Customer Reviews

Trade-Up!: 5 Steps for Redesigning Your Leadership and Life from the Inside Out

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Taking pages from Werner Erhard's transformational thinking, executive coach Rayona Sharpnack presents a self-help process for creating your future; creating it as something other than your past masquerading under a new name. And, she does it with wit, clarity, and stories that make this book an informative and enjoyable read. If you are not familiar with this language-based concept of renaming, making declarations about the future, and living life as a series of possibilities, this book is a good place to start. If you are familiar with this 'life is a story so create a new context by creating a new story' process, this book will be an easy-read, refresher course that may add a few new moves to your game.

Based upon the ideas that an individual is responsible for the content and decisions (all of life is a choice) that make up their life and that most everyone will reach a point in their life when the other edge of their double-edged success strategy begins to bite them, Sharpnack offers a 5 step process to move to the next level of performance in life. The step one is to 'name your game' - find words to describe how you see yourself, or your winning formula. The next step is to or 'feel the pain' -- see how this limits your potential or controls you life and this gives you a reason to change. Step three is to 'author a new own story' - find words to describe a new way to succeed at life. Step four is a 'practice to master' bit - observe yourself without criticism. Step five 'invites others into your conversation' - moves you into action toward your new commitments in life.

The above is a gross oversimplification and the author gives each step much more depth, but perhaps you get the idea - change the way you think and you can move the world, or at least that portion of the world centered around you. Read the book, it is not heavy lifting and the benefits might be enormous!

Dennis DeWilde, author of "The Performance Connection"

Trade Up is one of the best leadership books that I have read in a long while. Most of them all start sounding the same and many seem to be filled with a lot of psycho-babble, but not Trade Up. It has practical advice that doesn't seem too overwhelming to implement and digest, and the author's insights truly are beneficial for both personal and professional aspects of your life. Ms. Sharpnack's extensive leadership training and executive coaching knowledge really come through in this book and were expressed in easy-to-grasp ways. A person at any level in an organization, and at most any stage of life, would benefit from this book.

This book is fantastic. I highly recommend it to anyone that is interested in individual and / or organizational improvement. It reaches fundamental aspects of who you are as a person and builds on where you have been. Rayona Sharpnak is a master teacher and motivator.

Trade Up is definately a book that is thought provoking and life changing as never been written before. The reader is taken down a path of understanding of ones core reason for actions and behaviors. For progression and growth as we move through our lives, Trade up is a must to read as a foundation to ones own development. This book enabled me to take control and create a plan for the 2nd half of life! All leaders/people out there have fallen into patterns of bahvior that contributed to their success in the past. When that does not work anymore - read Trade Up and discover the secret to how to find success again! You will find yourself again!!! :)

Absolutely fantastic advice for leaders and those who want to be ... my favorite section is activating your context and engaging with the world. Rayona Sharpnack offers a blueprint for sure success. I've added to my essential reading list for mentoring.
Trade-Up!: 5 Steps for Redesigning Your Leadership and Life from the Inside Out

Trade Up! Outlines a clear and inspiring path to transforming your work, life and relationships. The stories, references and real women described in the book bring the concepts to life. The book is well written and quickly draws the reader into the positive impact, power and potential for Trading Up.

An easy read. This book lays out a straightforward approach that will enable you to examine your current belief system and map your way to your future goals. The real life examples are very helpful.

When I met Rayona Sharpnack in 1999 I was surprised she wasn't even better known. I think "Trade Up!" will put her on the map and, that, as they say, is a good thing. She's one of the biggest thinkers I know - Rayona looks at things on a global scale. This book makes her accessible and gives you steps on how to put her big concepts for redesigning your leadership and your life into action.

She's inspiring. As she says in this book, "Leadership is not a role, or a job, or a title; it's a way of dwelling in the world, a decision to be aware, intentional, active, and engaged." I love her legacy for future generations, which starts out, "Not every conversation makes a difference...but any conversation could."

This easy to read, practical and enaging book is an invaluable tool for assessing your leadership skills. It provides concrete information that allows you to understand the context by which you view the world and shape your talents. The book provides extremely useful tools to take you to the next step in advancing your career. I highly recommend it!

I found Trade-up! to be absorbing, validating and freeing in a practical and yet exceptional way. Because the author guides one to work from "the inside out", the results are transformative and all-encompassing. In designing a new mind-set for a professional situation, I ended up to my great delight able to apply it positively in personal settings as well.

The author uses a down-to-earth tone and examples that ring true and make sense. Upon completing this book, instead of putting in on a shelf, I have left it on my desk where I can refer to it easily and frequently, and, I have sent copies to my colleagues and friends.