Book Review - The Lemonade War

The Lemonade War by Jacqueline Davies


My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Wow, this is a great book for youth to read about business. There are so many great lessons to be learned for this book. The Lemonade War is started because a brother and sister who have been very close, have some common misunderstandings about the other persons motives.

There are pertinent lessons about budgeting, profit margins, marketing & advertising, value added service, location and franchising. Really all of these issues are discussed with a kids perspective.

There is also a great bases for a discussion about business ethics. The motivations of the youth change as the book progresses and you see a progression through their motives, common to what you see in some business people. Things deteriorate until they get to the point that the ends justifies the means, and winning becomes so important that they will do anything for the win.

If you have kids and you want to have a great discussion about business - I highly recommend this book.

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Book Review - The Shark and the Goldfish by Jon Gordon

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Jon Gordon continues to deliver great guides to leading a life through unique stories that make his books a true pleasure to read.  I think that his work on the The Shark and the Goldfish is simply amazing.  Jon really condenses so many tested approaches to maintaining a positive attitude, event in difficult time, in such a short, quick read.

I really appreciate that Jon addresses "Abundance Theory".  All the politicians and news media try to drive just the opposite into our heads every day.  Jon also addresses the fact that there is "No Substitute for Hard Work", which I think that so many people have forgotten prior to the financial crisis last fall.  That is what really got us into this mess was people trying to take shortcuts to riches.

My biggest take away from this book is to "Be Humble and Be Hungry."

Get a copy of this in your hands, I promise that you will devour it and be motivated to maintain a positive attitude on life.

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Book Review - Tribes: We Need You to Lead US

Tribes: We Need You to Lead Us by Seth Godin


My rating: 4 of 5 stars
A very thought provoking books with great wisdom about taking leadership in groups and situations with leadership voids. I enjoyed many of the concepts and ideas related to the use of emerging technologies. There are groups of people with the same common interests that are now finding each other because of these new technologies, but do not know how to organize. This book has inspired me to take actions on several different action items to provide leadership to groups I work with and in. I am really glad that I read this book and think it is an important way to look at leadership in our society today.

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Book Review - The No Complaining Rule

The No Complaining Rule: Positive Ways to Deal with Negativity at Work by Jon Gordon

My review

rating: 5 of 5 stars
Well I really liked reading this book after completing the "Energy Bus". I am definitely on board with both of these books and plan to implement them into my life, home and business. I think when Jon got to the end of the book he pulled the pieces together very nicely, and if you really study the plan it will direct you back to key sections in the book to remember and plan your own implementation.



Be sure to visit his web site as well. I think that the posters, discussion guides and other items that he provides are very helpful and make bringing these practices into the work place much easier.



If you don't like this book, remember that there is "No Complaining". :)


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Book Review - The 3 Big Questions for a Frantic Family

The Three Big Questions for a Frantic Family: A Leadership Fable About Restoring Sanity To The Most Important Organization In Your Life by Patrick Lencioni

My review

rating: 5 of 5 stars
I thought that this was an excellent book on how to strengthen your family and business with a similar type approach. As business leaders we need to strengthen our families as well to be able to reach our full potential. This book does a great job of taking a business consulting approach and applying it to ones family.

Most interesting to me from this book is the discussion of core values. I have fallen into the trap of having a long list of "Core Values". I like the way Lencioni describes values into 4 categories of values.

I also like the concept of the Rallying Cry, and can think back to times when I have provided a clear singular goal to a team and that was the focus. Our best results were in times like these. Along with this I appreciate the recognition of Defining Objectives and Standard Objectives under the Rallying Cry.

Great book, I highly recommend it. It is a very quick read.


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