Job burnout is something that doesn't simply go away — especially in a chaotic economy. It is a kind of job depression caused by feelings of powerlessness, the loss of control over one's work. The effect can be devastating. The victim dreads going to work. Productivity falls and life becomes increasingly difficult. Burnout is stressful, but it is not caused by stress. Going on a vacation provides relief until the vacation is over and one must return to the job. Overcoming Job Burnout describes how burnout can take hold and how to turn it around. Dr. Potter offers eight proven strategies for increasing personal power and renewing enthusiasm for working. A combination of inspiration and instruction, this updated, revised edition is filled with practical advice, based on the author's years of experience in this field, that readers can implement immediately to renew that sense of engagement and excitement that makes working worthwhile.
Replace your loss of organizational loyalty and safety with a sense of freedom and accountability
"Both Koestenbaum and Block are such passionate men who bring together what we all seek in our work life-meaning, insight, and humanness. Bless them for this book."
--Joyce DeShano, board chair, Ascension Health
Customer Reviews:
STERN'S MANAGEMENT REVIEW FINDS THIS A MIND-EXPANDING BOOK!.......2003-07-18
This book is a collaborative work by a philosophy professor (Koestenbaum) and a management consultant (Block) that examines an array of philosophical and psychological subjects and ties them to the role of leadership and the nature and experience of work. At its core, it is about what it means to be human in the real world. The purpose of the book is to explore the ideas of existential philosophy, and associated ideas in psychology, in the context of everyday life, particularly at work. It covers such topics as freedom, anxiety, death and evil, and links these to how we think and act. The main theme is what it means to be free and the linkage to accountability. This is not your typical book about work or management. It is about the way each of us encounters the world, experiences living, and defines ourselves. It has deep implications for personal transformation and our interaction with reality. The book is intellectually challenging, mind-expanding, and very thought-provoking, providing fundamental implications for managing people, guidance, counselling, and personal growth.
Transformational.......2002-04-03
I have learned from this book! I have learned about Existential Philosophy, human beings and myself. I have affirmed my belief in freedom, human potential and the Grace of God but this book has nothing to do with religion. I have affirmed my belief in my power and responsibility to shape the world. I have learned much about the human condition. I have helped others with the knowledge that anxiety (of the existential kind as opposed to the neurotic kind, the latter being the denial of anxiety) is actually a positive state since if acknowledged it can lead one to a rebirth. I have utilized the information in this book to face conflict in relationships by bringing them into the transcendental realm where we all have a stake. I have realized that failure or the threat of death, in the form of rejection or job loss is not a threat; no one can threaten you with the inevitable. I have affirmed that I can be an idealist while being realistic.
There is much to be explored in this depth of writing; it is a heavy book both in weight and content but by reading it, you can become stronger. There are some parts of this book after first read that I admit I don't quite understand or maybe I am preventing the understanding; I will read this book again. I will continue to explore the depths of my being to bring meaning to my life and hopefully the lives of others. This is how I feel about this book; read it and discover how you feel!
weLEAD Book Review from the Editor of leadingtoday.org.......2002-02-12
This is not your typical book on management or leadership. If you are familiar with the previous works of these two authors you will know they intended it to be dramatically different. They succeeded well with Freedom and Accountability at Work. Peter Block starts this journey by writing the introduction. His task is to create a context by which his colleague's writings can be used to understand the dynamics of the modern workplace. Many of the concepts and ideas found in Freedom and Accountability at Work are taken from two previous books written by Koestenbaum. Both The Vitality of Death and The New Image of the Person were written by Koestenbaum in the `70s. These two philosophical books are at the heart of this new publication. This book is written on the premise that it is time to bring philosophy into the world of business by helping others find answers to their questions about the real purpose of work. It includes ways to bring ethical and spiritual values into the workplace.
Block encapsulates this thought when he writes, "Philosophy is really about a universal form of leadership and the possibility open to each person to shape or create an environment that supports the pursuit of meaning and purpose, rather than our current obsession with financial security and material wealth." Freedom and Accountability at Work provides discerning and near tangible ideas about anxiety, freedom, suffering and death. The authors maintain that viewing the purpose of work from the lens of a philosopher can provide a unique shift in mental perception. They believe that by rising above the mental traps that typically ensnare us, we can make our work places more humane and experience the accountability and real freedom we all want. The authors also provide potential solutions to those whose are presently struggling with personal suffering and depression. They encourage the reader to engage in this profound degree of change that will help one to overcome the cynicism that comes from superficial change. It is their contention that leaders need to ask these deeper philosophical questions to become better role models today and to acquire the enabling vision to lead tomorrow.
What it means to be human.......2001-12-14
This book is tough sledding, and it is not for everybody. However, if you are willing to work your way through it, authors Koestenbaum and Block offer a few terrific and hugely powerful insights.
Freedom and Accountability is a curious and rare piece of writing - existentialist philosophy applied to the world of work. The authors are concerned with issues such as choice and free will, accountability and responsibility, and what it means to be an authentic human being - critical issues as the industrial era hierarchical workplace evolves into something new.
Plus - here's the gem - they assert that it is only by acknowledging and internalizing the fragility of life, and the immediacy and totality of death - that one finally stops wasting one's time, ceases doing things which do not matter, and becomes truly empowered.
And here's an interesting idea: they further assert that anxiety - that near-universal feeling most of us seek to avoid - is really the stuff that makes us feel alive, and it is a direct result of our exercise of free will. The only people without anxiety are either doing nothing important - taking no risks, or are totally repressed.
This book resonated with my own work as an executive coach, speaker and strategist,. And I liked it a lot. I find it helpful to read words which express my own thoughts with greater clarity than I had previously.
These ideas may also feel familiar to students of Landmark Education and Werner Erhardt - they have similar roots in the writings of philosophers Edmund Husserl and Martin Heidegger.
A different focus on the leadership and workplace role.......2001-11-09
Organizations and work environments are often more focused on how to control and predict behavior than how to understand it, but Freedom And Accountability At Work: Applying Philosophic Insight To The Real World provides a different focus on the leadership and workplace role which blends a philosophical examination of behaviors and skills with keys to applying such thoughts to effective management. Chapters include a healthy dose of psychology as they consider these issues.
Book Description
It's payday on eBay®!
You may have been making some money on the side with eBay®, but if you've done much business at all, you know that it's not always as easy as it seems. Whether you want to be a full- time seller or make money on the side, this book will guide you step-by-step through creating the eBay® business you've dreamed of. It covers the basics of an eBay® business including record keeping, taxes, legal issues, sourcing, promotion, fraud protection, fulfillment, and other details entrepreneurs need to know. It also helps you determine what to sell, how to price it, and the details of working with services like PayPal.
Customer Reviews:
Very satisfied with book and the seller.......2005-10-03
I am pretty satisfied with the book. It was in very good condition and a great buy. The seller was prompt, efficient and did a great job.
Covers all the basics of starting an online ebay business.......2005-05-10
Covers all the basics of starting an online ebay business, from insurance coverage and handling sales tax quirks between states to advertising, promotion, accepting and pursuing payments and more. Those who recall the old ebay auction-only model will find much changed: you can now set up a shop with fixed prices on ebay and Starting An eBay Business covers both stores and auction formats.
Average customer rating:
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Critical Communications: An Operations Guide for Business
Samuel Mullen
Manufacturer: Pennwell Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
 Communications
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Running Meetings & Presentations
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Leadership
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ASIN: 0878144668 |
Book Description
Careers for Animal Lovers & Other Zoological Types lets career explorers look at the job market through the unique lens of their own interests. The book reveals dozens of ways to pursue a passion and make a living--including many little-known but delightful careers that will surprise readers.
Download Description
Careers for Animal Lovers & Other Zoological Types lets career explorers look at the job market through the unique lens of their own interests. The book reveals dozens of ways to pursue a passion and make a living--including many little-known but delightful careers that will surprise readers.
Customer Reviews:
Very Informative!.......2006-03-29
Well done Ms. Miller! I found this guide to be very informative and helpful! I am thinking about going into a career about animals and I found that this guide to be a perfect foundation for me. For all people interested into going into a career involving animals, this is the book for you!
Lots of information!.......2003-03-28
This book contains a very wide variety of career options, be it young or be it old! If you don't know what's out there and you're older, this is a great book to look for answers. If you're young and just starting out & don't know what's out there, this is a great place to start. There's even a job in this book called "cat house architect"! I'm considering working in the animal field, and think this book has helped me, at least in the beginning stages of what I would like to do. One idea though: check it out from the library!
Book suggested for the YOUNG reader.......2000-05-26
This book is for a school student doing their studies. The information is very general and there isnt any information about salaries! It really doesnt help if you are trying to descide what type of amimal career you are trying to get into.
Book Description
There’s no question: The cost of college continues to soar, even when the rest of the economy stagnates, and this reality is not likely to change any time soon. Fortunately, everyone, including you, the various governments (federal and state), and the colleges themselves, are in on this secret, so everyone can plan and plot, well in advance of that eventual first day of your child’s freshman year, ways to get that child there, and ways to help you pay the bills when they happen. Consider this book to be your accomplice.
529 & Other College Savings Plans For Dummies is simply a way to find a reasonable solution to a seemingly unreasonable problem: saving for future college costs in the sanest, least stressful way possible for you. In keeping with the theme of stress reduction, you can use this book in a variety of ways:
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As a reference: It’s all here: the ins, the outs, the do’s, and the don’ts. The world of college savings is one of very specific rules, and they’re here, in all their glory, and they’re all explained.
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As an advisor: It’s a case of the very good savings techniques, the merely okay savings techniques, and the truly ugly techniques (which you really want to avoid), and this book highlights them all.
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As a little light reading: Amazingly enough, the topic of money can be mildly amusing, and college savings is no exception. Read this with an eye towards the absurd, and you won’t go far wrong.
This down-to-earth book is designed to explain the strategies that are out there to help you save, save, save. There’s no doubt that the bill will be large; there’s also no question that, with planning, strategy, and purpose, you can achieve your goal. To help you get there, this book covers all these vital topics, and more:
- Evaluating all your resources
- Understanding the basics of Section 529 plans
- Working around the 529 shortcomings
- Contributing to Coverdell accounts
- Choosing savings bonds that work
- Looking at your investment options
- Searching for scholarships, fellowships, and grants
- Tapping into your Roth IRA
- Financial Aid 101
In this one-size-fits-all world, the powers that be have recognized that all people don’t save money the same way. Some save more, some save less, some can live with risk, and others can’t tolerate any risk. Clearly, no two are alike, but you’re all savers, either present or potential. Numerous options exist that make saving possible and desirable for everyone. 529 & Other College Savings Plans For Dummies is here to tell you that it is possible to understand the costs associated with college, both right now and in the future, and then find ways to pay for those costs.
Customer Reviews:
This is the book to read about 529's.......2006-11-14
After my baby was born, I knew I wanted to save for her college. I read this book and another 529 book. This book was the best. It walked me through the college savings process, explained how to get college financing, and listed all the 529 companies to go with for each state. It decussed tax issues as well. This was an easy read for someone that does not have a clue about 529's (Me).
Book Description
The largest maker of heavy machinery in Gilded Age America and an important global exporter, the Baldwin Locomotive Works of Philadelphia achieved renown as one of the nation's most successful and important firms. Relying on gifted designers and skilled craftsmen, Baldwin built thousands of standard and custom steam locomotives, ranging from narrow gauge 0-4-0 industrial engines to huge mallet compounds. John K. Brown analyzes the structure of railroad demand; the forces driving continual innovation in locomotive design; Baldwin's management systems, shop-floor skills, and career paths; and the evolution of production methods.
Customer Reviews:
Comprehensive hsitory of Industrial Practice.......2005-05-02
This is not a typical history of a locomotive builder. Many of us, and I confess that includes myself, are fascinated by steam engines, their design and operation. They seem to signify a simpler time. However, what they really are is an artifact of the industrialization of the western world. In their day, these locomotives represented the largest, most complicated pieces of machinery on land. This book was advertised as being a study in the organization of the COMPANY that built these machines: not of the machines themselves. I found Brown's book to be exactly what was advertised: a study of a 19th century leading industrial concern. I found the research thorough and the points well-reasoned.
There are many interesting facts to be gleaned: how Baldwin really was a mass-customization producer well before anyone understood the concept. How the railroads, not the company, literally dictated the trends in locomotive design. That the locomotive industry was subject to severe cyclical buying patterns. And finally, that Baldwin enjoyed a stretch of over 50 years of labor relations completely unblemished by strikes or worker actions.
If you are looking for a history of Baldwin steam locomotives, their design and use, this is NOT the book for you. If you are looking to learn more about the business practices of one of the largest American large-equipment builders of the 1800, the markets in which the firm existed, labor relations and more, then this is a must buy.
Complete and Thorough Study.......2004-03-25
This reader did not see any blurb about the author on this edition, but the author shows a strong bent for letting the historical research speak for itself and obviously knowledgble about current trends in manufacturing. It is an amazingly thorough book . Some readers may find lessons here, some just a litany of facts.
The Baldwin Locomotive Works was the dominant Locomotive manufacturer and capital equipment maker in the U.S. during the Gilded Age. The company's experiences are still the experiences of today's manufacturing firms, especially the heavy equipment manufacturers. The company began in the 1830's and closed its doors for good in 1956. In the decades close to the 1900's it was the dominant locomotive and heavy equipment maker in the country. The author brings forth the following
themes and issues this company dealt with are still very current with manufacturer today
1)balancing skilled and unskilled labor, running an apprentice program
2)concentrating on manger-producers, the company scorned professional or middle
managent to the point where foreman did the hiring for their departments.
3) Labor strife was mostly non-existent for decades, the company's stated position was
to make the company's goal the workers goal also.
4) factory floor production control relied on a card and list tickler system to expedite job orders
5) Located in the industrial down town of Philadelphia, it had a cadre of local close-knit
suppliers
6) To spur productivity the company introduced piecework and often a group of workers would band behind a foreman to act as in-house contractors. The workers would strive to perform the necessary cost cutting to produce a set number of parts for a set price and if successful the profits from the savings would be split among the contracting group.
7) A strong "not invented here culture" caused it to disdain efficiency work studies
requiring professional middle management.
8) The impact of the paradigm shift from steam to diesel locomotive power.
The Baldwin locomotive company also bridged the era of the introduction of gas and then electric lights, it boosted productivity as the same assets, buildings and equipemnt could now produce 24 hours a day. In 1906 the company produced 2,666 locomotives, In the era around World War I the inevitable decline started. It was a partnership company in world of corporations with their professional management. Baldwin had a historically low profit margin making customer designed products. The custom designing took an army of draftsmen,and skilled labor at assembly. The final nail in the coffin was General Motors entry into the market. With a corporate structure, and years of experince in the American System of Manufacturing (mass production), GM lured the railroads over to standard design diesel locomotives from Baldwin's custom built steam engines on price alone. Baldwin's low profit margins prevented it from entering the Diesel market and effectively competing. Instead the company went the way of the steam locomotive and closed in 1956.
My hat is off to this author, he not only touched upon every issue, he excelled at the explanations. The style of using subchapters with titles reinforces the organization of the information brought forth. This is not a book for everybody, but most people involved in manufactuirng or management will find something of interest. Still the book is geared for the researcher. A little explanation of locomotive design terminology would have been helpful.
Great study of nineteenth century business.......2002-10-31
In eight weeks, thousands of workers at the Baldwin Works of Philadelphia would take a custom design from drawings to finished product. By 1905, more than seven engines rolled out of the plant every day. How this was done is the subject of this very interesting book. Baldwin was the premier locomotive manufacturer and ranked at the top of American industry for sixty years. Ironically, the major strength of the Baldwin company, the ability to build custom products efficiently to the customer's specific demands, was to prove a major weakness as the economy changed to a more consumer-driven environment where "standardized products, hierarchical managerial structures, and market control strategies dominated." Builders could not compete with manufacturers who mass-produced standard designs.
Matthias Baldwin began as a jewel smith in Philadelphia, but he was enamored of technology and soon built a small engine. More than a toy, it powered his first shop for forty years and now resides in the Smithsonian. Philadelphia, home of the Franklin Institute, which supported new inventions and technology, was also the home of numerous machine shops, and soon Baldwin had created a shop where he began to design ever better steam engines for railroads. He invented the Jervis leading truck, a pair of wheels that moved along as the track curved, reducing the number of derailments. His flexible-beam design became very popular because it had more driving wheels and with the weight of the engine over the drivers it could pull longer and heavier freight trains. By 1846, his shop made forty-two types of engines, he had paid off all his debts, and he had survived the panic of 1837, a severe market reversal. He had also bought out his early partners, making him the sole owner of the company.
You really have to be a locomotive or railroad buff to enjoy this book (isn't everybody?), but there is also a great deal about capitalism and market conditions in the nineteenth century. The Baldwin Works managed productivity increases on an average of 3.1% per year, as compared with 1.9% nationally, and it accomplished this through organizational and technical changes. By 1906, Baldwin was producing a locomotive every three hours, twenty-four hours a day. Baldwin minimized the risk inherent in the system by engaging in industry-wide price-fixing agreements, and he relied on "just-in-time" inventory supplies to reduce the need for substantial working capital. He drew a great deal of technical expertise from his customers, the railroads. The author suggests that Baldwin's success came also because of his reliance on a core of skilled workers rather than on trying to improve profits by manipulating workers and exploiting them.
That Baldwin rapidly lost ground to the diesel-electric engine may suggest that individual leadership tied to an entrenched way of operation might be a disadvantage in the long run.
A little lacking.......2000-12-08
I am interested in the nuts and bolts, brick and mortar part of the railroad industry. This book dealt too much with financial institutions and political connections for me. I could care less about the problems management had with workers, or if a union wanted to organize, or if they were having money problems. I wanted more photos, with views of the erecting floors and machine shops, things of that nature. Not enough topics concerning the actual construction process.
If you like trains and manufacturing.......1999-12-14
If you like trains and how they were manufactured or if you have a passing interest in how large scale capital items were manufactured. This book is for you. I was just curious since I am a Baldwin. I enjoyed it.
Books:
- Readings in Mathematical Economics, Vol. 2: Capital and Growth
- Ricardo's Macroeconomics: Money, Trade Cycles, and Growth (Historical Perspectives on Modern Economics)
- Seeking Shelter on the Pacific Rim: Financial Globalization, Social Change, and the Housing Market
- Selling the Free Market: The Rhetoric of Economic Correctness
- Silent Theft: The Private Plunder of Our Common Wealth
- Socially Relevant Policy Analysis: Structuralist Computable General Equilibrium Models for the Developing World
- Spaces of Global Capitalism: A Theory of Uneven Geographical Development
- Strong Medicine: Creating Incentives for Pharmaceutical Research on Neglected Diseases
- Team Launch! Team Leader's Manual: Strategies for New Team Start-Ups
- The Amartya Sen and Jean Dreze Omnibus: (comprising) Poverty and Famines; Hunger and Public Action; India: Economic Development and Social Opportunity
Books Index
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