Customer Reviews

Everyday Leadership: Getting Results in Business, Politics, and Life

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I bought a dozen of Dan's book before I read it, based on my belief in his warm human way of encouraging leadership as a practice of personhood. It took me a couple of months to start to read my own copy, but only a couple of days (on vacation) to finish it. His stories make it enjoyable to read, and the reader can be moved to grow from the inside, heart as well as head. Here are some pages I dogeared, and my comments when I had the time to review them:

Page 31: "leaders light torches". I realized some time ago that my wife is like this. Everywhere she goes, she affirms people's goodness as she delights in them and takes interest in them. Her little wick is hardly seen, but oh, the lights she's lit! As I grow older, I realize that this kind of leadership is ageless, and leaves a greater legacy than any other.

Page 139: "leading from the middle" Discovering that we are average, and being called to lead from there is really good for me. It helps me to see that when I am effective, I mistakenly think it is because I am exceptional; when I discover my frailty, it distracts me and I lose my stride. On the other hand, if I put on the hair shirt of self doubt, I'm totally useless. This middle ground is fertile! I see a second book in this!

Page 160: "technologically advancing but tribally regressing century" - this is prophetic, in my opinion.

Page 167: "I don't want to look stupid" - boy, oh boy, is this valid for me. While we were in Germany, I hid from using my very limited German. Meanwhile, my wife, equipped with her smile and her little German-English dictionary, was quite effective in communicating. Difference? She was not afraid to make it clear that she could not speak much. In Hartford Connecticut, I was reminded of her goodness in this regard. At the hotel breakfast, we were very capably and warmly served by a woman who spoke very little English. She would come around, for example, with a handful of bananas and HER big smile, look warmly into our eyes, and say "Banana? Or no?" Later I went to thank her, and tell her what a beautiful smile that she had. She did not look stupid, at all. She lit my torch, as I think about it now!

Finally, Dan's closing story of the choir director recalled to me an experience we had on our first trip to Florence. After a week or two, I missed being with my students. We went to Mass at the cathedral, and there getting set to sing was a group of such marvelous ethnic diversity I began to blink away tears, sensing that they must be American kids. Sure enough; in the middle of the celebrant's welcoming comments in undecipherable Italian were the words "Youngstown State University" and "Dana Chorale". Their director was a man thin and intensely engaged with them, nervously moving and yet warm. He loved the notes out of them all through that Mass. At the end of the Mass, I went over to thank all of them, and to thank him, too. But as I approached, I realized that he was occupied with one particular member of the group. "Did you hear her!" "Did you hear how wonderfully she sang that?" "You DID it!; you got the best out of her; what a great job you did!" The girl was weeping, the director was weeping, and of course, I was weeping. The kids in the group were beaming proudly. I did met the director, Wayne Raridon, retired now. What a legacy he left in those kids.


What did I get from Dan's book? Communication, communication, communication, for one. This book pushes on relationship, and away from traps of individual heroism. I had expected to find a series of great stories, but I found a solid structure and excellent techniques supported by great stories. And I found my BEST SELF being called out, encouraged, and informed.

I think what impressed me the most was the willingness of this author to be so vulnerable and open. There were a couple of instances when the author actually WROTE what most of us are only brave enough to THINK in the privacy of our own minds. I found it inspiring to see an accomplished man struggle with similar issues that each of us face daily - knowing the cost of not meeting the mark everyday; knowing the struggles that our ego's create and tend to make bigger. Mr. Mulhern articulates his own struggles in a wise, compassionate and empathetic way, sharing his walk with the reader while gently guiding us toward a better understanding of what it takes to lead well. Worth the money! Hearing the Audio CD was even better, you can really hear the sincerity and humor in his voice.

In "Everyday Leadership: Getting Results in Business, Politics and Life," author Dan Mulhern says there are no small leaders or small acts of leadership. Each of us, he says, whether we are a parent, a teacher or a CEO can make a difference in the lives of others and move them to accomplish great things. At a time when political heroes and celebrity role models are sparse, it's both comforting and inspiring to know that we each have the ability, and responsibility, to lead.

"Everyday Leadership" provides concrete strategies to obtain results and, at the same time, gives us permission to wrestle with the very human struggles of leadership like managing our egos and emotions, and doing the right thing even when it's the hard thing. Dan makes the reader realize that the decision to lead is available to us every moment, every day, and his practical tips, personal stories and real-life anecdotes make that decision easier to make.

For anyone pondering how to become a leader at work, at home or just in daily living, this is a great book.

Daniel Granholm Mulhern's little book is a storyteller's dream. He describes how honest leadership, with integrity and passion, actually looks, how it sounds, and how it feels. This is a practical guide and a how-to manual for the true leader, who truly wants to do the best job he or she can under circumstances that often try one's patience to the limit and stretch one's abilities past their limits. Read the book, and you just know that he's "been there and done that." He also understands the concept of leading from the middle of the organization, knows what it means to examine your own motivations, and what it means to do the right thing. The book is organized to let you absorb a bit at a time, there's no need to plow right through it, you can savor each bite of this leadership feast.

Everyday Leadership humanized the practice of leadership and the leaders discussed. Most books on leadership glorify the leader or the practice to inspire or teach the reader. At times, I find this approach to be overwhelming and it can imply that great leadership can be achieved by a select few.

Dan Mulhern's willingness to expose his own flaws creates a space for the reader to be more open about their own imperfections. Everyday Leadership reminds us that leaders are humans and that our life experiences have shaped us into the complex person we are today. The art of self-awareness is a tool that should be valued and talked about more often. It was also nice to read about how others struggle with their egos. I have found myself struggling with feelings of guilt when I've felt that my ego had been bruised. That's for making "ego" okay!

I really enjoyed the author's philosophy on leadership. I believe this should be a must read for everyone, especially those preparing to become our next generation of leaders.

Anyone interested in becoming a more effective leader needs to pick up this book! It moves quickly; the real life examples Mulhern uses are very practical and motivating.

I have been forwarding Dan's weekly Ezine on leadership to MY clients for about three years. Most of them promptly sign up. Now I will also be recommending his book, Everyday Leadership.

"Most of us don't tell enough stories" Dan says on page 46, and then continues to tell story after story that call out the ideas, and more importantly the values, that leaders leverage to move themselves and their organizations forward.

Everyday Leadership reads like a work of music. Think Beethoven or the Beatles. Start with the fourth movement or in the middle of Sgt. Pepper, and every section will stand alone as a work of art. But start in the beginning for the full power and effect. Dan's lessons stand on their own in short sound bites that echo major leadership themes. Every story is quick, and personal, and universal. But put them all together and you will ask yourself at every step whether you have not lived just that same experience.

"Leaders move others to action". "Everyday Leadership" will get you moving.
Tom Nugent
Grosse Pointe MI

I found this book to be a fast read, but I could not put it too far away from reach. Something or other kept popping into my head -- at work, at the neighborhood group I work with, or even at home with my family. The notion of "everyday leadership" -- that we all can lead better no matter what title we hold -- really seems to have merit. I think I will buy more of these books for my everyday leaders -- my mom, my best friend, and a few folks at work and help them step into leadership and step up a bit more

I am in a professional book club. Of the 6 people that met today to discuss the book, only one of us actually finished the book. The common complaint was that the book was too boring. The one that did finish it said he just scanned the last couple chapters. While there a couple good points (I made it 3/5th thru the book), it wasn't anything I hadn't read in another book that was much more interesting. I don't think his editor did him any favors with his writing. He says we don't tell enough stories, but most of his stories weren't interesting enough or long enough to draw me in. He should take his own advise to make any future books better reading.

I have known Dan Mulhern for many years and have appeared on his radio show in Michigan, which is a disclaimer that I'm personally biased toward his work. But, these biographical details also signs of the authority with which I tell other readers: This guy's the real deal.

Dan is famous now as Michigan's First Gentleman -- but, for years before that, he worked as a leadership coach. And, for a while, he devoted himself to full-time efforts helping the staff at the University of Detroit High School rethink that urban school's image. The U-of-D-High work was a noble pursuit on his behalf, and not the kind of career move of someone only interested in making money off the leadership profession.

Dan cares deeply about communities -- and the people who can motivate and lead communities. He's a grassroots listener -- and, as a journalist, I know a lot about listening. His book reflects the wealth of personal experience he has soaked up from years of listening to real people struggling with leadership issues.

No, this isn't a 10-bullet-points-to-success guidebook. Rather, this is a mature, honest, helpful reflection on the deeper human qualities -- and the human failings -- that will shape our lives for good or ill as leaders in whatever corner of our communities we find ourselves working.

It's well worth reading. It also can be read and discussed in group settings. And there's the supplement here of Dan's own ongoing work in this field, including his Web site and E-supplements.