Mavis: The Productivity Paradox

by Kris Safarova

In Mavis’s dystopian world, starvation, sacrifice and poverty haunt a country trying to recover from The Great Patriotic War. Protected by a peacekeeping force, the nation struggles to coax profits out of a sprawling industrial complex to pay wartime reparations. In this world, the future of every citizen is decided on their sixteenth birthday during a single exam, The Selection. They either join Defense, Productivity or Leadership. Mavis is assigned to a chemical plant to solve a productivity paradox and struggles with her colleagues as they race to meet the reparations deadline. Thrown into her new role, with little support, Mavis assembles a team and tries to understand why productivity is dropping. Mavis must figure out who her friends are, and how does Truman, a soldier who seems interested in her, fit into her life. Yet Mavis is burdened by having to leave her ill little sister behind. As Mavis investigates the problem, she discovers a conspiracy that threatens the nation just as unexplained sightings spike in the surrounding forest. This young adult (YA) dystopian novel combines the teaching of science, critical thinking and problem-solving skills with wrenching decisions, betrayal, heartbreak, love and the bond between two sisters that will change the future of mankind. Q&A with Author Kris Safarova Why did you write this book? I write what I know and what I wish people had written for me when I was starting out in life. The way strategy consultants solve problems is very different. Yet, this skill is not widely taught. Imagine if we taught these skills to everyone and at an earlier age? I know more people will find these topics interesting and learn these skills if I could find a way to weave them into an engaging story. What do you hope the books achieve? I want to get more people interested in business and teach them to solve problems in a better way. Readers who don’t have an interest in critical thinking, problem solving, and business may realize they learned a lot, and also enjoyed the journey. And readers who are intentionally building these skills will find this series helped them become better at solving problems. What inspired the story? I lived in the former USSR and I adapted events from my own life. When I was 3 my parents were evicted on a less than 12 hours notice, in the middle of Russian winter. I remember lifting my legs high enough to make each step because the snow was so deep that night, as we tried to find a place to stay. That is the first memory I have of physically suffering. Mavis’s cappuccino scene is based on my own experience. I was 21 when I first tasted cappuccino and I was blown away by how tasty it was. At the time I barely had money to pay rent, so I was skipping lunch and dinner on most days. Leaving my 12-year old sister in Russia was one of the hardest things I ever had to do. Yet, it was the right thing because I am now fortunately able to help my family. My little sister and I now work together and I could not be prouder of her. The bond between Mavis and Corolla is autobiographical. Was the strong female characters and themes of class segregation and climate change intentional? I wrote what I knew, and it was easier to channel my emotions and ideas through the eyes of a sixteen-year-old girl because I had been one. Strip away the dystopian elements and everything in the story is happening today. What’s next for Mavis? The story of Mavis and her sister, Corolla, will continue. I am working on a prequel to explain the events that led to The Great Patriotic War.

Genres: Fiction

366 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 21, 2020

Reviews

[Gergely G. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just finished reading the story, so this a review written with vivid memories.
Mavis is a very well written and exciting story that takes place in an authoritarian state. The protagonist, Mavis, is a 16-year-old young lady who lives in straitened circumstances but has a strong belief in her values, cares about and loves her family and works very hard for the only examination that matters.

It keeps you on the edge because you want her to succeed due to her traits and there are so many things that seemed to be NOT under her control that you cannot help feeling that anything can happen to her. The margin for error for her is so small -- as it Mavin puts it. It keeps you on edge because of the other side of the coin. What if such a personality can have an impact? What she can make out if it, because you -- as a reader -- deeply believe in the quote by Louis Pasteur: "Fortune favours the prepared mind". Can she prepare for everything that is ahead of her?

As a consultant, I enjoyed how such a character who is keen to understand the root cause can utilise her willingness to make an impact. The "productivity paradox" is an amazing example of how to approach a problem, what is the right mindset to solve it in terms of perseverance and fact-driven approach building from first principles.

It is as exhilarating to solve such a productivity paradox as solving the riddles of a detective story. You do not need to be a consultant or a problem solver geek to keep you on tenterhooks. It is an amazing story with very realistic depictions from Kris Safarova and the Firmsconsulting team. I highly and wholeheartedly recommend it to anybody who wishes to read a quality piece of art with deep learnings to problem-solving... and -- I might add -- life.

[Hyun Joo · Rating 5 out of 5]

I highly commend this book. I think it allows readers to relate to someone living in poverty who is driven by a desire to help others. That said, this is a captivating story told through the eyes of Mavis, a young character determined to give her sister a better life. I really enjoyed how business problem solving was weaved into the story. I was engaged throughout the process, trying to connect the dots and figure out the big picture together with Mavis. Her proactive questioning and critical thinking skills leads her to uncover the bigger picture. Much like the author's other book, Turquoise Eyes, this book is full of learning and golden nuggets of wisdom.

(spoiler) When I finished the book, I could feel Mavis' anger. "This is not about the climate. This is about weapons and power..." How will Mavis choose to live, knowing this? There is a proverb in Korea which goes: "Shrimp lamp bursts in a whale fight". What will Mavis do to save the people (a.k.a the shrimps)? I'm looking forward to the next book.

[Florian · Rating 5 out of 5]

The novel takes a unique approach to distill wisdom about productivity. By telling the story of a young woman in a dystopian society (seemingly based on the USSR), who goes through extraordinary circumstances to save her country and loved ones, the reader is exposed to high level thinking on what makes a society, or anything, productive. And also why productivity is often wrongly measured (tons per day, etc) and how this negatively impacts lives and society as a whole.
It reads like a novel but gives real advice. The story, being set in a dystopia, doesn't shy away from darkness and high contrasts in the narrative, but the reader can feel a raw truth behind the story and what feels like plenty of autobiographic details.

[A T · Rating 5 out of 5]

A compelling narrative that combines business challenges, fortitude and commitment. Kris Safarova and FC continue to create content that teaches relevant concepts with gripping narratives.

[Jeff M · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mavis is another excellent book by Kris Safarova that disguises advanced learnings in the form of a very entertaining novel. As someone who has read each story from this author, I can say this is the best one yet!

Mavis takes the story of a dystopian future and paints a picture so vivid you feel you are actually there as you follow the main character through a journey of self discovery and learning. There are many novels out there that have intricate plots, twists and turns but this book is different.

What really makes this book stand out for me is how much you learn about business by reading this book. Yes, a dystopian future novel that teaches key business principles that I did not even learn in university.
For example, the true definition of productivity is one of the most important things I have learned from this book. I have taken and studied business in university but it has never been described in such an effective way as it is used in this book. Moreover, because you are so entertained while reading the story and turning the pages to see what happens next, you don’t even realize you are learning! That is the highlight of this book. If you want to learn key business principles hidden within a beautiful novel you can’t go wrong with this book. I started it on a 3 hour plane ride and actually looked forward to the way back to continue reading the novel and seeing what happened next.

I can’t wait to read what Kris puts out next. As much as I love reading an entertaining novel to have learned something I can use about business for the rest of my life when I am done, that is the icing on top.

[V L · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mavis is story about a young lady overcoming her situation to improve her life, family, and country by observing her surroundings and using business judgements to infer why decisions are made. The main business goal is improving productivity of a plant, but you are exposed to the whole economic situation that led to this goal in the first place such as: trade, government controls, resource scarcity, etc. By the time you finish the book, you will become more aware of how to observe your current situation and how you can start building skills to make yourself more competitive in this global economy.

I recommend this book for any profession, not just consulting. In the end, everyone has personal, career, and corporate goals and this book will get you to start thinking beyond your scope so you can be more valuable to your company and profession.

[jeeves · Rating 5 out of 5]

A book not to miss if you aspire for more than what society has intended for you!

I always say, "If you find firmsconsulting content through a recommendation, you must have done something exceptional or rare to earn it...and if you find it by accident, you are lucky and privileged!" This work once again confirms my belief.

I think what's unique and special about this particular work is that it takes one a journey allowing them to experience an entirely new level of understanding of the seemingly simple concept of 'productivity' subconsciously. And if you follow FC and have heard of Denis Diderot, you might see that another beauty of this work is that this is a story book but "this is not a story"... and if even it's so, this is not just about productivity, it's about life...maybe everyone's life.

[Bruno Freire · Rating 5 out of 5]

A real page-turner packed with valuable lessons

Mavis raised the bar once again for books that aim to teach valuable lessons about business while still being exciting to read. At first I thought I wouldn't learn much about the business world, but I got that and more through a very engaging narrative, that really had me at the edge of my seat, eager to find out what would happen next.

Not only that, I would also say it teaches a lot about society and human behavior, which is a big plus for me.

I believe fiction is a great way to teach concepts, as it is not constrained by what was, but by what could be, and this book is a great example of that.

[Omair Bin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thought-provoking and innovative!

Following the format of Firmsconsulting's previous educational novel, Turqoise Eyes, Kris and co., have created another great piece of literature that simultaneously applies meaning insights to your career. This style of narration is a breathe of fresh air compared to most educational content that is out there, and is a great break from those experience textbook fatigue.

Regardless of the business and consulting insights, its a good read!

[S B · Rating 5 out of 5]

Through good storytelling that involves critical thinking juxtaposed against the backdrop of a chemical plant, a thorny business problem and the protagonist who goes through the 'hero's journey', this novel piques the reader's interest on the critical concept of Productivity in business.

[A · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book for analyst, consultants, executives. Every student of strategy should read this book. It changes ones view on productivity and applying the concept of productivity to solve daily issues.

[MT · Rating 5 out of 5]

Learning, or just refreshing management and business concepts unconsciously, by reading a novel is an absolutely enjoyable approach that deserves credit.

[Nigel · Rating 5 out of 5]

The story draws you into the life of the protagonist, Mavis, from the first page as the author takes painstaking effort to describe the world this selfless hero lives in, and her thought-life. Mavis carries herself with mature discipline and innocence, and you are shown how she makes sense of her world and approaches challenges. And without knowing, you are taken through repetitions of lessons on how to apply management consultancy skills. Examples include making sense of a new situation by first quickly developing hypotheses and testing them while you gather more information and gradually develop your analysis and storyboard.

The story is also built around the concept of productivity and how to makes sense of this seemingly simple concept and takes you through a journey with the other characters as they learn that there is more than meets the eye. Different parts of the story introduce new themes of consultancy skills with repetition cleverly woven into the story.

I recommend this book be read twice, thrice, or more. Perhaps once, and then reading the other books like 'The Strategy Journal' before returning to the story again to identify how different skills are applied by Mavis.

A masterful attempt at making business education engaging, with a twist at the end of the story that demonstrates another more human side of Mavis. I look forward to knowing what happens next!

[BC · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mavis is a story about a young woman living in a Soviet Union style republic.  The first part of the story centers on her life and the poverty with which she lives. Her life changes when she passes a selection exam. Mavis ends up in an elite unit tasked with finding out why the productivity of the main chemical plant that provides fuel to the nation and the outside world is losing its productivity.  To pass the exam and solve the problem, she makes use of consulting tools like estimation, decision trees and brainstorming.  You can see how someone equipped with these basic thinking tools can solve a problem even in an area that they are not familiar with.  If you are going into consulting, it is reassuring to see that the thinking skills work.  Even if you are not going into consulting, seeing how the thinking tools consultants use can help solve a process engineering problem shows how useful they are.  Useful enough to learn.

[TJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

--- Thought Provoking. Moving. A Masterclass in Problem Solving. Get It! ---

Mavis will elevate your thinking and problem solving in unexpected ways. For starters you will come away thinking about productivity in an entirely different and much deeper way than I've ever come across anywhere else (A huge benefit in itself.) You will sharpen your skills on how to tackle tough problems, see how dots are connected to ask penetrating questions and pick up several excellent problem-solving practices along the way.

Through a gripping story, set against the backdrop of a dystopian future, the main character 'Mavis' looks beyond the story being presented to uncover the truth behind her country's productivity problem and in the process solves a page turning mystery. Highly recommended. Can't wait to read what happens for Mavis next!

[Christopher · Rating 5 out of 5]

An enticing story colored with explicit lessons about success in life and business

In a dsytopian future reminiscent of that in George Orwell's "1984", Mavis must apply fundamental principles of organizational efficiency to salvage a life of poverty for herself and her family. Her story captures attention with page-turning effectiveness, but readers are left both educated and entertained.

The FIRMSconsulting team, led by author Kris, is known for its business and educational services, but their ability to embed those services within enticing narratives is, so far, unmatched. This book is a great read for someone looking to add some personal growth to their personal enterntainment or someone hoping to imbue their young ones with a dramatic narrative that can inspire and teach them.

[Juan Carlos · Rating 5 out of 5]

The plot is engaging in itself that it leads you to ask what will happen in the story. The context is not a typical company or project setting that has a defined challenge to be solved; it is a nation, so the outcome is not predictable. As the story unfolds, more factors add to the complexity of the equation and challenge previous assumptions and conclusions. Business logic is inserted in a subtle way that it becomes a natural part of the dialogue. Multiple scenes describe life-like situations professionals experience within themselves and with others like the impostor syndrome, power privilege, leadership, and politics.

[Luis Cordeiro · Rating 5 out of 5]

PRODUCTIVITY IS KING! DON´T MISS IT

Like 1984, like Brave new world, Mavis is a novel from the dystopian class that warns us of great dangers we are not fully envisioning yet.
As the story unfolds, you realize this is a magnificent novel about the strategy for raising productivity of a chemical plant. As I consider productivity the only ethical way to beat competition and improve the livelihoods of people, this book became an enlightening framework for thinking about this subject of major importance.
You should not miss it!

[AJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kris paints a war-torn dystopian world "not broken, but simply unfinished" (Amanda Gorman) in need of critical thinkers like Mavis, who aspires to be more than what the society intended for her. Mavis' courage, character and conviction shines through the grimness and sadness on a number of occasions, one of my favourite ones being the selection. "Why would you do that?...Most only read the prescribed books." to which Mavis responds "Most are trying to do well in the selection and get good jobs...I want to fix the problems."

[Stephen Tam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kris and the team at firmsconsulting are constantly improving in many ways. In the case of Mavis, it is their most advanced narrative and story telling that they have done to date. The real surprise in this case is that Kris is effective able to describe settings and actions while conveying meaning and lessons to apply in a career. It gives you enough to think about how you would fill in and act as the protagonist.

Even without the business and consulting insights, its a good read!

[Sola · Rating 5 out of 5]

I highly recommend and enjoyed reading this book.

The plot is fascinating with unexpected twists and turns that make it a thrilling page-turner - I found myself reading the book whenever I had a spare moment.

There are valuable business insights in the book that are quite helpful for anyone who is looking to do better at work. It reminds me a bit of The Goal, with a modern-day twist and a better storyline.

[Reynald Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like how they defined productivity here and how can make or destroy capital and value in the long term. Reminds me of multiple in each a company tries to squeeze more productivity for an employee which then led to sickness or resignation. This then led to multiple lawsuits.

Great book to read for those who are interested on thinking like an big corporate executive.

[C · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very interesting take on productivity-related issues...
If the topic of productivity is of interest to you, Mavis is an entertaining and very instructional read. Just like "Turquoise Eyes" from the same author, it will effortlessly teach you a lot about important business concepts through a captivating story.

[Florian Zimmer · Rating 5 out of 5]

A unique book which takes the reader through the story of a young woman who tries to save her world by solving a problem. The dystopian setting and highly contrasting visuals and emotions are all there to drive across the need to take productivity seriously, as it impacts lives in a very real way.

[Tim Femmer · Rating 5 out of 5]

A perfect combination of a great storyline and critical thinking methodology teaching. The story is interesting at ever stage of the book. The decision process in a darker set of scenes is fascinating.

[Mr Bailey · Rating 5 out of 5]

An immersive and compelling story with genuine guidance for those looking to develop critical thinking skills.

With each new release, the author has improved the depth of character and plot.

Now a great read whether interested in the business skills contained or not!

[Beckett Thomsen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This problem-solving adventure is a captivating story that keeps you engaged throughout, with some surprising twists and turns, to illustrate important business concepts around productivity and how it is measured.

[Abib · Rating 5 out of 5]

Faithful To FC Identity

A book I have just started to read, and appear once again, to be consistent with FC identity : Deep, Practical-Oriented, and Encouraging to Further Thinking.

I recommend.

[Edoardo · Rating 5 out of 5]

if you are looking for a book that can teach you important business lessons while describing a compelling story that makes those lessons stick.... well, you found one!

[Shirshen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing book. One of the best I read in years. Not just the business problem solving, it is a gripping novel that is difficult to put down once started.