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I have read a number of Lencioni's previous books and found them to be insightful and extremely helpful. If you're like me and listen to many/most of the books you read - do yourself a favor and don't attempt to listen to this one. In addition, the dialogue between the characters did not flow well compared to previous Lencioni efforts.
However, "The 3 Big Questions" was painful to listen to. In short, the book was hard to follow (as in unnecessarily convoluted), and very slow to develop. In particular, the "Five Dysfunctions of a Team" is very powerful and highly recommended.
(I listened to "Five Dysfunctions of a Team" so clearly it isn't the fable-type format that doesn't play well on CD). And maybe that is the issue - I rarely have time to read books, so I 'read' most books by listening to them on CD while driving. It didn't take long to conclude that the reader's voice was grating, and I'm sure it didn't help that a male voice tries to impersonate a female voice (with little success).
As one might predict, given that I chose to buy the book (CD), I have a hectic and sometimes chaotic home life and was very much looking forward to hearing what Lencioni had to say - nevertheless I nearly stopped listening to the CD multiple times and had to force myself to finish it. Sorry Patrick.
The fact that the author gives you a 20-40 page non-fiction book at the end of the fable does indeed make them different.Some people like the "lesson as story" type of books and others like the "lesson as fact" type of books. This benefit is very important if you've read a lot of business books. This style, alone, does not make them unique. First, I think Patrick Lencioni's books are somewhat unique. I've read it myself and greatly enjoyed it. The story of the Cousins family helps you see why all of the "extras" that are usually used in business strategy are removed from the 3 Big Questions model.
The author calls this latter section the Model in his various books.Now for the specifics of The 3 Big Questions.
This book uses both methods.
When I went back to the beginning and read the story, I could see clearly.Overall, the book presents a simple model that can be employed in an initial 30-90 minute meeting with the family or just the parents.
The books, from The Five Temptations of a CEO right on through to The 3 Big Questions for a Frantic Family, all use the tool of a story to get the message across.
If you jump straight to the Model at the end of the book, you're likely to find yourself asking why this or that is not included - as I did.
The first 168 pages tell the story of a family moving from chaos to focus using the 3 Big Questions.
The next 52 pages present the same information in a non-fiction style.
After that, between 10 and 20 minutes per week is all that's needed to keep things moving along in a focused manner.
Now, my wife and I will read it together and see how we can adjust our current family model based on the new insights it provides.To the author: excellent work here.
If your relationship with your spouse is basically strong this will be a welcome tool to reconnect you and create some sanity. As a relationship coach, I am thrilled that Lencioni has applied his talents to the family arena. As always, the book can be read in one sitting, offers an approach that is easy to apply and makes sense. It is also a good diagnostic. If you struggle with answering the first question, that is a good sign that your marriage may need some external support.
These questions are useful to those of us seeking to make changes in our lives - particularly vocational changes. In `The Three Big Questions for a Frantic Family', Lencioni takes proven business skills and applies them to running a family. Running a family can be even more challenging than running a successful business. When seeking a new career, it is important to consider how it will fit in with your family life, and the three big questions should be asked by every job seeker. This is another of Lencioni's fables, which tells the story of Theresa, a stay at home mom, and Jude, a freelance business consultant. Theresa borrows her husband's business know-how to organize their frantic family as well seeks to find a balance between business and family life.Lencioni uses three big questions to target what is most important about running a family while keeping it in balance with having a successful career. I recommend this book as a great starting point for anyone seeking to make changes in their family and working lives.Danny InyAuthor of the free eBook "Forget Everything You Know About Looking For a Job. And Actually Find One."[.].
Great book. I enjoyed it's concise style, and interesting "fable" approach. I write more on my blog[.].Brian
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