Book: The One Minute Manager Meets the Monkey

Authors: Kenneth H. Blanchard, William Oncken and Hal Burrows

Review by: Sr. Hafsa

A "MUST READ" for any manager who's feeling their quality life is being overburdened by too much work or the feeling of "nothing happens without them in the office"

This book points out that if you (the manager) and your subordinate are doing the same job, one of you is superfluous and should be fired! A common source of stalled thinking in this area is focusing on the fact that you, as manager, can do the job better and faster than you can teach the task or job to someone. We've often heard these: "If you want it done right, you have to do it yourself" or "this one is just too hot for my staff to handle".

What managers fail to realize is that someone closer to the source of the problem should be able to come up with a better solution. Also, the time taken to teach someone else to do the task is usually much less over a year or two than the time taken to help someone learn the task. In other words, the manager should teach his staff to fish for themselves- not just give them a couple of fish for that day.

A monkey is defined as the "next move" or task in a project, and the authors explain in the funny and interesting anecdotal style of this series how subordinates often succeed in delegating such tasks upwards to their harries managers, who, by accepting such tasks, make themselves the bottlenecks in their departments. The author explains, each Monkey has a owner. The manager should try to avoid grabbing or accepting others' monkeys.

Monkeys clamber, happily and indiscriminately, from shoulder to shoulder, settling on the backs of anyone willing to carry them.  We all have our share of monkeys, but the trick is to know which are truly yours - and avoid taking responsibilities for other's.  And this excellent book aims to give you the tools you need.

Quote from the book "All monkeys must be handled at the lowest organizational level consistent with their welfare."

Blanchard, Oncken and Burrows proceed to demonstrate how a manager can give those monkeys back to their staff, and thus to everyone's increased satisfaction in the long run. This also makes sure that new monkeys are correctly assigned to people in the first place and, so that managers need on get involved in exceptional problems.

Quote from the book: "The best way to develop responsibility in people is to give from responsibility".

In the footsteps of the Prophet: Lessons from the Life of Muhammad (s)

Tariq Ramadan

Review by: Sister H

The audience for this book is wide. It doesn't assume any previous knowledge of the life of the Prophet. It also aids those unfamiliar with the subject by clearly explaining Muslim terms that are needed in the context, and also avoids using any Arabic words. Having said that, the book is not just written for non-Muslims. The book also speaks to the Muslims, in terms of the spiritual lessons and reflections that can be taken.

The content of the book is a biography that tells the story of a life but emphasizes decisions, revelations, and the spiritual and emotional lessons therein. Tariq Ramadan has skipped many details in the life of Prophet (peace be upon him), but this is acceptable, considering the book is sub-titled "Lessons from the Life of Muhammad"

The simple lessons we can learn from the life of the Prophet (peace be upon him) are very often overlooked. Here Ramadan brings out some very subtle and salient points. For instance building a trench around Medinah in preparation for battle, the Prophet (peace be upon him) who worked alongside his companions was said to have at times invoked God, at others sang, recited poetry and everyone else joined alongside. It’s such a small seemingly insignificant detail, but as if to break the mold of the so serious and harsh personality (that some believers may aspire to). The actions of the Prophet (peace be upon him) demonstrated a lesson, to encourage, and to nurture goodwill among the community.

“Through the invocations, poems, and songs, the Prophet enabled the women and men in his community- beyond their communion in faith and ritual prayer- to commune through the voicing of emotions and the musicality of hearts articulating their belonging to a common expression of the self, a collective imagination, and a culture.”

Other lessons pointed out in the book include humbleness - as in humbling ourselves in front of the "One". Allah commanded us to learn, but at the same time accept the fact that we won't know it all.
The Prophet (peace be upon him) was an orphan, Allah sheltered him. For the rest of the life, the Prophet was generous with the poor and needy. "..Spiritual teaching emanating from these is valid for each human being: never forget one's past, one's trials, one's environment and origin, and to turn one's experience into a positive teaching for one self and for others. Muhammad's past, the One reminds him, is a school from which he must draw useful, practical, and concrete knowledge to benefit those whose lives and hardships he has shared, since he knows from his own experience, better than anyone else, what they feel and endure." [Page 12]

Tariq Ramadan teaches of the Prophet's generosity, love for his Companions, forgiving and humble nature. He also reminds the reader that following the Prophet's teaching doesn't just apply to the essential acts of worship - the teachings are broader than that. We can learn from every aspect of the Prophet's life – including the seemingly mundane aspects, like the way he treated his spouses ["conversed with her, and expressed his love and tenderness" Page 119.. "he never hesitated to take the time to confide in the women around him" Page 159], how he loved children ["played with them, reaching towards their innocence, which is in its essence the expression of permanent prayer to God” Page - 213] and his instruction to his companion about not wasting water and respecting nature [page 202].

Ramadan concludes with a note to remind us one the most essential of the Prophet's teaching: "The Messenger may have left the human world, but he has taught us never to forget Him, the Supreme Refuge, the Witness, the Most Near" [Page 216].

Overall, the book is a light-read. A good read for all Muslims, and non-Muslims alike.

Reviewed by Sr. Parveen Sharif

Hamza Yusuf’s translation and commentary of Imam Al Maulud’s Matharat Al Qutub literally purification of the hearts is a treasure every person Muslim or non-Muslim should acquire to gain insight into the spiritual aspect of the heart and its position in our daily life. The Quran has categorically stated that “on the day of judgement no one is safe save the one who returns to god with a pure heart.” It was the prevalence of the diseased hearts that inspired the author to write such a thought provoking poem and a lot of credit or acknowledgement should be attributed to Hamza Yusuf for his excellent translation and commentary on the poem.

The introduction by Hamza Yusuf gives a very good insight into the Islamic thought in which the heart is viewed as the center of our being. New discoveries with regard to the heart that the heart beats before the brain is fashioned and that the heart has its own intelligence and does not necessarily follow the messages of the brain and the metaphorical use of the heart are excellent and worth reading and contemplating.

In totality 25 diseases are discussed and analyzed in accordance with the poem. The author has devoted each chapter to a disease as mentioned by the imam in his poem. What is truly innovative is the manner in which Hamza Yusuf has commented on each disease, its causes and offers practical solutions to each disease. Each and every stanza of the poem is thought provoking and the author’s effort to analyze each disease with examples within the parameters of Islam and the Quran is truly commendable. The diseases like love of the world, blameworthy modesty, ostentation, seeking reputation, false hopes, boasting and arrogance, antipathy towards death, obliviousness and blaming are diseases that are rampant in today’s world. All this stem from one’s love of the temporal world.

Parallel comparison and examples are given to make the reader understand more effectively. The treatments suggested for every disease are hopes for a diseased heart which is seeking to cleanse itself and are practical and most of them are mentions in the Quran and Hamza Yusuf also links our relationship to Allah and the prophet more firmly. The book is a beacon to those who are in need of hope and light. The positive aspect is the view that every disease is curable as long as one is truly repentant which is in unision with the word of god who says that he is always ready to forgive.

The chapters on remembrance and Ramadan clearly chalk out that our association with the recitation of the Quran, Dhikr, prayer, fast and other obligatory rites need to be performed with a sound heart and Ramadan every year offers every Muslim an opportunity to cleanse the heart of the diseases. Prayers for the prophet are accorded a great value since he is the ultimate example of a human to be modeled upon.

Is it worth reading?

Yes, definitely worthy of reading and qualifies as one of the best gifts that one can gift to another. The owner of a book of this stature must be proud to possess this book as it gratifies one’s heart.

Is the book easy to understand?

The language, style and methodology adopted is no doubt high as it needs to be frequently read in order to gain a deeper understanding of the diseases mentioned in the book which will ultimately help us to comprehend the treatment and cure prescribed for each disease. The process of purifying the heart is not the easiest and a single reading is not sufficient to achieve the goal of a heart purified from the diseases. But the language should not be a deterrent that prevents one from reading this spiritual prescription.

Notable quotes:

“We live in the age of Noah in the sense that a flood of distraction accosts us. It is a slow and subtle drowning. For those who notice it, they engage in the remembrance of god. The rites of worship and devotion to god’s remembrance are planks of the ark. When Noah started to build his ark, his people mocked him and considered him a fool. But he kept building. He knew what was coming. And we know too."

This book review has been kindly submitted by Amina Meher Sultan and Sister Fatima

Review by Sister Fatima

The book "screw it let's do it" is a simple book enriched with many meanings and lessons to learn. What really help in implanting the tools of success into our mind are the experiences of the author which he shares in each chapter of the book. This helps in not just simply reading but also to see and imagine the life of the writer just as though we would be watching a movie. The author has a clear way of express himself in simple language and terms. What distinguishes this book is the ability to turn the theoretical concepts in practice – it makes it easy for the reader to apply those concepts in their life.

The book showed that everything is connected and everyone is involved in forming our personalities, our plans and goals starting with the family.

Throughout my reading a pen and a small note book were always by my side, because in each page there is something to note down, to think about, and to realize. There is a comparison between my life and the writer's. I’d like to share some of the notes that I made while reading the book:

• Delaying tasks can grow fear which ends up accomplishing nothing; instead doing your tasks directly and immediately increases accomplishments and decreases ‘daydreaming’ projects.
•  Small or big goals all have lessons within them for us to learn even if we fail to achieve those goals.
•  Risks should always be calculated with hard or easy choices.
•  Special people have talent and can think for themselves and their talent should be used for improvement.
•  The experience of the ones around us can teach us many things and lessons that we can use in the future and many decisions made can be remade again because they were wise ones.
•  Challenges, targets, aims, goals are different concepts which lead to one thing: keep us moving forward. While moving forwards we will face many obstacles that lead to change, struggle, and strength. On the other hand, the same path will offer us many opportunities that we need to chase and make use of.
•  Hard won are more valuable than easy coming.

In conclusion, I’d also like to share just some of the memorable quotes that really touched me:

• Good name is a winning profit.
• Don’t cry over spilled milk!! instead look for solution
• Give to be given, make a change in the world.

By Sister Amina Meher Sultana

Screw it Let’s Do it by Richard Branson is a Quick Reads book revealing the Secrets of a Global Icon.  It’s all about how he strived for success being a businessman, an adventurer, as an author, a proud father and husband. In this book he has shared his real life experience, the many truths he has learned along the road to success that helped him to be the Best!

In his Lessons in Life, you would see that he is called as “Dr Yes”, as he never says no rather he would find more reasons to do them than not doing them.

So much so that on just reading half of the book, I tried implementing the same that he shared in this book and my experience and also my sister’s experience are below:

Me: At work, there is always competition on who reaches the target of answering emails. So, when an email from the Email Queue is assigned to the personal mailbox of any agent, and if the customer’s issue is difficult, then any one tends to put that email back to the Queue without answering  and leaving the same for someone else to answer it. By this, the next email that they would get in their inbox would be easy or not so challenging and they can achieve the target or escape this tough email. I decided that day and said to myself, SCREW IT LETS DO IT unless I do that email, I will never learn the resolution for that issue.  If I put back the email then it would be left unanswered and I will never know the answer. I took it as a challenge to find an answer to reply to the customer and that way I always knew things update to date on my Product.  My product knowledge was good and I was given opportunity to handle different queues as I never hesitated to take up work. I was always asked for answers that others did not know and this way of taking a proactive step helped m being left behind.

My sister at work again was handling clients from internal as well as external. Internal being local clients within the country and external clients being foreign clients. She always had to call up these clients and speak for orders and hold meetings. That day she had to call up the clients as an order from her boss and she was very scared as usual. As she remembered reading the book, she said to herself SCREW IT LETS DO IT and did her work boldly. On reaching home she told me how she handled the situation boldly.

He has fun with his Work, works hard and also enjoys with his family. As he says have fun at work and Money follows. By having fun it does not mean that Money Always come as he had his ups and downs and learnt from that. He always had fun and believed in what he did. That’s how virgin was born in the middle of a holiday. His friend who was his partner decided to move on his way as his ideas did not match Richard. He made the right choice and made money from the dream he always had for movie and Richard for Virgin.

From his lessons in life you would see that he is a bold man as he says life is full of hard choices. He firmly believes that anything is possible as he learnt from his mother during his childhood and as he grew. But whatever your dream is, go for it. He says, ‘Believe in yourself’. You can do it. Be bold but don’t gamble.

Challenge Yourself! Everyone needs something to aim for. If you challenge yourself, you will grow. He took challenges and worked hard for it and never let it go until he achieved it. He defined challenge as two types; one is to do the best he can at work and the other is to seek adventure.   He never stopped challenging himself and as he grew older, he faced bigger challenges.

Also from his lessons he learnt from his mum, “stand on your feet”, that he was never spoon fed and was given the way to get the things done. As I read in another book “The one minute Manager”, “Help others to get the fish out and NOT by taking the fish out OURSELVES and giving them in hand (spoon fed)” Lesson learnt well.

I realized by this how my PRECIOUS TIME could have been saved all these years where I thought, I knew this work better, so let me do it fast and I did it myself, sparing my own time NOT LETTING OTHERS TO LEARN AND MADE THEM MUCH MORE LAZIER.

As he says, Stand on your own feet, Chase your Dreams, and that’s how the day that VIRGIN became a private company and he felt nothing but RELIEF, saying “Once again, I was the captain of my ship and master of my fate and I believe in myself, I believe in the hands that work, in the brains that think, and in the hearts that love.”

He also shares with us how he lived every moment of his life and taking right decision at that moment not leaving to regret about it later. However, whatever hard times that you would have come across, do not waste time in regrets but you should move on.

Many more lessons to be learnt from this book, like giving priority for family and friends and one of the lessons learnt are, A dispute with a friend or a colleague can be sorted in a friendly way.” His real life experience with Phil Collins who was a cabby by day and drove Richard, and the lessons he learnt from that, “Respect is about how to treat everyone, not just those you want to impress”.  He was brought up to think we could all change the world and thus has made a huge difference in his life and wishes that we all could continue to make a difference.

Whatever we want to be, whatever we want to do, we can do it. Go ahead, take that first step – Just Do it.