Rating: 
Summary: Subject comes alive, thanks to the authors
Review: A book about vision ordinarily wouldn't be the first thing I'd pick
up to read . . . yet I'm glad I made an exception for FULL STEAM
AHEAD!, an engaging story by Ken
Blanchard and Jesse Stoner about two people struggling to
find direction for the company where they work and for their
own lives.Blanchard's THE ONE MINUTE MANAGER, written along
with Spencer Johnson, has always been one of my favorite
business books . . . this one follows that format; i.e, present
a tale with believable characters and have them ponder
something important . . . when they do so, then let the reader
discover a number of important principles that will help him or
her grow as an employee or employer . . . and human being. By reading FULL STEAM AHEAD!, you'll learn the three
elements of a compelling vision: significant purpose, clear values
and a picture of the future . . . perhaps more importantly, you'll
also discover how to ensure that the vision comes alive through understanding the principles of how it is created, how it
is communicated and how it is lived. My only regret is that I did not learn the above earlier in my life! Several of the book's passages stood out for me, including these:
* "If I had been clear about my vision of if Doug and I had shared a
vision, we could have talked about what we were doing that was
consistent with our vision and where we were off track. Maybe we
could have fixed things early on before they became irreparable." * I continued. "I grew up in Michigan, so I'm very aware of the
automotive industry. I was impressed with their rallying call
'Quality is job one.' To most people this sounds like they're saying,
'Quality is the most important job.' And they are. But it's also a
message that conveys deeper meaning. Most people don't know
this, but job one is the term for the prototype of each model-the
first car off the assembly line. This car has to be perfect because
it is the standard against which all of the other cars are built. When
workers at Ford Motors first heard 'Quality is job one,' what they
really heard was that every car they produced had to be perfect, held
to the standard of the first job-the first car off the assembly line.
They had a clear picture of what quality looks like. The rallying call
also told them that they are going to seriously compete with the
Japanese market in the area of quality. There was a lot of meaning
attached to their rallying call, and it connected them to a shared vision.
That was the year that the Ford Taurus overtook the Honda Accord as
the best-selling car in that class." * We agreed that a rallying call is a great way to encapsulate the messages
of a shared vision. We thought of examples where the rallying call of a
company was a true expression of their vision, such as Ritz-Carlton's
"We are ladies and gentlemen serving ladies and gentlemen" and
Disney's "to keep the same smiles on people's faces when they leave
the park that they had when they entered six, eight, or twelve hours
earlier," and Steve Job's vision to make computers accessible and
affordable for everyone by creating a world with "a computer on every
desk."
Rating:
Summary: Full Steam Ahead
Review: A refreshing change from the parable format of so many currently popular books, Full Steam Ahead tells a very believable story that invites the reader along on a journey of joint discovery for how to find and define what is important in one's life and work. The authors resist a formulaic approach to vision, but provide clear guidance that allows for individual differences (" It doesn't matter whether you can see the picture. It's my vision. It's a picture that I can see."). The authors also address the critical elements of being clear about current reality, and the importance of living your vision by being present. Additionally, they go beyond individual vision to the essential organizational issues including the importance of involving others in creating a shared organizational vision. Highly recommend for both individual and organizational use. I read the book and then ordered the CD as a review while I was driving.
Rating:
Summary: Immediate results
Review: After having read this book and applying its principles to my work and my life incredible results have occured. It has changed my life!
Rating:
Summary: Great Book
Review: Best book I've read in the past year. Well-written story. Jim and Ellie seemed like real people. Are they?
Rating: 
Summary: Vision is Power!
Review: Blanchard and Stoner has presented a really readable book on such a broad topic as vision building. Blanchard's parable format has served him well throughout all his business and leadership books from One Minute Manager to Raving Fans and Whale Done! and it still continues to amaze with its simplicity and ability to convey powerful messages that connects with the readers. The journey taken by Ellie and Jim in using and applying their skills in vision building in their career and family life is both inspiring and instructional. Their definition of purpose, values and visualisation of the future are clear and simple to apply (not easy tasks but definitely simple). The lessons here can be learnt and applied in a great variety of situations and more importantly, they can be taught after they are acquired. Anyone or any organisation seeking to move from where they are NOW to where they want to be in the future will benefit greatly from this short but powerful book. Take care of you
Rating:
Summary: Wonderful! Should be required reading for all team members.
Review: Everyone on our team was expected to read this book before beginning our project. I must admit I was initially not very enthusiastic about being given a book to read. But once I started reading it, I couldn't put it down. I read it in one sitting! I had always looked at vision as "soft." This book shows how it is practical and necessary and it shows how to easily apply the ideas. Using the book as a reference, our team created a shared vision for our project that was supported by senior management. I have never been on a team that accomplished so much in such a short timeframe--we were focused, energized and easily moved Full Steam Ahead! Note: This book is applicable to all aspects of your life (not just work).
Rating:
Summary: Going Full Steam Ahead!
Review: Everyone should read this book, whether you're in business or not. The principles could be used in your personal life as well as your professional life. The co-authors, Ken Blanchard and Jesse Stoner show how to create a vision for your work and for your own life. They clearly explain the three components of a vision so that you understand how to apply them to your own situation. The story is beautifully written and the book is hard to put down. I guarantee you'll be thinking about this book for a long time after you finish it. And you might want to read it a second time! When I finished it, I gave it to my wife. She loved it too!
Rating:
Summary: Upbeat and motivating!
Review: Excellent book that is an easy and quick read, yet filled with practical, useful information on how to create a vision and implement it! I for one am tired of reading books that talk about the importance of vision but give no clue on how to create one. This book does both: it shows exactly how to create a compelling vision and it also shows how to make it come alive. The advice in this book is down to earth and easy to apply. It provides the roadmap I've been looking for. If you only read one book this year, this is the one to read!
Rating:
Summary: Praise with Reservation
Review: Frankly, I did not know quite what to expect as I began to read this book...and then for a time, I was confused. Who is the narrator? A real person? Is this a modern parable in the recently established Movable Cheese genre? However, I continued to read, was patient, and eventually rewarded. Blanchard and Stoner have an essentially simple but urgently important concept to share: How to create and then sustain the power, indeed the urgent importance of a compelling vision. "It's also about how to ensure that it's a shared vision, it comes alive, and it continues to guide you on a day-to-day basis. Creating a vision statement can be just a one-time activity. This book is about how to make visioning a journey." That is precisely what the authors do: They take their reader on a journey through a series of situations encountered by the narrator. This is in some respects a contemporary version of Bunyan's allegory, The Pilgrim's Progress. The narrative also contains many of the elements of a parable even as the situations portrayed are ones with which today's executives can easily identify. In the Epilogue, the narrator observes that "I've discovered that as we move full steam ahead toward our vision, our vision expands the closer we come to it. My vision has expanded to include my community. I've realized that on this planet, we are all part of one community, and we all need to assume responsibility for creating a shared vision." I am still uncertain as to how much of the narrative expresses the thoughts and feelings of Blanchard and Stoner themselves, and, to what extent they are uniquely those of the narrator (granted, a persona, a literary device). Thus exists a certain tension of ambiguity which, for me, is a distraction. Perhaps I don't get it. In fairness to the authors, I will re-read the book. For now, I rate it as I have. If a careful re-reading clarifies what is for now, for me, unclear, I will revise this review and adjust the rating accordingly.
Rating:
Summary: Powerful, practical, useful!
Review: Full steam ahead is a phenomenal book. It was critical to my understanding of vision. Prior to reading to this book, my understanding of vision was fuzzy at best, limited to what I know in scripture. Of vision, scripture states (Habakkuk 2:2) that we should write the vision and make it plain upon tables that he that reads it might run with it. The Hebrew word for vision, `chazown', indicates that the vision is a mental picture. Beyond that, I had never been clear on the elements of a vision, neither did I have a clear idea of how to craft a vision statement.
Now I understand that vision is all about knowing who you are (clear purpose), where you are going (picture of the future), and what will guide your journey (values). Your values guide you when you hit opposition or obstacles. I have been able to use these concepts and others presented in the book to craft a vision that is energizing and provides focus and direction. I have been able to explain it so that others want to support me. And, I have been amazed at the results.
Thank you, Ken Blanchard and Jesse Stoner for writing this book. You have offered a valuable service in helping people learn how to go Full Steam Ahead!
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