A groundbreaking, inspiring book for businesses, managers, and individuals on how to achieve the absolute best by focusing on strengths and steering away from weaknesses, this revolutionary, humanistic approach to business will transform companies, build careers, and change lives.

Customer Rating:
Summary: Soar with your strengths
Comment: This book is well written for quick reading and also has a lot of good material for anyone to use in the workplace or in their everyday personal and family relationships. I've tagged pages and paragraphs for future reference. Quite a few people in my office have asked to read it so my copy is getting a workout. Some purchased the book after scanning the contents. This book will not end up on the bookshelf but will stay "active" on my desk.

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Customer Rating:
Summary: Second half more strength driven...
Comment: This book was a great addition to my formative years as a professional. It opened my thoughts up to what needed focus in my career and where I was headed. The first part of the book was dry and a little off the topic of strengths. In fact, it seemed to center more on weaknesses. For some reason, I kept reading, looking for the positive reinforcement for which I had hoped.

The second part pulled it through. From catalysts to empowerment, I found more value and direction. It not only provided ideas, but activities as well. Lists were created and action plans set. If you are a new professional, exam the details within. If you are a seasoned executive, remind yourself and your staff of where your strengths lie and allow them to grow.

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Customer Rating:
Summary: Soar with your strengths
Comment: This has been interesting and provides me a new point of view about takeing decision in terms of strengths and weaknesses.
It is easy to read. I am not very good in english leguage and tor ead it was not a difficult task.

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Customer Rating:
Summary: Rabbits don't "Fly", they "Jump" and "Run"
Comment: Soar with your Strengths is an inspiring book for business professionals, managers, and individuals seeking to achieve their absolute best.

To open, the authors tell a fun parable "Let the Rabbits Run" which conveys the message of how important it is to focus on your strengths instead of trying to shore up your non-strengths (weaknesses). It tells a story of a rabbit that is going to school to become well-rounded, sound familiar? Moving along, the rabbit excels in hopping and running classes. However, the rabbit didn't do so well in swimming class. Flying class was even worse; he couldn't even get off the ground. He felt like a failure. Naturally, his parents reinforced the school's intent to create well-rounded students. And, the school counselor "helped" the rabbit by canceling his running and hopping classes and putting him in extra swimming and flying classes. Don't worry, there is a happy ending, courtesy of the Wise Old Owl.

Authors Clifton and Nelson offer an interesting book on how we, in business and in life, fail to focus on our strengths and manage our weaknesses. Consider how often the top salesperson is promoted into management, irrespective of actual leadership ability.

The authors advocate "The Power Of One Simple Question" which is "What would happen if we studied what was right with people versus what's wrong with people?"

Applying the principles to my own life, I soon discovered that I too fell deeply into the trap of focusing on my non-strengths (weaknesses) instead of my strengths. In fact, there are some things I'm just better off not doing or at least delegating to others.

In summary, many insights are offered throughout this book. Business owners and managers will do well to read this book and apply the principles, first to their own lives, then to encourage associates to discover and focus on their own strengths. Focusing on strengths is one of the few remaining hidden secrets of unleashing productivity.

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Michael Davis - Editor, Byvation

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Customer Rating:
Summary: Cute concept, bad book.
Comment: Title says it all, "play to your strengths". No need to read the "book", or if you must, simply skim at your nearest Borders, Barnes & Noble, or fave store with a reputable coffeehouse. My quibble is less with the authors' philosophy and more with their writing. This is simply not a very well written book--no chapters, bold headings every five sentences, and endless laundry lists (43 at last count) of things to do, ways to manage, etc. Although I agree with the need to appreciate the talents of each unique individual and not dwell so much on a person's need-for-improvement areas, I did not think the authors proved their points. They were content to slap down some famous names, rehash a few entrepreneurial successes, and quote the Gallup polls (which were self-serving anyways in light of Clifton's ownership of Gallup). Please try to waste your money on something better written.

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