Jolt (Book Review)

When I ordered a copy of Jolt: Get the Jump on a World That’s Constantly Changing from BookSneeze (here on Amazon), I didn’t know what to expect. I ended up with a book containing an interesting blend of leadership, change management, and religious topics.

I’m openly and unabashedly a Christian, so that last part wasn’t really an issue for me, but I know that some people are not big fans of that sort of thing. That said, there were a few parts that I did enjoy.

What I liked

  • You don’t solve existing problems with existing rules.” Want to figure out how to solve those big, hairy messes? Suspend disbelief, and the rules, long enough to come up with some genuinely creative solutions.
  • I hope when I reach the end of my life, there will be a couple good books on my nightstand. I want to learn and grow until my last breath.” When you make the conscious decision to stop learning, it’s time to quit. There will always be ways you can increase your knowledge and capabilities if you take the time to seek them out.
  • What is the #1 sign of stagnant growth? “You lack influence… If you are not bringing new ideas and information to the table on a regular basis, people will start to look elsewhere, and you will soon be marginalized.” This is where you bring up that tired “seat at the table discussion.” This guy is not even in HR and he still understands it.

And one final quote that I now have written on my whiteboard above my desk:

Growth oriented organizations require growth oriented people.
-Phil Cooke

Very much the truth!

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