Don’t just read it! “Mark it up” and make it your own. Use it. Apply it.
Let’s take this journey together.
As I pulled up a chair and sat down while holding my overpriced cup of coffee, one of my wonderful Starbucks buddies, Bob Chrampanis, Chief Pilot for The Richards Group in Dallas, Texas, handed me a book and said, “I think you will enjoy this book Dan. It is right up your alley.” Captain Bob, as we call him at Starbucks, is not only a true gentleman, he is very well read, an excellent conversationalist and has an unusually rich and diverse blend of personal and professional experience having flown business executives all over the world in private jets for the past 25 years. When Captain Bob talks, I listen. When Captain Bob recommends a book, I not only listen, I read the book!
Even though the book was only loaned to me, after reading a few pages I could not resist the urge to pull out my yellow marker and other pens. I began “marking up” the book and making it a personal study guide as I do with all worthwhile books I read. Because the content of this book is so good, so relevant, so powerful and so immediately applicable in all of our lives, I have decided to use it as a reference for the next few publications of Tips for Success.
The book is Cirque du Soleil: The Spark – Igniting the Creative Fire that Lives within Us All. The authors tell a fascinating, very engaging behind-the-scenes story of the phenomenal creativity and growth of Cirque du Soleil. The story includes the many success principles and philosophies that have propelled Cirque du Soleil to international acclaim and success. In the book’s foreword, Guy Laliberte, Founder and CEO writes that members of the Cirque du Soleil team “have learned to surrender to their senses, trust their instincts, take risks, and meet new challenges in an artistic and nurturing environment. They work alone and they work together learning to connect with and touch people in new ways, endeavoring always to reinvent themselves. And they aspire to give back to the world in the endless continuum of change, exchange, and renewal; they are catalysts.”
In the next few weeks, using Cirque du Soleil: The Spark – Igniting the Creative Fire that Lives within Us All as our reference point, we will explore the personal and professional success implications of; “The Importance of Wrong Doors, The Reason for Our Work, A New Way of Thinking, Taking Risks, A Leap of Faith, Cross – pollination, Through the Eyes of the Audience, No Compromise, The Fear of Success, We Want You to Make Mistakes, Reinventing Yourself, Awakening Your Senses, Leaving Your Comfort Zone, Working with What You Have, Creating a Community, Learning to Trust, and Finding the Pearl Within.”
I encourage you to purchase the book. Don’t just read it! “Mark it up” and make it your own. Use it. Apply it. Join the conversation. Let’s take this journey together.
