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Follow Your Conscience: Make a Difference in Your Life & in the Lives of Others
Moral character is the DNA of success and happiness.
Follow Your Conscience is jam-packed with actionable advice on improving your relationships, strengthening your career, and finding your purpose in life.
Follow Your Conscience answers questions such as: How do you build a solid reputation? How do you achieve better balance in life? What makes relationships last? How can you spot a counterfeit leader? What steps should you take during tough times? What separates the haves from the have-nots? How do you build a solid foundation for your kids? What are proven ways to build trust and credibility? And what’s the most important lesson in life?
Follow Your Conscience is exhilarating and inspiring. It provides:
• 11 ways to gain someone’s respect.
• 50 opportunities to build trust and credibility.
• 25 things that kids can learn about life through sports.
• 6 strategies to reduce stress and anxiety.
• 20 ground rules for building win-win relationships.
• 55 ways to show someone that you care.
• 7 steps to enhance your reputation.
• 10 values that form the basis of a strong marriage.
• 6 common risks people take that could turn into a nightmare.
• 24 character traits of an effective leader. And more!
You’ll feel enlightened, motivated, and rejuvenated.
Frank Sonnenberg is an award-winning author. He has written five books and over 300 articles. Frank was recently named one of “America’s Top 100 Thought Leaders” and nominated as one of “America’s Most Influential Small Business Experts.” Additionally, FrankSonnenbergOnline was named among the “Best 21st Century Leadership Blogs.”
Follow Your Conscience will help make a difference in your life and in the lives of others.
Follow Your Conscience is jam-packed with actionable advice on improving your relationships, strengthening your career, and finding your purpose in life.
Follow Your Conscience answers questions such as: How do you build a solid reputation? How do you achieve better balance in life? What makes relationships last? How can you spot a counterfeit leader? What steps should you take during tough times? What separates the haves from the have-nots? How do you build a solid foundation for your kids? What are proven ways to build trust and credibility? And what’s the most important lesson in life?
Follow Your Conscience is exhilarating and inspiring. It provides:
• 11 ways to gain someone’s respect.
• 50 opportunities to build trust and credibility.
• 25 things that kids can learn about life through sports.
• 6 strategies to reduce stress and anxiety.
• 20 ground rules for building win-win relationships.
• 55 ways to show someone that you care.
• 7 steps to enhance your reputation.
• 10 values that form the basis of a strong marriage.
• 6 common risks people take that could turn into a nightmare.
• 24 character traits of an effective leader. And more!
You’ll feel enlightened, motivated, and rejuvenated.
Frank Sonnenberg is an award-winning author. He has written five books and over 300 articles. Frank was recently named one of “America’s Top 100 Thought Leaders” and nominated as one of “America’s Most Influential Small Business Experts.” Additionally, FrankSonnenbergOnline was named among the “Best 21st Century Leadership Blogs.”
Follow Your Conscience will help make a difference in your life and in the lives of others.
- GenresPersonal Development
245 pages, Paperback
First published November 12, 2014
7 people are currently reading
259 people want to read
About the author
Frank Sonnenberg
12 books56 followersFrank Sonnenberg is an award-winning author and a well-known advocate for moral character, personal values, and personal responsibility. He has written 12 books and has been named one of “America’s Top 100 Thought Leaders” and one of “America’s Most Influential Small Business Experts.” Frank has served on several boards and has consulted to some of the largest and most respected companies in the world. Frank’s newest book, "Values to Live By: Know What Matters Most and Let It Be Your Guide" was released May 2025.
Additionally, his blog — FrankSonnenbergOnline — has attracted millions of readers worldwide. It was recently recognized as one of the “Best Leadership Blogs,” “Best Self-Improvement and Personal Development Blogs,” and “Best Inspirational Blogs” in the world."
Additionally, his blog — FrankSonnenbergOnline — has attracted millions of readers worldwide. It was recently recognized as one of the “Best Leadership Blogs,” “Best Self-Improvement and Personal Development Blogs,” and “Best Inspirational Blogs” in the world."
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
November 17, 2014
There are a lot of good books on leadership and purpose. Some are very good. And then there are the few great books. Frank Sonnenberg's "Follow Your Conscience" is one of the great ones. Frank's simple eloquence and style makes a very readable, usable, practical and profound book. You can read a just a chapter or two; you don't have to read the whole book at once, though you will want to. You will probably re-read chapters, right away and over time. You can read it in any order, at any time and I bet its relevance and applicability to your life will change as your life changes.
I'm not going to go into detail about the book - that would spoil it. I urge you to get the book, read it, live it, share it. And when you're done, read it, live it and share it again. When you are chatting with your friends and colleagues and they tell you about a good book they just read on leadership or purpose, tell them about a great book they should read, "Follow Your Conscience." In fact, why not just give them a copy? It's an easy way to live it!
I'm not going to go into detail about the book - that would spoil it. I urge you to get the book, read it, live it, share it. And when you're done, read it, live it and share it again. When you are chatting with your friends and colleagues and they tell you about a good book they just read on leadership or purpose, tell them about a great book they should read, "Follow Your Conscience." In fact, why not just give them a copy? It's an easy way to live it!
February 1, 2015
Great book! Loved how it really went into detail on each subject. Then a little deeper from there. It zoned in on so many subjects and really get the message across. I personally recommend reading at night. That way you can go to sleep thinking about what you read and how to put it to good use. It was all really good, but the pace seemed a little slow. Besides that it was great!
February 6, 2015
I really tried to find something to criticize about Frank Sonnenberg's new book, but I just cannot find anything I do not like ...
He includes more leadership and life wisdom in this collection of easy-to-digest short essays than most of the larger and heavier books published over the past twenty years or so. The issue is moral character and Frank believes that our daily behavior should include a strong dose thereof ... and I agree.
His book contains a collection of short observations, averaging four pages or so for each specific topic, arranged in four distinct categories, which I briefly discuss below, including just a taste of the larger content in each section:
CHARACTER MATTERS: Frank considers just about every aspect of character you can name in 24 distinct essays. My personal favorite is “Leadership” (p. 55-58) where Frank rants nicely on “counterfeit leaders”, who “masquerade as positive role models” (p. 55). He gives us a great list of questions to help us evaluate both ourselves and others for signs of being fake, along with positive behaviors that we ought to display as leaders.
LIFE LESSONS: A shorter section with more focus on story-telling, Life Lessons illustrates and supports Frank’s basic proposition of living a life based on solid moral character. I found much to enjoy here, but one entry stands out: “Bluffing Your Way To The Top” (p. 123-125), where Frank skewers those folks among us who have titles, positions, and powers, but did not earn them in honorable or legitimate ways.
Frank has a message for those folks and I am dancing in the background with delight, as he points out that “The day will come when their ways come back to bite them. GOTCHA?” (p. 123). Whether this is true or not, it speaks to a part of me that wants justice and fairness to prevail.
CHALLENGES: Frank also notes some character flaws that get in the way of our leading better lives and being better leaders.
In “Ethics As Usual” (p. 177-179),he talks about the current problematic state of business and political leadership, then shares a concise list of behaviors that we all must adopt and practice, if we are to change the situation and restore ethical behavior in our society.
RESOURCES: Several lists that offer more thought-provoking value to us around life and leadership issues. Frank saves the best for last here, with “It’s The Little Things That Count”, (p. 203), where he provides us with a list of 50 specific actions we can take to improve our lives and the lives of those we serve … guaranteed.
Frank’s writing style is clear, concise, and he knows how to turn a phrase, as the saying goes. I found my trusty highlighter running dry, as I found many quotable lines in just about every paragraph. If you enjoy clearly stated and thought-provoking language, you are going to love this book.
BOTTOM LINE: If you want a better life, to be a better leader, or simply enjoy positive, but realistic thinking, this easy-to-read collection offers some of the best and clearest thinking I have seen about how we should and could be.
Disclaimer: I received an advance copy of this book and I dance my happy dance every time I remember that I got to read it before everyone else:)
He includes more leadership and life wisdom in this collection of easy-to-digest short essays than most of the larger and heavier books published over the past twenty years or so. The issue is moral character and Frank believes that our daily behavior should include a strong dose thereof ... and I agree.
His book contains a collection of short observations, averaging four pages or so for each specific topic, arranged in four distinct categories, which I briefly discuss below, including just a taste of the larger content in each section:
CHARACTER MATTERS: Frank considers just about every aspect of character you can name in 24 distinct essays. My personal favorite is “Leadership” (p. 55-58) where Frank rants nicely on “counterfeit leaders”, who “masquerade as positive role models” (p. 55). He gives us a great list of questions to help us evaluate both ourselves and others for signs of being fake, along with positive behaviors that we ought to display as leaders.
LIFE LESSONS: A shorter section with more focus on story-telling, Life Lessons illustrates and supports Frank’s basic proposition of living a life based on solid moral character. I found much to enjoy here, but one entry stands out: “Bluffing Your Way To The Top” (p. 123-125), where Frank skewers those folks among us who have titles, positions, and powers, but did not earn them in honorable or legitimate ways.
Frank has a message for those folks and I am dancing in the background with delight, as he points out that “The day will come when their ways come back to bite them. GOTCHA?” (p. 123). Whether this is true or not, it speaks to a part of me that wants justice and fairness to prevail.
CHALLENGES: Frank also notes some character flaws that get in the way of our leading better lives and being better leaders.
In “Ethics As Usual” (p. 177-179),he talks about the current problematic state of business and political leadership, then shares a concise list of behaviors that we all must adopt and practice, if we are to change the situation and restore ethical behavior in our society.
RESOURCES: Several lists that offer more thought-provoking value to us around life and leadership issues. Frank saves the best for last here, with “It’s The Little Things That Count”, (p. 203), where he provides us with a list of 50 specific actions we can take to improve our lives and the lives of those we serve … guaranteed.
Frank’s writing style is clear, concise, and he knows how to turn a phrase, as the saying goes. I found my trusty highlighter running dry, as I found many quotable lines in just about every paragraph. If you enjoy clearly stated and thought-provoking language, you are going to love this book.
BOTTOM LINE: If you want a better life, to be a better leader, or simply enjoy positive, but realistic thinking, this easy-to-read collection offers some of the best and clearest thinking I have seen about how we should and could be.
Disclaimer: I received an advance copy of this book and I dance my happy dance every time I remember that I got to read it before everyone else:)
August 4, 2015
Frank Sonnenbergin elämänhallintaa ja oman elämän ohjaksiin tarttuva kirja on mielenkiintoista luettavaa. Siinä on monen monia tuttuja ideoita, joita on kierrätetty Dale Garnegiestä lähtöisin. Silti se onnistuu tehtävässään mainiosti, ja pakettiin kuuluu sopivina annoksina ”luentoja” mm. asenteesta, rohkeudesta, omanarvontunnosta, työnteosta, itsensäkehittämisestä, ylpeydestä, kunnioituksesta, johtamisesta, intohimosta, reiluudesta, anteeksiannosta ja monista muista asioista, jotka auttavat elämänmittaisella polulla kehittyä paremmaksi ihmiseksi kilpailuyhteiskuntaan.
Ne olivat siis luonteenpiirteitä, ja niiden jälkeen elämänluonnot jatkavat muutamista aihepiireistä: maineesta, onnellisuudesta, vanhemmuudesta, taivaallisesta avioliitosta, rakkaudesta ja omille lapsille esikuvana olemisesta.
Kolmannessa osiossa lukija saakin kohdata elämän haasteita niin kuin epäeettistä käytöstä, kateutta ja lopulta apatiaa. Onneksi lopussa on vielä roppakaupalla ohjeita, ikään kuin huoneentauluja, kuinka rakentaa luottamista, lisätä välittämistä ja lista maagisista sanoista, jotka vievät maineeseen ja kunniaan.
Lopuksi vielä muutama listaus oman onnensa ja tasapainon rakennuspalikoiksi kirjan perusteella:
- Ympäröi itsesi vain positiivisilla ihmisillä, sillä niistä saa energiaa. Negatiiviset painavat sinut alas, joten niitä on syytä vältellä.
- Luota intuitioosi. Rohkeat luottavat vaistoihinsa.
- Benjamin Franklin sanoi: ”Hyvin tehty on parempi kuin hyvin sanottu.”
- Menestyjillä on yhteisiä luonteenpiirteitä: itsevarmuutta, taitoa, sisäistä voimaa ja kykyä saada asiat tapahtumaan.
- Yksi Sonnenbergin motoista: ”Ihmisten liiallinen auttaminen ei tee heistä muuta kuin avuttomia.”
- Pidä jalat maassa. Voit olla menestyjä, mutta et ole ketään muuta parempi.
- Muista, että bisneksessä kaikki ovat kilpailijoitasi. Mutta kun sytytät kynttilälläsi muita kynttilöitä, pääset lopulta voittajatiimiin.
- Ajattele kokonaisvaltaisesti: pois boksista.
- Yritä aina parhaasi ja yritä aina kehittyä. Et voi aina voittaa, mutta jos yrität parhaasi, et joudu katumaan.
- Voittajat ovat joukkuepelaajia. Tee kompromisseja hyvän tiimin takia.
- Muista sisäinen äänesi. Kun lapsesi kasvavat, he kuulevat vanhempiensa äänen alitajunnassaan. Varmista, että sanat, jotka heitä ohjaavat ovat heidän parhaakseen.
Ne olivat siis luonteenpiirteitä, ja niiden jälkeen elämänluonnot jatkavat muutamista aihepiireistä: maineesta, onnellisuudesta, vanhemmuudesta, taivaallisesta avioliitosta, rakkaudesta ja omille lapsille esikuvana olemisesta.
Kolmannessa osiossa lukija saakin kohdata elämän haasteita niin kuin epäeettistä käytöstä, kateutta ja lopulta apatiaa. Onneksi lopussa on vielä roppakaupalla ohjeita, ikään kuin huoneentauluja, kuinka rakentaa luottamista, lisätä välittämistä ja lista maagisista sanoista, jotka vievät maineeseen ja kunniaan.
Lopuksi vielä muutama listaus oman onnensa ja tasapainon rakennuspalikoiksi kirjan perusteella:
- Ympäröi itsesi vain positiivisilla ihmisillä, sillä niistä saa energiaa. Negatiiviset painavat sinut alas, joten niitä on syytä vältellä.
- Luota intuitioosi. Rohkeat luottavat vaistoihinsa.
- Benjamin Franklin sanoi: ”Hyvin tehty on parempi kuin hyvin sanottu.”
- Menestyjillä on yhteisiä luonteenpiirteitä: itsevarmuutta, taitoa, sisäistä voimaa ja kykyä saada asiat tapahtumaan.
- Yksi Sonnenbergin motoista: ”Ihmisten liiallinen auttaminen ei tee heistä muuta kuin avuttomia.”
- Pidä jalat maassa. Voit olla menestyjä, mutta et ole ketään muuta parempi.
- Muista, että bisneksessä kaikki ovat kilpailijoitasi. Mutta kun sytytät kynttilälläsi muita kynttilöitä, pääset lopulta voittajatiimiin.
- Ajattele kokonaisvaltaisesti: pois boksista.
- Yritä aina parhaasi ja yritä aina kehittyä. Et voi aina voittaa, mutta jos yrität parhaasi, et joudu katumaan.
- Voittajat ovat joukkuepelaajia. Tee kompromisseja hyvän tiimin takia.
- Muista sisäinen äänesi. Kun lapsesi kasvavat, he kuulevat vanhempiensa äänen alitajunnassaan. Varmista, että sanat, jotka heitä ohjaavat ovat heidän parhaakseen.
January 6, 2016
Frank has written a gem of a book, with great insight and wisdom. His observations on what makes humans tick - professionally and socially - are many faceted! Through reflecting on them, you can re-open the windows on your life, re-assess what is working well and not so well; and makes adjustments accordingly. I highly recommend this book.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews