Customer Reviews

The Heart of Success; Making It in Business without Losing in Life

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This review is written from the perspective of one UK Baptist Church minister who previously lectured in business and managed a number of organisations at a senior level.

Prior to his present roles Rob Parsons was a successful lawyer. Nowadays he is a well known author and speaker on international business circuits. He also is the founder of the Christian charity `Care for the Family.' He regularly appears on radio and TV espousing the values of marriage, parenting, friendship, and generally living in a way which could be readily associated with those with a Christian ethos.

Like many of Parson's books this one is `an easy read', Nonetheless, it remains informative. If the reader absorbs the central message found in the book and takes to heart Parson's suggestions, then, and especially if they are busy working people with families, they may find themselves re-evaluating their raison d'ętre, and bringing into balance the need to provide material wealth through work and the demands of family life. In my view the book seems to be targeted primarily at middle and up professionals, or those aspiring to such positions. A group whom it could be reasonably argued wish, (like most other groups), to provide materially, and paternally and maternally, for their families, but whom are more prone to finding themselves consumed by their work lives, and in the paradoxical situation in their strivings to provide actually acting out in damaging family life.

The book tells the story of `Jack'. His father was one of the most successful entrepreneurs of his time - the only problem was that the old man had no time, no friends, and died early. Such a prospect was unappealing to Jack. When he started out on his MBA he met a retired professor who was to teach him `How to make it in business without losing in life.' The professor shares with Jack seven laws to turn his life around. Don't settle for being money rich - time poor. Believe that the job you do makes a difference. Play to your strengths. Believe in the power of dreams. Put your family before your career Keep the common touch Don't settle for success; strive for significance (sic).

Parson's book isn't presented as a Christian text, nonetheless, the values espoused therein are aligned to those found in the Christian way. There is even a passing reference to the `carpenter'.

From my observations of church life we would find a good number of working men and women who would fall within the target readership for this book. People in our pews who struggle with work-life, (lived out in a Christian sense), balance. These folks would undoubtedly gain value and guidance from this book, as would many an overworking church minister.