Breaking my silence on Goodreads: my first review

After being a member of Goodreads for many years, I finally broke my silence.

Ten Thousand Sorrows : The Extraordinary Journey of a Korean War Orphan by Elizabeth Kim

Elizabeth Kim presents a mirror for us to judge how we treat each other, how Christian communities and families can become oppressive and thrust horrendous expectations on women to obey, to accept their lot and be grateful for the accompany suffering. After experiencing multiple losses, many with an undercurrent of racism, Kim’s life lingers in depression. She stands on the threshold of suicide and must decide if she values life.

Loss is a consistent theme that threads its way through Elizabeth Kim’s writing. As a toddler, she loses her mother, she loses her home and rails against the missionary run orphanage that houses her. She loses her crib mate who dies while she sleeps. She loses the kind gentleman who travels with her on her trip to America to meet her adoptive parents, and once she is part of this new family, she loses the right to her feelings, thinking logically, choosing her religion and even choosing who she will marry.

She faces racism outside and inside her home and learns to be ashamed of not being a blonde-haired, blue-eyed girl. It is her own daughter, who she seeks to protect, who gives her the strength to break out, but not necessary break free. Elizabeth Kim

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

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Success is a squirrel, a beaver and a goose away

The employees believe the boss doesn't understand. The boss believes the employees don’t understand.

Neither ‘side’ sees the point of wasting time on the other’s project.

Perfect setup for work conflict.

How do we get ourselves in a position to understand each other and be better aligned when it comes to core values, shared vision and goals?

Recently, someone shared a book with me by Ken Blanchard and Sheldon Bowles, Gung Ho! Turn On the People in Any Organization.

The story is about a young woman who basically tells the emperor he has no clothes – she writes a report disclosing that the boss’ plan is wasting a million dollars annually. As a reward for her fine report, she is sent to manage the worst production plant in the system, which appears to be the boss’ exit strategy for her.

She’s bright. In hours she figures out which department is leading the company in efficiency and maneuvers to discover their secret. The man heading up the department is a Native American who has taught his staff lessons from Nature. She falls in eager to be his student, adopts his practices and broadcasts them throughout the company.

This saves the plant, saves her job, and saves the town.

Can it be that simple? Sure. To back up that assessment Amazon has over 100 positive book reviews.

The book offers an easy 1-2-3 summary at the back that notes that the leader chooses the goal, defines the job and employees succeed when they share the goal and understand they are making a difference not only in the company, but in the world, and they receive heavy doses of praise.

The caution is that the goal may not be adopted by the employees. It’s a hurdle any business faces, not everybody thinks the same way.

In this day of bad economy, layoffs and bankruptcies, I would add, when the job appears, say "send me." Even if it’s something you don’t want to do. Learn quickly, be resourceful, don’t upset the canoe stepping in, and paddle the same direction as the boss.

Today, there are fewer and fewer resources for any of us to do our jobs. From employees inside our company to the customers we serve, everyone is asked to do more with less. Getting the end result that saves the company, saves the career and saves the town is a squirrel, a beaver and a goose away if you read Gung Ho.