Prisoners of Our Thoughts : Viktor Frankl's Principles at Work

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Summary: Humanity in the Workplace - A Key to Profits
Review:
This is not a book to skim through, as many businesspeople and leaders are prone to do in their extraordinarily busy worlds. This could be one of the most important books you will read that provides the answers that corporations continue to seek. "What can we do to make our employees happy? Why do they continue to leave when we provide them with training, money, corner offices, trips, and other numerous perks? Why is it getting increasingly difficult to attract new talent? How can we increase profits?" The problem is that corporations continue to address these issues in the same old way, and do not see an improvement in their results. The answer has and always will be simple, and yet some top level, MBA and numerous degree laden executives and leaders worldwide aren't seeing it. The thing that is forgotten the most. They are dealing with human beings. Human beings with hearts and souls. It doesn't matter if you are a CEO, or the lowest one on the rung of the ladder. Human beings are inspired through their hearts, and it is no different at work. But so many people at top levels have a hard enough time even saying the word "heart", never mind coming to the realization that this could be the key that provides them the answer to all their questions. And in "Prisoners of Our Thoughts", Alex Pattakos has provided the guide . When humanity prevails in the workplace,heart and souls are inspired.

Instead of sending your leaders on a one size fits all leadership course that inevitably loses it's impact, have your leaders pick up a copy of this book. Instead of continually providing bonuses, more money, and perks to try and entice your employees to stay, have your leaders read this book. Instead of sending your executives on a retreat on teambuilding that quite often has the effects of summer camp (bonding for a weekend that quite often returns to the normal state of "war zone" in some corporations), ask them to read this book over a weekend. But reading it isn't good enough. The concepts must be applied.

Alex states, "The transformation of work in the twenty-first century is, in many respects, a call for humanity - a new consciousness that suggests more than simply trying to strike a balance between our work and personal life. It is a call to honor our own individuality and fully engage our human spirit at work- whatever that may be." "What we need now is a way to elevate the human spirit at work." It was exciting to read these words.

The concepts and findings relayed to the reader align with what I am witnessing in the corporate world as an Executive Coach. In my profession, while working individually with the leaders themselves, once you get to the humanitarian level in word and action, and they discover their own personal meaning in their roles, the flowdown effect is immediate, and profound. Discovering personal meaning DOES unleash human spirit and untapped potential. Guess what else that affects Corporate North America? Profits, employee engagement.

There are thousands of Leadership and Business books on the market. There are usually about 5 that I recommend to clients to read. "Prisoners of Our Thoughts" is now #1. Thanks Alex!


Rating:
Summary: Good Examples of Positive Thinkers
Review: 1/21/05 Beside a fine forward by another author Stephen R. Covey(ISBN 0613191455:7 Habits of Highly Effective People);(ISBN 1929494785: 8th Habit of Highly Effective People); the book 'Prisoners of Our Thoughts' by author Alex Pattakos has a 8 Page "Bibliograph (e.g. Notes & References ), an extensive Index section ; and also examples of not only "everyday folk who are grasping for "positive thoughts", but examples of famous names (e.g. The Dali Lama) who've taken their anguishes by storm and reflect positive words and deeds vs letting their thoughts when negative, without justification determine their actions and reactions.

Rating:
Summary: A great read!
Review: An enjoyable read with a meaningful and worthwhile message.Dr. Pattakos is a clear and inspirational writer with a sound understanding of the business world. If this book does not change your life, read it again.. I heartily recommend this book.

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Summary: Great insights; easy reading
Review: Dr. Pattakos has written a truly engaging and easy to read book. Despite being easy to read, however, it is founded on serious academic research and a lifetime of experiences that Dr. Pattakos shares with the reader. For those who want to pause and reflect on the meaning of their lives, I highly recommend this book.

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Summary: Practical study
Review: I found Alex Pattakos' book interesting, informative, and most important, practical. He put Frankl's ideas and lessons into a format where I find myself going back to the book, using it more as a reference book than a "single read" book. Since we spend so much of our lives in the work arena, Pattakos' ideas and interpretaion of Frankl's concepts are a must to read and use. TO me this is a guide to satisfaction in the workplace for everyone.

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Summary: Stop (!!) and reflect
Review: I was the person described in every chapter in this wonderfully insightful and reflective book. Reading it was like a mini-retreat and, of course, being so busy running a business, it took me too long to realize what a priority it was to just sit still and absorb the words of Dr. Pattakos. When I did I found profound meaning in the message. I intend to read this again and again, especially during those times when my life seems to control me, especially in ways that are troubling to my human spirit. Dr. Pattakos deserves high praise for this wonderfully modern interpretation of Viktor Frankl's hard earned principles. I can't recommend it enough.

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Summary: Apply seven core principles to work or life
Review: In "Prisoners of Our Thoughts," Alex Pattakos draws upon the entire body of Victor Frankl's work and outlines seven core principles which can be applied to work situations or everyday life. Each chapter features a "Meaning Moment," which calls upon the reader to reflect on a situation from his/her past and to consider how he/she might have approached that situation differently, and "For Further Reflection," in which Pattakos asks the reader to apply lessons from the chapter to a real-life scenario. Use "Prisoners of Our Thoughts" as a textbook, order it for all your employees or buy a copy for yourself.

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Summary: Every person is unique, with unique gifts... please read on
Review: Prisoner's of Our Thoughts is a challenging, yet a tender read. Challenging in that Alex Pattakos ushers us in to openly examine our responsibility of assuring we are doing the life work that is ours do to while also offering no apologies for the inevitable adversities that we will encounter along the way. He surely knows that every adversity also carries the promise of blessings, and his book will help you find these blessings in your own life.

The book is tender in that we are invited to explore our hearts, the only home of real peace and happiness, and to recognize that we are all unique, with special gifts to bless this world. We are taught to avoid the trappings that can take us away from the real work that is uniquely ours to do, and to instead listen and then seek carefully our own way from those "hints form Heaven" that come our way.

Jolted to learn that there was actually a long-awaited book out there that applies Viktor Frankl's work to the business world, I was eager to pour through the pages to explore the relevance and lessons. Soon after, I was fortunate enough to meet Alex Pattakos, and delve deeper in to Frankl's lessons with him one on one. As for Alex Pattakos, the person I found was an unrushed and genuine person whose passion is to help people, and an eagerness to share and teach his mentor's (Frankl) lifework to help all he can reach their human potential through discovering the capacity of love and purpose. His work is significantly useful in my line of work, and the challenges that our organization is faced with every day.

I fully recommend reading this great work, and applying its wisdom. Please don't wait to open your "lock box" of talents and tasks that life has set aside for you, seek what is yours on behalf of all mankind. Thank you, Alex Pattakos, for completing this task that life has sent your way, and for the completeness of the gift you have provided.

Bob Thompson
Lieutenant Colonel
U.S. Army



Rating:
Summary: A Great Read!
Review: Prisoners Of Our Thoughts is an engaging, inspirational read. If it does not change your life, read it again. Dr. Pattakos understands the search for spiritual meaning and the corporate world. I heartily recommend this book!

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Summary: Focusing on your purpose.....
Review: The messages in Prisoners of Our Thoughts picks up where other books and approaches leave off. It is all well and good to recite the Serenity Prayer and know what things we can change and what we can't. However, to focus on finding meaning in our lives....takes much of what I have focused on in other books and puts it in a new context. There are many things in my life that I have begun to rethink AFTER reading this book. Pick it up. You'll see what I mean.