Tab’s Comments (group member since Jul 05, 2008)

Tab’s comments from the Business Book Discussion group.

A difficulty I have is sustaining good habits. Maybe it's the habit of continuing to improve habits and that's where I get a little hung up. Not in a bad way, in the way that I start to expect and demand more from myself. Not delivering at my full capability is somewhat frustrating.

Is this as simple as staying focused until you reach the level of habit you wish to attain? I think it must be.

The Power of Focus is one of my favorite books, written by Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen and Les Hewitt. This is a must read.

The chapters are actually call Focus Strategies. This covers Focus Strategy #1 - Your Habits Will Determine Your Future.

Much of the book and this chapter is heavy with stories. The first is built around how your habits determine your future and quality of life and how bad habits are often not detected until much later in life. I would say that good habits may fall into this too. Often you don't see them until you have the time to sit back in retrospect.

The development of habits take time, even if you don't realize most of your life is filled with a series of habits. What you eat for breakfast, wear to work, even how you choose to shower. All based on habits.

Much of the focus is around recognizing your bad habits and how to change them. With my favorite line being, develop the habit changing your habits. Not an easy process.

This is a workbook, so each chapter ends with action steps. Some are a little easier than others. This one has much to do with understanding old habits and outlining new ones.

First, let me apologize for being late on this. It's been a hectic few weeks to say the least. Not that things are any better, I just need to take time and make this a priority.

Anyway, onto the discussion for chapter one of Crucial Conversations.

So what do people think? The chapter is titled, "What's a Crucial Conversation"?

Interestingly, I have often thought I handle discussions professionally and like an adult. There were a few examples provided that caused me to pause. Do I really handle them well now that it's been pointed out what a crucial conversation is? Sometime yes, but often no. One recent conversation with my CEO was very touchy and instead of properly stating my opinion I held my tongue. In retrospect I should have discussed it further. This is just one example of what I've discovered about myself.

It's much easier to handle conversations that are not pressure filled. After the initial question posed by the authors it turns into how your life will be better if you learn these traits. I would tend to agree that those areas I handle conversations well are much more advanced than where I choose to "hide".

It even goes as far as to say that your health will improve if you learn how to handle these conversations. Believe it? I do, my father was a vat of pent up angst and he died at 60 and I believe some of it was the stress caused by not communicating well.

Tab

Hi All!

JP and I have been communicating via email an have agreed to read two book simultaneously.

1. The Power of Focus
2. Crucial Conversations

I have read The Power of Focus, JP has not. However, I am reading it again. We will be posting our thoughts per chapter here and would welcome others to read along with us.

Any takers?

Regards,

Tab

I finished the book a few days back while on travel to Boise, ID. Outside of one section that didn't really fit, almost as if the authors were digressing a bit this book was fantastic. I'll reread it again immediately and will continue to use it as a workbook. Like Ryan states I have no idea why this isn't a better known book because of the valuable information inside.

As a side note, I learned of this book when my son was wrestling and one of his teammates father would attend practice. He's the founder and CEO of a very large Seattle based insurance agency. He mentioned to me that he had issues with focus and found the book compelling.

Has anyone read this book. I've had it for years, started it twice and am now reading it for a third time. I guess I need the power of focus to complete the book!

So far the is a FABULOUS book.

I just finished this book, perfect for anyone in business not just sales people. The concept of teaching people to be truthful? Sounds like common sense, however if that's the case why don't more sales people, executives and business owners promote it? I have a more complete review on my profile if interested!

I've recently been made aware of this book. Do others have interest in it? It's newly released and as of yet has no reviews on Goodreads. Amazon.com has 5 reviews all giving it 5 stars. Anyone interested in this as a book of the month?

Nah...I have three teenage sons so it'd take a lot to hurt my feelings!

What?!? Not interested yet? Sheesh when I was 13...wait I wasn't interested in it either. Hmmm...enjoy your teen years, there will be plenty of time in the future to dive into this stuff. Actually, I wish there was more time to dive into other stuff too!

So far so good, I'm half way through and love it. Some of it may seem familiar to people, only because it's based on common sense. However, I bet few people actually follow the concept of doing it. I'll post again once completed.

After this I'm on to more general business book reading.

I finished this book while traveling from Boston to Seattle. It was a good thing I was a captive audience and had no other books to read. It was extremely basic and for anyone who has use SFA tools to general. I purchased this to go along with software I picked up from the same company, so I may continue reviewing as an owners manual only.

Not one I'd recommend at all.

do you like to read? Is there a specific type, such as innovation, motivation, sales, etc? What draws you to a business book?