It’s Going To Get Ugly
There are few things I could tell you about myself that are more embarrassing than at one time I thought this guy knew something I didn’t.
This is going to be a brutal take-down. The self-help and management gurus have a lot to answer for. Of course, if you set yourself up as a great thinker or theoretician, be prepared for some criticism. But mostly, don’t be a fraud.
Here are some items of which I’m just a little embarrassed to have on my shelves.
The 21 Indisputable Laws of Leadership, John Maxwell, 1998.
OK, technically this is no longer in my library since I threw this out en mass with all the other nonsense of Maxwell’s that I had in my possession. I started buying his books in the late 90s during a period which I can only describe as my “Stockholm Years.” I was working for an abusive boss who swore by Maxwell, so glugging down the Kool-aide, I figured sure, ‘me too.’
If the right people end up writing history, then John Maxwell, will go down as the single biggest con-man in the neo-con era spanning the late 20th and early 21st centuries. Maxwell’s secret to success in leadership? “Get people to ‘buy-in’ to your leadership.” Yeah, that’s it. Of course as with all management gurus, Maxwell is pretty short on methodology, execution, and specifics.
Maxwell has no shortage of cringe-worthy anecdotes. One particularly shameless recollection from his early career as a young pastor is particularly saccharine. Maxwell felt he needed one particular influential deacon on his side, so he shows up one day to help with the gardening. Yup, that’s it. And of course he was always careful to solicit this deacon’s opinion at every board meeting. Ooh, take me Darth Sidious.
Then of course there is Maxwell’s full-throated approbation of Enron’s management (in a subsequent book). Remember them? This now-defunct regional energy company infamously inflated it’s stock price by recording sales to its own shell companies. Nice, John. Nice.
Pointing out the John Maxwell scam may win no friends in certain circles. I will take that chance. Truly one of the foremost grifters of our age, Maxwell epitomizes the genre of “pretend you’ve discovered the secret to success and then offer to sell it to everyone else.” Tony Robbins could sit at his feet.
The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, Covey, 1990.
I’ve done plenty to embarrass myself. But there are few facts that I could tell you about myself that are more embarrassing than that 14 years ago, I actually spent $70 on a Franklin Planner. Yeah. I. Did. That.
The 7 Habits of Highly Effect People is still a good read. Covey’s follow-up books Principle Centered Leadership, and First Things First aren’t bad either. Full of common sense and wisdom, if a little dated, I can’t say they were a complete waste of time and money. But it all boils down to this: if you want to get things done, make a list. Even as Covey tries to convince you and convince himself that ‘this is so much more than making lists’ that’s really all it is.
At the beginning of the day, or the night before, make a list and prioritize. That’s the entire book.
Who Moved My Cheese?, Johnson, 1998.
Condescending only begins to describe this pamphlet. A favorite of Corporate America. This was purchased by the crate by companies during the 90s and 00s for distribution just prior to massive downsizing and lay-offs. The essay is presented in the form of an allegory. The target demographic are those who showed up day after day to their soul-crushing jobs. The message is easily understood: Don’t expect your years of loyalty to be returned, kindly move on, and pardon the security guard for watching you as you clean out your desk. The mass-purchases of course served to exponentially inflate sales. WMMC may go down as possibly the worst management/self-help book of all time.
Dishonorable Mention
The One Minute Manager, Blanchard/Johnson, 1982.
In short: heavily plagiarized and full of non-insights. Some borrowing and re-treading from Jung and other post-Freudians. $5.95 I will never get back.
In comparison, Sun-Tzu’s The Art Of War may be full of obvious reflections, but at least he was the first to write them down.
my recommendation…
One principle that stuck with me from 30+ years as a corporate manager and military officer: don’t bring a problem without at least bringing a proposed solution.
If you want some un-common common sense management advice for both functional living and business, you can’t do better than Aaron Clarey’s blog. Full disclosure: I don’t know him, never spoken to him, and I take no money from him. So there.
Selah, Baby.
I once bought a Christian Weight Loss book entitled “More of Jesus—Less of Me” and gained 20 pounds. I think the author missed the REAL meaning of the title.
To me it was Og Mandino’s “The Greatest Salesman in the World.” That became my “bible” back in the 70s and while I cannot complain much because it gave me a new perspective on life, I have come to realize my problems were self-created therefore my solutions must be in “creation” juices. Now close to my 80s I realize I needed some boost as I tend to be a rather miserable old man. I found Og’s book in my library and downloaded mp3s to boot my personable self. After a year of reading 3 times a day and constantly listening to my recordings while at my computer (I spend 12-15 hrs a day reading) I can say that it just did not work. I am still the “somber” individual I was before my attempted re-making.
I attended a Leadership event years ago at a local church. I found his presentation arrogant and a bit narcissistic. It was not particularly helpful presentation….it felt like a sales pitch. As a Christian I felt he was misusing scripture to come up with a business gimmick. The person who invited me was also unimpressed. However, the majority of people we spoke to after the presentation were very enthusiastic. I haven’t bought his books. I work in HR and cringe when someone recommends one of his books. If asked about his books I say “not a fan”.
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