The Red Rubber Ball at Work: Elevate Your Game Through the Hidden Power of Play

by Kevin Carroll

How do you ignite creativity, problem solving, and risk taking to score big in business? According to bestselling author Kevin Carroll, it’s child’s play! Former 76ers athletic trainer Kevin Carroll, has turned his childhood passion for playing ball into a bestselling franchise. In this fun and thoughtful follow-up to his bestselling Rules of the Red Rubber Ball (2007), Carroll switches the playing field to the workplace, where innovation, motivation, engagement, and teamwork are the headline issues. Drawing on “play profiles” from thought leaders, change agents, and business leaders, he explains how to bring a sense of play into the workplace to stimulate creativity, encourage risk-taking, achieve goals--and have a great time doing it. Fully illustrated, with 31 profiles of successful “players” including ESPN president George Bodenheimer, bestselling authors Seth Godin and Malcolm Gladwell, Food Network host Duff Goldman, South Bronx activist Majora Carter, renowned author Paulo Coehlo, and many others

Genres: Business, Nonfiction, Self Help, Reference

176 pages, Hardcover

First published October 1, 2008

Reviews

[Aaron Myatt · Rating 3 out of 5]

I sought a book that discussed marrying fun with work. This book didn't quite deliver on that hope. It did provide some fairly insightful, but awfully too short renditions of successful people's upbringings and how they use their childhood lessons, and play, to guide their work lives, or blur the lines between work and play. I would have liked more examples, more confidence that the sentiment this book tries to push is really lived by the people interviewed.

[Brittany Garcia · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought this would be a how to for bringing play into the workplace with activities, ideas, etc. This is more of an examination of top successful individuals and how play has impacted their career choice and passion. Something to be learned here but the idea of asking my employees "how did you like to play as a child" and comparing to the CEOs in this book seems to be allot of work for no guaranter payoff.

[Bobbi Galvin · Rating 2 out of 5]

The author interviewed famous people and they explained how they bring a sense of play into the workplace to stimulate creativity, encourage risk-taking, achieve goals--and have a great time doing it. There was no practical, hands-on advice for supervisors, just other people's ways of working and playing.

[K Tan · Rating 5 out of 5]

We adults lack creativity and vigor. Kevin's book brings life to work place by giving stories of successful individuals who bring play into their work.

[UndeadArtist · Rating 3 out of 5]

I

[Dannie Lynn Fountain · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting but contrived.

[Anna · Rating 3 out of 5]

“Chicken soup for the workers soul” is how it felt :)

[Jason · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book has always been on my reading lost simply because of the dynamic nature that Kevin Carroll is. I heard him speak at Catalyst a few years back and he seriously inspired everyone in the audience to pursue their dreams further than they ever have before. This is a very quick read but entertaining. I did feel as if he used too much of other people's ideas in this book but I guess that is the dynamic when you are sharing stories in their entirety.

[Stacie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very few business books are actually fun to read. I picked this up after seeing Kevin Carroll present in a leadership conference. Kevin has so much positive energy and he does a great job of inspirational storytelling through short snippets that are quick and easy to read. I go back to this book over and over again. Highly recommend.

[Lynda]

Heard his name mentioned in a TED talk about the importance of play, not only for children, but adults operating from a context of play at work. This book has lots of real life examples of people operating from a context of play, so I am anxious to see what new thinking this triggers for my coaching clients.

[Antoinette Perez · Rating 3 out of 5]

If The Rules of the Red Rubber Ball seemed inspirational but not practical, The Red Rubber Ball at Work is here for you. Filled with anecdotes about super famous people and how their play as children influences their work as grown-ups, it's definitely more actionable but still easy to categorize under "nice ideas, now what?"

[Teri Hill · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was fortunate enough to hear Kevin Carroll speak a couple of years ago. He had an amazing way of engaging a room of people and seem like he was talking just to you! His book is insightful and give you things to think about. I enjoyed it!

[Kyna]

...NEXT!

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Refreshing! Heard Kevin Carroll speak at our BGCA conference and decided to try out the book. Lot's of inspiring stories and ways to approach problems in a stress free way.

[Lori Grant · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must-read book on happiness in self development for knowledge workers, managers, executives, and entrepreneurs.

[Heidi · Rating 2 out of 5]

I can't believe people pay for this. It's completely anecdotal in a really obvious way.

[Anne Kedi · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book enabled me to find some new fuel in my work life and in my life projects. I loved the principle of sharing stories.