Product Description

In this unique and groundbreaking book, business consultant and New York Times best–selling author Patrick Lencioni turns his sights on the most important organization in our lives—the family. As a husband and the father of four young boys, Lencioni realized the discrepancy between the time and energy his clients put into running their organizations and the reactive way most people run their personal lives. Having experienced the stress of a frantic family firsthand, he and his wife began applying some of the tools he uses with Fortune 500 companies at home, and with surprising results.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #163856 in Books
• Published on: 2008-09-19
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 240 pages

Review
Memo to mom: "if my clients ran their companies the way we run this family, they′d be out of business." So says the management–consultant dad in this slim but thought–provoking volume. BlackBerrys are blurring the line between work and home. Why not apply business principles to "the most important organization in your life"? It′s hard to argue with the idea that family goals should be carefully articulated. Likewise, a weekly family meeting can only help team spirit. But please, let′s draw the line at pink slips.

From the Inside Flap

The 3 Big Questions for a Frantic Family

Theresa Cousins had never been so mad at her husband. Ironically, the comment that sparked her anger wasn′t really directed at her specifically, and certainly wasn′t meant as criticism. In fact, he said it without maliceor emotion.

"If my clients ran their companies the way we run this family, they′d be out of business."

In this unique and groundbreaking book, business consultant and New York Times best–selling author Patrick Lencioni turns his sights on the most important organization in our lives—the family. As a husband and the father of four young boys, Lencioni realized the discrepancy between the time and energy his clients put into running their organizations and the reactive way most people run their personal lives. Having experienced the stress of a frantic family firsthand, he and his wife began applying some of the tools he uses with Fortune 500 companies at home, and with surprising results.

Like Lencioni′s other books, The Three Big Questions for a Frantic Family is written as a fable, using realistic and humorous characters and plotlines that will keep readers turning pages with anticipation while they′re learning how to bring sanity to their lives. And they′ll be amazed how just a little bit of structure and a few minutes of follow–through each week can make the difference between drudgery and fulfillment at home.

From the Back Cover

Praise for The Three Big Questions for a Frantic Family

"A guidebook for frantic families who want to reduce stress, tension, and pressure, and make the adventure of family life more exuberant."
—Frances Hesselbein, chairman and founding president of Leader to Leader Institute, formerly the Peter F. Drucker Foundation for Nonprofit

Management; former CEO, Girl Scouts of the U.S.A.

"This is terrific. Just like he does in his business books, Lencioni combines great fiction with uncommon wisdom and practical advice. He provides simple toolsthat will help any family reduce stress and increase vitality."
—Tim Tassopoulos, senior vice president, operations, Chick–fil–A, Inc.

"By interjecting concepts like strategy and organizational values into families, Lencioni may just revolutionize the way we see our roles as leaders at home. This should be a classic."
—Jim Levine, author, Working Fathers: New Strategies for Balancing Work and Family

"Finally, a family book that doesn′t bore me with academic jargon or make me feel inadequate as a parent. I loved it and put it to use immediately."
—Patty DeWitt, school teacher, wife, mother of three

"Patrick′s delightful story is as engaging as it is powerful. He elevates the difficult role of managing a family to the place where it belongs."
—Elisa Morgan, CEO, MOPS International; publisher, FullFill

Customer Reviews

Every family will benefit !
If you have any sort of 'normal' family life with children, overly full of activities, friends, work, chores, prep, clubs etc and so live in what I would describe as normal family chaos, then you will enjoy this book. A highly readable and simple structure, it is really 'do-able' for the typical frantic family. It is not rocket science, and, has real value. It is something we probably all know (deep down or on the surface) and yet aren't doing. It is packaged in a simple,easy and fun way. Our family are enjoying working with this and looking forward to being more focused and less frantic (it is still work in progress ;o) My 3 children ranging from 7 to 11 all 'got it' and are enjoying being part of the discussion and solutions and to positively creating how we want to live. Buy it - you won't regret it.