Rating: Summary: Opening up to some important questions Review: I read this book under some big platan treas in Provence, France. I read one chapter at a time, then reflected for some time, read another chapter and so on. I found that this was a good way for me to read this book. It gave me the possibility to reflect on my own life and the many moments of synchronicity that, in many ways, are so similar to the experiences of Joseph Jaworski. Here are some of the questions that came to my mind: - what is the nature of those "fields" that create the possibility for synchronicity? - how can we learn from previous experiences in order to live in "the field of synchronicity" more often? - is shock and tough experiences necessary for people to learn how to live life "in the field of synchronicity"?
Rating: Summary: simply great Review: I really enjoyed the journey with Mr.Jaworski.Compared to many such management and philosophy books, this one has a personal touch and the contents are magnificient. After reading this I tried to live each and every moment in my life to get and give maximum output. It was really an experience and with this I feel the world will definitely become a better place to live.
Rating: Summary: worth reading by leaders or not Review: I thought that I had read enough of the "journey to enlightenment" genre with the newly enlightened, predictably charged to bring the ragged rest of us into the light.Instead I found Jaworski's story poignant and provocative. He's on to something that he doesn't quite understand and, mysteriously, he finds the people that propell him on to profound insight. Here's a story of the son of a famous father coming to terms with the father's legacy(good or bad)who, while walking through his trail of tragedy and triumph, discovers not only himself but tantalizing glimpses of a richer reality constructed of language and relationship that both creates and allows for change. I found his very human struggle to make sense of his, "world come alive," enriched by his non guruesque touch . The book affected me on many levels. I will read it again.
Rating: Summary: Synchronicity: The Inner Path of Leadership Review: Ideas of Grandiosity. I would suggest that the individuals mentioned in this book be interviewed for their version of the experiences. Then determine if this book has taken some "fictional" license. But wouldn't we all like to paint a fantastic autobiographical picture of ourselves especially if our lineage had someone truly outstanding in it.
Rating: Summary: Synchronicity: The Inner Path of Leadership Review: Ideas of Grandiosity. I would suggest that the individuals mentioned in this book be interviewed for their version of the experiences. Then determine if this book has taken some "fictional" license. But wouldn't we all like to paint a fantastic autobiographical picture of ourselves especially if our lineage had someone truly outstanding in it.
Rating: Summary: I guess I'm not in sync. Review: In his book, Joe Jaworsky marvels at the string of circumstances that put him in touch with just the right people at just the right time. Isn't it amazing how they all take his calls, how they all agree with him and encourage him, some of them even give him seed money and put him in touch with other like-minded individuals? Joe, that isn't synchronicity, that's the Old Boy Network. You have never been excluded from it so you don't see it for what it is.On the other hand, there are some interesting ideas here. I liked the last two chapters a lot. They describe two plausible scenarios for the first few decades of the 21st century. I like the idea of shaping your future by imagining it, as oppossed to simply reacting to the present. I also resonate with the concept of Synchronicity, just not most of the examples Joe cites. This is a mixed bag but it was worth my time, though only marginally.
Rating: Summary: Living Life in the Here and Now Review: In part, this is one man's journey through the dark valleys of uncertainty, confusion, frustration, and a little chaos. The difference is, he didn't set up residence in the darkness but kept moving. He didn't succumb to a personal pity party about his own inner confusion and the direction of his life. Nor did he allow it to derail the process of moving forward. And, instead of existing in this life, he learned to live and participate in the living of life. It may come across as a simplistic and egotistical journey, however, the concepts he presents are ancient, which in and of themselves, take a lifetime to master. Read the book as Solomon's Ecclesiastes--it's Jaworski's journey and I'm glad he shared it.
Rating: Summary: Leadership is all about being, not doing. Review: Joseph Jaworski has written "the" book on leadership for the 1990's.Not unlike Robert Pirsig's Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, Jaworski's Synchronicity: The Inner Path of Leadership serves up a tale of personal discovery of such magnitude as to speak to the very heart and soul of the reader. Drawing heavily from Robert Greenleaf's Servant Leadership, Jaworski describes in compelling form the essential character of leadership founded on servant as leader. Reading Jaworski is like reading a modern-day Paul: his message that we can control our future by allowing life to unfold through us -- not despite us -- is comforting in this era when we all seem to be cascading toward a destiny over which we have little or no control. Read this book. Accept its invitation to initiate your own journey of self-discovery and enlightenment.
Rating: Summary: A Solid Read! Review: Joseph Jaworski was a practicing litigator when he learned about the concept of the "servant leader." Inspired, he left his legal practice and created the American Leadership Forum (ALF), which trains corporate leaders in using the servant-leader model. Synchronicty, which recounts Jaworski's journey, aspires to novelistic drama, and in fact, Jaworski describes the tale in terms of the traditional literary hero's quest. While not exactly the labors of Hercules, anecdotes in which Jaworski talks his way out of a mugging and meets his wife by passing her in an airport are entertaining, but less informative than the author might hope. The book contains a lot of New-Age jargon and collective-consciousness sermonizing. Nevertheless, for managers who want to be something more - leaders - we [...] recommend Synchronicity not as a useful how-to, but rather as a business leader's inspirational biography.
Rating: Summary: Misses the Mark Review: Joseph Jaworski's book reads like a made-for-TV movie...a typically trite made-for-TV movie. It's got all of the ingredients: Our hero, Mr. Jaworski, is an affluent, well- connected success -- but alas, there is emptiness inside. In an effort to seek meaning in his angst-ridden life, our star ditches his wife and kid and spends seven weeks in Paris contemplating his aloneness and reading. One book speaks to him: the Velveteen Rabbit -- no I'm mistaken, The Little Prince -- wait, I'm wrong again...it was Jonathan Livingston Seagull. A kernal of truth takes up residences in his empty shell. And after a series of other reflective retreats and a chance, love-at-first-sight meeting at O'Hare Airport where he trips over his son to chase down the woman who will become his next wife (hmmm, I see another Tom Hanks-Meg Ryan casting opportunity), our hero settles down to his discovered life role: to save the world by assembling the best minds available to create the definitive petri dish for breeding authentic leaders. As you can tell, I was less than impressed with Mr. Jaworski's book. His primary readings which guided him on his own journey -- Carl Jung, Eric Fromm, Lao-Tzxu, Martin Buber, Abraham Maslow, Joseph Campbell and, yes, even Jonathan Livingston Seagull -- would be a better starting point for those interested in cultivating the leader within.
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