Overall: 🐢🐢🐢
Storyline: ★★★
Writing: ★★★
Personal Growth: ★★
Enjoyment: ★★
“Don’t shy away from putting in the time and effort that’s required of you.”
A Journey of Insight by James G. Ellis
The Story:
A Journey of Insights draws upon the lessons James G. Ellis learned while a teacher and dean of USC’s Marshall School of Business as well as those he absorbed during his preceding years at Harvard Business School and in business. In trying to plot the roadmap for a successful business life, his stories show illustratively the secrets or ingredients of how business schools and their students can prosper. At the core of his message is the central theme that listening to voices around you throughout life is the key to success. In essence, ears can speak louder than voices.
Key Elements:
Self-help, Stories, Life lessons, Experience, Education, Networking, Business, Listen and Learn, Mentors, Leadership, Insights
Why This Rating?
I received an ARC in exchange for a free and honest review
True to the title of this novel, this is a story that gives readers glimpses into the position of leadership and life applications of hard-earned lessons. From the numerous individuals that Ellis has interacted with to the personal experiences he has had, there is a lesson to listen throughout each of these pages. You are never feeling forced to hear each person’s story. Instead, the way Ellis communicates throughout the book is easy-going and relaxing. You’re simply having a conversation with him and listening to all the bits of knowledge he has gathered.
Across the chapters, there were six things that resonated with in Ellis’s book:
- Listen. Don’t lead every single conversation you are a part of but listen to the others too. You never know how far of an impact listening will have with someone.
- Be present. Ask questions during interactions and don’t brush away what they are saying or stay surface level with them. You will build relationship and trust if you put forth this effort.
- Work hard for your passions. If you are applying yourself to something you have passion for, working hard will be a given. It is rewarding to achieve those passions and goals you have set. They can be risky, but taking a risk on things that matter mean you are living.
- Learn always. Education doesn’t just happen in schools. You can get a wide range of skills through feet to the ground methods and applying yourself to the trade you want. Don’t stop learning and don’t think that you can’t go back to learn more.
- Find your mentors. Having someone who you can ask questions, support you, listen to your thoughts, challenge you is so important on the road to success.
- Lead by knowing their shoes. This is a bit more of an abstract way of saying, if you are in a leadership position, you have to know how your company operates. Best way, work those positions and walk a day (or more) in your employees’ shoes. Not only do you build trust in your workspace, but you gain an understanding of what the work entails for everyone.
I was astonished at the amount of individuals Ellis has had interactions with! Talk about 6 degrees of Kevin Bacon. He is playing at expert level and is probably only 1 degree – the guy has met everyone! There were a few stories that didn’t feel like fit in the book and were added because they were impactful to the author – which is totally fine. His book and life, his rules and words. Overall, the amount of insight (cue title screen) into the various business/government/schools is immense and diverse. Some stories were better than others. Not all are going to hit homeruns with people. They were all organized well. Other than some of the transitioning between people’s stories, it was written well. I wish there were a bit more tie together paragraphs between the next introduction happened or maybe a visual divider? This is me nit-picking something minor in the grand scheme of things.
This won’t be a read for everyone. It is a type of “self-help” book. Or maybe a “Betterment” book with a business leadership focus? It feels like you need some drive to be in a leadership position to truly benefit from this one. But that doesn’t mean it should be excluded from the TBR list. There are good lessons found amongst the pages that are really impactful. If my list of 6 doesn’t convince you, I know there are more within the pages than just those few. You are also given some chapter prompts at the end that are worth pondering over regardless of your goals that could be applied to life not just work. Overall, I liked the book and the stories that were shared on behalf of each person mentioned within. Oh, Side Note! We get to see pictures in this that are of Ellis’s family, life, the individuals he shares stories about, and a few of his selfies. They are all quite enjoyable to flip through and being able to put some of these names to a face makes their impact a bit more personal.
Time to get lost in the next story!
