The Ant and the Elephant: Leadership For the Self [Hardcover]

Vince Poscente (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 2004

A renowned speaker, business consultant, record-setting speed skier and Olympian, Vince Poscente believes in the enormous potential of the unconscious mind. Poscente likens the dynamic between the conscious and subconscious minds to an ant and an elephant: Our minds are separated into two distinct functions - the conscious and subconscious elements. Our ant is the intentional part of the brain, but our elephant is the instinctual, impulsive part of the brain that houses emotions and memories and even guides the body to perform vital functions. While we tend to know our conscious minds - our ants - rather well, we often overlook the power of our elephantine subconscious minds. When we do, unfortunately, we squander a wellspring of human potential.

Editorial Reviews

Review

A wonderful parable with powerful lessons for all of us. I can't stop thinking about it. -- Patrick Lencioni, author of The Five Dysfunctions of a Team and Death By Meeting

It gets to the heart of unlocking your true potential! -- Mark Victor Hansen, coauthor of The One Minute Millionaire, co-creator of the Chicken Soup for the Soul series

Read this book, enjoy the story, but most importantly, put the lessons into action and reap the rewards. -- Peter Hearl, President and Chief Concept Officer, Pizza Hut, Inc.

About the Author

At the age of thirty, VINCE POSCENTE learned that 16.572 seconds could forever change a life. Sure -- standing atop a mountain knowing that in just over 16 seconds he would cover 2/3rds of a mile, exceed 135 mph and hopefully launch himself into the Olympic record books is remarkable, but consider this: Vince Poscente went from recreational skier to the Olympic Gold Medal round in just four short years. A renowned speaker, author, 1992 Olympic Winter Games Speed Skiing Finalist, 5 Time National Speed Skiing Record Holder (135 Mph) and 2 Time National Speed Skiing Champion, Vince Poscente is one of the country’s leading experts on achieving peak performance. Since the 1992 Olympic Winter Games, Poscente has used his understanding of speed and focus within his successful business career. An expert communicator, Poscente is the former VP of Marketing for North America’s largest real-estate investment services corporation. Poscente holds a master’s degree in organizational management from the University of Phoenix.

A highly regarded and sought-after business consultant, Poscente works with leading corporations around the nation and across industry lines. As CEO of Be Invinceable Group, Vince and his team are dedicated to helping companies and corporate leaders learn to ignite their vision and execute their strategies to eclipse their competition.

Among Vince’s clients are Intel, Microsoft, Pfizer, IBM, Nestlé, Fed Ex, Wal-Mart, Wells Fargo, Hallmark, Prudential, Merrill Lynch, GSA, AT&T, GE Capital, American Airlines, Honeywell, John Deere, Burger King, The United States Postal Service, New York Life, Astra Zeneca, Canon, EDS, Hewlett Packard, Young Presidents’ Organization, American Automobile Association and countless others.

Poscente sat on the Board of Directors for the Canadian Olympic Hall of Fame, and in 2003, was inducted into the Speaker Hall of Fame. He is the author of Invinceable Principles and lives in Dallas, Texas, with his wife and three children

Product Details

• Hardcover: 128 pages
• Publisher: Be Invinceable Group; 1 edition (August 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1893430146
• ISBN-13: 978-1893430143
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.4 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (23 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #118,387 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Awaken Your Elephant Within!, January 12, 2005

By 

Zev Saftlas "Founder and Host of EmpoweringMe... (Brooklyn, NY United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Ant and the Elephant: Leadership For the Self (Hardcover)

Vince Poscente has created a powerful little book that will propel you to be the best you can be. Written as a quick read using an entertaining allegory between an ant and the elephant, the book contains strategic tools that you can use to create peak performers personally and personally.

Vince also weaved in his great sense of humor that had me laughing out loud! The crux of the book is his five-step program that he calls the 5 C's. Here are the 5 C's that you will learn about in the Ant and the Elephant:

1. Clarify your vision.
Make fear your friend, not your master. You don't know what you don't know. Open your mind to discover possibilities that may not be obvious at the time. Zero in on a goal that has depth of meaning. The journey has to be worth taking.

2. Commit to cultivating positive dominant thoughts.
Shift beliefs, attitudes and truths so they are in alignment with your vision. Envision having the goal, rather than merely wanting the goal.

3. Consistently focus on performance.
Experience the goal as though it were happening right now. Show your gratitude consistently.

4. Strengthen confidence.
Frustration will lead to negative thoughts. Negative thoughts add fuel to more negativity. This negativity can be a pattern that destroys confidence. No two thoughts can occupy the mind at the same time. Replace negativity with positive, confident thoughts.

5. Control the response to any situation.
Unforeseen circumstances will arise. Expect the unexpected. Anticipate your response to challenges as well as your team's.

Zev Saftlas, Author of Motivation That Works and founder of EmpoweringMessages.com

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars It is not just for the workplace, November 6, 2004

By 

Cindy Rodella Purdy "Cindy Rodella Purdy" (Dallas Texas) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Ant and the Elephant: Leadership For the Self (Paperback)

I found The Ant and The Elephant an excellent resource on self development not only in the workplace but also in my personal life. I read this book at a time when my family was going through a great loss of a loved family member. As in all situations in life we are always faced with the projection of negativity from unexpecting sources. This book helped me in being the guide for those around me not to get caught in the patterns of negativity but focusing on the joy we had for one another.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A wonderful resource for charting your destiny, August 16, 2007

By 

Joe Tye "CEO and Head Coach, Values Coach Inc." (Iowa) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Ant and the Elephant: Leadership For the Self (Paperback)

Vince Poscente is an incredibly gifted speaker, and his wisdom shines through in The Ant and the Elephant. The story of Adir's journey to the oasis, and the helpful action steps and "Notes to Self" that are liberally sprinkled throughout this delightful story, can help any reader dream bigger dreams and think more clearly about how to overcome the barriers that stand between them and the realization of those dreams. I plan to highly recommend this book to the readers (all over the world) of my Spark Plug newsletter, and I highly recommend it to the readers of this review. -- Joe Tye, CEO of Values Coach America