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Bringing Out the Best in Others!: 3 Keys for Business Leaders, Educators, Coaches and Parents
Did you know that two-thirds of all entrepreneurs are first borns? That 21 of the first 23 astronauts were first borns? That 45 percent of female world leaders between 1960 and 1999 were first borns? Using these three factors, business leaders increased productivity and improved profits, parents boosted their children's grade point averages, educators improved the performances of entires classes. Include Leader's Guide.
192 pages, Hardcover
First published December 13, 2002
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
August 30, 2019
I've read this book in bits and pieces over a few years. There are some good insights on how to help others reach their potential and provide constructive feedback. A lot of it has to do with how to change other people's mindset without offending them.
The format of this book was difficult for me, I'm guessing someone just transcribed a seminar hosted by the author. I struggled reading a lot of it in one sitting.
The format of this book was difficult for me, I'm guessing someone just transcribed a seminar hosted by the author. I struggled reading a lot of it in one sitting.
September 1, 2008
At first I didn't like the style of writing. But then I got into looking for the key points and the lessons to be learned about how people react, how to go about resolving issues, and really turning your negative situations around to more positive, productive ones.
Quick and easy read.
Quick and easy read.
Read
August 2, 2013A little too simplistic for me--for an excellent book on motivation I'd recommend Influencer instead.
February 11, 2014
1.5 stars. Nothing earth shattering but good reinforcement. The writing style (more of a story with characters) was just too juvenile and cheesy for me.
November 20, 2020
Another amazingly motivational book from Tom! He really makes it all make sense! I can’t wait to apply the 3 keys in my classroom and share them with our school based leadership team!
August 7, 2013
Initial note: The principal got this for everyone at work. I went in positively, but I'm not sure after only reading the first 30ish pages. It literally starts with FIVE pages of cookie cutter testimonials, and the set-up so far is a cheesy 3rd person view of a group working to motivate others. Motivating others includes things like ensuring your lazy 5th grade class realize their potential as adults and wringing that "last 2 or 3% of efficiency" out of your factory workers.
I'm keeping an open mind and indeed think there are likely some positive things in here, but I don't like the presentation--it's like an infomercial written as a book--and it seems very numbers and "measurable improvement" driven. We'll see.
Finished: It's really a short read, but I took an extended break because I was so annoyed. This is really a wretchedly condescending book, and I am very wary of how it is going to be applied this year at work.
There are some good things in there, but the author treats his principles-- Positive Expectations, Accountability, and Feedback -- his three "special keys," like they are earth-shattering rather than a polished presentation of the same old stuff. And his opening attention grabber chapter, that this is serious stuff, and he was able to "discover" these ground-breaking principles by observing first-born children...makes about as much sense as that sentence does.
You know how an infomercial inserts the "dummy" character to ask all the right questions and go "Ooooooohh" a lot so everyone knows they should be impressed at the right moments? This author puts in FIVE "dummy" trainees who all love the amazingness, occasionally display the perfect amount of doubt to segue into the fake presenter's next explanation, play along with cheap motivational ploys that would make my seven-year-old angry--let alone my jr. high students or colleagues-- (If the principal starts a joke contest to illustrate how we all crave positive feedback, I'm going to start throwing pencils), and all achieve even more than they intended. "The company's profits didn't just go up by 1.5 million dollars, but the kids in the little league baseball team I coach all became winners too!" Yes, that is a "real" example of a fake person's triumph in the book.
The book comes from an assumption that the person who will be implementing these principles knows what is best for their targets, and that those people are just waiting for this wise boss/parent/teacher/friend to ask them "How" and "What" questions and praise them a lot so they'll "reach for the stars" and "achieve their potential!" Because obviously, even middle-aged men misbehave like 2-yr-olds just to get negative attention at work if they're not getting positive attention. (Yes, this claim is made about the fictional sales employee of the fictional sales manager. But she repeats the same question to him like 10 times in a row, and he becomes magically motivated and nearly doubles his sales.) No one can ever doubt this, or they're just a negative person who harms children.
I really did get some reminders of positivity and specificity of feedback, plus some good ideas for goals...but the utterly condescending tone of the book along with it's complete and total confidence in its own brilliance just leave a sour taste in my mouth.
How many fake jokes to fake people can the author write while describing who laughed and how hard? Seriously. It's like describing the laugh track to an 80's sitcom in an effort to show you how "normal" these fake people are. Bizarre.
A quick skimmed list of examples:
"Yes," said Carlos with a grin. "As a laterborn, I was ready to challenge if you brought up genetics." Tony and the others laughed. pg. 27
Carlos broke into a grin. pg. 32
"That's a good quote," said Mike. "I think I'll that and hang it in my classroom." (OK, not a joke. But this is the tone of how the fake characters interact with the fake motivational coach, and it makes me mad for teachers.) pg. 35
Mike and Janet laughed; the others smiled. pg. 69
The others grinned back at Tony and nodded. "Go for it!" said Lloyd. ... Most of his students were laughing, too, amused -- and not a little puzzled. .. The laughing stopped and room grew quiet [sic]. They were still smiling, but for a minute no one spoke. pg. 84
...asked Carlos with a smile. Tony chuckled. pg. 110
Lloyd grinned. ... Mary and Janet laughed. ... The whole room burst into laughter -- Lloyd loudest of all. pg. 164
This brought a laugh. pg. 191
Lloyd grinned. "I appreciate that." ... Tony smiled. pg. 192
I'm keeping an open mind and indeed think there are likely some positive things in here, but I don't like the presentation--it's like an infomercial written as a book--and it seems very numbers and "measurable improvement" driven. We'll see.
Finished: It's really a short read, but I took an extended break because I was so annoyed. This is really a wretchedly condescending book, and I am very wary of how it is going to be applied this year at work.
There are some good things in there, but the author treats his principles-- Positive Expectations, Accountability, and Feedback -- his three "special keys," like they are earth-shattering rather than a polished presentation of the same old stuff. And his opening attention grabber chapter, that this is serious stuff, and he was able to "discover" these ground-breaking principles by observing first-born children...makes about as much sense as that sentence does.
You know how an infomercial inserts the "dummy" character to ask all the right questions and go "Ooooooohh" a lot so everyone knows they should be impressed at the right moments? This author puts in FIVE "dummy" trainees who all love the amazingness, occasionally display the perfect amount of doubt to segue into the fake presenter's next explanation, play along with cheap motivational ploys that would make my seven-year-old angry--let alone my jr. high students or colleagues-- (If the principal starts a joke contest to illustrate how we all crave positive feedback, I'm going to start throwing pencils), and all achieve even more than they intended. "The company's profits didn't just go up by 1.5 million dollars, but the kids in the little league baseball team I coach all became winners too!" Yes, that is a "real" example of a fake person's triumph in the book.
The book comes from an assumption that the person who will be implementing these principles knows what is best for their targets, and that those people are just waiting for this wise boss/parent/teacher/friend to ask them "How" and "What" questions and praise them a lot so they'll "reach for the stars" and "achieve their potential!" Because obviously, even middle-aged men misbehave like 2-yr-olds just to get negative attention at work if they're not getting positive attention. (Yes, this claim is made about the fictional sales employee of the fictional sales manager. But she repeats the same question to him like 10 times in a row, and he becomes magically motivated and nearly doubles his sales.) No one can ever doubt this, or they're just a negative person who harms children.
I really did get some reminders of positivity and specificity of feedback, plus some good ideas for goals...but the utterly condescending tone of the book along with it's complete and total confidence in its own brilliance just leave a sour taste in my mouth.
How many fake jokes to fake people can the author write while describing who laughed and how hard? Seriously. It's like describing the laugh track to an 80's sitcom in an effort to show you how "normal" these fake people are. Bizarre.
A quick skimmed list of examples:
"Yes," said Carlos with a grin. "As a laterborn, I was ready to challenge if you brought up genetics." Tony and the others laughed. pg. 27
Carlos broke into a grin. pg. 32
"That's a good quote," said Mike. "I think I'll that and hang it in my classroom." (OK, not a joke. But this is the tone of how the fake characters interact with the fake motivational coach, and it makes me mad for teachers.) pg. 35
Mike and Janet laughed; the others smiled. pg. 69
The others grinned back at Tony and nodded. "Go for it!" said Lloyd. ... Most of his students were laughing, too, amused -- and not a little puzzled. .. The laughing stopped and room grew quiet [sic]. They were still smiling, but for a minute no one spoke. pg. 84
...asked Carlos with a smile. Tony chuckled. pg. 110
Lloyd grinned. ... Mary and Janet laughed. ... The whole room burst into laughter -- Lloyd loudest of all. pg. 164
This brought a laugh. pg. 191
Lloyd grinned. "I appreciate that." ... Tony smiled. pg. 192
September 8, 2014
0 stars. Dropped this read so fast after realizing it was going to be one big third person fly on the wall of a cheesy group meeting. Got as far as mumbo jumbo about first borns being leaders (but not all! Because, statistics) and blechhhhhhhhh. I dno why I'm even taking the time to write this. Just to let future me know to never pick this one up again!!
Read
July 23, 2012Good ideas and positive thoughts
September 15, 2014
Didn't finish.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews