Mindshift: Transform Leadership, Drive Innovation, and Reshape the Future

     

PIC No. 83: Pails in Comparison (Oct. 17, 2024)

• Title: Mindshift: Transform Leadership, Drive Innovation, and Reshape the Future
• Author: Brian Solis
• Publisher: Wiley (Oct. 15, 2024, 304 pages)
• Management Bucket #3 of 20: The Strategy Bucket

Welcome to Issue No. 83 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. 

Learn, Unlearn, and Relearn

I can’t praise this book enough! Why? Before you host your next same-old/same-old strategic planning task force meeting—inspire everyone to read this important book.

Start on pages 24-25, where the author bullet-points 17 disruptive trends from 1994 to 2024, such as 2003 (the launch of iTunes) and 2008-2010 (Airbnb and Uber). Yikes! He lists four trends already in 2024 I’d never heard about. Then…this last line on page 25:

“Disruptive trends will only continue to evolve.”

Example: This week, I experimented with Google’s new NotebookLM software and cut and pasted in my short reviews of four leadership books from my eNews, Your Weekly Staff Meeting. Presto! In about five minutes, Notebook LM delivered a chatty podcast between a man and a woman—discussing my four book reviews. Listen here to the 12-minute podcast. (It will blow your mind!)

I tried it again yesterday with my review of Bill Butterworth’s book, Everyday Influence. The podcasters got the humor and responded with this seven-minute podcast. Listen here. Amazing! But is this a trend? (And will humans still be needed?)

Mindshift is next to impossible to review adequately—so I’m just going to bullet-point 20 insights that popped out. (I’ve underlined almost the entire book. Oh, my.) And by the way—the book’s design, graphics, and attention-getting charts are amazing. Mindshift is a joy to read.

#1. Alvin Toffler: “The illiterate of the 21st century will not be those who cannot read and write, but those who cannot learn, unlearn, and relearn.”

#2. “Organizational psychologist Taska Eurich has studied self-awareness, and she’s found that there are two types of self-awareness: internal and external.” The 2x2 chart on page 57 is memorable.
   • PLEASERS: High External Awareness and Low Internal Awareness
   • AWARE: High External Awareness and High Internal Awareness
   • SEEKERS: Low External Awareness and Low Internal Awareness
   • INTROSPECTORS: Low External Awareness and High Internal Awareness

#3. TITANIC! In 1912, Captain Edward John Smith “was captaining a brand new ship with a novel design. But he didn’t bring a new mindset to the mission. He apparently didn’t open his mind to the possibility that this massive ocean liner, the largest built at the time, might not maneuver as readily as he was used to. As the treasure hunter Bock Lovett says in the James Cameron blockbuster film about the sinking, Smith had ’26 years of experience working against him.’”

#4. ACCEPT DISCOMFORT. “When we engage in questioning what we’ve learned from our experiences and interrogating our beliefs, we can feel unmoored. Either we can decide to accept that discomfort and sail forward or we can stay tethered to old ways and become obsolete.”

#5. REMEMBER BLACKBERRY? “Just think of all the leaders in business that failed to embrace change: Blackberry, Nokia, Blockbuster, Toys R Us, Borders, General Motors…” and more. 

#6. AQUINAS. “Italian Christian theologian and philosopher St. Thomas Aquinas once warned, ‘Beware of the man with one book.’” (Chapter 4, “The Beginner’s Mind,” is must-read.)

#7. Stanford Prof Carol Dweck contrasts a “Fixed Mindset” with a “Growth Mindset” and includes these values for a growth mindset:
   • “Mistakes help me learn.
   • Is this my best work?
   • Feedback is valuable.
   • I improve with practice.
   • I won’t give up.”

She adds, “Why waste time proving over and over how great you are, when you could be getter better?”

#8. Legendary basketball coach John Wooden once said that no one is a failure until they start blaming others.”

#9. BE CURIOUS! View the eighth episode of the first season of Ted Lasso to learn “What Ted Lasso Can Teach Us About Curiosity.” Ted Lasso quotes Walt Whitman, “Be curious, not judgmental.” View the three-minute clip here. (Hilarious!)

#10. HOLY CURIOSITY. “Einstein believed curiosity is one of humanity’s best traits.” He added, “Never lose a holy curiosity.” (There’s that “curiosity” theme again that keeps popping up in my recent book reviews.) 

#11. MID-POINT SUMMARY. Brilliant! Halfway through the book, Brian Solis summarizes on one page, in BIG print: “What a journey we’ve been on. Just look at how far we’ve come.” On page 121, he reminds us of 10 themes he’s covered, including: 
   • “Together…we’ve learned that the door is opening to a novel economy, and it’s an era that needs new leadership.”
   • Together we’ve… “learned that even though executives might think they do, they don’t always have all the answers.”

#12. SIX STAGES OF MINDSET SHIFTING. Now the fun begins in Chapters 7 to 12: “Receive, Perceive, Weave, Conceive, Believe, and Achieve.” Must-read!

#13. MINDSET LEXICON. Five words: “Trendsight, Trendsighting, Trendscape Canvas, Trendfluence, and Trendpark.” (I mean…how can you not read this book with your team?)

#14. SLOW DOWN! Oh, my. How do we address those looming trends? How do we sleep at night? Brian Solis has two words for us: “Slow down.” (Now he’s meddling! But it prompted me to play this song at the beginning of a meeting I facilitated last week. You guessed it: “Slow Down,” sung by Chuck Girard.)

#15. NO BURDEN. “Early on, as we’re learning not just how to track trends but also how to identify them, letting go of the burden of trying to predict the future. That’s not what we’re trying to do here. We are exploring the trends that might impact our ecosystem. It’s a process of getting smart about the promise or potential of emerging trends. It’s also spending time thinking about how those trends could unfold and what those changes might look like.” 

#16. WONDER WALL! Oh, my. The “Wonder Wall” on page 129 is worth the price of the book! Solis writes, “Creating a wonder wall activates your powers of curiosity. It helps you connect the dots between the future you envision and where you are today. The process ignites your childlike sense of wonder and helps you consider the questions with a beginner’s mind and a positive sense of possibilities.” He includes 20 questions he’s found helpful. (Guarantee: You will do a “Wonder Wall” at your next strategic planning retreat.) Here are two questions (“Wondering Samples”) that popped off the page for me:
   • “What WSJ or NYT headline would describe our ideal future state?”
   • “If we don’t transform now, what will our tombstone read and when?”

There are 18 more “sample” questions—examples of questions your team might write on post-it notes and then post on your Wonder Wall—“the visual reflection of the things that stoke your curiosity and the things that you can’t stop thinking about, that are burning inside of you.”

#17. NARRATIVE VS. NUMBERS. The author writes that the three stages of “weave, conceive, and believe” will help to “develop a story for change that sparks curiosity, conversation, and collaboration, ultimately leading to action.” The power of story is explored—very creatively in these chapters (think Pixar’s storytelling approach)—yet with this warning:

Solis mentions Professor Scott Galloway’s research, “Data may be more truthful, but in the battle between narrative and numbers, most of the time humanity picks narrative.” (However, for a slightly contrarian, but very helpful complementary view, read my review of Making Numbers Count, by Chip Heath and Karla Starr.)

#18. WIM (What It Means) EXERCISE. I know you will immediately use this insight also. “Think of the WIM exercise as a way of getting to:
   • the what,
   • so what,
   • and now what
 of every trend.”

#19. SCENARIO PLANNING. Don’t skip the section on “a common misconception about the nature of scenario planning.” (Learn about IBM’s 1981 estimate that sales of personal computers would peak at 200,000. “Unfortunately, they were a little wrong.” The number was 25 million!)

#20. MAKE YOUR STORY PERSONAL. In Chapter 10, you’ll read about “Connecting Trends to the Human Condition by Making Your Story Personal” and stories that appeal to our deepest emotions: anger, disgust, fear, happiness, sadness, and surprise. You’ll learn from “the world’s best-known and most respected screenwriting lecturer” as referenced in HBR’s article, “Storytelling That Moves People.” (And you’ll want to revisit the classic animated movie, Monsters, Inc.)

The author notes that “the best stories are about the human condition we all share”—and page 195 includes a graphic with 18 themes you can leverage. The assignment: “Consider how you might tell a story about a trend in a way that shows how that trend can help your audience with these universals aspects of life.”

Reminder: I told you this book is next to impossible to adequately review. I still haven’t done it, so please read this book yourself. (I might write another review down the road—it’s that good and it’s that important.)

PAILS IN COMPARISON: Reading this book reminded me of several other must-read books in the 20 Management Buckets organizing system: 

[   ] Non Obvious Megatrends: How to See What Others Miss and Predict the Future, by Rohit Bhargava (Read my review.)

[   ] Read my blog post, “Strategy Quartet - Summer Shorts on Strategy,” with review of four books, including What Is Strategy? An Illustrated Guide to Michael Porter, by Joan Magretta  and Emile Holmewood (Illustrator). 

[   ] Irreplaceable: How to Create Extraordinary Places that Bring People Together, by Kevin Ervin Kelley (Read my review.)

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

[   ] Survive, Reset, Thrive: Leading Breakthrough Growth Strategy in Volatile Times, by Rebecca Homkes (Read my review.)

[   ] StrategyMan vs. the Anti-Strategy Squad: Using Strategic Thinking to Defeat Bad Strategy and Save Your Plan, by Rich Horwath (Read my review.)

[   ] Thinkpak: A Brainstorming Card Deck, by Michael Michalko (Read my review.)

[   ] Breakthrough: Unleashing the Power of a Proven Plan, by Randon A. Samelson (Read my review.)

TO ORDER FROM AMAZON, click on the title for Mindshift: Transform Leadership, Drive Innovation, and Reshape the Future, by Brian Solis. And thanks to the publisher 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. 

27 Coaching Books

            

PIC No. 113: Pails in Comparison (March 27, 2026)

• Title: The Coaching Habit: Say Less, Ask More, and Change the Way You Lead Forever 
• Author: Michael Bungay Stanier
• Publisher: Page Two (Feb. 29, 2016, 264 pages)
• Management Bucket #9 of 20: The Team Bucket

Welcome to Issue No.113 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. 

You call yourself a “coach”—but honest, now—how many coaching books have you actually read?

Really. This is not a guilt trip—but I hope to inspire you on your coaching journey. Thomas Aquinas wrote, “Beware the man of a single book.” To borrow from other gurus, “The average coach has only read one book on coaching. That’s why they’re average.” Yikes!

Former Defense Secretary Jim Mattis writes, “If you haven’t read hundreds of books, learning from others who went before you, you are functionally illiterate—you can’t coach and you can’t lead.” Read my review of Call Sign Chaos: Learning to Lead, by Jim Mattis and Bing West (my 2019 Book-of-the-Year).

So here are 27 books on coaching:
   · How to be coachable.
   · How to coach.
   · How to create a coaching practice.

BOOK #1. The Coaching Habit: Say Less, Ask More & Change the Way You Lead Forever, by Michael Bungay Stanier. (Order from Amazon.) 

When I reviewed this book in 2016 (Your Weekly Staff Meeting Issue No. 338), I named it to my Top-10 book list. Now looking back—I wondered why I did not name it my book-of-the-year? (But then I'd have to rescind the award to author Gary Keller.) The Coaching Habit has sold more than one million copies—and even more shocking—as of today, 992 people have read my Amazon review.

Read my Amazon review, “The Best Coaching Question in the World.” I started my review with this: “Oh, my. Memo to Every Person I’ve Pretended to Coach or Mentor: I’m so, so sorry! Honest!”

BOOK #2. (Part  2 of 2): Good Coach Bad Coach: Build A Practice Where You Belong, by Simon Harling (Read my Part 1 of 2 review here. Order from Amazon.)



Oh, my. There is way too much wisdom and practical street-smart coaching counsel in this short book. You’ll love the format: niche topics just one-page-or-less. Lots of white space. No wasted words. You’ll think about this:

“The rule of two feet states, ‘If at any time you find yourself in any situation where you are neither learning nor contributing—use your two feet and move to someplace more to your liking.'"

In the author’s “Good Coach Bad Coach Manifesto,” he outlines the following behaviors of a bad coach:
   • “A bad coach lives in the land of excuses, preferring shortsightedness to the uncertainty of possibility.”
   • “A bad coach is busy accepting all comers and all problems, creating dependency in return for money.”
   • “A bad coach seeks expertise.” He explains: “Many of my conference and meeting attendances were driven by the need to keep my job or collect enough brownie points for professional re-accreditation. What is the thinking behind putting a speaker panel—a bunch of overachievers—in a room with the rest of us, anyway?” (Read more about the “super chickens!”)
   • “A bad coach has an expert problem.” The author adds, “It’s not what you know that matters; it’s what the person you are teaching learns. That’s the problem.”

And think about this:

“A bad coach doesn’t trust the process.” Noting Sal Khan’s TED talk, “Let’s teach for mastery, not test scores,” Harlan preaches, “Artificially constraining how long it takes to complete a task (school years) and accepting a variable outcome (grades) leads us to believe that some children are better than others. Far more useful is it believe that all children are better than we think. Constrain the outcome, not the process.”

BOOK #3. 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.)
2013 Book-of-the-Year

The 20 workplace habits—so convicting! But here’s the good news: Goldsmith says that these faults are simple to correct. Yet there’s also bad news: “The higher you go [in your career], the more your problems are behavioral.”

BOOK #4. The Advice Trap: Be Humble, Stay Curious & Change the Way You Lead Forever, by Michael Bungay Stanier. (Read my review.)
2020 Book-of-the-Year

The author (see Book #1) writes, “Your job is to make your coaching an everyday interaction.” He quotes a colleague, “Coaching is no longer an event. It’s a way of being with each other.” And get this: “Coaching is no longer a one-off, occasional, ‘come into my office so I can coach you’ way of managing someone.” 

For your current crisis (and the next crisis, and the next crisis…), The Advice Trap is absolutely the first book you and your team should read. Now. Today. The author’s coaching principles are easy-to-remember: 
   · Be Lazy (“…about jumping in and solving other people’s problems for them. Just stop it!”)
   · Be Curious (Tame your Advice Monster by “staying curious and managing the process of the conversation.” This is the essential principle.)
   · Be Often (You can be more coach-like outside of the “hierarchical, formal event.” Think meetings, phone calls, Zoom calls, email—all forms of communication.)

Bonus: View this 14-minute TEDx Talk, “How to Tame Your Advice Monster,” by Michael Bungay Stanier (March 13, 2020). It’s meaty, funny, and might be your best use of 14 minutes this week!

BOOK #5. Christian Coaching, Second Edition: Helping Others Turn Potential into Reality (Completely revised and updated, Sept. 29, 2009), by Gary Collins, PhD. (Order from Amazon.)

This is embarrassing! In my book, Mastering Mistake-Making, I titled Part 4, “Everyone Needs a Coach, Especially Leaders Who Endorse Coaching Books!” Yes, back in 2001, Dr. Collins asked me to endorse his book, which was an honor. One problem: I talked a good game about “every leader needs a coach,” but I did not walk the talk. (See Book #6 and read my four confessions.)

BOOK #6. Mastering Mistake-Making: My 25 Memorable Mistakes—and What I Learned (The 10 Minutes for Lifelong Learning Workbook), by John Pearson with Jason Pearson. (Read more.) Here’s a taste:
   · Mistake #12: Talking the Coach Talk, But Not Walking It - Yikes! I recently learned that I am an Advice Monster!
   · Mistake #13: Every Leader Needs a Coach—Except Me! - I squandered way too many years treading water without a coach.
   · Mistake #14: Ignoring My Annoying Workplace Habits - My “inner compass of correct behavior had gone out of whack.”
   · Mistake #15: Assuming I Was Good at Getting Feedback - The “sin of niceness” in my nonprofit circles set a very low bar.

Download the table of contents here and read more.

BOOK #7. Growing Weeders Into Leaders: Leadership Lessons from the Ground Level, by Jeff McManus. (Read my review.)

If your organization has grass (and/or weeds), trees, a front door, or a large campus (think camps, schools, churches, headquarters, or your reception desk), this is a must-read. When McManus accepted the job at Ole Miss, he asked for a direct reporting relationship to then Chancellor Robert C. Khayat, who said his mother mentored him to “make a place look loved.” The chancellor often stopped on a walk across campus to pull a weed or two—“weeding by example,” he labeled his leadership style.

RESOURCE #8. Video: “Everybody Needs a Coach” (from CliftonStrengths and The Gallup Organization (2 minutes). (See also Mistake #17 in Mastering Mistake-Making.)

View the video,
"Everybody Needs a Coach"
(2 minutes).

 

BOOK #9. For Your Improvement: A Guide for Development and Coaching, by Michael M. Lombardo and Robert W. Eichinger. (Order from Amazon.)

Coaching People on Competences! No one team member has the whole package.  Each of us has glaring weaknesses we ignore or try to mask. The leadership literature says we must build on our strengths and make our weaknesses irrelevant. Easy to do, until you glance over this book that details more than 100 competencies, performance dimensions, and career stallers and stoppers. This add-water-and-stir book is amazingly simple, yet profound.

BOOK #10. Take Charge of You: How Self-Coaching Can Transform Your Life and Career, by David Novak and Jason Goldsmith (Read my review.)

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

BOOK #11. A Year With Peter Drucker: 52 Weeks of Coaching for Leadership Effectiveness, by Joseph A. Maciariello. (Read my review. Order from Amazon.)

From the book: "In Week 1, we begin with a consultation Drucker had in early 2002 with senior executives of World Vision International. His subject was `What Do Effective Leaders Do to Create High-Performing Organizations?'" My favorite Drucker insights from Week 1:
   --"The only definition of a leader is someone with followers."
   --"When you do it, do it your way, what works for you. Do not try to be anybody else."
   --"Leadership is an achievement of trust."

"No two leaders are alike," Peter Drucker said. "Some are very gregarious, some are very aloof, some are charmers, and others are like dead mackerel. Some are communicators, and some praise, and others many never praise. They all have two things in common: they get things done, and you can trust them."

BOOK #12. Tales from the Top: 10 Crucial Questions from the World's #1 Executive Coach, by Graham Alexander (Read my review. Order from Amazon.)

Action Items: "Give it away. Identify three areas of responsibility and ten places you are involved to give away."

Leadership Notes: "Whenever you have a grievance, only take it to somebody who can fix it. Only have conversations with people who can affect things positively."

BOOK #13. Ruthless Consistency: How Committed Leaders Execute Strategy, Implement Change, and Build Organizations That Win, by Michael Canic. (Read my review. Order from Amazon.)

The author says that “constructive accountability and compassion are not mutually exclusive.” My suggestion: his five powerful principles for holding team members constructively accountable should be posted on every office wall (and visible during Zoom calls!). He urges all leaders and managers to change their mindsets: “You’re Not a Manager; You’re a Coach” (Chapter 11). He preaches, “Look in the mirror, Coach. It starts with you.”

BOOK #14. The 365 Day Leader: Recalibrate Your Calling Every Day, by Dick Daniels. (Read my review. Order from Amazon.) Yes...365 days of leadership wisdom, including:

Day 3: Leadership Delusion! “Have You Ever Had a Coach? The leadership delusion is to assume everyone needs a coach except you.”

Day 161: I'm Leading. What could go wrong?
"Do yourself and your team and your organization a favor - get a leadership coach and write your leadership opus."

BOOK #15. Coach Wooden One-on-One: Inspiring Conversations on Purpose, Passion and the Pursuit of Success, by John Wooden and Jay Carty. (Read my review. Order from Amazon.)

Coach Wooden’s 2 Sets of 3:
   · Don’t lie. Don’t cheat. Don’t steal.
   · Don’t whine. Don’t complain. Don’t make excuses.

BOOK #16. How Will You Measure Your Life? by Clayton M. Christensen (Read my review. Order from Amazon.)

On the last day of class each year, Prof. Christensen discussed three questions with his Harvard Business School students. Word got around and he was then invited to give the talk to the entire study body at the 2010 graduation ceremonies. Next, Karen Dillon, then editor of Harvard Business Review, asked him to write the article, “How Will You Measure Your Life?” for HBR. The result: this powerful book.

On keeping commitments and telling the truth, read why Christensen says, “100 Percent of the Time Is Easier Than 98 Percent of the Time.”

BOOK #17. Leading Me, by Steve A. Brown (Read my review.)

Steve Brown notes that there is “the temptation for stewardship to become an idol. This usually manifests itself in an insatiable drivenness toward more activity, more busyness and more accomplishment. Ironically, this kind of behavior in a leader is often applauded and encouraged by boards, churches and employers. They are impressed by and thankful for the output that often seems to accompany driven people and leaders.” Discuss!

BOOK #18. The Softer Side of Leadership: Essential Soft Skills That Transform Leaders and the People They Lead, by Eugene B. Habecker. (Read my review. Order from Amazon.)

The author quotes Henri Nouwen about blind spots: "The interruption…forced me to enter the basement of my soul and look directly at what was hidden there.” 

BOOK #19. Monday Morning Leadership: 8 Mentoring Sessions You Can’t Afford to Miss, by David Cottrell. (Read my review. Order from Amazon.)

What if every person on your team had a Monday Morning management mentor for the next eight Mondays? That's the idea in this book and in less than 100 pages, David Cottrell, a management consultant, shows you how to do it.

"Buckets and Dippers” is the topic for Monday Morning #7. "As a leader your job is to keep everyone's bucket filled. You are the Chief Bucket-Filler, and the best way to fill buckets is with excellent communication."

BOOK #20. The Top 10 Leadership Conversations in the Bible: Practical Insights From Extensive Research on Over 1,000 Biblical Leaders, by Steve Moore. (Read my review. Order from Amazon.)

   --“Pride hides from the consciousness of leaders behind a mask of overconfidence. Overconfidence isn’t just annoying to followers. It is dangerous for leaders.”
   --Did you ever read this parenthetical note in Numbers 12:3? “(Now Moses was a very humble man, more humble than anyone on the face of the earth.)”
   --“I find it easier to admit my lack of patience than my lack of humility.”

There’s more from Moore:
   --He references Larry Osborne’s insights: “The journey to accidental Phariseeism begins with a blind spot, not a sin spot.”
   --“Busyness is one of the most common ways to reinforce leadership status, so survival and status become symbiotic, to everyone’s detriment. The leader thinks, I must be important or I wouldn’t be so busy.”

BOOK #21. Mentoring Moments with Myself: Letters to My Younger Self About Life, Faith, Love and Leadership, by Michelle Hoverson (Read my review. Order from Amazon.)

What a brilliant idea. Write letters to your younger self: counsel, thoughts, reflections. Hold nothing back. And thus inspire other leaders to write “Dear Younger Me” letters. (There are blank pages at the end of every short chapter.) Her insights abound:

“In an effort to avoid mistakes, you will want to retreat from making daring and bold moves. When you find yourself deliberating too long or waiting for one more sign from God, you will risk missing the miraculous if you choose safety and don’t go up the mountain.”

BOOK #22. Legacy: 60 Life Reflections for the Next Generation, by Steve Macchia. (Read Jason Pearson’s review. Order from Amazon.)

The author wrote 60 life lessons upon turning 60. (John Maxwell postponed writing Leadership Gold until he was 60. Catch the theme here?) I inspired my son, Jason (not yet 60!), to review Macchia’s mentoring book. 

BOOK #23. This. Customizable Journal: 52 Ways to Share Your World With Those You Love, by Jason Pearson and Doug Fields. (Read my review. Order from Amazon.)

If you’re a parent or a grandparent and you were (sadly) hit by a bus tomorrow—and exited this life prematurely, what words, wisdom, and wit would be remembered and treasured by your children and grandchildren?

This creative book is beautifully designed as a tool (really a treasure) for parents and grandparents to think, write, and then pass along to each child or grandchild. This gem prompts you to share meaningful messages on 52 topics in a fill-in-the-blanks journal approach. It’s so creative!

BOOK #24. Stay Sane in an Insane World: How to Control the Controllables and Thrive, by Greg Harden with Steve Hamilton. (Read my review. Order from Amazon.)

With 37 short chapters, this is a no-brainer resource for the next 37 weeks of your weekly staff meetings. I couldn’t find any fluff in any of the 37 relevant topics. Your coworkers and direct reports will love this book too.

Greg Harden’s insights will enrich your leadership and your one-on one coaching. (If you’re a wanna-be author, you’ll borrow the book’s brilliant format.)

========================
Wait...what? Pearson! You've only listed 24 books on coaching! What's with that?

Me: Sorry! I will check with my coach and remind him to inspire me to read more books asap!
========================

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

3 MORE! Read my reviews of three more coaching books—recently reviewed in Your Weekly Staff Meeting eNews (Issue # 676) and over at John Pearson’s Buckets Blog:

[  ] BOOK #25: Ten Marks of a Coachable Leader, by Gary P. Rohrmayer. (Read my review. Order from Amazon.)

[  ] BOOK #26: Coaching the Other Way: How to Effectively Coach and Be Coached, by JD Pearring and Brian Burman (Read my review. Order from Amazon.)

[  ] BOOK #27 (Read Part 1 of 2): Good Coach Bad Coach: Build A Practice Where You Belong, by Simon Harling (Read my review. Order from Amazon.) See Part 2 of 2 above (Book #2).

BREAKING NEWS: 1 MORE!

BONUS BOOK! Just as we were going to press, we learned about this new book coming in April. (Kindle version is available April 1, 2026.) It's now on my read-and-review list. (Watch for the audio version also from Libro.)

Lessons From the Bench: Unlocking the Impact of Bench Players on Teams and in Organizations, by Brandon Bakke. Pre-order from Amazon. (Note: the author, an educator and former Fresno State University basketball player, is the nephew of Dennis Bakke, author of my 2006 book-of-the-year, Joy at Work.)

About Brandon Bakke: "Drawing from more than 30 years in athletics, education, and leadership, Bakke shares nine practical lessons that reveal how those outside the spotlight can drive culture, strengthen teams, and create lasting success."

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 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.