The Carpenter: The 3 Greatest Success Strategies of All 1st Edition

I was recently facilitating a strategic planning meeting when the CEO announced that she had read the book, "The Carpenter: A Story About the Greatest Success Principles of All" by Jon Gordon - and that she wanted to lead the company based on the three core principles of the book: Love, Serve, and Care.This CEO is already a pretty remarkable woman, so I had to buy the book, and I'm glad I did!The core concept of this short fable business book is that you'll be more successful and lead a more fulfilling life when you focus on the process vs. the end results. By loving the work that you do, serving others, and caring about each and every person you connect with, the results will follow.If you can get past the biblical allusions (the mentor is a carpenter named J. Emmanual - wonder if he was born in a stable?), this book packs a punch. Reading time is less than an hour, and I highly recommend some reflection time in between a few chapters.Here are some of the key points:- Don't just be a carpenter; be a craftsman. Rather than approaching work as a job that needs to get done quickly, be concerned about what you are creating. "I pour my heart and soul into everything I build, knowing that all I create is a reflection of me.- Be Optimistic. "What you believe will become what is true."- Talk to Yourself Rather Than Listen to Yourself. Feed yourself with positive words and encouragement rather than listen to negative thoughts.- Do Everything with Love. "Do not fear failing. Do not fear losing clients. Do not fear that you won't be successful. Do not fear that things won't go your way. Instead do everything with love and you will cast out fear, you will flow instead of stress, and you will create more success than you could ever imagine."- Look for Opportunities to Serve Others. "Ask your employees what they need and serve them. Anticipate their needs and serve them before they even know they need it. Ask your customers what they need from you to be the best.- Teach your Team to Serve Each Other. "Great teammates serve the team more than themselves. When a team is more committed to serving one another rather than their own selfish desires, they become very powerful and accomplish amazing things."- Find Unique Ways to Show You Care and Make it a Habit. "It may seem like a small gesture but it means everything [to the recipient]."- It Starts with the Leader. "Great organizations that care are composed of people who care greatly - and it starts with you. Not because you are the leader of the company, but because one person who cares inspires everyone around them to care.The carpenter/author cautions that this is not a quick-fix solution to an organization's problems, but by having the courage to persevere and continue to love, serve, and care, you'll see great results.At least have the courage to read the book and have your team discuss how it might apply!

Easy to read, positive, uplifting stories from Jon Gordon. Great for any organization, business, leadership group, school, team, etc.Some of my favorite quotes:"Remember, life gives us warnings for a reason. Learn from this. Do things differently.""Blurry things can be brought into focus with the right questions and better strategies.""When you see the good, look for the good, and expect the good, you find the good and the good finds you.""Life and success are about what you choose to believe.""The secret to life and the greatest success strategy of all is to love all of it and fear none of it.""Great leaders don’t succeed because they are great. They succeed because they bring out the greatness in others.""Real leaders, great leaders, become powerful by serving others and giving their power away with love. Only by serving can you become truly great!""Serving leads to true success.""When you care, you will inspire others to care.""I believe we possess the greatest power in the universe, the power to make a difference in the life of another human being.""When you see failure as a blessing instead of a curse, you will turn the gift of failure into a stepping stone that leads to the gift of success.""Your purpose will inspire you to love those who are hard to love, serve when you don’t feel like serving, and care more when you don’t feel very caring.""The key is finding the purpose that inspires you to be the mission.""You aren’t a true success unless you are helping others be successful. Success is meant to be shared."#loveservecare

This is another life altering book. It provides a formula so simple that it is hard to grasp. I intend to use the information provided to help me on my journey and more importantly help others on theirs.

Great little story. These books are packed full of principles for life. Although pricey, this book could be written in an afternoon. I think about Jonathan Livingston Seagull was written in one night. It kindly gets my goat to read an obviously little book that is fill with blank pages to make the book look larger I suppose. That’s my grip I guess we all may have at least one? I do these evaluations to help other customers even thought they are only one man’s opinion. Thank