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angelamichelle's review
4.0
One of the best things I got from my mother is the view that family issues can be analyzed and addressed in a systematic way. Electric bill too high? Introduce a light-turning-off contest. Kids bickering too much in the van? Plaster the seat-backs with uplifting messages. No problem can't be solved with a chart or system or family meeting.
This book is by a business management consultant who points out that too often we approach family life in a whack-a-mole style. So he modifies some of his business tricks to guide parents through identifying their family's defining vision, developing mid-range goals, and outlining the steps to achieving those goals. A quick, light-hearted read with some solid advice.
This book is by a business management consultant who points out that too often we approach family life in a whack-a-mole style. So he modifies some of his business tricks to guide parents through identifying their family's defining vision, developing mid-range goals, and outlining the steps to achieving those goals. A quick, light-hearted read with some solid advice.
kimball_hansen's review against another edition
2.0
2.5 stars. This book feels a lot like the [b:The E-Myth Revisted/ The E-Myth Mastery|2769727|The E-Myth Revisted/ The E-Myth Mastery|Michael E. Gerber|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/book/50x75-a91bf249278a81aabab721ef782c4a74.png|2795451]
When it comes to families, context is the information and framework we need to make a decision in the most informed and intentional manner as possible.
The three questions:
1) what makes your family unique?
- values (2 or 3 positive qualities; think about what inspired your relationship in the first place) and strategies
3) what is your family's top priority/rallying cry?
4) how do you talk about and use the answers to these questions?
When it comes to families, context is the information and framework we need to make a decision in the most informed and intentional manner as possible.
The three questions:
1) what makes your family unique?
- values (2 or 3 positive qualities; think about what inspired your relationship in the first place) and strategies
3) what is your family's top priority/rallying cry?
4) how do you talk about and use the answers to these questions?
hgbutchwalker's review
4.0
Very helpful book for how a family can gain clarity on what they are all about and what is most important for them to focus on. In typical Lencioni style, it is told in the form of a "fable" or a fictional story that illustrates the principles. This makes it extremely easy to read and even enjoyable. In today's over-scheduled society where many family relationships are suffering due to the tyranny of the urgent, this short book brings practical and easy relief. Can't wait to put it into practice in our family.
aminowrimo's review
3.0
The gist of this book is quite simple. All you need to do is answer these three big questions:
1. What makes our family unique?
.... (include core values and anchor points)
2. What is our most important priority in the next two to six months?
.... 2a. To do that we will...
.... 2b. We will also have to stay on top of our regular responsibilities...
3. How will we use our answers and keep them alive?
That's it.
By core values, the author means 2-3 values your family rates highly. For me, they are honesty and dependability. For my brother, it's fun, (and he refuses to list more than that). By anchor points, he's referring to the things that are true about your family, as in, 'Mom stays at home,' or 'we go to church every week.'
2a and 2b refer to the direct objectives and standard objectives, respectively. This is basically four to five things you need to do to realize the priority in the next two to six months, and four to five things that need to keep happening in order for you to be happy and healthy (like managing finances, or continuing to work out).
#3 simply means that you schedule a time to look over both standard and direct objectives, and examine the priority to make certain that you're on the right track and that it's still the priority for you. To rate your success level on the standard and direct objectives, Lencioni recommends you use three colors: Green for going swimmingly, Yellow for needs work, but acceptable, and Red for this needs immediate attention.
----
The book is organized in a different way than I've seen up to now... but perhaps this is the style of Lencioni's 'leadership fables.'
75% of the book is a story about the Cousins family, whose story starts with the very simple "If my clients ran their businesses the way we ran this family, they'd be out of business." (non-verbatim), and ends with "If my employers ran their business the way you run your family, they wouldn't be going out of business." (non-verbatim).
About 15% of the book after that is a quick sort of 'cheat-sheet' to make sure you got the ideas described in the story and know how to apply them. If you're in a hurry, only this last bit needs to be read. (Start from The Model).
----
All in all, this was a quick educational read. I'm certain it can be applied to single people also. Or practically everyone. If you're ready to think carefully, you probably don't even need to read the book, and can use practically every other productivity suggestion in the world to modify to your family's needs. After all, this book espouses the same things everyone else does: Have a goal and work towards it by limiting the amount of other stuff you do.
1. What makes our family unique?
.... (include core values and anchor points)
2. What is our most important priority in the next two to six months?
.... 2a. To do that we will...
.... 2b. We will also have to stay on top of our regular responsibilities...
3. How will we use our answers and keep them alive?
That's it.
By core values, the author means 2-3 values your family rates highly. For me, they are honesty and dependability. For my brother, it's fun, (and he refuses to list more than that). By anchor points, he's referring to the things that are true about your family, as in, 'Mom stays at home,' or 'we go to church every week.'
2a and 2b refer to the direct objectives and standard objectives, respectively. This is basically four to five things you need to do to realize the priority in the next two to six months, and four to five things that need to keep happening in order for you to be happy and healthy (like managing finances, or continuing to work out).
#3 simply means that you schedule a time to look over both standard and direct objectives, and examine the priority to make certain that you're on the right track and that it's still the priority for you. To rate your success level on the standard and direct objectives, Lencioni recommends you use three colors: Green for going swimmingly, Yellow for needs work, but acceptable, and Red for this needs immediate attention.
----
The book is organized in a different way than I've seen up to now... but perhaps this is the style of Lencioni's 'leadership fables.'
75% of the book is a story about the Cousins family, whose story starts with the very simple "If my clients ran their businesses the way we ran this family, they'd be out of business." (non-verbatim), and ends with "If my employers ran their business the way you run your family, they wouldn't be going out of business." (non-verbatim).
About 15% of the book after that is a quick sort of 'cheat-sheet' to make sure you got the ideas described in the story and know how to apply them. If you're in a hurry, only this last bit needs to be read. (Start from The Model).
----
All in all, this was a quick educational read. I'm certain it can be applied to single people also. Or practically everyone. If you're ready to think carefully, you probably don't even need to read the book, and can use practically every other productivity suggestion in the world to modify to your family's needs. After all, this book espouses the same things everyone else does: Have a goal and work towards it by limiting the amount of other stuff you do.
mturney1010's review
3.0
This was a super quick read and I gained a lot from it. I can't wait to share it with my husband and implement the strategies shared. It is largely considered a leadership fable, and I felt like the fable part was excruciatingly cheesy, but I still loved the concepts talked about and like I said, I will be implementing the strategy ASAP.
karasmichelle's review
3.0
Reviewed for my blog July 2. Visit and up my very sad visitor count!
http://www3.allaroundphilly.com/blogs/pottstown/balancingthebooks/blog.html
http://www3.allaroundphilly.com/blogs/pottstown/balancingthebooks/blog.html
bwitbeck's review against another edition
5.0
Simple structure for making decisions according to one’s values. Appreciated the practical tone along with all of the examples at the end. The “Rally cry” is something that I will use both in work and family life.
theblessedeveryday's review
4.0
This won’t win any writing awards but great actionable steps to bring more clarity and purpose to your family.
staceyluvsbooks's review
3.0
I am glad I read this book. It gives some good ideas on how to try to organize your family and keep focused on important goals. Gave me some things to think about.