Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #531104 in Books
• Published on: 2002-01-15
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 216 pages

Synopsis
Writing for computer consultants, Weinberg draws on principles found in the works of family therapist Virginia Satir, who suggested a self-esteem "tool kit" ideas and approaches (labelled with catchy names) that can help people get through the rough spots. Weinberg expands on the tool kit idea and, in a chatty, anecdotal style, discusses the human

Customer Reviews

Very good, but a harder read than "Secrets"
The original “Secrets of Consulting” is probably one of the most important books in my collection, and I had great expectations of this follow-up volume. However, where the first book focuses outwards, largely on what a consultant does, the second book focuses in, much more on what a consultant is, and to my mind makes much less comfortable reading.

Don’t get me wrong. This is not in any way a bad book: it’s still as well written and humorous as Weinberg’s other books, and chock full of amusing stories and “laws” derived from them. Anyone involved in consulting of any sort will still get a great deal out of it. But if, like many men, you’re uncomfortable talking and reading about “feelings” you may find this less easy to read.

The “Consultant’s Tool Kit” of the subtitle is actually a complex metaphor. Each component of the toolkit is a metaphor for a certain aspect of your personality and personal capabilities. For example, the wishing wand is a metaphor for understanding, and being able to ask for, what you want from a professional relationship. The chapter around this metaphor first explores why most people either don’t know what they want or are unable to express it, and suggests ways to make your wishes clearer. It places this in a professional context, contract negotiation, and emphasises how the personal ability to express and value your wishes will help you negotiate more successfully.

In a similar way other chapters focus on developing wisdom and new knowledge, managing time and information, being courageous with your decisions, learning how to say yes and no, understanding why you and others are in the current situation, and keeping yourself in balance, avoiding burnout and other self-destructive conditions.

These are all important not only to consultants, but to anyone trying to establish a more satisfying professional or personal life by managing problems, by self-improvement and by better handling their relationships to other people.

Weinberg could have presented much of this material in a style
much closer to the earlier book, but instead chose a more introspective approach which demands a greater investment on the part of the reader. Only time will tell how this investment is repaid, but I believe it will be for me.

Great book that left me wanting more
Anyone who has read and enjoyed 'The Secrets of Consulting' will want to get this book too. It is written in the same light style, but the lightness and humour hides a wisdom that many books aspire to, but few achieve.

The book is structured around 'the consultant's tool kit', a set of symbolic objects that represent the resources needed for effective consulting, or indeed life in general. The original toolkit was devised by the family therapist Virginia Satir, and has been added to and extended by Weinberg. For me this made the book feel somewhat more structured than its predecessor.

My only criticism of the book is that at 200 pages it felt too short and left me wanting much more. There is also an inevitable degree of overlap with 'The Secrets of Consulting', and to a lesser extent with some of Weinberg's other books. Despite this I think this is a book I will want to come back to time and time again.

Basicly self-esteem and life management howto
This was not as mind blowing great as the Secrest of Consulting (SoC), but very good thou. I felt that this is mostly mr Weinbergs comments and additions that were edited out from the first book. Mayby it was good thing that SoC got cleaned from matter that this one speaks about because this book is harder to read and understand. The good clean SoC would have been ruined if it would have been mixed with contents this one. If you are interested about attitude and mental state of mr Weinberg towards consulting this book explain exactly that.