Customer Reviews

The Secret Blend: A Modern Parable of Personal Success

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4 star:		(2)
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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.

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.

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.

Dr. Toler teaches you important lessons on relationships, in parable form, just like Jesus did!

Toler gives readers a great excerise in reviewing relationships in this easy-to-read parable. Thanks Stan for these timely principles...good friendships are not only enhanced by coffee but by living well. Thanks for those life-lessons!

I enjoyed reading The Secret Blend because it was easy to read and kept my attention. The story was ordinary enough that you could put yourself into the main characters role and thus apply the principles that are being taught, but clever enough to keep you anxious for the next chapter. I'm eager to try out these principles and make better friends out of the friends I already have by being a better friend to them first. Buy this book, learn from it, then give it to a friend. I think that's what Joe would do!

This is a superbly satisfying book on the value of relationships. As a novel, it is somewhat lacking- the dialogue is very artificial, and things fall into place a little too easily for Joe as he starts putting his friendship lessons into practice. But that didn't stop me from enjoying the story, as well as gaining some new observations about friendships and learning a lot about coffee. Just don't be too picky about details and this book will brighten your day, and maybe even change your life.

The Secret Blend is a delightfully-written parable about building strong relationships. Stan is the author of more than 50 books, and his insights on friendship and investing in the lives of others will be of value to anyone who works with people. In fact, you'll probably want to buy copies for all the key leaders in your organization. The Secret Blend is an enjoyable read, an insightful tale about building relationships that last - and you might even learn more about coffee!

Michael Duduit, Editor
Leader Links (www.leaderlinks.com)