Books in sync with nature.
Books in sync with nature.
The Ground Rules Are Changing… (New book offers a formula for thriving in the new outsourced economy) Thrive: Standing on Your Own Two Feet in a Borderless World
If we believe the Gallup organization, their recent studies reveal that less than 30% of us at work are fully engaged with what we have chosen to spend our time on. I happen to think that anyone looking for peace of mind, personal transformation, or an attitude overhaul might as well embrace the workplace as they search for their own truth, for the obvious reason that we spend so much of our life there. Within the past five years, the marketplace for talent became and has remained as tight as a drum, and young people are learning that they can name their own game. In many ways, it is the rest of us who are still catching on.
Pittsburgh, PA (November 2006)—Thousands of jobs are moving to countries every month where they can be done as well for less money. We can’t stop it from happening. But we can change the way we adapt to this new reality and how we engage with it. For many people and companies, these are scary times.
In a groundbreaking new book by leadership development expert Mike Cook, called Thrive: Standing on Your Own Two Feet in a Borderless World (St. Lynn’s Press, November 2006), the author picks up where Thomas Friedman’s The World Is Flat left off. Cook portrays the outsourced economy as a place where there is opportunity for everyone to win, and introduces the skills and principles important to learn in order to achieve what he calls “self-sufficiency in the context of interdependence.”
Cook says the key to success in the new outsourced economy is adaptability. Rather than argue with the economic reality, we can learn how to collaborate with it. People who aspire to maintain their value in the outsourced economy can learn to become individual leaders, or self-managers, who choose to take responsibility for their work environment, their personal happiness, and their lifelong learning and career development. This new “bulletproof” employee will trade a need of security for supreme confidence.
Thrive is a call to action, by necessity if for no other reason, for people to rise to the next level of personal awareness and growth. Cook draws his inspiration from several sources: enlightened business thinkers such as Peter Drucker and Abraham Maslow; the principles of an interconnected universe as shown by Einstein, Fritjof Capra, and others; the spiritual common sense of Lao Tsu, the Buddha, and other champions of the human spirit; and the ancient Sanskrit concept of “dharma,” which states that all of our actions should resonate with our highest self.
Written in thoughtful, literate prose, the book invites readers to participate in Five Levels of Engagement:
Along with his practical guidelines, Cook recommends proven developmental and assessment instruments, and includes resources and reading materials that expand on his ideas and our skill mastery.
Thrive is not just for employees who want to increase their professional value. It is also for employers and managers who believe in a culture of mutual success, and for people just entering the job market. The book is for all business people who are willing to replace fear with hope as they seek connectedness and a shared vision in the global workplace
MIKE COOK is Founding Partner of Vitalwork, Inc. (www.vitalwork.com), a leadership development firm based in upstate New York. Cook is committed to helping leaders and their workforces claim a graceful and dynamic position in the outsourced economy. His clients include many Fortune 500 companies. Cook is known for his humor, his passion for work, and a voracious appetite for books and ideas. Mike can be found on the web at Vitalwork.com.
Thrive: Standing on Your Own Two Feet in a Borderless World (St. Lynn’s Press, November 2006, ISBN: 0-9767631-5-X, $18.95) is available at bookstores nationwide and major online booksellers.