Rating: 
Summary: I would recommend this book to everyone
Review: John C. Maxwell's "Thinking For A Change" was very helpful in teaching me a few of the basics about leadership. He gives eleven main strategies for success in work and life. I think the book can be useful to everyone. You don't necessarily have to be a corporate leader to find it useful. I think it's one of those books you can read ten times, and always find something useful inside. I'm sure I will re-read it when I am further along in my career. I have not graduated from college yet, but it has already started me on a good thinking path. It is useful for business, but it is also useful in everyday life. Since I am not a "business person" yet, I can apply the theories to my life right now, and try to use and perfect them, so when I do enter the business world, I will hopefully have a good grasp on what it is to be a leader. Maxwell talks about big-picture thinking. Big-picture thinkers are never satisfied with their current knowledge, and they always want to learn more. Focused thinking develops and discovers new ideas. Creative thinking celebrate the off-beat and explore options. Realistic thinking is the difference between what is real in life and what we wish to be real. Strategic thinking is planning to make difficult things more simple. Possibility thinking is believing in all possiblities. Reflective thinking is looking back to analyze and learn from what has already happened. Popular thinking, in a way, is not thinking at all. Shared thinking is receiving feedback from others' thoughts as well as your own. Unselfish thinking is getting outside yourself and contributing to others. Bottom-line thinking is measuring the outcomes. These are all very basic explanations of each kind of thinking, but Maxwell goes into a lot of detail. He describes what each kind of thinking is, why it is helpful, and how to go about doing it. Then at the end of each chapter, he has a workbook section that you fill out. These questions and scenarios help you start thinking like the "thinker" described in that chapter. Maxwell uses these eleven strategies to help us understand how to be a good leader, and the workbook parts help us figure out how to put these types of thinking into action. Overall, I thought this book was very affective in teaching some basics about leadership, and I know it is one that i will be pulling off the shelf in the future time and time again.
Rating:
Summary: gets you thinking
Review: Look around, and you will see that a lot of people in our society don't think. Our television shows have laugh tracks to tell us when something is supposed to be funny. Our coffee cups now warn us that the contents may be hot. Labels on our hair dryers remind us not to use them underwater. We are so used to having someone else do our thinking. What would happen if we woke up and started...thinking for a change?Right away Maxwell establishes that successful people think differently than unsuccessful people. In Part I, he develops a foundation by explaining the merits of good, changed and intentional thinking. Part II reveals the 11 ways that successful people think -- big-picture instead of small, focused instead of scattered, creative instead of restrictive, realistic instead of fantasy, strategic instead of random, possibility instead of limited, reflective instead of impulsive, innovative instead of popular, shared instead of solo, unselfish instead of selfish, and bottom-line instead of wishful. Each chapter explains one of these facets of thinking and allows you to evaluate yourself in each area. Maxwell then gives you action steps to develop that type of thinking in your life. This is an excellent resource to help you jump-start and expand your thinking beyond where it is today. If you are ready for a change, this book will get you thinking...for a change. Larry Hehn, author of Get the Prize: Nine Keys for a Life of Victory
Rating:
Summary: You'll definitely think about thinking!
Review: Loved THINKING FOR A CHANGE
by John C. Maxwell, subtitled "11 Ways Highly
Successful People Approach Life and Work." I kept taking notes on it and, in fact, my biggest challenge
will be to present my thoughts in just a few paragraphs here . . . the
author presents countless examples, but what makes them
so relevant is that they're all based on real companies and
individuals . . . in addition, he presents many relevant
quotes . . . and perhaps best of all, he concludes each chapter
with several questions that force you to reflect on what you've read. Even if you've never thought too much about thinking, you'll get
a real feel for such things as: Big-Picture Thinking--seeing the world beyond your own ideas and
how that leads to great ideas; Focused Thinking--removing mental clutter and distractions to
realize your full potential; Creative Thinking--stepping out of the "box" and making
breakthroughs; Shared Thinking--working with others to compound results; and Reflective Thinking--looking at the past to gain a better understanding
of the future. There's much more, too . . . but to give you just a feel for some of the
many memorable passages, consider the following: * Because of my workload, I also have to skip doing many things that
I would love to do. For example, every week I hand off projects that
I think would be fun to do myself. I practice the 10-80-10 principle
with the people to whom I'm delegating a task. I help with the
first 10 percent by casting vision, laying down parameters, providing
resources, and giving encouragement. Then once they've done the
middle 80 percent, I come alongside them again and help them take
whatever it is the rest of the way, if I can. I call it putting the cherry
on top. * Creating additional thoughts is like taking a trip in your car. You may
know where you are going, but only as you move toward your
destination can you see and experience things in a way not possible
before you started. Creative thinking works something like this:
Think - Collect - Create - Correct - Connect Once you begin to think, you are free to collect. You ask yourself,
What material relates to this thought? Once you have the material,
you ask, What ideas can make the thought better? That can start
to take an idea to the next level. After that, you can correct or
refine it by asking, What changes can make these ideas better? Finally,
you connect the ideas by positioning them in the right context to
make the thought complete and powerful. The whole process happens
more readily when you have a framework or picture of where you
want to go. That frees you to add value to your thinking. If you go
to the ideas, soon the ideas will flow to you. * If possibility thinking is new to you, you're going to have to give yourself
a lot of coaching to eliminate some of the negative self-talk you may hear
in your head. When you automatically start listing all the things that can
go wrong or all the reasons something can't be done, stop yourself and
say, "Don't go there." Then ask, "What's right about this?" That will help
to get you started. And if negativity is a really big problem for you and
pessimistic things come out of your mouth before you've even thought
them through, you may need to enlist the aid of a friend of family member
to alert you every time you utter negative ideas.
Rating:
Summary: You'll definitely think about thinking!
Review: Loved THINKING FOR A CHANGE
by John C. Maxwell, subtitled "11 Ways Highly
Successful People Approach Life and Work." I kept taking notes on it and, in fact, my biggest challenge
will be to present my thoughts in just a few paragraphs here . . . the
author presents countless examples, but what makes them
so relevant is that they're all based on real companies and
individuals . . . in addition, he presents many relevant
quotes . . . and perhaps best of all, he concludes each chapter
with several questions that force you to reflect on what you've read. Even if you've never thought too much about thinking, you'll get
a real feel for such things as: Big-Picture Thinking--seeing the world beyond your own ideas and
how that leads to great ideas; Focused Thinking--removing mental clutter and distractions to
realize your full potential; Creative Thinking--stepping out of the "box" and making
breakthroughs; Shared Thinking--working with others to compound results; and Reflective Thinking--looking at the past to gain a better understanding
of the future. There's much more, too . . . but to give you just a feel for some of the
many memorable passages, consider the following: * Because of my workload, I also have to skip doing many things that
I would love to do. For example, every week I hand off projects that
I think would be fun to do myself. I practice the 10-80-10 principle
with the people to whom I'm delegating a task. I help with the
first 10 percent by casting vision, laying down parameters, providing
resources, and giving encouragement. Then once they've done the
middle 80 percent, I come alongside them again and help them take
whatever it is the rest of the way, if I can. I call it putting the cherry
on top. * Creating additional thoughts is like taking a trip in your car. You may
know where you are going, but only as you move toward your
destination can you see and experience things in a way not possible
before you started. Creative thinking works something like this:
Think - Collect - Create - Correct - Connect Once you begin to think, you are free to collect. You ask yourself,
What material relates to this thought? Once you have the material,
you ask, What ideas can make the thought better? That can start
to take an idea to the next level. After that, you can correct or
refine it by asking, What changes can make these ideas better? Finally,
you connect the ideas by positioning them in the right context to
make the thought complete and powerful. The whole process happens
more readily when you have a framework or picture of where you
want to go. That frees you to add value to your thinking. If you go
to the ideas, soon the ideas will flow to you. * If possibility thinking is new to you, you're going to have to give yourself
a lot of coaching to eliminate some of the negative self-talk you may hear
in your head. When you automatically start listing all the things that can
go wrong or all the reasons something can't be done, stop yourself and
say, "Don't go there." Then ask, "What's right about this?" That will help
to get you started. And if negativity is a really big problem for you and
pessimistic things come out of your mouth before you've even thought
them through, you may need to enlist the aid of a friend of family member
to alert you every time you utter negative ideas.
Rating:
Summary: Embrace all thinking and optimize it.
Review: Maxwell describes eleven thinking process every person should utilize: big-picture thinking, focused thinking, creative thinking, realistic thinking, strategic thinking, possibility thinking, reflective thinking,critical thinking, shared thinking, unselfish thinking, and bottom-line thinking. He explains how these forms of thinking can empower you to fulfill your potential. These are all valid forms of thinking, and learning about them is important to understand our thinking process. This is an excellent book and it should be read along with Dr. Rosalene Glickman's book, Optimal Thinking: How to Be Your Best Self. Optimal Thinking is the simple, peak form of thinking we use when our best self takes charge, and we are optimizing the present moment. Individuals and top corporations all over the world use Optimal Thinking to optimize thinking, emotions, resources, profits, relationships, strategies and choices. I recommend both of these books if you want to make the most of your personal and professional life.
Rating: 
Summary: an underachiever of a book.... could, should be much better
Review: Maxwell has a good structure. These 11 thinking styles are all invaluable, and he is to be credited with bringing them together in one place. That said, he does not dig nearly enough to bring his points to life. The tone throughout is homiletic when it should be far more concretely informative. His grasp of creativity and creative processes is weak, if not trivial. Did he bother sitting down with specialists in this field, reading its literature, or considering the many ways that creative thinking opearates on multiple planes of abstraction ? Doesn't seem like it from reading this middle brow arglebargle. I mean, c'mon... "creative thinkers celebrate the offbeat". Ya, that looks self evident..."creative thinkers don't fear failure".. no kidding..."creative thinking challenges the status quo"...stunnning revelation there..and of course, you should "embrace those who are creative"... just not too closely... GAAAAAAAK !!!!!! Then we could proceed apace to "Release The Power Of Strategic Thinking"... oh yes, indeed, we should do that, but how sir ?
Ah, "develop your plan"....has this guy ever heard of Arie de Geus and Royal Dutch Shell ?, Peter Schwartz ?, scenario planning ?, critical path method ?, NLP beyond a passing reference to Tony Robbins ?, and of course, there is a strong whiff of Edward de Bono's earlier work on thinking strategies, Six Thinking Hats... as a matter of fact, in his 79 cited references at the rear of the book (which has no index for cross referencing by the by) Edward de Bono isn't mentioned, although there was at least one brief quote by de Bono in the book. A mediocre, intellectually lazy piece of work that will be of moderate value to beginners. Its basic points are valuable to those who have not been exposed to this structure, but it sorely lacks depth, committment to its subject, or the information value to hold the interest of a reader of above average mental capacity.
Rating:
Summary: Think! Think! Exclaims Maxwell
Review: Maxwell uses extensive quotes, examples, and lessons from great thinkers and leaders throughout history to prove his point that critical thinking is essential for any person aspiring to assume leadership within an organization, or to gain control of one's personal life. Critical thinking is absent in corporate America today, and Maxwell strives to teach the reader to adopt new mental habits to analyze and resolve situations both within and without the boardroom. Maxwells' book presents a rationale for focused, creative, shared, realistic, strategic, possibility, reflective, popular, and bottom-line thinking. Maxwell devotes a chapter to each of these areas in his highly readable writing style.
Rating:
Summary: think right = read Thinking Strategically
Review: Recently I was promoted to an executive level position and this book could not have come at a better time. The way Mr. Maxwell organized thought process and progression was extremely helpful and his insights and guidance have proven beneficial to my situation. Since reading this book, time is scheduled for thought and it has helped me to focus and relax and become more productive and organized in my daily approach. I am going to recommend this book to my staff and I have since ordered Mr. Maxwells Leadership and Attitude 101, I enjoyed Mr. Maxwells "down to earth" style. This book is worth the purchase.
Rating:
Summary: Inspirational
Review: Recently I was promoted to an executive level position and this book could not have come at a better time. The way Mr. Maxwell organized thought process and progression was extremely helpful and his insights and guidance have proven beneficial to my situation. Since reading this book, time is scheduled for thought and it has helped me to focus and relax and become more productive and organized in my daily approach. I am going to recommend this book to my staff and I have since ordered Mr. Maxwells Leadership and Attitude 101, I enjoyed Mr. Maxwells "down to earth" style. This book is worth the purchase.
Rating:
Summary: think right = read Thinking Strategically
Review: subtitled: The Competitive Edge in Business, Politics, and Everyday Life. The moral of this tale is: read specific works that are written by those who are experts in one of these 11 dimensions. Maxwell is superficial. He kinda has to be, as he is in the business of writing many books in the knowledge lite category. He may point out useful directions to follow up on. It's up to YOU to get the hint and follow the trail. Also suggest that you read Don't Jump To Solutions (cognitive psychologists call this problem "rush to structure"), by William B. Rouse, or Games, Strategies & Managers by John Mc Millan and of course, The Logic Of Failure by Dietrich Doerner.... soon enough you get the idea that strategic thinking is A. both a science and an art, and B. one heck of a lot of hard work to do well, and C. inspiration doesn't hurt, but perspiration wins the day.. Still hot to trot ? Bramson and Harrison's work on the dominant thinking styles in western cultures, Analytic, Idealistic, Pragmatic, Synthetic, and Realistic remains better than almost any other typology, perhaps more significant and elegantly simple than the Briggs-Myers system... You've been warned, fellow students. Maxwell is the threshold, not the full structure. Don't make the mistake of thinking that Thinking For A Change is enough. You need more, a lot more.
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