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What are people saying about Jim's books: Growing @ the Speed of Change Reviews
"Growing @ the Speed of Change is another very valuable leadership tool to add to your arsenal...
"If you're looking for a book that illuminates the topic of leadership in a useful, readable, and lively way, this is it." “Hi Jim, I'm writing to you from the shade of a palm tree here in Florida. The weather has been perfect...in the 80's and sunny. I just finished my vacation reading, The Leader’s Digest. Very enjoyable...and inspiring. I really appreciate the way you've structured the book, with a wonderful mix of quotes, fables and stories, research, personal examples, illustrations and graphics. This is very effective and makes for an easy and enjoyable read (with or without the Pińa Colada). Like a lot of people, I have a stack of those ‘I'll get around to reading sometime’ books. I could have picked any one of them to pack in my carry-on bag, but I'm glad I picked your book. Now I'm looking forward to cracking open Growing the Distance when I get home!” "Easy to digest...presenting it in easily accessible snippets is a smart way to reach leaders who are usually busy, well, leading rather than reading." "An incredibly readable and useful collection of wit and wisdom on today's most critical success factor — leadership." "The Leader's Digest is an easy and very inspiring read. Jim has managed to condense and concentrate the many perspectives, research, and wisdom on leadership into a highly digestible format that allows each reader to customize the book to his or her own needs and interests." "This book is a stirring compilation of wisdom regarding leadership. It assembles thoughts from incredibly diverse sources and makes them understandable and capable of being applied. No one can read it without learning (or re-learning) some important lessons about leadership." "Remarkably thoughtful, provocative and useful. Jim has captured the collective wisdom on leadership from the world's greatest experts and thinkers, and encapsulated it in an exciting to read, comprehensive digest, using examples that will turn average Managers into great Leaders." "The latest from the leadership guru...a wonderful, simple, easy format and style that delivers the guts of exceptional leadership in digestible bits and bites." "In a clear voice that rings true, Jim Clemmer brings you an insightful, yet common sense, approach to everyday leadership dilemmas. This book will guide you into the learning that will turn leadership challenges into opportunities for growth. As you continue to refer to it, this book will be come a 'trusted advisor' that will continue to deepen the integrity of your leadership practice." "If you have a pulse it is certain you will at some time, in some situation, for some purpose, be called on to lead. I strongly and enthusiastically suggest you read this book before you need to!" "As soon as I heard of Jim Clemmer's new book, The Leader's Digest, I asked him to personally present an overview to our entire Canadian region management team. At this presentation everyone will be presented with a copy of the book, which will become required reading. Being in a leadership role for more years than I would like to remember, I have come to realize the importance of staying current with new and innovative leadership ideas and techniques. Growing the Distance and now The Leader's Digest fit to a tee the direction we at Laidlaw see ourselves moving toward. One of my pleasures in life is to see young, bright managers grow into leaders. For some this is a natural phenomenon, but others may need a little more direction and coaching. My suggestion is for everyone to familiarize themselves with the Leadership Wheel; this is what it's all about." "The Leader's Digest is an excellent traveling book for today's busy executive. It is filled with common sense leadership advice built upon solid research. The book's easy-to-read format spiced with humor makes for pleasurable learning and provides the inspiration to turn its common sense principles into common leadership practice." "I have read all of Jim's books over the years. I especially enjoyed The Leader's Digest. I picked up several inspirational and practical ideas that will help me begin a new venture at our University. I agree with Jim's comment that "it is one thing to know, and another to do." When I owned and operated my business I saw to it that all our employees had the opportunity to read Growing the Distance. It was a morale boost for all of us. The Leader's Digest is a very effective next step to expanding those timeless leadership principles. I plan to share it with all my colleagues who are trying to grow businesses in today's complex environment." "Jim Clemmer is a wise and special man. His insights into leadership are powerfully illustrated in his newest work The Leader's Digest. Learn from him . . . I do!" "Jim returns to his favourite themes of leadership authenticity, accountability and action in this user-friendly leaders' handbook. Through anecdotes, musings, examples and best practice research, he manages an irresistible combination of simplicity and profundity, theory and pragmatism, strategy and tactics. A source of inspiration for leaders at all levels." "I wanted to give you some quick feedback on The Leaders Digest. The feedback is that I thoroughly enjoyed it! I couldn't put it down once I started and found it to be an easy read. The way you have written the book and formatted the chapters (quotations, anecdotes, stories, references to family, humor) is revolutionary. The linkages to your previous books allowed me to easily understand and digest (no pun intended) the material and concepts. And by the way, "Let's be Frank" is a classic! I'm going to facilitate a session with my management team based on those pages. I find the Frank stories to be a reflection of the truisms in the workplace and Frank to be the spirit in all of us. He runs into the same issues and challenges that we have all faced at one time or another, but perseveres through what seems like an insurmountable series of set backs to ultimately get him and the business to where it needs to be. There are many timeless themes embedded in there that I really enjoyed. I am an advocate of the ageless principles that your books convey and have worked hard at molding my behaviors so I demonstrate these skills as regularly as possible. I don't let people of rank or in power sway me from my values. Neither did Frank. I'm a Clemmer disciple that can't get enough of this stuff!" "I am thoroughly learning, applying, and enjoying every chapter in the The Leader's Digest. This book sums up beautifully and professionally all those 30-something books I have on leadership, team building, and so forth. Thank you for giving management a breath of refreshing and soothing air! Well written, well said, and well done!" "I'm currently reading The Leader's Digest. The book is fantastic! It will be a book that I return to again and again. Jim has described some people I know right down to the last detail!!! The 'talk the talk' kind who will never be able to 'walk the walk' - awesome book! I have recommended it to my colleagues as it is a great follow-up to a team building exercise we had a few weeks ago." "The Leaders Digest is a thought provoking, inspirational book which is having the dual effect of both confirming and developing my leadership skills. I love the layout, quotes and creative magazine style approach." “A good friend of mine, Craig Ross, Safety Director for Barrick Gold Corporation, lent me a copy of a book he recommended entitled The Leader’s Digest by Jim Clemmer. I found this book very different from other leadership books on the market. The book is written in a true digest format. This unique aspect makes it easy to read. After reading just a fourth of the book, I was online ordering a copy for myself. Clemmer states, “One of my goals in writing The Leader’s Digest was to distill all the information on leadership down to its essentials—to provide a series of executive summaries or briefings on the key elements of leading people.” The principles outlined in the book are truly timeless. Thus, they are not new leadership principles. Through a wide range of examples and comparisons, Clemmer describes ways in which these principles are proven effective. Clemmer encourages, “We need to continually rediscover and repackage them for today’s circumstances.” One of the key comparisons made in the book is management versus leadership. In short, Clemmer defines management as “pushing employees toward a goal” and leadership as “pulling employees toward a goal.” In my experience, I have seen a lot of strong managers fail from lacking the ability to lead. More so now than ever, today’s workforce demands not only strong management but also strong leadership, especially when it comes to safety and health compliance. Companies must respond and produce managers with strong leadership qualities if they are to succeed in their goals. The Leader’s Digest is a great tool that can assist all managers in any industry with understanding the principle difference between management versus leadership and the importance of leadership in the workplace. The Leader’s Digest does not directly address safety and was not written specifically for the safety professional. However, a safety professional can turn to any page in it, read an excerpt and be able to apply any one of the “timeless principles” Clemmer has collected to the safety profession. I greatly enjoyed this book. The Leader’s Digest will not collect dust on my shelf. It will be a book that I will refer to quite frequently throughout my career. I highly recommend it for all safety professionals—as we are not only managers of safety but also leaders of our workforce in our endless challenge to achieve and maintain a proactive safety culture.”
"... writes persuasively about the need for better balance in our lives...urges readers to consider their legacy...offering the chance to relax, reflect and regroup...interweaves anecdotes, quotes, fictional stories and his own musings in a leisurely style..." "Jim has given us all much to think about and grow on. Very satisfying! At the deepest and most personal level, I am glad I read this book. If, like me, you think that getting one powerful, actionable insight from a book is worth the price, Growing the Distance is the bargain of the millenium." "Simultaneously practical and inspirational, Jim Clemmer takes a refreshing approach to leadership and personal growth. Growing the Distance is full of wisdom, anecdotes and pithy advice in an informal, easy-to-read digest format. Great reading for all walks of life." "...If you want to read a book and be enthusiastic about your leadership potential, Growing the Distance is a must. It will inspire you and help to mesh together the various roles and activities of your life. This book is truly different and will find a happy home on your bookshelf!..." "A road map of the heart that tells you about the personal development pathways and towns along the way and lets you choose which ones to stop at . . . enjoyed the book's multi-level layout and Jim's flowing writing style." "The content and lay-out of Growing the Distance are extremely effective. With the discounts available, it will have a wide range of reader interest for companies buying large quantities." "I have no hesitation in recommending this book to anyone who wishes to do some thinking or learning about how you can grow, how you can influence people and become a leader in whatever sphere you operate in. The book is written so that it is easy to understand, full of good advice and examples, and not only well worth reading but entertaining and insightful as well." "Jim Clemmer has written a witty and wise book filled with leadership wisdom that is rock solid. Read it and reap." "If there is such a thing as a "universal book" then this is it. It brims with practical advice for people of all ages and all stages. It is replete with wonderful examples, and the reader will be amazed at the breadth of its scope." "I am writing to let you know how much I appreciate your books and how they are helping us. I have been studying team building, leadership, training, and what we need to do to make our Centre an oasis, and your book has been of great help. I have been using Firing on all Cylinders, Pathways to Performance, and Growing the Distance. This is fabulous information, and is taking me places I always wanted to go -- but did not know how to get to." “My name is Karly Stewart and I am 13 years old and in Grade Eight. I read your book Growing the Distance and learned many useful things from it. Even though it is about the workplace, I can apply these principles to similar situations that occur at school. It showed me that I shouldn't be afraid to take the lead. I liked the chapters, ‘Responsibility for Choices’ and ‘Authenticity’. I really liked reading the quotes and anecdotes, which were very humorous and gave me something to think (and laugh) about. At my dad's office they are giving away fifty copies of this book for their leadership group. I think that not only people in workplaces should read this book, but people my age should read it too. Even teens would be able to benefit greatly from it. I would recommend it to any one who wants to become a better leader. This is an excellent book for people of all ages and a valuable source of information and wisdom on how to grow the distance. Thanks,” “Growing the Distance is one of the best organized and inspiring collections of leadership advice I've ever seen! I must say that I didn't want the book to end! I bought several more copies for my friends and family!”
“...most will recognize the real frustrations and challenges of a corporation, and a life, trying to pull itself back from disaster. I found myself thinking about my actions, or lack thereof, in similar situations from my past and wondering if I, too, could overcome my fear of moose on the table and lead change. Easy and fun to read, Moose on the Table might be just the tale for those about to embark on a quest for change in their own lives or organizations.” “What a delightful read and a brilliant way to help people understand the moose that must be dealt with in our lives. I was educational, inspiring, enormously insightful, and, as with all your work, empowering. It will change a lot of lives.” “I just finished reading Moose on the Table. I couldn't put the book down! Jim did a fantastic job. How true the fictional story was. I hope that Jim will write more books in fable form.” “Jim, I loved the book and could not put it down until I finished! It is a great way to open the eyes of ‘Moose Hunters’ everywhere. I have recommended the book to our Coach network and hopefully you will be receiving many more requests for the book!” “One of the few books that I seized upon and read from cover to cover within a couple of days! It is a fast-paced story with an almost too-good-to-be true ending not revealed until the last two chapters. A real thriller. I've been there and done that, though perhaps not as elegantly, nor with the same company. There is a lot of truth to the underlying lessons portrayed.” “Jim's latest book, Moose on the Table, brings attention to a not so un-novel situation in a very novel way. Jim brings into focus a scenario that affects many people in many organisations in a way that makes reading about it fun. This increases consideration of the key issues that cause it to occur in the first place. It's too easy to pass over these learnings in a text book. Jim's storytelling makes them much more enjoyable and consequently increases the learnings and ability to reference it to others in the team.” “Moose on the Table is educational and entertaining. From beginning to end the story had me fully engaged. I particularly liked how Jim so creatively manifested Pete's subconscious battles with himself through the humorous and painful struggles with the character of Alfred. Their 'conversations' and confrontations revealed the fragility of the human spirit. It also reminded us to listen deeply to our inner voice. By doing so, we can reclaim our resourcefulness, resiliency, and intuition to successfully deal with adversity. Jim skillfully wove the threads of Pete's self awareness into a remarkable personal tapestry of tragedy and triumph through inner reflection leading to outer leadership. Readers will easily identify with and learn from the main character - Pete Leonard. Moose on the Table needs to be in everyone's motivational/self-help library. It's a novel to read and reread. Each time the story will be fresh and inspiring.” "I just finished reading your book, Moose on the Table: A Novel Approach to Communications @ Work. I honestly couldn't put it down! I loved the book and the storyline. The characters are so true to life. I'm sure there are a lot of people out there who can seriously identify with one or more of these characters and situations. You hit the nail on the head (or should I say Moose head) and drove the message home. After reading the book, it has encouraged me to find my moose, work more effectively and have more courageous conversations with not only my own team but top management team members as well. No more going along to get along...that's not the kind of life I want to lead!" "I’m a huge fan of Jim’s work and have just completed Moose on the Table. I loved it! I’ve worked for many organizations that could benefit from this fun, entertaining, eye-opening read. I’m hoping that we can get all of our management team reading the book. I have Growing the Distance and The Leader's Digest in my ‘success library’ that I share with the CIRA team. I’ll be adding to my collection soon, as I would like to order Pathways to Performance and Firing on All Cylinders.” "I simply couldn’t and wouldn’t put it down. It had my attention right from the ‘get go.’ I thoroughly enjoyed it! I could very easily draw so many parallels (‘Moose’) between the book’s content and situations I have faced. One of the toughest things we do in our industry (and life in general) is to question someone else’s behavior and good intentions without the possibility of losing some trust. Finding the courage to use the right approach when expressing our genuine (authentic) concern for someone’s safety is always a challenge. When an existing culture isn’t accustomed (yet!) to courageous safety leadership, these approaches can be considered invasive and uncomfortable. A health and safety ‘moose’ in our industry is that delicate balance between ‘production’ and ‘risk -reduced production.’ In today’s supercharged metal hunt, the timelines for doing business have tightened exponentially. Therefore, managing health and safety risk can be quite a challenge and most often demands extreme amounts of courageous leadership. It will take some very hard work from some very special leaders to step up to these new challenges. Pete Leonard’s experiences in Moose on the Table provide a powerful example of just that courageous leadership that’s required to deal with our fast changing world and organizational challenges.” "The format of Moose on the Table is highly entertaining and so easy to read. I tend to have a short attention span for dry, deep materials, and this has made my learning much more enjoyable. I am inspired by how Pete finally reawakens his inner leader and moves forward. This book is such an affirmation that 'courageous conversations' are imperative to the success of a department or company." "I have just finished reading your book. I found it an easy and very enjoyable read with fantastic ideas. I like the fable approach because it makes the reading more fun but you learn from it. Much better than reading a list of do’s and don’ts!" "A must read for courageous leadership! Moose on the Table serves as a primer for dealing with faulty processes and people issues that everyone else wants to ignore. Highly readable, refreshing and most of all, informative." "Jim, I completed Moose on the Table in one sitting and really enjoyed it. The book's message is such a strong one and so relevant I was wondering how you knew I needed to hear it! The storytelling format really worked for me. The analogies and examples are quite strong and very, very relevant. Using a light and funny approach to such a personal issue – living your values, not just talking about them and making excuses – is where the rubber meets the road for many leaders today. I'll pass the book along and order extra copies." |
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"Absolutely amazing and inspiring!" ---Brett Wills, Plant Manager, Powersmiths International Corp.
"Ratings were almost exclusively 5/5 on two scales for his delivery and content. The lowest score was a few 4s and others added ++ and 6s to the scale." ---Cheryl Groves, Coordinator of LeanSigma/KPO Exchange in Roanoke, VA
"Jim Clemmer, best-selling author and consultant to international, blue-chip clients, has got to be the most compelling testament to self-help, self-learning and self-discipline most of us will ever meet. Here's a man who personifies the titles of his popular books: he truly is Firing on All Cylinders and blazing Pathways to Performance." ---Susan Chilton, Business Editor, The Record