Teaching Common Sense: Seven Simple Principles For Nurturing Those Around You and Reaping the Harvest of Your Life [Paperback]

Rhonda S. Jones (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 23, 2005

Teaching Common Sense: Seven Simple Principles For Nurturing Those Around You and Reaping The Harvest of Your Life is based upon the following premises: we are all born with a unique, special life to live; we learn more each day how to best fulfill that purpose; we are all connected, therefore we learn and grow toward that fulfillment together, or not, it is our choice; since we are continually learning from and through one another, we are all teachers, regardless of our profession; and we will all achieve a higher level of fulfillment together in this life if we focus on being the best teachers we can be. Teaching Common Sense leads readers on a journey to this awareness facilitated by the true stories of the author's great teachers who embodied the seven principles: Be Inspiring; Be Committed to a Vision; Give Unconditional Love and Acceptance; Make a Connection; Be Structured and Organized; Be a Good Coach and Lifelong Learner; and Believe in Others. Teaching Common Sense shows readers how simple it is to transform themselves into great teachers, and in so doing, transform their own lives. Webster describes common sense as sound and prudent judgment derived from every day experiences. In like manner, the author's unique brand of down to earth common sense wisdom combines physiology, spirituality, and psychology with experiences common to us all to provide a simple, yet compelling, start-tomorrow guide to living the life readers were born to live.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

Rhonda Jones is a rare breed in many ways, but what sets her apart most is that she has always recognized how much she was learning from the people who passed through her life. Her awareness of this stream of life lessons has become the source for the enjoyable and life-changing stories she shares as a means to teach and influence others. This is a perfect resource for leaders, managers, teachers, trainers, caregivers, anyone whose success depends upon their ability to influence others, and all who wish to do more with the talents and the life they've been given.

From the Author

Through several of my twenty-three years in leadership of a Fortune 100 company, I mistakenly thought everyone noticed the profound life lessons in everyday events as I did. I assumed everyone possessed the same awareness and appreciation, and that they used their own stories to teach and lead others. After many years of sharing these lessons so easily, however, I have finally learned this is a gift I’ve been given. It’s the secret behind my achievement as a team- and culture-builder in the corporate arena, my ability to mentor young associates, and my ability to interact effectively with individuals from the workplace to the streets of my city to the poverty-stricken areas of Central America. It is a gift that must be shared for the benefit of others and is the motivation behind the publication of this book.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Bright Hope Productions (April 23, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 097666240X
• ISBN-13: 978-0976662402
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 7.5 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #738,410 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wow, Worth the effort!, August 15, 2005

By 

Brian Boling - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Teaching Common Sense: Seven Simple Principles For Nurturing Those Around You and Reaping the Harvest of Your Life (Paperback)

I am Chairman and CEO of a US company. I am also a voracious reader. I must admit to being really surprised. Pleasantly so! Anybody with the guts to suggest they are going to teach me common sense after all my years ...or at least teach me how to apply common sense...well, she must have known my grandfather!

The acknowledgements scared me at first. It sounded like it was going to be a very academic read, though it has a "Common Sense" title. Don't worry, it is not. But you will learn that the author certainly built her common sense on many well-grounded theories and brilliant scientists that came before her. Without giving anything away I would mention that the simple pie chart at the end of that section thankfully renewed my expectation of a straight-forward and interesting experience.

This book had some of the "ahas" that I got from reading Echart Tolle, but in the end it made me work harder than Tolle did, and I certainly learned more about myself than I ever expected. It was actually a great follow-up to "The Power of Now" for me in fact. The author may not have Tolle's reputation, but she has the same common sense! (I suppose it is not the author's fault that Oprah hasn't discovered her yet.) Early in the book I saw that she intended to take on the challenge of explaining to me why we humans are here. I thought: "Now that's a very ambitious task for an author I've never read." She actually did it, and did it well. And her perspective doesn't require you to be a Christian, Muslim, Creationist, Darwninist, or any other label. You just have to be human.

This should be a 'must read' for all teachers or would-be teachers. My advice to other possible readers would be this. If you are willing to apply yourself by reading and working through the personal exercises provided in the book - (don't worry they are not strenuous)- you will be amazed at what you discover about yourself. I was. And I am still learning ...and teaching...which was, by the way, the point. Read it!