Customer Reviews

The Ice Cream Maker: An Inspiring Tale About Making Quality The Key Ingredient in Everything You Do

5 star:		(18)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I'm sure that this book will get some very enthusiastic reviews (which I've already seen), as well as some reviews saying, essentially, "Where's the beef?" And, in the end, both are going to be right.

This book is 100 pages, double-spaced, and about the size of my outstretched hand. Obviously, it can't be a definitive textbook on how to make dramatic changes in the workplace. What it does (quite successfully in my opinion) is to open one's eyes, and inspire the reader to see where change is needed. Basically, it advocates the opinion that many US companies have focused on their own "bottom line", or on "making a splash", without actually going to the consumer, finding what their very BASIC needs are, and focusing on meeting the need. (A prime example from the book - a dealership, for the first time, gathered disgruntled former customers in a focus group. They asked the customers about all of the "perks" they offered - pickup/dropoff service, fancy keychains, donuts/coffee... and the customers all liked the changes. In exasperation, the owners asked why they didn't return -- and finally heard that they had brought their car to the dealership several times, and the car wasn't fixed.)

Of course, this book can't answer every question. For example, the primary "story" focuses on an ice cream company who needs to get their product into a "Natural Foods" chain - If the "target" was getting into Wal-Mart, would the definition of "quality" change? What do you do with employees who don't "catch the spirit" in light of employment law/unemployment insurance? However, it is a great inspirational piece - and I look forward to reading other books in order to answer those remaining questions.

This is a story about a guy who doesn't really exist -- but he might be you. He's worried about his job. He thinks he understands why people buy from some companies and not from others. He's wrong.

Ice cream isn't really essential to the story. It's really about finding out what your customers want and then making sure you give it to them consistently so that they're never disappointed. But as metaphorical products go, ice cream is a lot more fun at a business meeting than throwing fish around or wondering where your cheese has gone.

While the author's message could have been put more simply without a tale about ice cream, the message still shines through. Just having the book on your shelf can remind you that every customer matters and every unit shipped matters. And it's even a pretty fast read.

Subir Chowdhury has done it again! This book will become a classic like "Fish!", "Who Moved My Cheese" and "The One Minute Manager". The timeless lessons in this book will take your quality to a new level by adopting the simple but powerful concept of LEO - Listen, Enrich and Optimize and these lessons can be applied to self, small business, large corporations, schools and even government. Quality truly is everyone's business.

If you don't know what quality means or what customer service is and you want something easy and informative to help you figure it out... read this book. It is the perfect example of what places like Walmart, McDonald, Kroger etc., should be doing, but are not. Anyone that has a business- big or small- should read this book. Anyone who wants to learn a better way of marketing should read this book. Anyone that cares about people should read this book. Anyone who is an employee who is of little or no importance to your boss should read this book. Anyone who is a boss that could care less about his employees should read this book. Anyone who is tired of bad customer service and poor quality should read this book and then go out and tell the people that gave you the poor service about this book. I am and I have. Maybe this book will make a difference. Maybe one day we won't all have to wait in ridiculously long lines with bitter cashiers, and rude managers. Maybe one day the items we pay for will be consistent in quality. Maybe one day when a complaint is made by a customer about a problem something will be done to try to fix the problem. It is amazing to me how so many places really lack the ability to do all of this- provide quality and good customer service. Am I a bzzagent? Yes! And I'm glad too, because without Bzzagent I would have never picked up this book and finally read what I have always thought about how customer service should be and what quality means. I will bzz this book forever- bzzagent or not.

This book should be required reading for all current and new leaders in all industries. The messages included about quality translate well regardless of your industry. A must read!!

The Ice Cream Maker is fun and very motivating read. It is truly inspiring. Everyone in this country MUST READ this book. It is short, but enjoyable read. If you want to learn about QUALITY (either making product or providing good service), The Ice Cream Maker is a MUST.

I commend Quality Guru Subir Chowdhury for such a wornderful gift to all of us.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book, though it took me but an hour and a half to read, I found it to be substantial and inspriational. This book almost tricks you into believing it is a simple "tale about making QUALITY the key ingredient in everything you do" but it is truly a very smart business guide.

I have to say, the last page seemed to end abruptly, but that's ok, it wasn't meant to leave you hanging.

Buy this book. Absolutely, and without hesitation buy this book then set aside a block of two or three hours to read it. When you're done follow your natural inclination to pass it along to your co-workers, your subordinates, and your boss. This book packs a very powerful (read transformational) idea into an incredibly accessible little package. It should be dog-eared long before it comes to rest on your shelf.

In truth, the quality should come as no surprise when we consider that Mr. Chowdhury wrote the book that introduced most of us to Six Sigma. Still, this work far exceeded my expectations. I believe that it will exceed yours.

An easy to read and understand book on fostering employee engagement on postive change in the workplace

This book was so well presented that I bought several to give away to people that I work with. An inspiring story about how to bake greatness into everything that we do. Not only does this book apply to business, but can be used in family, church and all other facets of life. I would highly recommend this quick read for anyone regardless of whether you are leading or following.