participatory in the choosing of the variety of offerings, image-rich branding of Starbucks especially the coffee cup, and connection as friends meet over coffee and connect in a community.

The EPIC church will be experiencing God rather than the knowledge of Him, get "fully immersed in what God is doing," using images as "God speaks in more than just words," and reconstructing "life's four bad connection: our broken relationship with God, others, self, and creation."

The EPIC church is about experiences, and feelings. However I wonder if by using Starbucks as an example for comparison, Sweet is not bringing the church to the level of Starbucks. Starbucks is a phenomenon success because it caters to the culture of the age. Is Sweet suggesting that the church should also caters to the culture of this age? This is the culture which values experiences, existential existence, secular individualism, and materialism.

Sweet writes,
Rational faith-the form of Christianity that relies on argument, logic, and apologetics to defend its rightness-has failed miserably in meeting people where they live. Intellectual arguments over doctrine and theology are fine for divinity school, but they lose impact at the level of daily life experience. Starbucks knows that people lives for engagement, connection, symbols, and meaningful experiences. (p.5)

Because rational faith seems to have failed, there is no reason to throw out the baby with the bath water. What Starbucks offers is a superficial experience. It disappears as soon as we finish our cuppa and leaves the store. Church offers a real experience, one that transcends culture. Engagement, connection, symbols, and meaning experiences can only be lasting if it is grounded in the revelation of God. And that is rational faith. Without rational faith, it will become a free for all religiosity.

Sweet is right to point out the church has fossiled in some of her activities. However, we must be careful that to differentiate that the church is not Starbucks. Church is not a place where people who are severely addicted to caffeine go for their `pick me up.' Church is a place where people who are severely addicted to Jesus Christ go to become a community of faith.

Jehovah Java!

DO YOU CRAVE AUTHENTIC EXPERIENCES?.......2007-07-12

'the Jesus example of meaning and passion over duty and obligation moves people' & I also love when Len says 'coffee is a sensory drink...' (chapeter 1) are you a coffee evangelist? 'the EPIC life is organic and unscripted' are you and extreme follower of the Christ? this book is like having a 1:1 conversation with one of the most brilliant minds of our times. how good to be reminded that god calls us 'friends' and wants to connect with us- and guys, THIS IS REAL STUFF. if you like the status quo of your being this book is not for you...on the other hand if deep inside you know YOU ARE AN EXTREME SPIRITUAL PLAYER- then DIVE! into this book and let's join in the revolution started by 13 men + their friends, 2000 years ago or so...
other favorites:SoulSalsaAquaChurch: Essential Leadership Arts for Piloting Your Church in Today's Fluid Culture

Gospel According to Starbucks.......2007-07-09

This is one great book on congregational development. My entire church board is reading it and we will be using it as a guide for the upcoming year. I've been preaching E.P.I.C. for the last three weeks and people--in the pews are taking notes!

Love Starbucks and the Gospel?.......2007-07-07

For everyone who loves Starbucks and the gospel, this book is for you. Actually it could be for you even if you just love Starbucks. Quick read on what essentially the church can learn from Starbucks.

Captures the contextual intelligence that Christians can gain from studying the Starbucks way of doing business.......2007-06-06

A while back I stood on a street corner in a major U.S. city and counted five Starbucks stores within my limited range of vision. I wondered what on earth they were thinking; weren't they concerned all these stores would cannibalize each other? Well, no, they weren't concerned at all, and their reasoning sheds light on the company's phenomenal success --- and what the church can learn from the Starbucks knack for engaging the culture and transforming it in the process. THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO STARBUCKS offers a delightful romp through the world of a company that changed the way we take our cup o' joe. And along the way, the book offers a wealth of insights that will help the church engage the culture --- and maybe, just maybe, help transform it, changing the way people relate to God and express their faith.

But first, to the author. If Leonard Sweet's contribution to the literature of the church was limited to his academic, theological works on postmodernism, that would be enough to earn our gratitude. The fact that he also remembers the masses makes his writing a doubly valuable asset. This is one of his books for the masses, and for reasons I can't quite pinpoint, it's one of his best of that kind. Maybe it's the fascinating tidbits about Starbucks's history and corporate culture that pepper the book; maybe it's the oh-so-familiar behavior of caffeine-addicted consumers like me; maybe it's the dots he connects between extreme sports and karaoke and reality TV and a chain of coffee houses. Whatever it is, he brews up a whole lot of fun and pours out his best blend of information, insights, wisdom and casual writing style.

To help us "get" the Starbucks culture, Sweet uses the acronym EPIC: experiential, participatory, image-rich and connective. If you've ever entered a Starbucks store (forgetting for a moment the kiosks in airports and other locations), you know what Sweet means. At Starbucks, you're not buying a cup of coffee; you're immersing yourself in a cultural Experience. You're not settling for the ordinary; you're "living with a grande passion," as the subtitle reveals. Unlike fast-food franchises, Starbucks encourages you to Participate by allowing you to create your own customized beverage from something like 55,000 potential combinations; you can truly "have it your way" there. (Just imagine asking for a medium-well burger at Burger King.) Every Starbucks store is rich in Images, much more like a medieval cathedral than the gymnasiums that are home to so many of our worship services.

Perhaps most importantly --- at least for me --- Starbucks offers a Connection with others. I love this quote from the book: "In a culture without a front porch, in a culture where we built up the backs of our houses with decks and walls, not the fronts of our houses where we might connect with a passing neighbor; in a world where we invested in privacy over hospitality, Starbucks spoke these words: 'We'll be your front porch. Hang out here.'" The message to the church, found in all four EPIC words, is obvious: we need to provide a deeper spiritual experience, greater opportunity for participation, powerful images that tell the story of God, and a welcoming atmosphere that encourages genuine connection with others. I suspect the aroma of freshly brewed coffee couldn't hurt.

As in nearly all of his books, Sweet reminds us that faith as an authentic lifestyle is often missed when "right-thinking" --- and overthinking --- crowns reason as the master over our lives. Granting that level of power to "reason" has robbed us of a "grande gospel, frappuccino faith, venti life of romance and passion," he writes. "Starbucks took an old, unexciting standby --- hot, dark liquid in a cup --- and made it an EPIC beverage that millions of people feel they can't live without. That, in a very few words, captures the contextual intelligence that Christians can gain from studying the Starbucks way of doing business."

--- Reviewed by Marcia Ford

Inside My Heart: Choosing to Live with Passion and Purpose

Average customer rating:

too preachy
Heartfelt
Nicely done.
Great book for every single and married women
Disappointed

Inside My Heart: Choosing to Live with Passion and Purpose
Robin McGraw
Manufacturer: Thomas Nelson
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 078521836X

Book Description

I believe we were put on this earth to enjoy lives of joy and abundance, and that is what I want for you and for me. It's not my intention to give people advice on how to solve their problems (I leave that to my husband). But I've had my share of struggles over the years, and I know a thing or two about what has worked for me. I have chosen to be an active participant in my life rather than a spectator, and in so doing I have chosen how to be a woman, how to be a wife, and how to be a mother in ways that are uniquely my own. I offer the stories of these choices as evidence of the power of sheer determination, will, and faith in God.

You've seen her on television with her husband, Dr. Phil. But now it's time for a heart-to-heart conversation with Robin McGraw. In Inside My Heart, Robin speaks woman to woman, inspiring you to embrace and celebrate the many roles you play and encouraging you to make deliberate choices that lead to a richer, happier, and more meaningful life.

She shares with you the life-changing moments of her childhood years, dating and marrying Dr. Phil McGraw, raising two sons, and asserting herself as a woman in a man's world to show you that you have the power to make choices in your life. In fact, she's convinced that you must choose to go after the life you want.

With a deep and abiding faith in God, Robin McGraw shares her story so you too can make choices that reflect your own heart's truest priorities and highest goals.

Customer Reviews:

too preachy.......2007-10-18

The book was somewhat interesting because of who she is. I don't think that it was well written. It was too preachy for my taste.

Heartfelt.......2007-10-17

I have read this book more than once and have shared it with a number of my friends.

Nicely done........2007-10-11

I found this book to be very tasteful and inspirational. Most women can relate to Robin at least in some ways and she writes as if you are having a chat with her. I think her underlying theme sends a good positive message. I enjoyed reading it. Thanks Robin for a nice positive book.

Great book for every single and married women.......2007-10-07

Am half through this book, but yet I have found it very engaging in the way she shared her journey in life. I flipped and read briefly in the bookshop and decided to buy it before reading reviews in Amazon. I read negative comments and/or critics about the book structure, repeated messages she kept saying from the first chapter. But I disagreed with all these, this book is NOT a self help book, the topic is about choices she made in her life to become a person she is now. She didn't say it's the best choice for everyone but she showed how she got to that choice. It's not about a journal of her roles as a wife of a fairly famous person, but she shared with the reader many revealing moments in her life, either funny, sad and heartbreaking stories when she discovered a choice she believed and stick to it. I've been away from my parents' house since my twenties and after 10 years living far away from them and my siblings, I felt so close with the way I tried to live my life the best I can the way she did ((well not all the time sometimes). What I meant is to reflect every struggle in life as a lesson and how to react to it. I've been living fairly secured with my parents, afterwards living without pennies as a student, be in the lowest point in spirit and then joined this company where I have lived to the extent I've never ever imagined before but still deep inside I hold to the values I believe and those are values I carried from home till now. I truly believe her saying she hasn't changed much in terms of values from her childhood up to this point where she could write a book. As a single woman, I also found her comments on how she managed the relationships with Philips very helpful to understand and some even renew my own belief to see the thin line between loving other person and loving myself, when to hold it or just let it go. This is a great book for women who determine to keep looking for better choices in lives, in good and bad times. For some who just want to take easy road to feel as victims in life, then there would be a major work to see Robin's points.

Disappointed.......2007-10-04

AS much as I wanted to, I just couldn't get into this book...extremely repetitive....I was unable to continue reading...

Average customer rating:

This is not "how to" book
BE your OWN BRAND!!!!!!!!
Some great ideas; in need of editing
Enjoyable read, OK stuff, but not WOW!
Life Changing...

The Brand You 50 : Or : Fifty Ways to Transform Yourself from an 'Employee' into a Brand That Shouts Distinction, Commitment, and Passion!
Tom Peters
Manufacturer: Knopf
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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The Project 50 (Reinventing Work): Fifty Ways to Transform Every "Task" into a Project That Matters!
Re-imagine!
The Professional Service Firm50 (Reinventing Work): Fifty Ways to Transform Your "Department" into a Professional Service Firm Whose Trademarks are Passion and Innovation! (Reinventing Work)
Leadership (Tom Peters Essentials)
Talent (Tom Peters Essentials)

ASIN: 0375407723
Release Date: 1999-09-21

Amazon.com

If Dilbert and Tom Peters ever attended the same party, they'd probably find themselves in opposite corners. The cynical cartoon character would have a hard time in Peters's upbeat, high-energy world of "Cool-Beyond-Belief." The Brand You50 is Peters's manifesto for today's knowledge workers. It joins his Reinventing Work series, which includes The Projects50 and The Professional Service Firm50.

In The Brand You50, Peters sees a new kind of corporate citizen who believes that surviving means not blending in but standing out. He believes that "90+ percent of White Collar Jobs will be totally reinvented/reconceived in the next decade" and that job security means developing marketable skills, making yourself distinct and memorable, and developing your network ability. His list-filled prescriptions cover everything; for example, "You are Your Rolodex I: BRAND YOU IS A TEAM" (no. 22), "Consider your 'product line'" (no. 25), "Work on your Optimism" (no. 35), "Sell. SELL. SELL!!!" (no. 47). While the book is overwhelming at times--its hyperactive typography pretty much shouts at you--any baby boomer thinking about his or her career will find much to consider. --Harry C. Edwards

Book Description

Michael Goldhaber, writing in Wired, said, "If there is nothing very special about your work, no matter how hard you apply yourself you won't get noticed and that increasingly means you won't get paid much either. In times past you could be obscure yet secure -- now that's much harder."

Again: the white collar job as now configured is doomed. Soon. ("Downsizing" in the nineties will look like small change.) So what's the trick? There's only one: distinction. Or as we call it, turning yourself into a brand . . . Brand You.

A brand is nothing more than a sign of distinction. Right? Nike. Starbucks. Martha Stewart. The point (again): that's not the way we've thought about white collar workers--ourselves--over the past century. The "bureaucrat" on the finance staff is de facto faceless, plugging away, passing papers.

But now, in our view, she is born again, transformed from bureaucrat to the new star. She works in a professional service firm and works on projects that she'll be able to brag about years from now.

I call her/him the New American Professional, CEO of Me Inc. (even if Me Inc. is currently on someone's payroll) and, of course, of Brand You.

Step #1 in the model was the organization . . .a department turned into PSF 1.0. Step #2 is the individual . . .reborn as Brand You.

In 50 essential points, Tom Peters shows how to be committed to your craft, choose the right projects, how to improve networking, why you need to think fun is cool, and why it's important to piss some people off. He will enable you to turn yourself into an important and distinctive commodity. In short, he will show you how to turn yourself into . . . Brand You.

See also the other 50List titles in the Reinventing Work series by Tom Peters -- The Project50 and The Professional Service Firm50 -- for additional information on how to make an impact in the professional world.

Customer Reviews:

This is not "how to" book.......2007-09-26

"Talent" by T.P. is better. This book consist of 50 main bullet points and possibly 6-700 sub bullets - all together a long list of nice things to think about but this is not a "how to" book as expected.

BE your OWN BRAND!!!!!!!!.......2007-08-31

A lot of the advice within this book is sound: Be proactive. Sell yourself. Define yourself. Network. Take responsibility for your career success. As a junior professional, it's very important for someone like me to realise how these elements support and leverage one's actual capabilities in the workplace.

However the author seems hard pressed to develop these into 50 distinct points. It becomes repetitive, which is why I would recommend dipping into the book as opposed to reading it cover to cover.

The written style and tone becomes irritating. As other reviewers have noted, it's full of PHRASING like THIS!!!! HYPERBOLE!! INSPIRATIONAL CLICHES!! I wish instead of 5 word sentences the author had also offered more explanation and insight into the issues he raises.

Some great ideas; in need of editing.......2007-08-28

Many, if not most, business books began their life as a set of PowerPoint charts that the creator presented to seminars, conferences and the like, and that were subsequently converted into book form. As a result, most business books are chock full of filler - anecdotes of questionable relevance, endless repetition, and other low-value material.

In contrast, "Brand You 50" eschews surplusage. It reads like a conference presentation, for better and worse. On the plus side, this book is a fast read, and it includes dozens of ideas for improving your performance, your skills and your marketability. Which ideas you choose to embrace and implement will depend on your job, your goals and your personality; this book provides a huge buffet of ideas from which to choose. "Brand You 50" has no filler at all, which I appreciated. On the minus side, the book is formatted horribly. Peters crows that he designed it himself. I appreciate the thought, but some editing of punctuation, font, and the like would have helped immensely. It literally reads like a transcript of a motivational speaker, complete with a plethora of exclamation points. Indeed, this may be the first book in the English language with more exclamation points than periods.

However, after you get past the awkward formatting, "Brand You 50" provides a wealth of practical ideas for building your personal brand. It's at least worth checking out from the library.

Enjoyable read, OK stuff, but not WOW!.......2007-08-09

Well, I read it in 4 hours... It's interesting, it does good to your self-esteem and contains fairly practical advice. However, I wouldn't consider it too seriously for crafting a new life course on the basis of its advice. It also needs significant updates where it refers to new media and the Internet.

Life Changing..........2007-04-01

If there ever was a book that changed my paradigm when I first read it, it was "The Brand You 50."

Ever since, I have promoted this book strongly in my classes, toward all my students. In fact, the first thing I always tell them is, "You are You, Inc. from today on. You don't work FOR any company, but you work WITH them. Change your views, and therwith, change your life.

So far, it has worked tremendously. I have received numerous notes of gratitude from those who previously felt trapped in their work situations. Tom Peters truly did an awesome job with this book.

I used many of the mindsets of Peters in my own works, most recently in "The Awakened Leader: One Simple Leadership Style That Works Every Time, Everywhere," and "Spirituality in the Workplace: What it is; Why it Matters; How to Make it Work for You" (the last one co-authored with Dr. Satinder Dhiman and Dr. Richard King).

It is unbelievable what a change in perspective can do for your self-esteem, drive, and visions. But having thought about it deeply, and having interviewed over 100 leaders since reading this book, I can attest that it's a great work.

Read it, and then read the books in which many of Peters' advises have been captured, "The Awakened Leader: One Simple Leadership Style That Works Every Time, Everywhere," and "Spirituality in the Workplace: What it is; Why it Matters; How to Make it Work for You."

Average customer rating:

Passion is for LIfe
Get on with it!
The Tragedy of Exuberance.
Far from exuberant
An Interesting, Anecdotal Exploration of Exuberance

Exuberance: The Passion for Life
Kay Redfield Jamison
Manufacturer: Vintage
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Accessories:

Braun IRT 4020 ThermoScan Ear Thermometer

ASIN: 0375701486
Release Date: 2005-09-13

Book Description

With the same grace and breadth of learning she brought to her studies of the mind’s pathologies, Kay Redfield Jamison examines one of its most exalted states: exuberance. This “abounding, ebullient, effervescent emotion” manifests itself everywhere from child’s play to scientific breakthrough and is crucially important to learning, risk-taking, social cohesiveness, and survival itself.

Exuberance: The Passion for Life introduces us to such notably irrepressible types as Teddy Roosevelt, John Muir, and Richard Feynman, as well as Peter Pan, dancing porcupines, and Charles Schulz’s Snoopy. It explores whether exuberance can be inherited, parses its neurochemical grammar, and documents the methods people have used to stimulate it. The resulting book is an irresistible fusion of science and soul.

Customer Reviews:

Passion is for LIfe.......2007-04-23

This refreshing book about passion is welcome as it characterizes some behavior what others might think was excessive as exuberance. A nice shift in perspective with a positive spin. Sees bi polar activity as many faceted and differing in each person

Get on with it!.......2006-11-24

I have yet to finish the book but within pages I was both crying and laughing from the EXUBERANCES of the folks highlighted. This is a great reminder to get on with it and stop taking yourself so seriously. I am giving it to many in my family for Christmas.

The Tragedy of Exuberance........2006-09-25

_Exuberance: The Passion for Life_ by psychiatrist Kay Redfield Jamison is a fairly interesting account of individuals who have exhibited a distinctive zest for living as revealed in their activities and work. Those who are prone to excessive enthusiasm, gregariousness, and creative insight are discussed by the author, who attempts to show what it is that uniquely determines this trait. While much of the writing in this book is beautiful, it must be pointed out that exuberance is not without its pitfalls. At times enthusiasm may overcome reason leading to unusual, eccentric, or even dangerous behavior, perhaps best illustrated in literature by the case of Toad from the book _The Wind in the Willows_ by Kenneth Grahame. And, often behind the personalities of exuberant individuals there lurks a darker side of irritability, depression, and despondency. Cases of collective exuberance include stock market booms and the battle lust exhibited by some soldiers during combat. However, as anyone quickly realizes both of these have their downside and can be highly destructive. In addition, exuberance often makes it difficult to interact with others. As the author explains, exuberance tends to be a trait that an individual either has or they don't. Those who lack this trait may become jealous of or annoyed with those who possess it in abundance. In the life of great scientists, the case of the physicist Richard Feynman provides an illustration of this. While he exhibited great exuberance in his teaching style, he often left students who could not keep up or who possessed a more placid personality completely alienated. Feynman himself seems to have understood this at times, and the author quotes one of his remarks to the effect that perhaps his style served only the purpose of amusing himself.

This book for me in many ways was a great temptation.

For many years I felt like much of what is described in this book. I was intensely enthuasiastic, curious, fascinated by detail, completely immersed in thoughts and ideas, and at times experiencing an almost mystical sort of communion with the world and nature. Then one day something happened. I began to realize that not everyone had these feelings and this zest for life, and that what was worse is that many resented me because I did. Things started to bother me more, I began to feel profoundly alienated, and feelings of distress and anxiety welled up inside of me. Little by little I was exhausting myself. As it turned out I became severely depressed, and it took a long while before I felt close to normal again.

I still sometimes have these feelings again, but I have learned now to keep them to myself. And this is the tragedy of exuberance. For every up side there is a down side.

The author Kay Jamison is perhaps best known for her research on and theories of manic depression. She herself is a sufferer from a rather severe form of this illness. And in this book, she attempts to link the more extreme forms of exuberance to mania. Exuberance may be seen on a continuum, in its milder forms it may involve an excess of enthusiasm, gregariousness, creativity, and perhaps even religious and mystical feelings. However, in excess exuberance may overcome reason and commonsense. It is in the form of hypomania and mania where excesses of exuberance prove most severe. And often lurking behind this great excess of feeling lies irritability, paranoia, and eventually depression. Perhaps most interesting in this regard is Jamison's discussion of the writer Robert Louis Stevenson, himself plagued by wild changes in mood, who wrote on the dual nature of man, perhaps most famously in his account of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. In this story, Stevenson revealed the conflict within man between his better nature and his shadow, darker self. This conflict may be observed in those individuals who exhibit exuberance at its most extreme. My one fault with Jamison's analysis is that she seems to restrict exuberance to extraverted individuals, and this restriction to me seems unwarranted. While extraverts may seem the natural sort to experience feelings of exuberance, I certainly believe that it is possible to have an introverted sort of exuberance (one allied perhaps with mysticism or scientific creativity and discovery). In addition, while the author mostly focuses on scientists and a few "eccentrics" and observers of nature, many scientists look down upon those who are exuberant, finding them lacking in the proper degree of objectivity, skepticism, and rigor necessary for the scientific endeavor. Indeed, an entire movement exists in the sciences that seeks to move away from any sort of cosmic, pantheistic, or mystical feelings of awe associated with nature towards a more brute materialism. Within the field of religion a similar thing exists, with many religious looking down on mystics.

Finally, I must add that my major problem with this book as with all Kay Jamison's books is her tendency to romanticize suffering and mental illness. She seems to associate certain personality traits with high social status, something I find particularly noxious. What is worse, she seems to associate mental illness, particularly manic depression, with high social status, creativity, and genius. Not only does this re-inforce stereotypes, but also it entirely overlooks the fact of the many individuals who suffer from this illness in silence and alone, never to achieve any social status whatsoever. Jamison never really seems to face fully on the darker more destructive side of things. And this leaves her almost oblivious to the social issues raised by mental illness. As with all her books, this one is really written for the high IQ, highly socially connected manic; however, Jamison never really seems to consider the fact that there are many who suffer in silence who are not so blessed.

Far from exuberant.......2006-07-18

Having read the five-star reviews I expected a joyful book. Unfortunately I got well and truly bogged down - not because of its intellectual weight (I've read far more erudite books than this) but because it seemed to analyse a human quality to death. What next: a mathematical formula for love - with warnings on overdose?

If other readers argue that any other approach to the subject would be frivolous, I would strongly disagree. Rather than being encouraged to experience joi do vie ourselves, we are constantly cautioned by the author to beware of the fine line between exuberance and psychopathology. Oh, we are assured - more as an afterthought - that we can reclaim joy in the end. But this is only after a long hard struggle.

Emphasising as it does the "duality of moods" the book is more a thesis on the unhealthy extremes - something that no doubt is germane for psychology students. But do we have to become so self-conscious about aliveness that we worry about going over the edge when we celebrate life?

It is interesting to note that the author does not mention playfulness, surely a 'calmer' form of exuberance, but which the majority of adults seem to have lost. No academic thesis, even if it is impressively articulate(as I concede this one is) will help us retrieve that lost quality. I note too that the author does not give personal examples. Does this mean that she is theorist only - an observer at best? If so, I'd like to hear from someone who speaks from experience. A child maybe. After all, children are reported to laugh every day five times more than adults. Perhaps this is because they are not so self-conscious and self-limiting in their approach to life as we are.

An Interesting, Anecdotal Exploration of Exuberance.......2006-07-03

As a scientific work, this book is well-written and presented in an interesting fashion. It consists mostly of brief anecdotes about people who were unusually exuberant, including Theodore Roosevelt, John Muir and Richard Feynman. There isn't a great deal of technical or clinical data, just well-written observations. The author's exploration of the dark side of exuberance was brief, but intriguing. If you are looking for a book about how to bring exuberance to your daily life, this isn't it. The author takes the position that exuberance isn't something that can be developed, but rather occurs naturally.

Refuse to Choose!: Use All of Your Interests, Passions, and Hobbies to Create the Life and Career of Your Dreams

Average customer rating:

Seems like twaddle to me
an inspiring explanation
Permission to be excited by the possibilities
A very hope inspiring book for people who cannot settle down
This Book Will Help People With Multiple Interests and Careers

Refuse to Choose!: Use All of Your Interests, Passions, and Hobbies to Create the Life and Career of Your Dreams
Barbara Sher
Manufacturer: Rodale Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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The Renaissance Soul: Life Design for People with Too Many Passions to Pick Just One
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Live the Life You Love: In Ten Easy Step-By Step Lessons
Wishcraft: How to Get What You Really Want

ASIN: 1594866260
Release Date: 2007-03-06

Book Description

Don’t know what to do with your life? Drawn to so many things that you can’t choose just one? New York Times best-selling author Barbara Sher has the answer—do EVERYTHING!

With her popular career counseling sessions, motivational speeches, workshops, and television specials, Barbara Sher has become famous for her extraordinary ability to help people define and achieve their goals. What Sher has discovered is that some individuals simply cannot, and should not, decide on a single path; they are genetically wired to pursue many areas. Sher calls them "Scanners"—people whose unique type of mind does not zero in on a single interest but rather scans the horizon, eager to explore everything they see.

In this groundbreaking book, readers will learn:

• what’s behind their "hit and run" obsessions

• when (and how) to finish what they start

• how to do everything they love

• what type of Scanner they are (and which tools they need to do their very best work)

Customer Reviews:

Seems like twaddle to me.......2007-09-16

I bought this based on a recommendation given in a session designed to help employees prepare for retirement. I found the book very disappointing - most of what's in here falls under the heading of "well, DUH!" I found no great insights, and little of lasting value in this book.

an inspiring explanation.......2007-08-24

Finally an explanation for my diverse interests. Very practical ideas for getting some of them done. Reading it felt like a wave of creativity washing over me.

Permission to be excited by the possibilities.......2007-08-13

Along with most reviewers, I've been a Barbara Sher fan for years. As a person with changing interests as well as a career counselor, I know the difficulties people face who change jobs, careers, or passions. It looks like the rest of the world picks a direction, gets in line, and marches in step. Not so for the rest of us. Sher's strength is her ability to listen and reflect on the angst that we have felt. She encourages us to be who we are, yet take the steps we need to actually accomplish something. Maybe I'll dig out that three-fourths completed manuscript and (gulp) pick a deadline.

A very hope inspiring book for people who cannot settle down.......2007-07-03

Because I am interested in so many things, this book naturally grabbed my attention. Barbara understands that "scanners" are not just losers or non-commital type but are people wired differently than others. They have great abilities that decades ago would have made them someone like Edison or DaVinci.
She differentiates the behaviour of the different types of scanners and then shares some helpful strategies and tools to make their lives more fulfilling and less guilty.
She gives some thoughtful advice about careers that allow scanners to be happy at work or at least at home after a day at the office.
I really enjoyed these ideas and intend to read this book through a second time.
Two things stand out. Her career ideas do not seem to help someone like me that is in a well paying job and with a family of 6 to support.
Also, after talking about how it is okay to move quickly between different interests, without much to show for it (in the traditional sense).
Barbara has a Epilogue section about how the scanner really should do a significant Project, and it might just take buckling down and pushing through it. This just seems so opposite from the rest of the book. But despite the last second twist, this is a book full of exciting possibilities.

This Book Will Help People With Multiple Interests and Careers.......2007-05-12

Dear Friends: I have been a big fan of Barbara Sher's work since her first book on managing multiple interests and careers, "Wishcraft," came out. "Wishcraft" made a huge difference in my life. "Refuse to Choose!" picks up where "Wishcraft" left off, and offers additional thoughts on assembling all of your prized projects and careers into a framework where you can pursue them all.

I worked as a career counselor at one time, so I believe that I can give an informed opinion on books about managing multiple careers.

I'm a scanner -- a Sybil scanner, to use Sher's classification scheme -- and I had spent years futilely trying to "specialize" and being mocked for having multiple interests, and being admonished to "pick one or two."

"Refuse to Choose!" has been very helpful to me, as I am trying to organize my multiple interests, and my (at least) four careers into a framework where I can be creative in each career and special interest for the next twenty years.

I read the criticisms of the book with some puzzlement -- they seem to have been written mostly by people who favor specialization and suppressing some interests in favor of completing a few projects. It's like reading reviews of a book on wine tasting by people who don't drink at all.

I would urge interested readers to examine the sample text of the book that Amazon presents and see for yourselves what a helpful book it is. Don't be fooled by the deceptively simple language Sher uses -- many of her insights into "scanners" are quite profound.

I have given several copies of the book to friends who are also "scanners."

The Rhythm of Life: Living Every Day with Passion and Purpose

Average customer rating:

Fantastic
Life Changing
Matthew Kelly's "The Ryhm of Life"
Fresh
Outstanding!!

The Rhythm of Life: Living Every Day with Passion and Purpose
Matthew Kelly
Manufacturer: Fireside
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0743265254

Amazon.com

Matthew Kelly, the charismatic minister, speaker and best-selling author from down under, wants you to live life out loud and on purpose. In this expanded version of The Rhythm of Life he syntheses Christian theology, cognitive psychology and storytelling to unpack the paradox of being happy. As Kelly explains, "We want to be happy. We know what makes us happy. But we don't do those things--because we are busy trying to be happy." So here's the gospel according to Kelly: Find a life-changing rhythm by choosing a central purpose and becoming "the best version of yourself." With examples draw from his own life and diverse cast of characters including Charlie Chaplin, Jude the apostle, piano man Billy Joel, the Magi, and Willy Wonka's chocolate factory, he maps the way to a meaningful life. Kelly makes thoughtful distinctions. He contrasts the difference between doing and having, the legitimate need for health and happiness with the illegitimate desire for expensive toys and the pursuit of minimalism vs. excellence. Then he gets specific, offering five questions about life's meaning, three instruments for anchoring your life and ten principles of excellence. At times, Kelly seems to be recycling his speeches and sermons or downplaying his religious stripes to seek a wider audience. And he lets cliches share the pages with memorable gems. But Kelly's gift is to convey the much-discussed ideas of personal accountability, mind management, and spirituality with passion and clarity. Barbara Mackoff

Book Description

Do you ever feel that if you weren't so busy you would be happier, healthier, more effective, more fulfilled...and maybe even a better person?

Once every twenty-five years or so, a book comes along that perfectly identifies our common search and struggle for happiness, and teaches us how to find lasting fulfillment in a changing world. This is that book. Not since M. Scott Peck published The Road Less Traveled have we experienced a voice as refreshing and authentic as Matthew Kelly's.

The Rhythm of Life will help you to bring into focus who you are and why you are here. Through this book Matthew Kelly will help you discover your legitimate needs, deepest desires, and unique talents. He will introduce you to the-best-version-of-yourself and lead you to a life filled with passion and purpose.

Here are just a few of the timeless creeds that he presents in The Rhythm of Life...

"You were born to become the-best-version-of-yourself. This is your essential purpose. Embrace this one solitary truth and it will change your life more than anything you have ever learned. In every situation, ask yourself, Which of the options before me will help me become the-best-version-of-myself?"

"Everything is a choice. This is life's greatest truth and its hardest lesson. It is a great truth because it reminds us of our power. Not power over others, but the power to be ourselves and to live the life we have imagined. It is a hard lesson because it causes us to realize that we have chosen the life we are living right now."

"The measure of your life will be the measure of your courage. Courage animates us, brings us to life, and makes everything else possible. Fear stops more people from doing something with their lives than lack of ability, contacts, resources, or any other single variable. Fear paralyzes the human spirit. Life takes courage."

"Energy is our most valuable resource, not time. The rhythm of life is a way of life that brings our legitimate needs, our deepest desires, and our unique talents into harmony with each other. The result: passion, purpose, and energy."

Kelly has a way of thinking and writing that cuts through the stifling clutter of our everyday lives and delivers a clarity that is both refreshing and liberating.

Download Description

"Do you ever feel that if you weren't so busy you would be happier, healthier, more effective, more fulfilled...and maybe even a better person? Once every twenty-five years or so, a book comes along that perfectly identifies our common search and struggle for happiness, and teaches us how to find lasting fulfillment in a changing world. This is that book. Not since M. Scott Peck published The Road Less Traveled have we experienced a voice as refreshing and authentic as Matthew Kelly's. "

Customer Reviews:

Fantastic.......2007-06-01

The Catholic answer to "Purpose Driven Life" This is a great book, well written and an easy read.

Life Changing.......2007-04-02

I was skeptical when a friend recommended this author, but a few pages into the book, I knew I had found a life altering read. Matthew Kelly shares pieces of himself and his journey in a way that makes you feel like you can have everything you have ever wanted out of life. It puts the power back in your hands and is a wake-up call to anyone who feels that life is just not 'all that'. I have referred to this book so many times since reading it and will continue to pass along the message to anyone who seems lost and unsure of the path to finding the best version of themselves.

Matthew Kelly's "The Ryhm of Life".......2007-02-07

Matthew Kelly is a phenomenal speaker and writer. If you have ever felt lost, confused, or felt as though your life was out of control, this is the book that will set you on the right path; on a path toward happiness.

Fresh.......2007-01-22

Matthew Kelly is once again delivering information which could be very complicated in a manner which is easy to understand and apply.

Outstanding!!.......2006-11-25

This book gives extreme insight and motivation to increase a person's well-being and striving toward self-confidence. An awesome combination of drive, passion and reality. Very Clever!

I Will Not Die an Unlived Life: Reclaiming Purpose and Passion

Average customer rating:

EXTREMELY USEFUL AND INSPIRATIONAL
Life Changing
I Will Not Die an Unlived Life
I Will Not Recommend This Book
This book is truly a gift from God!

I Will Not Die an Unlived Life: Reclaiming Purpose and Passion
Dawna Markova
Manufacturer: Conari Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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When I Loved Myself Enough

ASIN: 1573241016

Book Description

In I Will Not Die an Unlived Life, one of the most charismatic teachers and thinkers of today speaks from her heart. Twenty years ago, faced with a life-threatening illness, Dawna Markova began a journey of rediscovery. This book follows her path to finding deeper meaning in life. As she points out, people can continue to feel powerless and live habitual lives - or they can make the choice to follow their passion. "In a similar way to A Gift from the Sea, the readers of this book are invited to accompany me on a journey to come to know more intimately the value and purpose of their lives." - Dawna Markova

Customer Reviews:

EXTREMELY USEFUL AND INSPIRATIONAL.......2007-04-21

This is one of the few books I recommend to my clients on a regular basis. Dawna is an inspirational writer with a real handle on how to break through your resistance to living your purpose. Pamela D. Blair, Author The Next Fifty Years: A Guide for Women at Mid-Life And Beyond

Life Changing.......2005-11-15

Profound. That's about it in a nutshell. Friends have picked this book up at my house and then have gone out and bought their own copy. The words just wash over me and are calming to my soul, almost meditative - absolutely not preachy. I read the poem or at least say the words, "I will not die an unlived life" everyday.

I Will Not Die an Unlived Life.......2005-09-10

Stories and questions to ponder will inspire one to think about what kind of a life you are living.

I Will Not Recommend This Book.......2005-05-21

As an avid reader of self improvement books, I have to say that I was disappointed in this book. Let me say that I believe every book has purpose and meaning, just like every author. Unfortunately I found this book was somewhat negative to me, that it did not uplift me. Someone else may benefit from this book but it may depend on what they are ready to hear and how far they are on their path. At least that is my opinion. If I feel a book speaks to my soul I keep it in my private collection, if a book appears to be aligned with where a friend may be in their lives I pass it on and some I donate to the library hoping another person finds it when they need to hear its' message. I could not bear to donate this book to the library because I felt that uncomfortable with it! I didn't want to pass it on to anyone at all. I would recommend anything by Wayne Dyer, Eckhart Tolle, Don Miguel Ruiz, Doreen Virtue and Carolyn Myss. I would also recommend "Divine Demons" by Carla Berg (who also happens to be another person who spent time alone in nature to contemplate her life and life in general). This book I just can't recommend.

This book is truly a gift from God!.......2004-09-17

I love this book! I don't want to put it down once I started reading it. I brought it with me wherever I went. It is also one of the few books that I would re-read and also make book synopsis for regular reviews. Her words are those that you would want to keep in your heart all the time as reminders and companions. Wonderfully written, with stories that left me touched, moved and inspired.

Rage, fear, denial and inertia that were permanent blocks to me are now openings for passion. I am thankful to Dr Markova for her insights and her dedication to the world for knowing ourselves so that the gift God has blessed us with can be shared with the rest of the world. She is a demonstration of what passion looks like when its is claimed, nurtured and ignited!

The Renaissance Soul: Life Design for People with Too Many Passions to Pick Just One

Average customer rating:

Very validating and helpful, too!
Wow!
Great book
Perfect!!!! Just what I needed!
Like looking in a mirror

The Renaissance Soul: Life Design for People with Too Many Passions to Pick Just One
Margaret Lobenstine
Manufacturer: Broadway
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Wishcraft: How to Get What You Really Want

ASIN: 0767920880
Release Date: 2006-01-10

Book Description

How do I decide what to do with my life when there are so many things I want to do?

It is conventional wisdom that there is one true path in life for each of us. But what about those with a wide array of interests, a dynamic curiosity about the world, and an ever-renewing wellspring of passions? Margaret Lobenstine calls these people “Renaissance Souls,” and in this groundbreaking book, she offers a life-planning strategy in tune with their dynamic, change-loving personalities. Renaissance Souls often get stuck, moving from entry-level job to entry-level job, degree to degree, or hobby to hobby, unwilling to settle on just one thing to do “for the rest of my life.” Or, after achieving success in one field, they yearn for new challenges and begin looking around for something different. Yet they are also afraid that if they pursue their changing interests, they will have to give up on financial security, becoming “a jack of all trades and master of none.”

The Renaissance Soul, the first book devoted to this personality type, not only shows that it’s possible to design a successful, vibrant life built on multiple passions, but also gives readers the practical advice to do so. Lobenstine arms the reader with powerful life-design strategies, including how to:

*Understand the exciting and powerful difference between choice and focus

*Transform your day job so that it carries your dreams forward

*Manage your time the Renaissance Soul way

*Thrive on many interests without feeling scattered

*Get paid for your passions

*Learn a new field without going back to school

*Get inspired by Renaissance Souls from ancient times to the present, from Leonardo da Vinci to Ben Franklin to Oprah Winfrey

Stocked with creative exercises, relevant resources, and interviews with successful Renaissance Souls, this profoundly inspiring guide will show readers the way to a richer, more fulfilling life—big enough to embrace all their dreams.

Customer Reviews:

Very validating and helpful, too!.......2007-03-23

I consider myself the very model of a Renaissance Soul: I love to read about lots of subjects; I used to garden quite fanatically; I'm in a knitting/crocheting phase right now; music is a big part of my life; and I've been doing agility and other training with our dog. Oh, and I have a day job, too! My answer to "what do you want to be when you grow up" changed so often when I was younger that it made my head spin! So I was hoping this book would help me sort out how to feel fulfilled and yet not too diluted pursuing my many interests.

And indeed it did. Here are just a few helpful tidbits I took from the book: You do have to choose a few interests at any given time, based on the things you value most, but those choices don't have to be forever. You should quit doing things that don't fit with the values you hold most dear. You can combine interests (for example, I like to write and cook -- maybe I should write about food?). You need to block time for your interests, but not be inflexible about which interest you pursue at a given time. There are lots of creative ways to get where you want to go, even if you pursue many different careers over time, without starting at Square One each time.

And so much of what the author said validated the way I approach life, even toward the end helping me understand why I sometimes feel unmotivated to do anything at all.

My only complaint is that the book starts to sound branded or jargony, with its Renaissance Soul Way and Focus Points Notebook -- kind of like the Chicken Soup series or the Finish Rich series. This Renaissance Soul finds that stuff kind of annoying. But the content was so rich and sensible that the annoyance was minor. This book has really gotten me thinking about what I need to do to more fully enjoy my many interests.

Wow! .......2007-01-09

This book helped me to understand myself so much better. Some parts of me that others and even myself had considered negative attributes, turn out to be good things. The Focal Points part was especially helpful, helping me to take the 3 zillion things I'm interested in down to 5 to concentrate on. I have have had a little sign on my refrigerator for years that says, " Not all who wander are lost." This book helped me feel very validated and feel better about myself. I'm very thankful to the author, Margaret Lobenstine. Thank you so much.

Great book.......2006-11-09

Finally seeing in writing what has been spinning around in my head for years has been wonderful. It has helped me realize there is nothing "wrong" with me - I just think and do things differently than other people. I love the fact that I am constantly looking for new and different things to do and think about. This book has helped me realize that I do need to learn how to focus my energy on a few things and not get overwhelmed by all the opportunities around me.

Perfect!!!! Just what I needed!.......2006-10-18

I have spent quite some time trying to decide on one "forever" career and pick between my numerous intrests and hobbies becasue I just didn't have time for them all. I have read several standard time management books, and set up SMART goals and five year plans, only to change my mind or be unable to follow through till the end, mostly because I either lost interest or couldn't imagine doing this thing or that "forever." The last few months I have been unable to do much of anything; I have finally earned my Master's and have tons of new-found spare time, but couldn't decide what to fill it with, mostly because there were so many interesting things to fill it with! So I had been stuck in indecision and been extremely "unproductive." Then I found this book!!! This book has been helpful in so many ways, none the least because I finally know there isn't anything wrong with me! There are plenty of others like me who have so many interests that we just don't know where to begin. If this sounds like you, I would highly reccommend this book. Everything else I have to say has been covered by other reviewers, but I do want to add that after figuring out my focal points, I have been able to come up with much more creative and enjoyable ways of meeting my goals then I ever did trying to make everything a SMART goal. Enjoy- I did!

Like looking in a mirror.......2006-09-24

Anyone who has three books going at the same time, who hates the thought of constraining him- or herself to just one "thing," or who gets swallowed up for hours in a bookstore will find themselves in this book.

Lobenstine does an excellent job of describing the "renaissance" personality and helping people who fall in this category to accept and embrace their "diagnosis." She offers concrete ways of working with -- instead of against -- our personality traits.

I love feeling like I'm not alone, and I appreciated some of the concrete suggestions, but I finished this book feeling a little lost as to what my next steps should be. How do I select my four (or five) focal areas when it's nearly impossible for me to choose ANYTHING? I would have appreciated a more structured approach to winnowing -- rather than narrowing -- my choices.

Overall, though, full of tons of great inspiration, if a little light on the practical side.

The Fred Factor: How Passion in Your Work and Life Can Turn the Ordinary into the Extraordinary

Average customer rating:

This book is pretty short, but good
The Fred Factor
Fun and easy read
The Fred Factor
great tool for team and conference

The Fred Factor: How Passion in Your Work and Life Can Turn the Ordinary into the Extraordinary
Mark Sanborn
Manufacturer: WaterBrook Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 1578568323
Release Date: 2004-04-20

Book Description

Seize the chance to be extraordinary.

Who has made the biggest difference in your life? Whose words and actions have uplifted and motivated you to excel? Chances are it was someone like Fred the postman--so outstanding in his service that Mark Sanborn realized this mail carrier could be an example for any person wanting to be extraordinary.

The “Fred factor” is summarized by four principles that will release fresh energy, enthusiasm, and creativity in your career and life:

• Make a Difference
• Build Relationships
• Create Value
• Reinvent Yourself

You, too, can apply The Fred Factor to enrich the lives of customers, co-workers, friends, and family members, as well as reach new levels of personal success yourself. Sanborn also shows how to discover and develop other “Freds.

Why not become a “Fred” yourself? You will turn the ordinary moments of life into extraordinary opportunities to make a difference in the world.

Customer Reviews:

This book is pretty short, but good.......2007-01-22

This is a very short book: something like 113 pages with not a lot of page surface for words. It's one of those books that should really have been longer (to get your money's worth) but couldn't really be without distorting the clarity of the message.

It is a quick and enjoyable read, and it has a lot of real life examples and ideas. Most of it is commonsense, but that doesn't mean it isn't useful. It is all about the excellent service that a mail carrier provides over his career, and why he chooses to go "above and beyond" all the time with his dedication.

It reminds me a lot of another book called "Fish! A Remarkable Way to Boost Morale and Improve Results". We read both books for our workplace book-club and enjoyed both. Both were written by motivational speakers, and both try to work their way into a whole teaching program with awards and special terms and the like. Personally, I don't care for this type of commercialization, and I'm not about to go out calling people "Freds" or hand out "Fred" pins, but I darn well am going to look at the message of the book seriously and take it to heart.

I recommend this as a book that will appeal to a lot of people because it is not intimidating (especially to non-readers) and because it is written in an easy conversational style. (I think it is a good book for reading clubs.)

And finally, as one of my favorite lines in the book said (spoken by Abraham Lincoln) "Whatever you are, be a good one."

The Fred Factor.......2007-01-09

Outstanding look at excellent customer service and what it takes to deliver it!

Fun and easy read.......2007-01-06

This is a very motivating book. I shared it with my team of guest service reps at our hospital and they loved it. It is a fun read and a great discussion piece.

The Fred Factor.......2006-11-10

Not an easy read, kind of slow. There is some good advice that we already know, but just don't utilize. I still haven'r finished reading.

great tool for team and conference.......2005-08-15

I thought this book was extremely helpful with ideas on how to improve service and thereby improve business

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