This book is a powerful parable of loss, love, and redemption. It is the triumphant tale of personal growth and change that will inspire anyone who has ever wished for a second chance. The introduction tells of a real-life car accident that Brendon had a decade ago that served as a wake-up call and precipitated this fictional message.
Brendon narrates a fantasy trip through a ghostly mountain amusement park that offers visitors a "golden ticket," or second chance at transforming their lives. The price of admission to the closed-down park, the narrator discovers, is to be open to possibility, face the truth and give up believing that change equals pain. He also must stick closely to his host, Henry, who serves as a wise counselor. During the narrator's trip, he samples various amusement park rides (all with allegorical meaning) and revisits his past. Each carnie he meets is a motivational guide with spiritual wisdom to impart. The themes are: risk change; forgiveness; take responsibility; be bold; contribute; look at the other person's point of view. And the final lesson and one Brendon advocates is: live fully, love openly and make a difference. Readers dissatisfied with their lives but not wild about nonfictional self-help books may find inspiration for change here. If you are interested in reading this inspiring story click on the book store page and find it under Inspirational on the drop down menu.
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As you know, I’m a great advocate of building up and bringing out the best in people. In Alan Loy McGinnis book, Bringing Out the Best in People, he does an excellent job promoting this concept and gives you 12 key principles on how to do it. McGinnis arrived at these principles by studying great leaders throughout history, the most effective organizations, and many prominent psychologists. Through his research he has discovered their motivational secrets. He shares fascinating case studies and anecdotes about Lee Lacocca, Sandra Day O'Connor, Helen Keller, Mother Teresa and many others, and shows how you can put his 12 key principles to work in your family or organization. Whether you are a parent, executive, teacher, or friend, you can gain the satisfaction that comes from bringing the best out in people.
Alan provides a list of guidelines for how to motivate people to be their best and then gives great examples from people's lives. He tells us from the beginning he's approaching his subject from a Christian perspective. He argues that people have the predisposition that they do not want to be lethargic and bored, they want to be challenged. He writes, "Deep in the breast of everyone there is a drive to achieve something, to be somebody." McGinnis makes an insightful observation on listening. He says if you listen to people long enough they will tell you what motivates them. He includes a lot about encouragement and creating the proper environment to bring out the best in people. That means leaving room for failure, because as risks are taken, sometimes failure will result. Failure is temporary. This book will help you gain a greater focus if you read it and follow what it suggests. Your communication skills with other people will be enhanced. Others will respect you more as you learn to relate to them more effectively. You'll need to read it a few times to grasp all the pearls of wisdom. However, the great thing is you can start applying what you learn immediately since he explains the basic principle first and backs it up with examples thereafter. I think this quote beautifully sums up the purpose of the book. In McGinnis’ words, “I discovered that virtually everyone is a motivator in one situation or another--when we're persuading a friend to lose weight, or giving a pep talk to our kids, or trying to help a hitter out of a slump, we're motivators. Either we are doing it poorly or we are doing it well. It is the purpose of this book to pass on to you principles which will enable you to do it well. If you will incorporate them into your everyday dealings with people, I am convinced that you will find yourself getting ahead at a surprising rate. What is more important, the people around you will be very grateful. For our chief want, as Emerson said, is for someone who will inspire us to be what we know we could be.” I hope you will be interested in reading this book as it gives great tips on how to build others up. To purchase the book, click on the book store page and find the book on the drop down menu under Influence. |
AuthorThe goal of the blog is to provide interesting, motivational, soul feeding material. All to help remind us that God loves us all and wants a personal relationship with each of us and will take care of us in times of trouble. I aspire to be a force for good by providing you with positive input. I encourage you to share the blog with others. Archives
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