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Executive Times |
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2006 Book Reviews |
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Who Moved
My Blackberry? By Lucy Kellaway |
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Rating: |
*** |
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(Recommended) |
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Click on
title or picture to buy from amazon.com |
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Officious Fans of Lucy
Kellaway’s column in the Financial Times
are already familiar with Martin Lukes, that parasite of corporate life in
whom we can all find real-life counterparts, and both laugh and cry at his
exploits. All readers can receive a heavy dose of Martin in Kellaway’s new
book, Who
Moved My Blackberry? In this book, Kellaway takes Martin through a topsy
turvey year of fad hopping and work with his jargon obsessed life coach. Here’s
an excerpt, from the end of Chapter 4, “April: My Negative Energy,” pp.
114-120: APRIL 19 From: Martin Lukes To: Ken Tartt Keri—travel department has booked us into the HOLIDAY
INN!! I am a director of this company and traveling on the most important
business. Tell them to upgrade my hotel to the W. This is absolutely bloody
typical. M APRIL 20 From: Martin Lukes To: Jenny Withers Darling—Plane delayed three
hours at Heathrow. . . I’m
totally shattered. Or, as Pandora would have me say, I’m recharging. There’s been a massive
cock-up over hotels—everyone else is staying at the Holiday Inn, and no one
told me. Suzanna and I are in the W, miles away from the action. Trust all OK
at home. I had an e-mail from Max asking me for help with his algebra paper
for Common Entrance—told him I’m a bit up against it. Can’t you do it? From: Keith Buxton To: UPBOB Hello everyone! Let me say how delighted I am
to see so many of you from so many different geographies gathered here for
the Project Uplift Brainstorm on Behaviors (1JPBOB). Tomorrow we kick off with a pre-break fast
Show and Tell, and I will be asking each of you to share with us something
personal about what the key behaviors mean to you. You will notice that the
walls of the meeting room are draped in brown paper. During all sessions, I’d
like you to write any thoughts you may have on the walls. Whatever comes into
your minds, write it down! It’s going to be a lot of fun! Keith APRIL 21 From: Martin Lukes To: Jenny Withers Darling—just got yr message. Jake’s totally out of order.
However, it’s a pity that you went apeshit at him—I think it’s much more
motivational to use more empowering language. Will send him an e-mail tonight if I have a mo. Just ran
into BSM—he said he was really looking forward to my presentation! K’s gone
native, acting like touchy-feely American. Ugh. 1 M xx Love you, M XX From: Martin Lukes To: Jake Lukes Jake—I am a little bit concerned to hear from your mother
that you stole some money from Svetlana, which has resulted in her
threatening to leave. I must be honest with you: my initial response was “Oh poo,”
but I have now reflected on the situation, and feel you need to think about
changing your behaviors. Jake, can you do an exercise for me? Can you to think up
six key behaviors that will help you going forward, and e-mail them to me?
Then I can help you learn to live them. Let’s make a new start! Love, Dad From: Martin Lukes To: UPBOB Hi everyone! I’m sorry I’m not at the pre-breakfast Show and Tell. I’m
stuck in traffic. I didn’t realize it would take so long to get across town!
Should be with you in half an hour. Cheers, Martin Lukes Sent from my
BlackBerry Wireless Handheld From: Keith Buxton To: UPBOB Hallo everyone! Thanks to one and all for a
stimulating day’s discussion. I have never seen so much passionate graffiti
in one place! Thanks also to Martin Lukes for joining us eventually and
sharing the interesting story of how he is using a behaviors matrix as a tool
to motivate his son. I really believe that Project Uplift behaviors matrices
have great potential both in the work and the home arenas! Please be prompt
for this evening’s networking drinks. 6:30pm in the Printemps Suite. Keith From: Martin Lukes To: Jenny Withers Darling—really energizing
day. We had a very intellectual discussion about the link between behaviors
and values. Will tell all when I get back. Am forwarding Jake’s response to
my motivational message. Any idea what he’s on about? Love you, M x From: Jake Lukes To: Martin Lukes Dad, you’re gay. J APRIL 22 From: Martin Lukes To: Ken Tartt Hi Ken Just arrived at Heathrow—am off home to recharge and
renew. I’ve got a couple of key memos I need to write. . . Tell Rog that whatever it is, I can’t
see him today. M Sent from my
BlackBerry Wireless Handheld APRIL 26 From: Martin Lukes To: All Staff Hello everyone I wanted to debrief you on
an incredibly exciting few days in Best, Martin From: Martin Lukes To: Keri Tartt Hi Keri Can you put through my Martin From: Barry Malone To: All Staff Howdy! First
up, I wanted to say thank you to all those who came to I love
you all, Barry APRIL 30 From:
Pandora@CoachworX! To:
Martin Lukes Hi
Martin When we
started the program I said I was going to be your greatest fan. And let me
tell you that the way you have got back into the Bronze Program has been
exceptional. The Old You is dead. New You is alive and growing!! Can I
ask you to jot down some of the advances you’ve made this month, and then give
yourself a big round of applause? Strive
and thrive! Pandora From: Martin Lukes To: Pandora@CoachworX! Hi Pandora If you’ll excuse a literary
reference, April is the cruelest month. As the poet Robert Frost predicted,
this has been a hyper challenging month for myself, though I have notched
some wins that I am very proud of. I am interacting less with people who
impact negatively on my energy levels. I am also making progress
with the words I use. I am avoiding disempowering words and words full of
pain. This has been highly successful except possibly with my son, who seems
to have decided that I’m a shirtlifter. Which is quite ironic, when you
think about it(!). This month I have made a
good start in coming to terms with bowel cancer. To have scored a major
career win under these circumstances is no mean feat. I am distressed that not
much progress has been made on the home front. Jens is burying herself in her
career, in order to avoid confronting various issues. I see this as a growing
problem. Basically, going forward I
need to look after number one and take things one day at a time! 22.5
percent better than my bestest Martin While words like “bestest” play better
in the U.K. than in the U.S., phrases like “strive and thrive” will wince readers
everywhere as we laugh at the exploits of Martin Likes in Who Moved
My Blackberry? Steve Hopkins,
June 26, 2006 |
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The recommendation rating for
this book appeared in the July 2006
issue of Executive Times URL for this review: http://www.hopkinsandcompany.com/Books/Who
Moved My Blackberry.htm For Reprint Permission,
Contact: Hopkins & Company, LLC • 723 North Kenilworth Avenue • Oak Park,
IL 60302 E-mail: books@hopkinsandcompany.com |
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