The One Year Uncommon Life Daily Challenge

Author:  Tony Dungy and Nathan Whitaker

Rating:  Good



Reason for Reading:  Coach Tony Dungy has been an inspiration to me, not only as the former head coach of the Indianapolis Colts, but as a leader and mentor promoting responsible living and the importance of fatherhood since his retirement.

Format:  Softcover

Video:  http://www.coachdungy.com/index.php/the-one-year-uncommon-life-daily-challenge/


Summary:  The book is a devotional with 365 readings, one for each day of the year.  The readings are assigned by date, but not day of the week, so they can be used for any year.  Also, if you are taking the Uncommon Life Daily Challenge with an accountability partner, you will always be reading the same item each day.
Each reading includes a bible verse, a story and commentary by the authors, and a challenge for how to practice the principles of an uncommon life that day. Within each week, there is one reading on each of seven relevant topics to the uncommon life:  core, family, friends, potential, mission, influence, and faith. 

Review:  I very much like this devotional.  It is very easy to read, with just one page per day, but provides valuable content each day.  I enjoyed how the topic rotate through the seven overall themes each week, emphasizing how important keeping a balanced outlook on life is.  And, each challenge for that day is small enough to encourage the reader to try it, but described with enough vision to see how all those small changes add up over time.
If you are looking for a devotional that you’ll look forward to picking up every day, I would recommend The One Year Uncommon Life Challenge.

Giveaway:  I have a certificate for a complementary copy of The One Year Uncommon Life Daily Challenge to give away to one reader of my blog.  Please leave a comment on this post about what is something that you find common among successful people that is uncommon among the unsuccessful.  I will select a winner and request their contact information.

Joseph

Other resources:

·        http://www.coachdungy.com/

·        http://www.tyndale.com/

Up, Down, or Sideways: How to Succeed When Times Are Good, Bad, or In Between

Title:  Up, Down, or Sideways:  How to Succeed When Times Are Good, Bad, or In Between

Author:  Mark Sanborn

Publisher:  Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.

Rating:  Good

Reason for Reading:  I have heard Mr. Sanborn speak many times, and enjoyed his newsletter and blog post about leadership at http://www.marksanborn.com/.  I was greatly attracted to the premise of what success principles work under such different economic conditions.

Format:  E-Book, read on my Nook Simple Touch

Summary:  In Up, Down, or Sideways, Mark Sanborn describes success principles that work in all economic conditions, addressing what leaders should see, how they should think, and what they should do.  The author wrote the book while recovering from surgery following a cancer diagnosis, laying out what he describes as “good shoulds”, the actions that produce successful results independently from the circumstances in which they are performed.

Under the section titled See, Sanborn encourages leaders to focus on the things one can control, and looking beyond the abundance of information available to everyone to the actions that make the downs easier and ups bigger.  In Think, Mark challenges the reader to examine the metrics they use to measure success, to appreciate the benefits of a positive disposition, and to adopt an approach of persistent learning.  In Do, Sanborn espouses the benefits of maintaining a healthy supply of the things you do that are most valuable and the valuable persons you associate with.  Finally, the author describes the constant need to innovate and engage what you do with creativity, and for successful persons to maintain a spirit of gratitude and embrace discipline.

Review:  A book that describes in comfortable language the simple principles behind personal success is perhaps my favorite kind of book.  I would put Up, Down, or Sideways squarely in that category.  Much of what you’ll read in it will have you nodding your heading in agreement about how these basic tenets of personal power have worked for you or against you in the past, based on the choices you make.  For the balance, the author is providing for you a greater understanding of how these principles work, by citing relevant research and providing descriptive examples of them in action.

For anyone wanting an enjoyable read about the meaningful subject of what they can do to improve their business, relationships, and life, Up, Down, or Sideways should be on your reading list.

Joseph

Other resources: http://www.marksanborn.com/

The 360° Leader by John C. Maxwell

Title: The 360° Leader

Author: John C. Maxwell

Rating: Good

Reason for Reading:  Of all of Maxwell’s many books on leadership, this one perhaps speaks most directly to my position, as I am a leader in the middle of my organization.  When the BookSneeze® program offered this book, I requested a copy to review.

Format:  Softcover

Summary:  The 360° Leader is divided into six sections, as Maxwell walks the reader through the concept of leading from anywhere within an organization to the practical steps of maximizing your influence.  First, Maxwell challenges the myth that only the persons at the very top of the organization chart can be true leaders.  The author describes in detail how those within the middle of the organization have a unique and valuable opportunity to lead and influence others that the top leaders do not.

Then, Maxwell identifies the challenges of leading from the middle, describing how the approach of the 360° leader has to be different from the top executive.  The author then dedicates a section to how the 360° leader exercises influence in all three possible directions:

Ø      Leading Up:  How to lead your leaders

Ø      Leading Across:  How to lead your peers and equals, and

Ø      Leading Down:  How to lead your subordinates and reports.

Finally, Maxwell describes how vital to the success of an organization the leadership skills of those in the middle are.  As an example, he cites General Tommy Franks description of the United States Army as dependent on strength of its non-commissioned officers.  Franks says that “sergeants are the backbone of the Army”.

This copy also included a workbook printed as an appendix, that the reader can use to develop the leadership skills Maxwell advocates for 360° leaders.  The book also includes access to additional resources online at http://www.360degreeleader.com/

Review:  I find that this book fills a critical niche in the leadership library that has been much overlooked.  There are numerous books about exercising leadership from the very top of an organization.  However, materials dedicated specifically at those in “middle management” have been much harder to find.  Because those in the position of being both leader and follower have a much different point of view, this book is valuable to someone conforming theoretical leadership concepts into their day-to-day jobs.

As usual, Maxwell lays out in easy-to-follow sections and lists the specifics of his concept of 360° leaders.  Maxwell also completes the picture with vivid and relatable stories to illustrate his points, making it easy for the reader to translate the concepts into concrete action steps.

I heartily recommend this as an important read for anyone who finds themselves in the middle of their organization and wants to maximize their influence over their portion of it and its entirety.

Joseph

Other resources: http://www.360degreeleader.com/

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com <http://booksneeze®.com/> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”