I just had the chance to review a new book by best-selling author John Maxwell called, “Put Your Dream to the Test”. We’ve all had dreams, but not all of us have lived them or made them reality for a number of reasons. And while I’ve realized some of mine, I feel I still have many more to live.
Maxwell covers the following topics in his book:
1. The Ownership Question: Is my dream really my dream?
2. The Clarity Question: Do I clearly see my dream?
3. The Reality Question: Am I depending on factors within my control to achieve my dream?
4. The Passion Question: Does my dream compel me to follow it?
5. The Pathway Question: Do I have a strategy to reach my dream?
6. The People Question: Have I included the people I need to realize my dream?
7. The Cost Question: Am I willing to pay the price for my dream?
8. The Tenacity Question: Am I moving closer to my dream?
9. The Fulfillment Question: Does working toward my dream bring satisfaction?
10. The Significance Question: Does my dream benefit others?
Reading “Put Your Dream to the Test” is putting not just my dreams, but also me to the test. In reading it, I’ve been challenged to ask myself the questions it poses and to make decisions that make it clear that I am the one responsible for whether or not I will go for my dreams and give them a try. After reading this, I feel strengthened and empowered to do something about them!
Disclosure: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Beyond Talent
I love the way John Maxwell presents his book, “Beyond Talent”. The language is simple and clear and the message easy to grasp. His book explains that having talent is not enough, you must work hard to develop your talent in order to become successful. The chapters each outline one of 13 factors to maximize a person's talent. Just reading the titles and blurbs of each chapter got me right there! I love the way he uses one main story per chapter to illustrate the lesson he brings out, it makes it so easy to remember and remind myself of this points. The topics covered are:
1. Beliefs lifts you talent. It’s called the guarantee. At the time, many people said it was just big talk. Not true. It was a mark of the confidence possessed by the person who uttered it. That strong sense of belief made him a legend and his team members champions. What could it do for you?
2. Passion energizes your talent. Why would a barber receive a prestigious fellowship, be recognized by the U.S. Small Business Administration, and be awarded an honorary doctorate? Hint: it has little to do with barbering and everything to do with his passion to change the world.
3. Initiative activates your talent. No one can make the most of his talent in the midst of bureaucratic red tape, especially in the fallout of natural disaster. Right? You might be surprised. Because of its initiative, this company was able to do the seemingly impossible in a remarkable sixty-six days.
4. Focus directs your talent. What do you get when you put two unfocused and inexperienced hunters in one of the most bountiful hunting regions in the world? Comedy! Learn where and how to focus your efforts so that you get much better results than these hunters did.
5. Preparation positions your talent. How do you prepare for a trip to an uncharted area with unknown obstacles for which you must pack everything you’ll need for more than a year? That was the challenge for this great adventurer. He was successful. This chapter will help you to be prepared for whatever challenge lies ahead of you.
6. Practice sharpens your talent. Nobody gave Charles a chance. Even his own family expected him to fail. But instead of letting it bother him, he practiced. Soon he became the best in the world at his profession. He’s been called the first person to become a name brand. His secret can become yours.
7. Perseverance sustains your talent. What do you do when a decade-old dream dies? That was the question for Vonetta. She wanted to quit, but how could she? She placed her hopes in a new dream, and her perseverance took her through to the highest level. Find out where it can take you.
8. Courage tests your talent. His courage was legendary. Churchill stood alone against the Nazis and inspired a nation to stand with him during World War II. His story and how he developed his courage as a young man may also inspire you.
9. Teachability expands your talent. He may have been the most talented person who ever lived. At age twenty-six he was recognized as a master. But even greater than his talent were his curiosity and teachability. Those qualities elevated him from master to legend. Will they also elevate you?
10. Character protects your talent. What is the greatest threat to your talent? Lack of resources? Training? Opportunity? No, lack of character. When this scientist cut corners and lied, he not only hurt himself—he let the whole world down. Learn how character can protect you.
11. Relationships influence your talent. He was a drug addict. He spent time in jail. Some thought he was a lost cause. But not this woman. She helped him turn his life around. All relationships influence our talent—one way or the other. Discover whether your relationships are taking you in the best direction.
12. Responsibility strengthens your talent. Is there such a thing as too much talent? Can it lead to a person’s downfall? Dan had a one-in-a-million athletic gift. But what hurt him wasn’t too much talent—it was too little responsibility. Find out how to increase your responsibility to match the size of your talent.
13. Teamwork multiplies your talent. To what does a world-class activist and rock star attribute his success? To the same thing that the best pilots in the world and the nation’s top CEOs do. Teamwork! Individuals make it to the top only with the help of others. Learn how teamwork can work for you.
1. Beliefs lifts you talent. It’s called the guarantee. At the time, many people said it was just big talk. Not true. It was a mark of the confidence possessed by the person who uttered it. That strong sense of belief made him a legend and his team members champions. What could it do for you?
2. Passion energizes your talent. Why would a barber receive a prestigious fellowship, be recognized by the U.S. Small Business Administration, and be awarded an honorary doctorate? Hint: it has little to do with barbering and everything to do with his passion to change the world.
3. Initiative activates your talent. No one can make the most of his talent in the midst of bureaucratic red tape, especially in the fallout of natural disaster. Right? You might be surprised. Because of its initiative, this company was able to do the seemingly impossible in a remarkable sixty-six days.
4. Focus directs your talent. What do you get when you put two unfocused and inexperienced hunters in one of the most bountiful hunting regions in the world? Comedy! Learn where and how to focus your efforts so that you get much better results than these hunters did.
5. Preparation positions your talent. How do you prepare for a trip to an uncharted area with unknown obstacles for which you must pack everything you’ll need for more than a year? That was the challenge for this great adventurer. He was successful. This chapter will help you to be prepared for whatever challenge lies ahead of you.
6. Practice sharpens your talent. Nobody gave Charles a chance. Even his own family expected him to fail. But instead of letting it bother him, he practiced. Soon he became the best in the world at his profession. He’s been called the first person to become a name brand. His secret can become yours.
7. Perseverance sustains your talent. What do you do when a decade-old dream dies? That was the question for Vonetta. She wanted to quit, but how could she? She placed her hopes in a new dream, and her perseverance took her through to the highest level. Find out where it can take you.
8. Courage tests your talent. His courage was legendary. Churchill stood alone against the Nazis and inspired a nation to stand with him during World War II. His story and how he developed his courage as a young man may also inspire you.
9. Teachability expands your talent. He may have been the most talented person who ever lived. At age twenty-six he was recognized as a master. But even greater than his talent were his curiosity and teachability. Those qualities elevated him from master to legend. Will they also elevate you?
10. Character protects your talent. What is the greatest threat to your talent? Lack of resources? Training? Opportunity? No, lack of character. When this scientist cut corners and lied, he not only hurt himself—he let the whole world down. Learn how character can protect you.
11. Relationships influence your talent. He was a drug addict. He spent time in jail. Some thought he was a lost cause. But not this woman. She helped him turn his life around. All relationships influence our talent—one way or the other. Discover whether your relationships are taking you in the best direction.
12. Responsibility strengthens your talent. Is there such a thing as too much talent? Can it lead to a person’s downfall? Dan had a one-in-a-million athletic gift. But what hurt him wasn’t too much talent—it was too little responsibility. Find out how to increase your responsibility to match the size of your talent.
13. Teamwork multiplies your talent. To what does a world-class activist and rock star attribute his success? To the same thing that the best pilots in the world and the nation’s top CEOs do. Teamwork! Individuals make it to the top only with the help of others. Learn how teamwork can work for you.
Sunday, April 10, 2011
The Final Summit
This is the first book I've read from Andy Andrews. “The Final Summit” is very well written, telling the story of David Ponder, now in his older years and has just lost his wife Ellen. David is visited by an angel who tells him he has a special job for him, to work with many fellow Travelers including famous historical leaders to find the one principle which will save mankind before time runs out.
In this book, David Ponder, now an old man, is visited by Gabriel. He has been sent to gather all the "Travelers" to answer the single question that will save humanity. The "Travelers" were people who had the experience of time travel and/or a visit from Gabriel in order to respond wisely to some event in history.
Andrews explores principles that have guided great leaders in days past and how we might apply these to our lives.
Though not my style, this is a well written book that gets you thinking about life and how we’re living it.
Disclaimer: I received this video set free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.
In this book, David Ponder, now an old man, is visited by Gabriel. He has been sent to gather all the "Travelers" to answer the single question that will save humanity. The "Travelers" were people who had the experience of time travel and/or a visit from Gabriel in order to respond wisely to some event in history.
Andrews explores principles that have guided great leaders in days past and how we might apply these to our lives.
Though not my style, this is a well written book that gets you thinking about life and how we’re living it.
Disclaimer: I received this video set free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.
Knock ‘Em Dead 2011
Finding myself nearing my last years of high school and entering the job market as I continue my studies, I can say that this has been a time of relative anxiety and trepidation as to what I will find and how this will work out for me especially in today’s reality of the economy, job market and opportunities.
I love the way “Knock ‘Em Dead” takes you through many of the different angles I will be facing, giving me the help and tools I will need. And not only that, but giving good advice and helpful links on areas I need to work on starting from branding myself and going on to transferred skills, learned behavior and core values that are important. I have greatly benefited from the information and web links included and know that this book is one that I will be using and referring to at each step of my journey.
I like how this book is updated for today’s realities and a new edition seems to be put out each year. I found a few of the web links are no longer available, but I can imagine that is understandable and to be expected when you are referring to other web sites which may be changed and updated as well so it’s not always easy to know ahead of time.
I’m working on the different steps and areas that are pointed out and look forward to seeing how they will help me in my job search!
Disclaimer: I received this video set free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.
I love the way “Knock ‘Em Dead” takes you through many of the different angles I will be facing, giving me the help and tools I will need. And not only that, but giving good advice and helpful links on areas I need to work on starting from branding myself and going on to transferred skills, learned behavior and core values that are important. I have greatly benefited from the information and web links included and know that this book is one that I will be using and referring to at each step of my journey.
I like how this book is updated for today’s realities and a new edition seems to be put out each year. I found a few of the web links are no longer available, but I can imagine that is understandable and to be expected when you are referring to other web sites which may be changed and updated as well so it’s not always easy to know ahead of time.
I’m working on the different steps and areas that are pointed out and look forward to seeing how they will help me in my job search!
Disclaimer: I received this video set free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)