The Balancing Act: Mastering the Five Elements of Success in Life, Relationships, and Work (Paperback)

by Sharon Seivert (Author) "If you've read this far, you may have already decided that this book can be of some help to you..." (more)
Key Phrases: simple breath count, daily balancing act, organizational exercises, Elements of Success, Elemental Circle, World War (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review
. . . a must read for any CEO who wishes to deal more effectively and comfortably with today's diverse and volatile workplace. -- Suzanne Crow, CEO, Unemployment Tax Control Associates, Inc

. . . terrific book! Everyone who wants a more reasonable approach to living in today's world should read this book. -- Cheryl Gilman, Author of Doing Work You Love

If you are receptive to a deep spiritual approach to life, you'll enjoy this book. -- The Midwest Book Review, January 2003

Once again Sharon Seivert has hit the tap root on the tree of leadership. -- Kris Girrell, Executive Performance Coach, Camden Consulting Group

Seivert's beautiful perspective on balancing life's often competing demands is theoretically rich and both practical and action oriented. -- Kevin Bourne, Executive Coach & Work/Life Consultant, Ceridian Corporation

Sharon Seivert has created a system that moves individuals and organizations beyond the traditional into the universal possibilities for success. -- Shaw Sprague, Psy.D., Consultant Owner Managed Business Institute

Sharon Seivert's Elements of Success process, really helped our organization focus on a common purpose. -- Steven Kravetz, Owner, Center for Extended Care at Amherst and The Arbors at Amherst

She is very powerful at helping people put their ideas into words and pictures. -- Suzanne Bates, President, Bates Communication

The Balancing Act is the definitive work for those seeking life balance. -- Gerry Garvin, Personal/Life Coach, CPCC

This book is impressive, supportive, educational, and self-enhancing-an extraordinary achievement. -- Morton Newman, M.D., Psychiatrist and Psychoanalyst

Review
"When the key elements of any system come into balance, they function in a state of synergy and the whole becomes greater than the sum of the parts. Using highly effective elemental strategies, Seivert illustrates how to create this magical state of affairs in your life, love, family, and work on a daily basis."
(The New Times, June 2002 )

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Product Details

• Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: Park Street Press (October 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0892817763
• ISBN-13: 978-0892817764
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #846,580 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Spiritual Approach to Life Balance, November 19, 2002

By	Roger E. Herman (Greensboro, NC USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

More Americans are talking about seeking balance in their lives. Many of them have actually gone beyond talking and are on the quest. The Balancing Act is one of a number of books that have been written (and will be written) on this topic. Seivert, a business consultant and executive coach, has put together a design that suggests five areas that need to be brought into an appropriate balance for you: Personal Life, Relationships, Leadership, Organizations, and World.

Various chapters of this book are keyed to the five elements; others are presented as being of general interest to the reader. This approach and book organization (the chapters are coded in the table of contents) enables the reader to concentrate, during first or subsequent readings, on those areas of greatest interest. Two appendices and an index provide additional support.

The book is organized into three parts: Finding Your Balance in Life, Relationships, and Work; The Five Elements of Success; and The Whole is Greater than the Sum of its Parts. The first section, pre-chapters, offers almost three dozen pages of introductory material on Finding Your Balance, The Elements of Success, and The Great Ally Inside You. Readers will find a collection of worksheets to engage in some self-analysis before proceeding into the meat of the book.

The text is heavy on spirituality, as opposed to books focused on life activities and common sense advice. Seivert's elements: air, fire, water, and earth are discussed in the context of balancing them in the way you lead your life. If you are receptive to a deep spiritual approach to life, you'll enjoy this book. If you are not engaged by this approach, it will be difficult to connect with this presentation.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars a book with soul, February 27, 2002

By A Customer

I have "The Balancing Act" side-by-side with my "Seven Habits of Highly Effective People." I find this book to be even more insightful than Mr. Covey's in helping me articulate who I am, what my core beliefs are, and how to balance this with the rest of my other elements.... It's like soul music that just reaches into your very being.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant!, December 30, 2001

By	Gail McMeekin (Author of The Power of Positive Choices and The 12 Secrets of Highly Creative Women) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Sharon Seivert is a very wise woman who has developed a powerful model that will indeed improve the quality of your relationships to your life, your work, and your community. Using Sharon's simple yet not simplistic assessment tools, you will discover where you are out of balance in your life or your organization, and then learn how to create an alignment of the five elements. Her lessons are comprehensive yet practical and clearly defined. If you are ready to change your life, get this book!