The Secret Blend: A Modern Parable of Personal Success [Hardcover]

Stan Toler (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 20, 2004

Is your life as rich, meaningful, and enjoyable as you want it to be? Is there something missing–an emptiness that gnaws away at your heart even in the midst of success and achievement?

In The Secret Blend, best-selling author Stan Toler tells a parable you’ll identify with. It’s the story of a man who discovers some surprising truths in a most unexpected place: a coffee shop. Fascinating insights about the dark, aromatic brew begin to hit home, and he gets a taste of the true definition of wealth and abundance.

Like the man in the parable of The Secret Blend, you too will experience fresh insights regarding the real measure of wealth. You’ll come to realize it’s found not just in material possessions and personal achievement, but more so in the quality of your relationships.

You can learn a lot about life from a cup of coffee. Taste The Secret Blend for yourself, and start experiencing truly rich relationships.

Editorial Reviews

Review

“The Secret Blend is one of the best books on relationships I have ever read. I will never look at coffee or friendship the same! What a brilliant concept!”
–Debra White Smith, Best-selling author, Seven Sisters series

“Buy ten copies of Stan Toler’s book and give nine away. Then get together with those nine people over a cup of coffee and share how The Secret Blend has changed your life.”
–Dr. Neil T. Anderson, Author of Victory Over the Darkness

“In a world moving at light speed, we need to be reminded of simple lessons that make each day rewarding.  The seven lessons of The Secret Blend will help you to enrich your life beyond your wildest expectations.”
–Leslie Yerkes, Founder and President, Catalyst Consulting Group; and Co-author, Beans: Four Principles for Running a Business in Good Times or Bad

“In The Secret Blend, Stan Toler helps us to focus on what matters most: our relationships with the people in our lives.  As we share in the truths that Joe learns in Mac’s coffee shop, we experience a deeper awareness of our thirst for true friendships and how to obtain them.  I can’t wait to share this book with my friends!” 
–Andy Andrews, Author of The New York Times best-seller The Traveler’s Gift

“The Secret Blend is a get-rich book that will increase your net worth in all the right places. My good friend, Stan Toler, is a man who knows the ups and downs of life. So if you’d like more joy and fulfillment in your life, then The Secret Blend is just the cup of refreshment you’re looking for. It’s good to the last page!”
–Martha Bolton, Former staff writer for Bob Hope; Author of more than 50 books, including Didn’t My Skin Used to Fit?

“A college professor once told me, ‘Everybody has at least one book in them.’ Stan Toler has a lot of books in him, and The Secret Blend is probably his greatest, his signature book. Stan realizes that relationship is the strength of ministry and the power of a personal Christian walk. If you want to get close to Stan’s heart, learn the secret of his success, and discover how you can build your life on relationship, this is a must read.”
–Elmer L. Towns, Vice President of Liberty University; Dean, School of Religion, Liberty University, Lynchburg, Virginia

From the Inside Flap

Is your life as rich, meaningful, and enjoyable as you want it to be? Is there something missing?an emptiness that gnaws away at your heart even in the midst of success and achievement?

In The Secret Blend, best-selling author Stan Toler tells a parable you?ll identify with. It?s the story of a man who discovers some surprising truths in a most unexpected place: a coffee shop. Fascinating insights about the dark, aromatic brew begin to hit home, and he gets a taste of the true definition of wealth and abundance.

Like the man in the parable of The Secret Blend, you too will experience fresh insights regarding the real measure of wealth. You?ll come to realize it?s found not just in material possessions and personal achievement, but more so in the quality of your relationships.

You can learn a lot about life from a cup of coffee. Taste The Secret Blend for yourself, and start experiencing truly rich relationships.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 192 pages
• Publisher: WaterBrook Press; 1 edition (January 20, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1578567467
• ISBN-13: 978-1578567461
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.7 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #65,649 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Dr. Stan A. Toler is a general superintendent in the Church of the Nazarene with an office at the Global Ministry Center in Lenexa, Kansas, USA.

He was chosen for the highest elected office in the church at the 27th General Assembly at Orlando, Florida, USA, in July 2009, after serving for 40 years as a pastor in Ohio, Florida, Tennessee, and Oklahoma.

Toler has written over 70 books, including his best-sellers, God Has Never Failed Me, But He's Sure Scared Me to Death a Few Times; The Buzzards Are Circling, But God's Not Finished With Me Yet; God's Never Late, He's Seldom Early, He's Always Right on Time; The Secret Blend; Practical Guide to Pastoral Ministry; The Inspirational Speaker's Resource, ReThink Your Life, and his popular Minute Motivator series.

Toler recently was given an honorary Doctorate of Divinity from Southern Nazarene University.

He and his wife, Linda, an educator, have two sons, Seth and Adam, and one grandson Rhett.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars Relationship rescue, May 13, 2007

By 

ready writer "ready writer" (Lavergne, TN USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Secret Blend: A Modern Parable of Personal Success (Hardcover)

I enjoyed this book. Relationships are important and in reality if you have everything but don't have love -- you've got nothing. This book offers a great starting place.

5.0 out of 5 stars Blending Lessons on Coffee and Relationships, February 2, 2006

By 

Matthew Dodd (Virginia, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Secret Blend: A Modern Parable of Personal Success (Hardcover)

If you believe, like Stan Toler, that true wealth is found in the relationships we have with others, then this "get-rich" primer is for you.

In this enjoyable and easy-to-read story about a typical small-business man who meets and becomes friends with an un-typical coffee shop owner, Toler did a skillful job of teaching me the "minute-to-understand-but-lifetime-to-master" lessons about the value of, and how to create, meaningful relationships. His seven relationship lessons - starting with, "You must first be a friend to yourself before you can be a friend to others" and ending with, "Learn to say `I love you.' Say it often. Say it with your mouth, your eyes, your hands, your feet. There are no more powerful words in our language" - were pregnant with meaning, universally applicable to everyone, and deeply and personally introspective for me.

At times, the story of the growing relationship between the business man and the coffee shop owner was a little too predictable, but it was still believable enough to not detract from the strength and beauty of Toler's message. Also, connecting lessons about the cultivation of and appreciation for rich and flavorful coffee with relationship-building was an added treat, even though I do not drink coffee, that enhanced my learning experience.

Although I am not as wealthy as I would like to be, I am definitely richer today for having experienced Toler's relationship lessons and putting them to use in my life.

5.0 out of 5 stars tasty & invigorating!, May 12, 2004

By 

Rebecca Brown "rebeccasreads" (Clallam Bay, WA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Secret Blend: A Modern Parable of Personal Success (Hardcover)

THE SECRET BLEND is a parable which will take its readers on a swift, magical journey from the hollow hunger of seeking material wealth to the ineffable satisfaction of the practise of giving away of self.

As so many things do in Seattle, it starts with rain, a cup of java & a man in need of a jolt of reality. From there, we follow about-to-be-very-rich Joe Conrad as he searches & receives answers to the questions he's been avoiding, why isn't he happy & why is his life so empty?

Rebeccasreads highly recommends THE SECRET BLEND as a delightful story, one which will keep on giving with each reading. Lean & cleanly written, it is an engrossing & easily absorbed seminar on how to look at your life with fresh eyes, purpose & passion.