Thursday, January 29, 2009

One Small Step Can Change Your Life

"All great things have small beginnings."
-- Peter Senge, business consultant and author of The Fifth Discipline

Yep. It's true. And this book explains it well. Marcus has been wanting me to read this for a long time now. I kept telling him I would, but it wasn't until this past month that I committed to it, and I'm really glad I did. I am not usually drawn to "self-help" books, and I considered this one to fit that category. But I tell you what, the principles in this book have helped me in so many areas of my life.

It revolves around the Japanese Kaizen principle -- that doing one small step has much greater and lasting effects than trying to incorporate huge changes. The huge changes typically are ineffective because they don't last. Look at the New Year's Eve Resolution. How many times do people start with a bang and within 6-8 weeks are back where they started? The book gives examples from weight loss, business, relationships, etc. It's really great. I almost suggested it for our book club, but opted not too. Already though, some of those book club members have started to read it on their own.

We all want to change something in our life. Why haven't we? Because it seems so overwhelming. This book really helped me feel like the 1,000s of changes in my life that I want to make (my spirituality, health, organization, writing, mothering, etc) are manageable and really achievable. Who doesn't need to feel that? It's great. I recommend it to everyone.

One Small Step Can Change Your Life -- by Robert Maurer, Ph. D
181 small pages

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

amen to that. for a second there it almost sounded like you were talking about my work. we do kaizens in manufacturing. it's all about continuous improvement - any change for the better.

Devon said...

Hmm. That sounds right up my alley! I'll have to check it out!

Thanks for commenting on my blog...I totally know what you mean. People tell me that all the time--the whole "I couldn't do that, you're so amazing" thing. How on earth do you respond to that? I do the same as you--just shrug it off and say anyone could do it. It's hard to acknowledge your own strength, you know? You're right, the truth is they're not doing it, and we are. But we're getting through it.

I do need to make me a priority...I just feel torn in so many different directions.

LOL, sorry, I just realized I wrote you a novel...lolol

maryirene said...

i'm gonna check that out. jeffrey thought it was so cool that you talked about a book with kaizen stuff in it.

Josie said...

Your daughters are absolutly gorgeous!!

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