Decision Sprint (Part 2 of 2)

           

PIC No. 45B: Pails in Comparison (June 27, 2023)

• Title: Decision Sprint: The New Way to Innovate into the Unknown and Move from Strategy to Action (Part 2 of 2)
• Authors: Atif Rafiq
• Publisher: McGraw Hill (April 25, 2023, 304 pages)
• Management Bucket #10 of 20: The Hoopla! Bucket

Welcome to Issue No. 45B of PAILS IN COMPARISON, the value-added sidekick of John Pearson’s Buckets Blog. This blog features my “PICs”—shorter reviews of helpful books—with comparisons to other books in my 20 management buckets (core competencies) filing system. 

Decision Sprint: LOL From AI!

In my last blog post here, I featured Part 1 of 2 of my review of the new book, Decision Sprint. Read my full review at John Pearson's Buckets Blog: read the full review here.

Part 2 of 2 contrasts two responses from artificial intelligence to my request. (And honest—this is the first time I've asked AI to write my book reviews!)

TWO AI BOOK REVIEWS! 
#1. AI’s "traditional" review
#2. AI’s “humorous” review (see below)

#1. ChatGPT's "Traditional Review"
Just for fun—and thinking about artificial intelligence—I asked AI:

"Write a book review of 'Decision Sprint' by Atif Rafiq." 

In the blink of a robot, ChatGPT delivered this 517-word response:

Title: A Transformative Journey: A Review of "Decision Sprint" by Atif Rafiq
Rating: ★★★★★ (5/5)

In today's rapidly changing business landscape, making effective decisions with confidence and agility is paramount to success. "Decision Sprint" by Atif Rafiq offers a groundbreaking framework that empowers leaders and teams to navigate the complexities of decision-making with clarity and speed. With its practical approach and actionable insights, this book is a must-read for anyone seeking to enhance their decision-making skills.

Atif Rafiq, an accomplished executive with extensive experience in leading digital transformation initiatives, brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the pages of "Decision Sprint." He adeptly combines real-world examples, personal anecdotes, and research-backed strategies to present a compelling narrative that resonates with both seasoned professionals and aspiring leaders.

One of the book's greatest strengths lies in its structured and systematic approach to decision-making. Rafiq introduces the concept of a "decision sprint," which draws inspiration from the agile methodology employed in software development. This iterative and fast-paced approach ensures that decisions are made quickly, without sacrificing quality or analysis. By breaking down complex problems into manageable steps and leveraging cross-functional collaboration, the decision sprint framework allows organizations to achieve alignment and reach optimal outcomes.

Rafiq's writing style is engaging, concise, and accessible, making it easy for readers to grasp the core concepts and apply them to their own decision-making challenges. The author strikes an impressive balance between theory and practice, providing a solid theoretical foundation while offering practical tools and techniques that can be immediately implemented. The inclusion of decision sprint templates, checklists, and exercises further enhances the book's value as a practical guide.

Moreover, "Decision Sprint" explores the psychological and behavioral aspects of decision-making, shedding light on cognitive biases and how they can influence our judgment. Rafiq emphasizes the importance of fostering a culture of open-mindedness, diversity of thought, and learning from failure. By addressing these crucial elements, the book not only equips individuals with a decision-making framework but also encourages organizational growth and innovation.

One aspect that particularly stands out is the emphasis on ethics and values-driven decision-making. Rafiq stresses the significance of ethical considerations and integrity, reminding leaders that decisions should align with the organization's core principles. This human-centered approach to decision-making ensures that not only are decisions effective and efficient, but also morally sound and socially responsible.

"Decision Sprint" is a testament to the transformative potential of effective decision-making. Atif Rafiq's insights, backed by his extensive industry experience, offer a refreshing perspective that challenges traditional decision-making models. By embracing the decision sprint framework outlined in this book, organizations and individuals can unlock their decision-making potential and thrive in today's fast-paced business landscape.

In conclusion, "Decision Sprint" is a remarkable contribution to the field of decision science. Atif Rafiq's expertise, combined with the book's practical framework and insightful strategies, make it an invaluable resource for leaders, teams, and individuals seeking to make better decisions, faster. Whether you are a seasoned executive or an aspiring professional, this book will undoubtedly equip you with the tools and mindset necessary to navigate the complexities of decision-making and drive positive change.

[LOL! To read AI’s second review of Decision Sprint, with appropriate humor (!), see #2 below!]

To read John Pearson's actual review (without help from AI), visit John Pearson's Buckets Blog here.

#2. LOL from ChatGPT!

Just for fun—and thinking about artificial intelligence per the author's last three chapters—I asked AI:

“Using the writing style and humor from 'John Pearson’s Buckets Blog,' write a book review of 'Decision Sprint' by Atif Rafiq." 

In the blink of a robot, ChatGPT delivered this 545-word response below. (I loved the "Buckets" rating!)

= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =

Title: "Decision Sprint" by Atif Rafiq: A Turbo Boost for Your Decision-Making Mojo!
Rating: ★★★★★ (5/5 Buckets)

Howdy, decision-making enthusiasts! Today, we're diving headfirst into the world of snappy decision-making with "Decision Sprint" by the one and only Atif Rafiq. Buckle up, my friends, because this book is like a shot of espresso for your brain—it's fast, furious, and will have you making better decisions before you can say "Eureka!"

Now, if you're tired of those never-ending meetings where decisions are as rare as a unicorn in a business suit, "Decision Sprint" will be your knight in shining armor. Rafiq presents a nifty framework that takes inspiration from agile methodologies and injects some much-needed oomph into your decision-making process. Say goodbye to those decision-dragging nightmares and hello to rapid-fire decision sprints that will make your head spin (in a good way, of course).

Rafiq, a seasoned executive with a knack for digital transformation, sprinkles his book with real-life examples and enough wisdom to rival a hundred guru-filled podcasts. His writing style is crisp, clear, and infused with a generous helping of humor that will keep you engaged from page one. Trust me, folks, this ain't your grandpa's dry management book—this is a decision-making extravaganza that'll leave you chuckling and nodding your head in agreement.

But let's get to the meaty stuff, shall we? The decision sprint framework is a thing of beauty. It breaks down those massive, mind-boggling problems into bite-sized chunks that even your granny's Chihuahua could tackle. By collaborating with your team (yes, teamwork makes the dream work, folks), you'll be sprinting towards decisions like Usain Bolt chasing Olympic gold.

Rafiq isn't just about theory—he delivers the goods with practical tools and templates that'll have you doing the decision-making cha-cha in no time. These bad boys will guide you through the decision sprint process, making sure you don't miss a beat. Plus, the exercises and checklists will give you that warm fuzzy feeling of accomplishment, like completing a marathon in your PJs (but with way less sweat, I promise).

But wait, there's more! "Decision Sprint" isn't just about speed—it's got a heart of gold too. Rafiq reminds us that ethical decision-making is the real deal, my friends. It's not just about ticking boxes and high-fiving your colleagues. It's about making choices that align with your values and have a positive impact on the world. So put on your ethical thinking cap, my fellow decision sprinters, and let's make the world a better place—one well-thought-out decision at a time.

In conclusion, "Decision Sprint" is a decision-making extravaganza that injects energy, humor, and practicality into your decision-making game. Atif Rafiq's wit, wisdom, and real-world examples will have you flipping through the pages with gusto. If you're tired of decision-making limbo and want to go from zero to decision hero in record time, this book is your golden ticket. So grab your running shoes, hop on the decision sprint bandwagon, and get ready to conquer those decision-making mountains like a boss!

Disclaimer: Reading this book may cause an uncontrollable urge to sprint through decisions, make better choices, and develop a witty sense of humor. Embrace these side effects with caution, and remember to thank Atif Rafiq for your newfound decision-making mojo.

= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =

PAILS IN COMPARISON: Reading this book reminded me of several other must-read books in the Meetings Bucket, plus other buckets/core competencies. 

[  ] BOOK: The Experience Mindset: Changing the Way You Think About Growth, by Tiffani Bova. (Read my review.)

[  ] PODCAST: Tiffani Bova interviews Atif Rafiq on her What’s Next? podcast—about his book, Decision Sprint. Topic: “A New Way of Decision-making.”

[  ] BOOK: The Innovator's Dilemma: The Revolutionary Book That Will Change the Way You Do Business, by Clayton M. Christensen (Order from Amazon.)

[  ] BOOK: Fall in Love with the Problem, Not the Solution: A Handbook for Entrepreneurs, by Uri Levine (Read my review.)

[  ] BOOK: The Amazon Management System: The Ultimate Digital Business Engine That Creates Extraordinary Value for Both Customers and Shareholders, by Ram Charan and Julia Yang (Read my review.)

To order from Amazon, click on the title for Decision Sprint: The New Way to Innovate into the Unknown and Move from Strategy to Action, by Atif Rafiq. Listen on Libro (8 hours, 39 minutes). And thanks to the author for sending me a review copy.

MORE RESOURCES:

   • John Pearson’s Buckets Blog
   • Subscribe: Your Weekly Staff Meeting eNews
   • John Pearson’s book reviews on Amazon
   • Management Buckets website
   • Governance of Christ-Centered Organizations Blog

Note: This is the NEW location for John Pearson's Pails in Comparison Blog. Slowly (!), the previous 100+ blogs posted (between 2022 and 2025) will gradually populate this blogsite, along with new book reviews each month. 

© 2026 John W. Pearson. All rights reserved. New blogs for Pails in Comparison are posted every once in a while. We do not accept any form of compensation from authors or publishers for book reviews. As an Amazon Associate, we earn Amazon gift cards from qualifying purchases. As a Libro.fm Affiliate, we earn credits. By subscribing to Your Weekly Staff Meeting, you acknowledge that your information will be transferred to Mailchimp for processing. 

Decision Sprint (Part 1 of 2)

          

PIC No. 45A: Pails in Comparison (June 20, 2023)

• Title: Decision Sprint: The New Way to Innovate into the Unknown and Move from Strategy to Action (Part 1 of 2)
• Authors: Atif Rafiq
• Publisher: McGraw Hill (April 25, 2023, 304 pages)
• Management Bucket #20 of 20: The Meetings Bucket

Welcome to Issue No. 45 of PAILS IN COMPARISON, the value-added sidekick of John Pearson’s Buckets Blog. This blog features my “PICs”—shorter reviews of helpful books—with comparisons to other books in my 20 management buckets (core competencies) filing system. 

Decision Sprint: Sneak Peek (Part 1 of 2)

Read my full review at John Pearson’s Buckets Blog—but I couldn’t wait to tell you about this extraordinary book. It will revolutionize your meetings (and more). [2026 update: read the full review here.]

Atif Rafiq was the first Chief Digital Officer in the history of the Fortune 500. After serving at Amazon, he was the first Chief Digital Officer at McDonald's. Then Volvo and MGM Resorts.

How important is this book? I underlined nearly every sentence in the first four pages. I still don’t know what I will title my full review in Part 2 of 2—because I already have over a dozen memorable phrases. (Way too much good stuff!)

POP QUIZ! I’m thinking, for Part 2 of 2, I might write a 49-question Pop Quiz, with these starters:

   #1. Was your last meeting an input meeting or an output meeting?

   #2. You’ve just arrived as the CDO at McDonald’s and there “are no fewer than 25 apps for McDonald’s in the US app store.” How do you fix this?

   #3. What is the “ultimate superpower” of companies?

   #4. True or False? “In this era of leadership, we need more people and teams comfortable with tackling unknown territory rather than doing more of the past a little better.”

   #5. Why did the former president and CEO of Volvo Cars say that “Asking why with a smile five times is very efficient.”

There’s more coming next week! In the meantime, listen to Tiffani Bova’s podcast interview with Atif Rafiq on “A New Way of Decision-Making” (31 minutes). Click here. And read my review of Bova’s WSJ bestseller, The Experience Mindset.

P.S. I have a couple of surprises up my sleeve for “Part 2 of 2” of Decision Sprint. 

PAILS IN COMPARISON: Reading this book reminded me of several other must-read books in the Meetings Bucket, plus other buckets/core competencies. 

[  ] BOOK: The Experience Mindset: Changing the Way You Think About Growth, by Tiffani Bova. (Read my review.)

[  ] PODCAST: Tiffani Bova interviews Atif Rafiq on her What’s Next? podcast—about his book, Decision Sprint. Topic: “A New Way of Decision-making.”

[  ] BOOK: The Innovator's Dilemma: The Revolutionary Book That Will Change the Way You Do Business, by Clayton M. Christensen (Order from Amazon.)

[  ] BOOK: Fall in Love with the Problem, Not the Solution: A Handbook for Entrepreneurs, by Uri Levine (Read my review.)

[  ] BOOK: The Amazon Management System: The Ultimate Digital Business Engine That Creates Extraordinary Value for Both Customers and Shareholders, by Ram Charan and Julia Yang (Read my review.)

To order from Amazon, click on the title for Decision Sprint: The New Way to Innovate into the Unknown and Move from Strategy to Action, by Atif Rafiq. Listen on Libro (8 hours, 39 minutes). And thanks to the author for sending me a review copy.

MORE RESOURCES:

   • John Pearson’s Buckets Blog
   • Subscribe: Your Weekly Staff Meeting eNews
   • John Pearson’s book reviews on Amazon
   • Management Buckets website
   • Governance of Christ-Centered Organizations Blog

Note: This is the NEW location for John Pearson's Pails in Comparison Blog. Slowly (!), the previous 100+ blogs posted (between 2022 and 2025) will gradually populate this blogsite, along with new book reviews each month. 

© 2026 John W. Pearson. All rights reserved. New blogs for Pails in Comparison are posted every once in a while. We do not accept any form of compensation from authors or publishers for book reviews. As an Amazon Associate, we earn Amazon gift cards from qualifying purchases. As a Libro.fm Affiliate, we earn credits. By subscribing to Your Weekly Staff Meeting, you acknowledge that your information will be transferred to Mailchimp for processing. 

Take Charge of You

         

PIC No. 5: Pails in Comparison (March 30, 2022)

• Title: Take Charge of You: How Self-Coaching Can Transform Your Life and Career
• Authors: David Novak and Jason Goldsmith
• Publisher: IdeaPress Publishing (175 pages, March 22, 2022)
• Management Bucket #9 of 20: The Team Bucket

Welcome to Issue No. 6 of PAILS IN COMPARISON, the value-added sidekick of John Pearson’s Buckets Blog. This blog features my “PICs”—shorter reviews of helpful books—with comparisons to other books in my 20 management buckets (core competencies) filing system. 

Sorry to all my coaching and consulting friends—this brilliant book may put you out of business!

“First and foremost,” write the co-authors of Take Charge of You, “good managers are good coaches.” Yeah—we all know that, right? So where’s the disconnect? David Novak and Jason Goldsmith note that of the six leadership styles identified by Daniel Goleman (see his book, Emotional Intelligence), “the coaching style is used least often among our high-pressure economy.” Hmmm.

Sub-titled, “How Self-Coaching Can Transform Your Life and Career,” this book delivers on its promise. (Confession: I cheated and read the last chapter first, “The Self-Coaching Habit.”) 

I’ve been collecting “mistake stories” for about a year now, and I hit paydirt in the section, “Growing from Failures and Setbacks.” There’s an upside to mistake-making: one leader still reflects on an early mistake—and she vows, “I’ve made that mistake once in my career, and I will never make it again.” (Click here to read the WSJ interview, “CEO David Novak Learned Leadership by Making Mistakes.”)

You’ll appreciate the dozens of real-life stories and seriously BIG PRINT pages—and you’ll zip through this book, only to read it again with your team members. Highlights:

THE POWER OF POSITIVE MOTIVATION. Bad News: “Too many people leave their motivation up to chance.” Good news: “If you have trouble staying motivated from time to time, that doesn’t make you weak; it makes you human.” (See the three strategies.)

CEILING POWER! Learn why David Novak (former chairman and CEO of Yum! Brands and now a leadership coach) filled his office walls (and home office walls) with pictures of people that mattered to him. He ran out of wall space—so more pictures adorn his ceilings! (Bonus: click here to listen to Novak’s leadership podcast with NFL Super Bowl Champion Tom Brady.)

CONTRARIAN WISDOM! Jason Goldsmith (a sports performance coach to PGA golfers and other VIP athletes) suggested to Meghan Klingenberg (Portland Thorns and World Cup champion) “…that she set a daily intention for herself that followed two rules:
   • Rule #1: “It was not outcome-oriented.”
   • Rule #2: “It had to be within her control.”

FEELINGS OR FACTS? “Despite the fact that our culture tends to prioritize our logical side over our emotional one, it is our feelings that tend to motivate us more often than facts.”

FEEDBACK BALANCE. The authors mention a seasoned writer who would always ask two people for feedback on her writing projects. The “angel” who was always “very complimentary and supportive” and the “devil” (as in “the devil is in the details”) who would share detailed feedback to actually make her writing better. Are you gutsy enough to recruit a devil?

DON’T SKIP…   
   • …the section on procrastination (“Make a commitment to yourself: ‘The first thing I do in the morning will not be to look at my phone.’”)
   • …the “milk mustache” story and the dozens of self-coaching tips/icons inserted throughout the book.
   • …the authors’ “Raise the Bar Exercises” (two columns): “Who am I today?” and “How can I be better tomorrow?” (One of eight Novak exercises: “Continue daily gratitude and Bible readings.”)
   • …the three power-packed pages, “Your Self-Coaching Toolkit” with links to more online resources. (They give away the store!)

Oh, almost forgot! You’ll own your SBT (Single Biggest Thing). The authors reinforce this simple concept throughout the book: “What’s the single biggest thing you can imagine that would grow your joy personally and professionally?” (Read the “Take Charge Action” pages for your SBT.) Very, very helpful!

PAILS IN COMPARISON: Reading this book reminded me of several other must-read books in the Team Bucket, plus other buckets/core competencies. 

[  ] Emotional Intelligence 2.0 (The World’s Most Popular Emotional Intelligence Test), by Travis Bradberry and Jean Greaves (Order from Amazon.)

[  ] Leading Me: Eight Practices for a Christian Leader's Most Important Assignment, by Steve A. Brown (read my review)

[  ] What Got You Here Won’t Get You There: Discover the 20 Workplace Habits You Need to Break, by Marshall Goldsmith with Mark Reiter (read my review)

To order from Amazon, click on the title for Take Charge of You: How Self-Coaching Can Transform Your Life and Career, by David Novak and Jason Goldsmith. And thanks to Fortier PR and IdeaPress Publishing for sending me a review copy.

MORE RESOURCES:

   • John Pearson’s Buckets Blog
   • Subscribe: Your Weekly Staff Meeting eNews
   • John Pearson’s book reviews on Amazon
   • Management Buckets website
   • Governance of Christ-Centered Organizations Blog

Note: This is the NEW location for John Pearson's Pails in Comparison Blog. Slowly (!), the previous 100+ blogs posted (between 2022 and 2025) will gradually populate this blogsite, along with new book reviews each month. 

© 2026 John W. Pearson. All rights reserved. New blogs for Pails in Comparison are posted every once in a while. We do not accept any form of compensation from authors or publishers for book reviews. As an Amazon Associate, we earn Amazon gift cards from qualifying purchases. As a Libro.fm Affiliate, we earn credits. By subscribing to Your Weekly Staff Meeting, you acknowledge that your information will be transferred to Mailchimp for processing. 

Inside Marine One

        

PIC No. 5: Pails in Comparison (March 14, 2022)

• Title: Inside Marine One: Four U.S. Presidents, One Proud Marine, and the World’s Most Amazing Helicopter 
• Authors: Col. Ray L'Heureux and Lee Kelley
• Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin (224 pages, July 14, 2015)
• Management Bucket #17 of 20: The Operations Bucket

Welcome to Issue No. 5 of PAILS IN COMPARISON, the value-added sidekick of John Pearson’s Buckets Blog. This blog features my “PICs”—shorter reviews of helpful books—with comparisons to other books in my 20 management buckets (core competencies) filing system. 

Would you spike the ball against the leader of the free world?

If you're a presidential history buff (like I am) and you've enjoyed a hefty diet of thick, thick books on your favorite presidents, then reading Inside Marine One is the perfect dessert following one of your deep dives.

And speaking of deep dives, don't miss the author's description of "The Dunker" test. (That's all I'm gonna say.)

What's not to like about a 10,000-foot view of four presidents from the cockpit of Marine One, the president's high performance helicopter? Read this book and you'll have dozens and dozens of quotable facts and fun for impressing your friends:
   • "To fly is heaven...to hover is divine."
   • The shell game flying formation—and why.
   • Why the helicopters have white roofs.

I don't recall any historian quoting a Marine One pilot—so this is truly a unique, first-person account of "Frenchy's" path to leadership (and his appreciation for his mentors)—and the fun and thrills along the way.

Some years back, my wife and I were privileged to have dinner with former President George H.W. Bush (and Barbara Bush)—just 12 guests—and so I especially enjoyed Frenchy's account of his first visit to Camp David and the personal warmth of the Bush family.

At Camp David, Bush 41 invited the Marine pilots to join him for a game of "wolleyball." (So would you spike the ball against the leader of the free world? You'll have to read this marvelous book to find out.)

The author's up-close-and-personal (but always respectful) anecdotes are poignant and memorable—especially  the mountain biking excursions with President George W. Bush and the Obama family's first-ever helicopter ride. I have three colleagues who will love this book. (This could get expensive!)

The author says there's not been a single mishap with Marine One. May that proud tradition continue and may God bless our presidents. 

PAILS IN COMPARISON: Reading this book reminded me of several other must-read books in the Operations Bucket, plus other buckets/core competencies. 

[  ] Operation Mincemeat: How a Dead Man and a Bizarre Plan Fooled the Nazis and Assured an Allied Victory, by Ben Macintyre (Read my review.)

[  ] The Bomber Mafia: A Dream, a Temptation, and the Longest Night of the Second World War, by Malcolm Gladwell (Order from Amazon.)

[  ] A Life in the Day Of: A Strategic Air Command Veteran's Memoirs of The Cold War, by Edward D. Sabol (Read my review.)

[  ] The Spy and the Traitor: The Greatest Espionage Story of the Cold War, by Ben Macintyre (Order from Amazon.)

To order from Amazon, click on the title for Inside Marine One: Four U.S. Presidents, One Proud Marine, and the World’s Most Amazing Helicopter, by Col. Ray L'Heureux and Lee Kelley. Listen on Libro.fm (7 hours, 11 minutes). And thanks to Amazon Vine for sending me a review copy. For more reviews, visit John Pearson’s Buckets Blog and subscribe to Your Weekly Staff Meeting eNews.

MORE RESOURCES:

   • John Pearson’s Buckets Blog
   • Subscribe: Your Weekly Staff Meeting eNews
   • John Pearson’s book reviews on Amazon
   • Management Buckets website
   • Governance of Christ-Centered Organizations Blog

Note: This is the NEW location for John Pearson's Pails in Comparison Blog. Slowly (!), the previous 100+ blogs posted (between 2022 and 2025) will gradually populate this blogsite, along with new book reviews each month. 

© 2026 John W. Pearson. All rights reserved. New blogs for Pails in Comparison are posted every once in a while. We do not accept any form of compensation from authors or publishers for book reviews. As an Amazon Associate, we earn Amazon gift cards from qualifying purchases. As a Libro.fm Affiliate, we earn credits. By subscribing to Your Weekly Staff Meeting, you acknowledge that your information will be transferred to Mailchimp for processing. 

Experiencing God

       

PIC No. 62: Pails in Comparison (Feb. 13, 2024)

• Title: Experiencing God (2021 Edition): Knowing and Doing the Will of God
• Author: Henry Blackaby, Richard Blackaby, and Claude King
• Publisher: B&H Books (May 4, 2021, 368 pages)
• Management Bucket #11 of 20: The Donor Bucket

Welcome to Issue No. 62 of PAILS IN COMPARISON, the value-added sidekick of John Pearson’s Buckets Blog. This blog features my “PICs”—shorter reviews of helpful books—with comparisons to other books in my 20 management buckets (core competencies) filing system. 

Experiencing God (Part 2 of 2)

In more than 600 book reviews, I’ve featured only a handful of books that required two reviews. This book also requires two reviews, maybe three. I wrote the Part 1 of 2 review for Experiencing God back on Dec. 1, 2021. I named it my book-of-the-year for 2021.

On Feb. 10, 2024, Richard Blackaby announced that his father, Henry Blackaby, had passed away. (Heaven’s gain!) He was 88. (Read this tribute in Christianity Today.)

So it’s appropriate for me to look over my notes and share Part 2 of 2 of my Experiencing God review. (It’s actually my third review. I published my first thoughts on Feb. 18, 2008 in Issue No. 76 of Your Weekly Staff Meeting. Now in 2024, more than eight million books have been sold.)

The C.T. tribute noted, “Blackaby’s famous summary of how to know and do the will of God—“watch to see where God is working and join him”—has guided numerous people, churches, and ministries to join God’s work. Blackaby’s teaching and influence crossed denominational lines as well as cultural and geographic boundaries.”

That simple principle—“watch to see where God is working and join him”—is at the heart of every short chapter and “the seven realities.” Example: “Reality 1: God is always at work around you.”

WATCH & JOIN! Henry Blackaby wrote, “When I served as a denominational leader in Vancouver, one of our churches believed God was leading it to begin three new mission churches for different language groups. At that time, the church had only seventeen members.” Citing biblical examples, such as Judges 7-8, he adds, “If He ever asks you to do something, He will work through you to do it.” The result: the 17-member church received “a substantial check” from a woman’s estate in California!

WATCH & JOIN! Don’t skip Chapter 5, “Seven Realities of Experiencing God.” Blackaby shares the movement of God in Angola Prison in Louisiana, “one of the largest and most formidable maximum security institutions in the United States.”

The warden’s church had been studying Experiencing God “…and he decided to make the study available to any inmate who wanted to take the course. It was also offered to all those on death row.

“So many prisoners were becoming Christians that seven different congregations were begun throughout the prison with inmates serving as pastors. Violence and drug use in the prison was dramatically curtailed.” Blackaby adds, “Some of the men even sensed God calling them into Christian ministry!”

And get this! The prison became an official satellite campus of a theological seminary and “…wardens from across the country began asking Angola Prison to transfer some of their transformed prisoners to them!”

EXAMPLE: View this remarkable first-person account from Angola Prison inmate Donald “Carolina” Biermann, one of five videos from co-author Claude V. King. Biermann’s story is stunning. (Watch all five videos here.)

  
View Donald “Carolina” Biermann’s experience with God in this 23-minute video from Angola Prison in Louisiana. 

WATCH & JOIN! Henry Blackaby cautioned: “Christians talk about ‘open’ and ‘closed doors,’ asking God to close a door if they are not headed the right way. While it is admirable to seek indications of God’s desires, the danger in this thinking lies in assuming that God’s will is always the path of least resistance (i.e., the open door).”

WATCH & JOIN! Henry Blackaby urged readers to “take an inventory of where your life efforts are being spent. How are you investing your time?” What are your priorities? Then ask yourself, ‘What am I presently doing that can only be explained by God’s activity in my life?’ If you cannot think of anything, spend time with your Lord and ask Him why.”

Oh, my. There’s so much more, I may need to write another review in a few months. Thank God for Henry Blackaby and Blackaby Ministries International.

PAILS IN COMPARISON: Reading this book reminded me of several other must-read books in the Donor Bucket, plus other buckets/core competencies. Why the Donor Bucket? When you find out what God is doing—and you join Him—not surprisingly, God funds His work!

[  ] God in the Marketplace: 45 Questions Fortune 500 Executives Ask About Faith, Life, and Business (Nov. 3, 2020), by Henry Blackaby and Richard Blackaby. (Order from Amazon.) Note: See their answer to Question #12, “How do I honor God when I have to fire someone and make other difficult business decisions?”

[  ] Experiencing God: Bible Study Book with Video Access (April 1, 2022), by Henry T. Blackaby, Richard Blackaby, Mike Blackaby, and Claude V. King. (Order from Amazon.)

[  ] Spiritual Leadership: Moving People on to God's Agenda, Revised and Expanded (May 1, 2011), by Henry T. Blackaby and Richard Blackaby. (Order from Amazon.)

[  ] Joy Giving: Practical Wisdom from the First Christians and the Global Church, by Cameron Doolittle. (Read my review.)

[  ] Read my review (Part 1 of 2) of Experiencing God, featured as my 2021 book-of-the-year in Your Weekly Staff Meeting eNews.

To order from Amazon, click on the title for for Experiencing God (2021 Edition): Knowing and Doing the Will of God, by Henry Blackaby, Richard Blackaby, and Claude King. Listen to the book on Libro.fm (11 hours, 3 minutes). (Note: The audio version is from the 2009 book revision.) And thanks to the publisher for sending me a review copy. For more reviews, visit John Pearson’s Buckets Blog and subscribe to Your Weekly Staff Meeting eNews.

MORE RESOURCES:

   • John Pearson’s Buckets Blog
   • Subscribe: Your Weekly Staff Meeting eNews
   • John Pearson’s book reviews on Amazon
   • Management Buckets website
   • Governance of Christ-Centered Organizations Blog

Note: This is the NEW location for John Pearson's Pails in Comparison Blog. Slowly (!), the previous 100+ blogs posted (between 2022 and 2025) will gradually populate this blogsite, along with new book reviews each month. 

© 2026 John W. Pearson. All rights reserved. New blogs for Pails in Comparison are posted every once in a while. We do not accept any form of compensation from authors or publishers for book reviews. As an Amazon Associate, we earn Amazon gift cards from qualifying purchases. As a Libro.fm Affiliate, we earn credits. By subscribing to Your Weekly Staff Meeting, you acknowledge that your information will be transferred to Mailchimp for processing. 

Wealth Habits

      

PIC No. 29: Pails in Comparison (Jan. 12, 2023)

• Title: Wealth Habits: Six Ordinary Steps to Achieve Extraordinary Financial Freedom
• Author: Candy Valentino
• Publisher: Wiley (Nov. 15, 2022, 256 pages)
• Management Bucket #18 of 20: The Systems Bucket

Welcome to Issue No. 29 of PAILS IN COMPARISON, the value-added sidekick of John Pearson’s Buckets Blog. This blog features my “PICs”—shorter reviews of helpful books—with comparisons to other books in my 20 management buckets (core competencies) filing system. 

Not “Regurgitated Fluffy Talking Points!” Truly Contrarian!

“CONTRARIAN!” That’s how I’m describing this new resource to friends and colleagues.

CONTRARIAN. You don’t need six extraordinary steps to achieve financial freedom—you just need to follow Candy Valentino’s six ORDINARY steps. (That’s refreshing! You could do this!)

CONTRARIAN. Most books obligate you to wade through introductory materials, filler, and pompous autobiographical claptrap. Not Wealth Habits. Page 16 invites you to take a 25-question quiz with Yes or No options. (Fascinating—and it pulled me immediately into the book.) Here are a few gut-checks:

YES or NO?

[   ] 1. I’ll invest when I have more money.

[   ] 3. Money is evil.

[   ] 10. God doesn’t want us to have wealth.

[   ] 17. When X happens, then I can fix my finances.

[   ] 21. I feel bad for having more money when there are so many other people in the world who don’t have what I do.

CONTRARIAN. Right from the get-go in the intro—you learn why this book is different and contrarian from all the rest. “You don’t need another book filled with a bunch of regurgitated fluffy talking points to be convinced you should build wealth—you already want it. What you need to know is how to get there.” The plan: “a book of actionable steps to get off the hamster wheel of ‘work to pay bills’ once and for all.”

CONTRARIAN. BYOC! “Be Your Own Champion” counsels the author. “You don’t need anyone else to believe in you, that’s your job.” (Find that in any other book today!)

CONTRARIAN. The essence of this book, in my opinion, is found in the simple chart on page 79, “The Business Success Route.” Four quadrants/four intersections:
   1. What you know.
   2. What people will buy.
   3. What you can sell.
   4. What you want.

Just do a deep dive in Chapter 7, “The Three Reasons Why Owning a Business Is a Powerful Wealth-Builder,” and you’ll see the possibilities. 

CONTRARIAN. “From a young age,” Candy Valentino writes, “we are taught to think of only having one stream of income—a career. When you were asked, ‘What do you want to be when you grow up?’ as a kid, can you imagine the look on adults’ faces if you answered:

“I want to be an investor and business owner with a diverse portfolio of income-generating assets including passive-income businesses, interest- and dividend-paying securities, and real estate with good rental income, under management so I can set it and forget it.”

Hilarious, right? The humor flows as fast as the author’s six ordinary wealth habits (growing, learning, earning, saving, investing, and giving). I made over 20 notes in the front of the book—and I will return to them often at Starbucks appointments with my teenage grandchildren (budding entrepreneurs!).

CONTRARIAN. Warning! There’s more contrarian gut-checks about passion and purpose. “I hate to say it, but I have to say it: ‘Go find your purpose’ is just like ‘Follow your passion.’ It’s terrible advice. (Read why.)

CONTRARIAN. “Do Everything Yourself” is one of five business “philosophies” that do NOT work. Mentioning frequently that “91% of all businesses fail,” the author warns NOT to do everything yourself. She offers a helpful three-point formula/worksheet on the big question that plagues every leader and business owner—should you outsource or hire someone to do certain tasks? Go through this process and you’ll have “your permission slip to hire” the right people. (Brilliant!)

CONTRARIAN. Chapter 9, “Yes, You Can Start a Business—Here’s How,” delivers the meat and potatoes with nine initial steps to starting a business. It’s here that Valentino recommends you focus on purpose—your business purpose. (And “reverse engineer your desired outcome.”) Aligned with this—read my review of Fall in Love with the Problem, Not the Solution: A Handbook for Entrepreneurs, by Uri Levine. (Order from Amazon.)

Oh, my. This book is filled with big ideas and practical insights. Example: Why brain science might lead you to set an alarm on your phone every day—and review your business “blueprint” for two minutes every day. And this: “Schedule a meeting with yourself once a month.” She suggests two hours at a restaurant or coffee shop, and “Turn your phone on silent and flip it upside down.”

This is a must-read book. Enjoy!

 PAILS IN COMPARISON: Reading this book reminded me of several other must-read books in the Systems Bucket, plus other buckets/core competencies.

[  ] Corporate Entrepreneurship: How to Create a Thriving Entrepreneurial Spirit Throughout Your Company, by Robert D. Hisrich and Claudine Kearney. (Read my review.)

[  ] Scaling Up: How a Few Companies Make It…and Why the Rest Don’t – Mastering the Rockefeller Habits 2.0, by Verne Harnish (read my review)

[  ] The E-Myth Revisited: Why Most Small Businesses Don't Work and What to Do About It, by Michael E. Gerber (Order from Amazon.)

[  ] Poke the Box: When Was the Last Time You Did Something for the First Time? by Seth Godin (Order from Amazon.)

[  ] The Power of Passion in Leadership: Lead From Your Heart, Not Just Your Head, by Hans Finzel (read my review)

[  ] The Contrarian's Guide to Leadership, by Steven Sample (read my review)

To order from Amazon, click on the title for Wealth Habits: Six Ordinary Steps to Achieve Extraordinary Financial Freedom, by Candy Valentino. Listen on Libro (8 hours, 40 minutes). For more reviews, visit John Pearson’s Buckets Blog and subscribe to Your Weekly Staff Meeting eNews.

MORE RESOURCES:

   • John Pearson’s Buckets Blog
   • Subscribe: Your Weekly Staff Meeting eNews
   • John Pearson’s book reviews on Amazon
   • Management Buckets website
   • Governance of Christ-Centered Organizations Blog

Note: This is the NEW location for John Pearson's Pails in Comparison Blog. Slowly (!), the previous 100+ blogs posted (between 2022 and 2025) will gradually populate this blogsite, along with new book reviews each month. 

© 2026 John W. Pearson. All rights reserved. New blogs for Pails in Comparison are posted every once in a while. We do not accept any form of compensation from authors or publishers for book reviews. As an Amazon Associate, we earn Amazon gift cards from qualifying purchases. As a Libro.fm Affiliate, we earn credits. By subscribing to Your Weekly Staff Meeting, you acknowledge that your information will be transferred to Mailchimp for processing. 

Marketing Your Ministry

     

PIC No. 100: Pails in Comparison (April 28, 2025)

• Title: Marketing Your Ministry: Ten Critical Principles
• Authors: Robert D. Hisrich, Ph.D. (1944-2023) and John W. Pearson
• Publisher: Wolgemuth & Hyatt, Publishers, Inc. (Jan. 1, 1990, 116 pages)
• Management Bucket #6 of 20: The Program Bucket

Welcome to Issue No. 100 of PAILS IN COMPARISON, the value-added sidekick of John Pearson’s Buckets Blog. This blog features my “PICs”—shorter reviews of helpful books—with comparisons to other books in my 20 management buckets (core competencies) filing system. 

Give people the choice to say “no” to a few options—yet still say “yes.”

When our son, Jason, was about four, I taught him an important marketing principle I learned from Bob Hisrich, the co-author of the book Bob and I wrote, Marketing Your Ministry: Ten Critical Principles.

Late one afternoon, Jason asked his mom for a cookie. “No,” Joanne said. “It’s too close to dinner time.”

I took Jason aside and gave him my fatherly advice on effective marketing. “Here’s how to get your cookie, Jason,” I began. “Tomorrow, go into the kitchen and ask Mom this simple question, ‘Mom? Can I have one cookie or two cookies?’”

My street-smart kid learned fast and was patient. The next day he joined his mom in the kitchen and nonchalantly asked, “Mom? Can I have one cookie or two cookies?”

The answer was immediate. “Just one!”

Jason enjoyed his chocolate chip cookie that afternoon because he gave his mom the opportunity to say no and still say yes. He gave her choices. It’s a simple marketing rule of thumb, but it’s easy to overlook in the Program Bucket: “Give people the choice to say no to a few options—yet still say yes.” (For more examples, see Chapter 6, “The Program Bucket” in Mastering the Management Buckets.)
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Below are the 10 critical principles from the book, Marketing Your Ministry. It reads like a business novel, similar to The One Minute Manager Meets the Monkey and other business fables. Suggestion: Identify the one principle that is most urgent for your organization to address:

#1. If you have $10,000 to spend, invest $5,000 in researching and understanding your audience.

#2. You can’t be all things to all people.

#3. Ask people what their real needs are—then listen, listen, listen.

#4. If you don’t know where you’re going, any road will get you there.

#5. Know your strengths, roll out from them, and then make sure others know them, too.

#6. Don’t be the 8th lemonade stand in a row of 9.

#7. Don’t over-engineer. Your audience won’t pay extra for something they cannot appreciate.

#8. Caution! People are creatures of habit.

#9. Give people the choice to say “no” to a few options—but still say “yes.”

#10. One clever direct mail piece does not a marketing plan make. People buy a total package.

Robert D. Hisrich, Ph.D. (1944-2023), authored or co-authored more than 35 books and wrote more than 300 articles on entrepreneurship, international business management, and marketing. He served as the Bridgestone Chair of International Marketing, Department of Marketing and Entrepreneurship, at Kent State University, and was on the faculty at other universities including Boston College and Thunderbird School of Global Management.

Hisrich presented these 10 critical principles three times a year for several years in the 1980s at the Leadership Development Institute for executive directors of camps and conference centers. The program was organized by Bob Kobielush when we worked together at Christian Camping International/USA (now CCCA). Marketing Your Ministry was born out of these day-long sessions taught by Bob Hisrich. (Note: I also featured this book in Issue #52 of Your Weekly Staff Meeting eNews on Sept. 3, 2007.)

Note: When the book was published in 1990 (35 years ago!), videotape teaching series were the hot new thing! Read the eight questions that Skip (the consultant) asked Brooks (the nonprofit CEO) regarding how much he knew about his customers. Learn why the organization should have invested $5,000 in researching and understanding their audience FIRST! While the example is out-of-date (videotapes!), the principle is as relevant as the corporate missteps in today's Wall Street Journal.
 

PAILS IN COMPARISON: Reading this book reminded me of several other must-read books in the Program Bucket, plus other buckets/core competencies.

[   ] Entrepreneurship, by Robert D. Hisrich, Michael P. Peters, and Dean A. Shepherd. (Order from Amazon.)

[  ] Corporate Entrepreneurship: How to Create a Thriving Entrepreneurial Spirit Throughout Your Company, by Robert D. Hisrich and Claudine Kearney. (Read my review.)

[  ] “Entrepreneurial Wisdom: 5 Career-saving Principles for Ministry Entrepreneurs,” by John Pearson (from Outcomes Magazine, Winter 2010) – (Read the article.)

Note! The 10 critical principles in Marketing Your Ministry are also summarized in the following book and workbook:

[  ] BOOK. See Chapter 6, “The Program Bucket,” in Mastering the Management Buckets: 20 Critical Competencies for Leading Your Business or Nonprofit, by John Pearson. (Order from Amazon and visit the 20 buckets here.)

[  ] WORKBOOK. See Chapter 6, “The Program Bucket,” Mastering the Management Buckets Workbook: Management Tools, Templates and Tips from John Pearson, with commentary by Jason Pearson (2nd Edition, 2018) – (Order from Amazon.)

To order from Amazon, click on the title for Marketing Your Ministry: Ten Critical Principles, by Robert D. Hisrich and John W. Pearson. For more reviews, visit John Pearson’s Buckets Blog and subscribe to Your Weekly Staff Meeting eNews.

MORE RESOURCES:

   • John Pearson’s Buckets Blog
   • Subscribe: Your Weekly Staff Meeting eNews
   • John Pearson’s book reviews on Amazon
   • Management Buckets website
   • Governance of Christ-Centered Organizations Blog

Note: This is the NEW location for John Pearson's Pails in Comparison Blog. Slowly (!), the previous 100+ blogs posted (between 2022 and 2025) will gradually populate this blogsite, along with new book reviews each month. 

© 2026 John W. Pearson. All rights reserved. New blogs for Pails in Comparison are posted every once in a while. We do not accept any form of compensation from authors or publishers for book reviews. As an Amazon Associate, we earn Amazon gift cards from qualifying purchases. As a Libro.fm Affiliate, we earn credits. By subscribing to Your Weekly Staff Meeting, you acknowledge that your information will be transferred to Mailchimp for processing.