Illuminate: Harnessing the Positive Power of Negative Thinking [Hardcover]

David M. Corbin (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 24, 2009

Learn to create a positive work environment by accentuating the positive and illuminating the negative

Illuminate argues that we can't create positive work environments without accepting the existence of the negative. Though "positive thinking" has its place in the work world, we can't ignore the negative, whether it be in the form of challenges, problems, limitations, or other negative business realities. In order to foster healthy, functional business, we have to create a culture that allows for open expression and the sharing of ideas-especially when those ideas are negative in nature.

The key is that negative situations and conditions should be introduced and dealt with in a strictly positive light. The result is an organization able to look at itself honestly and stay alert to possible threats. A unique kind of business book, Illuminate is written in the style of an allegorical fable that teaches you a three-step process for confronting, examining, and fixing any problem in the office.

• Offers practical ways for dealing with negative situations to achieve positive outcomes
• Serious wisdom wrapped in a fictional format
• Author David Corbin operates a successful consultancy that helps industry and government maximize productivity and, therefore, profitability
• Corbin is also the star and co-director of the hit 2007 self-help film Pass It On; he is featured in the 2009 Napoleon Hill Foundation Film, Three Feet From Gold

If your corporate culture can't deal with the negative without creating more negativity, this is the perfect guide for creating and sustaining a culture of positive change.

Editorial Reviews

From the Inside Flap

These days, all you hear about is the power of positive thinking. The buzzword of the day is PMA, or "Positive Mental Attitude." But the problem with focusing on the positive is that it often leads us to ignore the negative—and that just makes tough problems more difficult to solve. Real success in business or in life requires us to acknowledge the negative if we want to turn it into a positive.

Illuminate shines a light on the negative results of all this positive thinking. It's a story about solving problems by choosing not to ignore them. It's about accentuating the positive while tackling the negative. It's about fostering a healthy, functional business environment and creating a culture that allows for open expression and the sharing of ideas—especially when those ideas are negative in nature.

In this enlightening business fable, you'll meet Jon, a mostly successful businessman whose mantra is the power of positive thinking. Though he has worked hard to build a positive work environment, Jon learns the hard way that—though positive thinking is great—it's the right kind of negative thinking that gets seriously positive results.

Jon's story offers a methodology and a philosophy for dealing with negative situations and conditions in a strictly positive manner. It presents an effective three-step process for confronting, examining, and fixing any problem your business faces. The result is an organization able to look at itself honestly and stay alert to possible threats and negative situations. Only by illuminating problems can we solve them. This book presents a structured methodology for proactively tackling thorny problems with critical, analytical thinking. So stop sticking your head in the sand. Illuminate your problems and you'll discover new, creative solutions, avoid unwanted surprises, and achieve positive, sustained success.

From the Back Cover

Boost Profits, Productivity, and Morale!

Illuminate

Harnessing the Positive Power of Negative Thinking

David M. Corbin

"The application of David Corbin's Illuminate is a sure way to achieve breakthrough performance in business and in life."
—Harry Paul, coauthor of Fish!: A Remarkable Way to Boost Morale and Improve Results

"This book is loaded with ideas and insights that you can apply immediately to get better results. It's a must-read."
—Brian Tracy, author of Reinvention and Maximum Achievement

"If I didn't illuminate all of the negative factors that an athlete confronts, I would never have won an Olympic gold medal . . . let alone three!"
—Leah O'Brien-Amico, three-time Olympic gold medalist

"Illuminate offers a great twist on how to leverage negative issues and move closer to your goals. Read it, learn from it, and apply it!"
—John Assaraf, New York Times bestselling author of The Answer and CEO, OneCoach

"When the mortgage crisis was in full swing, we used the Illuminate process. It helped save my business and put us on a growth pattern that far exceeds others in the industry."
—J.R. Green, CEO, Mountain States Mortgage Centers, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 176 pages
• Publisher: Wiley; 1 edition (August 24, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 047045587X
• ISBN-13: 978-0470455876
• Product Dimensions: 6.3 x 0.7 x 8.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (23 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #842,610 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

David M. Corbin has been inspiring and educating people for more than 20 years.

His style has been described as "Robin Williams with a Doctorate in Business" because of his quick witted style coupled with solid, no nonsense, down-to-earth business tactics and strategies.

His message is time and field tested because he's served as CEO and President of private and public companies and consulted directly with the Presidents and officers of AT&T, Hallmark, Dominos Pizza, as well as Cabinet Members, Association Directors, Hospital Administrators, College and University Administrators and more.



An award winning inventor, author, consultant and keynote speaker, David has now entered the field of motion pictures as star and co-director of the hit film, Pass It On where he guides such luminaries as Brian Tracy, Les Brown, Mark Victor Hanson, Michael Beckwith, Congressmen, Olympians and others. He is currently featured in the Napolean Hill Foundation's book and movie, Think and Grow Rich - Three Feet From Gold.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A book worth reading August 25, 2009

By Melanie Riveira

Format:Hardcover

I found this book to be very helpful at a point in my life when I was faced with some big decisions.

'Illuminate' helped me to understand that in order to take control of my life, I'd have to start by identifying the obstacles in my path, then taking the steps necessary toward resolution.

Though this seems like a simple concept, it was the fear of the unknown that prevented me from taking that step. Once I was able to 'Illuminate' the situations in my life that I was afraid of, I could clearly see it, understand it and take action. Now I am able to break through my fears.

The Illuminate model has become my way of life. I'm more aware of how things impact me and others, and I can speak my truth without fear of the unknown. I can't control life, but now I feel more equipped to handle negative situations when they do come up.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars You need this book! October 14, 2009

By Harry Paul

Format:Hardcover

This book is a must for everyone. It shows how all opportunities, both positive and negative are opportunities to learn, grow and prosper from. I found this book especially helpful in these tough economic times and I know it will continue to help as things start to turnaround. It is the very reason why I offered to write the Foreword for it and continue to endorse and mention it in my presentations. My book FISH! was one that shared a unique way of doing things. So does Illuminate. It is a book for the ages.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars David's forte! September 25, 2009

By John Selby

Format:Hardcover

I've known David for some time now, as we both write for the same general audience, and his new book Illuminate is his best - it's short and clear and dramatically entertaining, while communicating a core insight. I grew up on a cattle ranch where "Face your danger!" was a primary rule - and that's what David is strongly suggesting in Illuminate - focus your attention where you hurt - that's what needs loving attention, both in relationships, your own inner growth and healing, and also equally in business situations. Compassionate attention generates positive change and movement - and Illuminate dramatizes this point so that we really get it - good going, David! ... review by John Selby, [...]

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A Discerning Reader November 24, 2009

By Adriane Levy-corbin

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

I read about 4 books per week. This one was a joy. It was a fast read, very engaging, and has a very powerful message- one that I have already begun to apply in my profession and, more importantly, in my life and relationships. This book really stands out.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars For the business world... July 31, 2011

By C. J. Rotter

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

A good book if you are looking to apply it to your work life. I was looking to eliminate the negative in my personal life, and it just didn't apply to that. If you are a manager looking to solve issues with your staff, this is your book!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Come think with me September 19, 2009

By Jim Cathcart

Format:Hardcover

I've known David Corbin for decades and every time I meet with him I think better. David is an inquisitive and, despite the subtitle, a very positive and cheerful fellow. He faces reality boldly and looks for opportunity not limitations. Let his clear thinking guide you as you become more innovative and practical. Let him show you how Positive Thinking can be Practical Thinking by not ignoring the negatives.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars I'm positive that this book will change your approach to work and life September 15, 2009

By Joe Tye

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

David Corbin is one of the people I look up to as a coach and mentor. Dave is an entrepreneur, coach, and consultant. He was executive Producer of the Pass It On video (which was much more than a sequel to "The Secret").

Now, Dave has come out with a courageous new book - Illuminate: Harnessing the Positive Power of Negative Thinking. I don't know that it necessarily took a lot of courage for Dave to write it (though the blank page is intimidating to every writer, Dave seems to have a surplus of courage when it comes to starting new things - new businesses, new books and movies, new friendships). But it does take a lot of courage to read it, and even more to act upon the formula he provides for illuminating the negative: to fix the problems in your career, your business, and your life, you need to find them, follow then, and fix them.

Dave likes to say that he makes his living as a consultant, but he earns his keep as an insultant, telling people things they don't want to hear but need to hear. Since having the privilege of reading the manuscript for Dave's book (I mean every word of my testimonial on the front page) I've approached my own consulting work, and my own business, in a new way. I try to be diplomatic, but I'm now much more candid and much more blunt in sharing my observations and recommendations with clients. And I've gotten a lot more serious about being an insultant to myself when it comes to my own work and life.

Illuminate is written in the form of a fun-to-read business parable featuring a struggling hospital executive. You can read it on a flight from Chicago to LA. But don't let that easy, breezy style of writing deceive you.... This book - if you take to heart its central message of not covering up or hiding from your problems but rather casting the light of awareness and action on them - will change how you approach your work and your life. Read more ›

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Illuminate addresses the reality of the business September 3, 2009

By William J. Diller

Format:Hardcover

Aa a business consultant and CEO I'm very happy that David finally wrote the book Illuminate. There are always negative issues in business. Unfotunately, most of the time they get swept aside because management doesn't know how to effectively deal with them. Thankfully, Illuminate now provides a simple yet effective program that companies can use to deal with negative issues. If you want to your company to aspire to greatness ... you must "Illuminate" the negatives in your business. I especially enjoy David's witty and pragmatic writing style. I highly recommend Illuminate.