Is This Seat Taken?: Random Encounters That Change Your Life [Hardcover]

Kristin S. Kaufman (Author)

Book Description

Release date: November 1, 2011

For the busy business executive, the never-ceasing demands associated with work, and life, can place a relentless push and pull on our time and attention. Our world is moving so fast, we are apt to miss much of what is happening ''right now.'' Kristin S. Kaufman, in her book Is This Seat Taken? offers another perspective. Within these pages, Kaufman offers a collection of highly personal stories that illustrate how a wealth of wisdom may come from the most unusual and unlikely sources. The resiliency and clarity found from typically unheard voices speak of universal truths that may often be lost in the shuffle, yet are no less vital to a well-aligned life. Is This Seat Taken? offers important lessons that force the typical executive, and indeed all of us, to ponder what it means to truly be present in the now, what we can learn from these incidental encounters, and how these random encounters can become a compass, pointing us on our own road to alignment, fulfillment, and success.

Editorial Reviews

Review

No matter how much we plan as individuals or as a company, the random encounter offers unplanned opportunity. Kristin Kaufman will have you looking at chance encounters with a different perspective after reading this book. --Gary Kelly; CEO, president, and chairman, Southwest Airlines

Through real-life stories, Kristin Kaufman illustrates the core idea of being present in the moment and opening oneself up to new ideas in order to become an authentic leader in life. --Stephen R. Covey; Author, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People and The Leader in Me

An inspiring and practical leadership handbook. Through powerful personal stories and great teaching points, Kristin challenges us all to be better leaders. --Dr. Noel Tichy; Professor and director, Global Citizenship Initiative at the University of Michigan and Coauthor, JUDGMENT: How Winning Leaders Make Great Calls, with Warren Bennis

About the Author

Kristin S. Kaufman is the founder of Alignment, Inc., formed in 2007 to serve individuals, corporations, boards of directors, and nonprofits in finding alignment within themselves and their organizations. Alignment, Inc. is a unique services organization that works with companies and individuals to create sustainable success individually and collectively. Kaufman has brought this expertise to hundreds of people since establishing Alignment. During her twenty-five years of corporate experience, she has held executive positions at Hewlett-Packard, Vignette Corporation, and United Health Group. In 2009 Kaufman pursued and was awarded the distinction of professional certified coach from the International Coaching Federation and also achieved the designation of certified leadership coach through the esteemed program of Georgetown University.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 184 pages
• Publisher: Brown Books (November 1, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1612540201
• ISBN-13: 978-1612540207
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.7 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (36 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #371,306 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Kristin S. Kaufman is the founder of Alignment, Inc.,
formed in 2007 to serve individuals, corporations,
boards of directors, and nonprofits in finding alignment
within themselves and their organizations. Alignment, Inc.
is a unique services organization that works with companies
and individuals to create sustainable success individually and
collectively. Kaufman has brought this expertise to hundreds
of people since establishing Alignment.

During her twenty-five years of corporate experience, she
has held executive positions at Hewlett-Packard, Vignette
Corporation, and United Health Group. In 2009 Kaufman
pursued and was awarded the distinction of professional
certified coach from the International Coaching Federation
and also achieved the designation of certified leadership coach
through the esteemed program of Georgetown University.

A prolific writer, Kristin's first book, "Is This Seat Taken?
Random Encounters That Change Your Life", centers on her
global experiences seeding her journey toward alignment.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A must read for everyone November 7, 2011

By Myrn

Format:Hardcover

I am not much of a reader, but I attended the book signing in Dallas, purchased the book, got 2 minutes with Kristin, for there were so many people there to get their signed book, then began to read it and couldn't put it down....It is a must read for all, especially those in the corporate world, those who have traveled or those who can connect with the overall sitting down next to someone and being touched by what they said....

Great book!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars If the world is "too much with us" (as Wordsworth suggests), then we must be receptive to whatever treasures it may offer December 27, 2011

By Robert Morris HALL OF FAMETOP 100 REVIEWERVINE™ VOICE

Format:Hardcover

If I understand Kristin Kaufman's primary objective in this book (and I may not), it is to help her reader to become much more receptive to - and gain much greater benefit from - the countless number of random encounters that occur unexpectedly. Each day, all of us receive thousands of unsolicited "messages" and struggle to process them. In fact, we devise blocking and filtering mental devices (and electronic applications) to sort through them. Meanwhile, of course, others are coping with the "messages" we send to them. Inevitably, we thereby forfeit what could possibly be truly valuable experience. This happens each day in the workplace, of course, but also at home and elsewhere. We thus deny ourselves meaningful communication, cooperation, and collaboration.

Kaufman organizes her material within 25 chapters that, together, comprise a narrative of her own personal experiences as well as complementary examples of situations in which an important truth is revealed. Sustainable personal growth requires continuous nourishment. Hence the importance, Kramer asserts, of being alert to potentially valuable information, insights, and perhaps even wisdom offered by unexpected sources, such as people we encounter unexpectedly, often in a social situation.

"Being Present in the Moment: Moving Toward Alignment" is the central theme throughout the book. That is, only by being fully engaged in various random interactions can we achieve and then sustain alignment of our goals and initiatives with our values during a process of discovery and consequent growth.

There are no head-snapping revelations in this book, nor does Kristin Kaufman make any such claim. Ultimately, each reader must of course the determine the nature and extent of the value of this book. For some, it will serve as a "window" to a wealth of human experience; for others, it will serve as a "mirror" in which who they are and what they can become are revealed, or at least suggested.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars You won't look at empty seats the same... November 29, 2011

By S. Fisher

Format:Hardcover

Not a cerebral corporate jig and not a self-help section item either..."Is This Seat Taken?" takes those everyday, sometimes minutes-long experiences and shows us how impactful they can really be - IF we're open to them. You don't necessarily have to slow your pace to learn from and appreciate the random encounters we all face...sometimes daily. I love books that capture me but don't require a month for me to get through - this is one of those finds! Brief enough to enjoy again for that possible extra lesson you didn't find the first time. This will be a great gift for my friends who bee-line for their headphones on the plane, train, or in a cab.