Igniting Inspiration: A Persuasion Manual for Visionaries [Paperback]

John Marshall Roberts (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 9, 2008

In this provocative book, communication expert John Marshall Roberts exposes the hidden dynamics of inspiration. In so doing, he unveils a bold new paradigm for creating inspirational media and messaging called Transformational Design(tm). A seamless blend of systems theory, developmental psychology, and common sense, this new framework allows socially conscious people-marketers, business leaders, and activists-to design messages that systematically overcome cynicism and inspire others to act. The era of cynical pandering and fear-peddling is over. This book is a thoughtful call to arms for a new generation of socially savvy leaders who are determined to achieve personal success and fulfillment while also making the world a healthier, more sustainable place. For more info, please visit www.ignitinginspiration.com.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

John Marshall Roberts develops strategic messaging platforms for a variety of socially conscious clients. A former psychology professor and an award-winning speaker, John has more than decade of strategic communications consulting experience.

Product Details

• Paperback: 230 pages
• Publisher: BookSurge Publishing; 1st edition (September 9, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1419654837
• ISBN-13: 978-1419654831
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 5.9 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (49 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #51,043 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Inspiring Roadmap for our Times, November 4, 2008

By 

Andy Mannle (Los Angeles, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Igniting Inspiration: A Persuasion Manual for Visionaries (Paperback)

John Roberts' book "Igniting Inspiration" really is "A Persuasion Manual for Visionaries." It's a humorous, practical look at the art of inspired communication. But it's more than that. It's a psychological roadmap to the mind-blowing times we live in.

Drawing on mythic archetypes, Spiral Dynamics, and the developmental psychology of Claire Graves, John Roberts describes 8 ways of being human. As a former Jazz drummer, he calls these "musical notes on the scale of human experience." Wonder what people see in Sarah Palin? Wish you could captivate an audience like Barack Obama?

Robert's description of the emergence of human consciousness gives you an amazingly simple, yet very practical way of understanding of how people think, which values they cherish, and the metaphors they live by. These thinking systems advance through tribalism and heroism to absolutism, individualism, humanism, and systems thinking.

Each one is identified with a color, so that Absolutist Blue is blue-collar, Ronald Reagan, and the religious right; while Individualist Orange is Donald Trump, survival of the fittest, and agnostic. Most inspiring though, is his description of how the global challenges we face, and the global tools and technologies we are using to solve them are spurring humanity to a new level of consciousness.

"Mass emergence of the systemic/yellow thinking system is the ongoing breakthrough of our times," says Roberts. Think the sustainability movement, cultural creatives, yoga, organic everything, Google, Richard Branson, and yes, Barack Obama.

And what's the point?

The point is that: "This new thinking system is our greatest tool for creating new, inspired communication systems and leadership platforms that can move us out of collective global deadlock and towards a future where hope is celebrated."

If this sounds like the 2008 election, it is. The reason this book is so important right now is because it describes exactly what's happening in our time.

Inspiration. Hope. Change.

These are not just campaign slogans. They are signs that society is undergoing a massive shift. And John Roberts has given us a powerful tool for bringing it on. Bravo!

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars World's Most Powerful Tool for Fortune 500 Marketing Leaders, May 19, 2009

By 

Paul Taylor "Global Citizen Consulting" (Sarasota, FL USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Igniting Inspiration: A Persuasion Manual for Visionaries (Paperback)

This book is a must read for anyone interested in decoding the gap between human attitudes and behavior.

Neuroscience confirms that 90% of human decision-making is unconscious. As a former Fortune 50 Global Marketing VP who now consults with Fortune 500 companies, I can safely say that every Marketing Leader today knows that traditional marketing research methodology ($12B global industry) has not been able to effectively decode human behavior and more specifically consumer buying behavior.

The billion dollar question is what drives our human decision-making? The answer can be found in this book.

The science behind Clare W. Graves elegant framework (integrating the thinking of Skinner, Freud, Jung, and Maslow to name a few) is the missing link to decode how our "world-view thinking system" informs all of our perceiving, knowing, thinking, doing, and decision-making.

Our "world-view" is like an operating system in a computer and it dictates every decision we make. Our "world-view" system is the most powerful lens to segment human and cultural understanding. To truly decode human behavior we first need to understand which world-view thinking system they are operating out of. This book not only segments the 8 "world-view" systems operating in the world today, but also drills down on how to design your Brand Communication to authentically inspire the four predominant "world-view" systems in the US.

John Marshall Roberts has done a brilliant job of integrating systems thinking and human science to design an effective guide book on how to drive business growth by integrating human and cultural insight into your Brand DNA model and your Communication Strategy.

This book will not only help to transform business but is also an effective guide for anyone seeking to inspire sustainable systemic growth on a local or planetary level.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Absolultly Mindblowing and yet so simple to understand, October 25, 2009

By 

L. Williamson "Engineer" (Santa Barbara Ca.) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Igniting Inspiration: A Persuasion Manual for Visionaries (Paperback)

This a book that chalenged my unexamined assuptions on why I have so often had the experience forget them , you will never reach them, ect and yet also have felt that Togeather we can work wonders. Now for the first time I can see why I have felt at both ends of the poles in working with groups. When things worked it was so wonderfull and fullfiling and at other times I thought I will never work with another group for the rest of my life! Now I can see why I have felt that way.

Like most people I was never given the Map or the context in which to understand the dynamics that make us humans tick the way John lays it out.

I am in awe of how he demystifies such seemingly complex interactions and shows us how we all can learn to have the ability to inspire others as we also inspire ourselves.

I have read some of the best books ever written, the kind that forever change your world view and leave you with increased hope and compasion while also energizing you to go even further, this is one of those books, I am simply Inspired, which according to John is our natural state!