Rothacker Reviews

An Old Friend

Ralphy was one of those kids who went unnoticed during school and life. In school he could hang with either the Jocks, the Greasers, the Collegiates*, the Heads or the Nerds (Geeks if they'd been invented then). Though he loved sports, the Jocks were his least favorite group.  Later on in life Ralphy could hang with ironworkers, librarians, executives, truck drivers, gangsters (not gangsta's), consultants or IT guys.

Although Ralphy had the ability to hang at most times, there were certain periods of his life when he hung out with certain types of people.  When he was with these folks, he migrated away from the others.  Such was a time in the early to mid 70's.

Ralphy was hanging out with the Heads.  Pink Floyd, Strawberry Boonesfarm wine and a little Columbian frequented him and his friends throughout a two year stretch.  One day at the end of this period, he was sitting on the sidewalk on the Haight-Ashbury strip of his town when Suzie nearly tripped over him.  He hadn't seen Suzie in two years.  They quickly caught up.  Suzie got to Ralphy.  He now yearned to escape the haze-laden merry-go-round of his life and hang with her.  Or at least around her and his old friends who now worked at the agency.  And he did just that.

A short time later on a warm July morning, Ralphy sat on a bench in the park looking out at the river.  He'd still run in to his various groups of friends.  While he valued their friendships, the connections waned.   It was good to revisit an old friend.  Ralphy had always connected with Suzie and her crew.   But during his period with the Heads, it was a weak connection.  Now, because of an open mind, a fresh breeze of Spring - a reconnection, blew in from the river.

Sometimes what you could use, you've always had.

I had picked up a copy of Making a Literary Life during a period of my life when I wasn't quite connecting with my writing.  It spoke Chinese as I read English.  I picked it off of my book shelf yesterday and was delighted to see we were both speaking the same language.

So, which group of my friends was I hanging around with when I originally picked up Making a Literary Life?    Management and leadership books - the Heads.

*Ralphy owned a pair of wingtips and a pair of penny loafers. He also owned a black leather coat and sweaters.

Kevin Eikenberry: Remarkable Leadership

You pick up a new book and begin to read.  What causes you to shelve it or continue on?

If it is written by a familiar author you'll likely read on.  If it is a topic that you enjoy you'll likely read on.  If it is written in such a way that its messages penetrate, causing you to think, you'll likely read on.

Kevin Eikenberry's new book, Remarkable Leadership hits me squarely on all three of the above reasons.   I have had a galley of  Remarkable Leadership for a couple of weeks.  It quickly made its way to the top of my to read list, even elbowing the highly popular Made to Stick out of the way -  because I know Kevin.

What actually caused me to come over here to my computer and write about Kevin's book before I finished it are two penetrating messages that appear before page seven.  Kevin uses an analogy of hall of fame hockey player Wayne Gretsky and the individual skills that made him the greatest hockey player of all time against the skills or core competencies that make an effective leader.  Next, Kevin uses a tree to enlighten us on strengthening strengths versus working on weaknesses. 

The ability of a person to relate a concept against other things that people already know, is the mark of a most excellent teacher.  Not only does Mr. Eikenberry do this, but he does it like Walter Payton, like Judy Garland, like Ozzie Smith, like Michael Jordan, like Tiger Woods...with ease and smoothness.

I had to double check the copyright date of Kevin's last book Vantagepoints on Learning and Life.  At first I thought it was written twenty years ago.  Because there's no way for someone to improve their writing that much in any less time.   But Kevin did.  The first thirty pages are very well written and it is enough for me to tell you that you must pick up a copy today!

Perception Sucks

Basically, this is a story about how incompetent I can be.

I have this penchant where if I see a bunch of people running in one direction, I want to run the opposite way as fast as I can.  I reminded myself yesterday and today, for that is exactly how long it took me to read this book, that this little attitude of mine is not always a good thing.

I became aware of this book about the same time I became aware of books about cheese, fish, fans and performing the art of management in one minute.  For some reason, and I have no idea on earth why, I lumped this book into that category.  About eight years later Victoria purchased a book by this author and raved about it.  "Dad, you gotta get this book!  Maybe though you want to first pick up the book Mitch wrote in 97." 

I am beginning to understand the meaning behind the word brand - A mark that is burned into flesh.  A perception that is burned into our minds.  Even with Vickie's enthusiastic endorsement, I couldn't buy the book.  This was a cheese-fish-fan book and I couldn't buy it. 

After ten years I finally listened.  I listened to someone say what this book was actually about.  I came to understand it is a true book - I never knew this.  So I bought the book on Friday, started to read it on Saturday and finished it today.  It is one of the best books that I've ever read. 

I am not going to review Tuesday's With Morrie because you've already read it.  I believe I am the last person in America who hadn't.  I will say that it is extremely well written!  I only say extremely well because I cannot think of anything stronger at the moment. 

You see, that's the thing about branding.  It matters not what the one with the iron thinks.  It only matters what the one who is getting his flesh seared, perceives.    

Lizzie

The sun is bright today.  Green runs over the park today.  I'm with Mom today.  I like being with Mom.  She makes me feel safe.  People walk by and stare at me.  I thirty-two.  They stare all my life. 

Mom says I got an extra chromo.  It makes me different.  I don't know what that means.  I am who I am.  I love the little people.  They smile at me.  They play.  They run.  They make me feel warm inside.  I like to feel warm inside.  I like dogs.  Their tails wag.  They bark.  They got cold noses. 

I go to school everyday.  Then I go to the kitchen.  I help older ladies give people lunch.  I like to help people.  These people smile at me.  I can't remember their names.  They don't wear nice clothes.  I am so lucky to have nice clothes.  Sometimes they don't sleep in the same place at night.  I sleep in the same bed every night.  I am lucky.  Sometimes they get sick and I don't see them.  Mom takes me to Dr Lucy when I get sick.  I am lucky.  Sometimes the nice people don't smell so good.  I am lucky to take a bath every night.

Hi, my name is Lizzie.  I like me.  I like my Mom and the ladies in the kitchen and Elle at school and Katie next door and Leslie my sister but I don't see her much cause she lives far away.  Did I tell you I like flowers?  They are pretty.  They smell pretty.  I like grass too.  I like to roll in the grass.  I like to smell grass after Mr Pete cuts it.  I like music.  I like people who sing music.  Mom doesn't like my music though. 

I am making a painting for Miss Betsy from the kitchen.  I have been working on it since there was snow on the ground.  Miss Betsy's granddaughter is real sick.  I want to give it to her.  This will make me feel warm inside.  I like to feel warm inside.

Mom says one day I will meet God.  But I think I meet God everyday.  If God is the person who makes everything, well then I think He leaves a piece of Himself in everything He makes.  The doggy, the grass,the flower, Mr Pete.  That's why I try to be nice to everybody.  Cause if God is as important as Mom says then I can't never be too sure cause I don't want Him to be mad at me but Mom says He probably wouldn't be mad at me cause I am different but I am not different cause I am who I am.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Lizzie isn't a real person.  She isn't based upon a real person.  Lizzie has a tender heart.  She loves many things.  She is not complicated.  She sees the inherent good in all people.  She appreciates the simplest of things.  Lizzie has a beautiful heart.

I was experimenting with Lizzie to elicit a feeling of simplistic appreciation. 

Fun Works

Fun Works by Leslie Yerkes.

Dick Richards trumps the fish.  Browsing through Fun Works I notice the first story is about the fish place in Seattle.  I wanted to shelve the book.  Corporate America embraced the fish place.  It bought its workers the book.  "Read it.  We will be a fun place to work.  File a weekly report.  Fun surveys at month's end."

But, as is my custom, I read the pages towards the book's end.  (Rosemary hits me when she catches me doing this).  I notice that Dick writes a page on what fun is to him at work.  Dick trumps the fish.

Thank God for friends like Dick.  This is a good book.

Actually, there are two other reasons that I dug into this book.  Berrett-Koehler, the publisher.  And the fact that Leslie works in Cleveland.  I remember reading a Fast Company article in November of 2005, about BK.  (FC's archives are screwed up.  The article isn't available).  I believe it was how they interacted with their authors that caught my attention.

Leslie originally published Fun Works in 2000.  She discusses eleven principles that are found in fun companies to work for.  Here are a few:

• Give permission to perform
• Trust the process
• Value a diversity of fun styles
• Expand the boundaries
• Hire good people and get out of the way (my favorite!)
• Be authentic

Each principle gets a chapter and a case study on a company that best exemplifies it.  As the book was originally published in 2000, Leslie includes a 2006 update.  She includes a page of reflection following the updates.  This produces a nice, clarifying effect.

A couple more distinguishing characteristics of Fun Works.  Plenty of white space.  White space helps me get physical with my books.  Pictures, graphics and an overall clean design sets this book apart.

There is a fun / work fusion inventory at the book's end.  I see this survey as a perfect complement to Marcus Buckingham's Measuring Stick survey from First, Break all  the Rules.  The manager takes Leslie's test and the workforce takes Marcus's.

Pick up a copy of this book and see what kind of fun folks are having at work.