Res Gestae
Books that speak of numbers
(First of 3 parts)
I got additional three books for my collections lately. Yes, collections because I have not gone through yet with some of the books on my shelf.
Interestingly, these three new books speak of numbers: 7, 12 and 40.
The first book, The Way of the Shepherd, which I received as a gift from a friend, Mila, speaks of the seven (7) ancient secrets to managing productive people. It is authored by Dr. Kevin Leman, “an internationally known psychologist, business consultant, award-winning author, and speaker”; and, William Pentak, an author, columnist, pastor, consultant, and speaker.
The second book is the “12 Little Things Every Filipino Can Do to Help Our Country” by Atty. Alexander Lacson. It was recommended by an Ilonggo Youth Ambassador and a friend, Mark.
The third book is one of the 30 million copies sold worldwide, Rick Warren’s The Purpose Driven Life. The popularity of the book prompted me to seek it in the bookstore and shelled out a little portion of my first salary as telemarketer.
I’ve read The Way of the Shepherd last year as I prepared a lecture on leadership. It was introduced to me by my boss, Ranie, a voracious reader and popular lecturer on police correspondence. The wisdom was simply captivating. In fact, I was engrossed of the wisdom contained in it and becoming restless then of the desire to have a copy of it.
The book is a narration of Mr. Pentak’s interview with Theodore McBride, the most respected business leader in America and CEO of General Techonologies for seventeen years.
The interview brought Mr. Pentak to a journey with Mr. McBride’s recollection of his experiences with Dr. Jack Neumann, one of his professors in the MBA program.
Mr. McBride was newly hired by GT then and anxious of his new responsibilities as manager. He went to Dr. Neumann for advice. And, the latter “unlocked more of the secrets about becoming a great leader than any other principle or program he’d ever encountered”.
Dr. Neumann, in an effort to impart the secrets of becoming a great leader, brought Mr. McBride to a unique learning experience… in a sheep ranch. It was so because the leadership principles are summed up into one code, that is, The Way of the Shepherd.
The advice did not come to Mr McBride as easy as he expected it to be. It was given to him in a piecemeal. One principle, one situation in a sheep ranch. One day at a time.
At the end of the interview, Mr. Pentak outlined the seven (7) ancient leadership principles. These are: 1) Know the condition of your flock; 2) Discover the shape of your sheep; 3) Help your sheep identify with you; 4) Make your pasture a safe place; 5) The Staff of direction; 6) The Rod of correction; and, 7) The heart of the shepherd.
These seven principles have only one goal though: “to teach you how to lead the people around you so they will view their work as a calling rather than merely a job, a place to belong rather than a place to work.” (To be continued)