Winning in the long run requires more than talent, money and resources — especially when the competition gets really tough and the playing field is continuously changing. Yesterday’s “best practices” might even be considered obsolete today and eliminated, not unlike a fax machine, typewriter, or a floppy disk. Compare a smart phone today to one that was displayed ten years ago at a global technology convention and you might just laugh. Remember texting when it first came out? How about dial up? Is that a separate bag you are carrying for your phone and your camera and your video recorder?
Today’s world challenges us more than ever before to be highly conscious and aware of the changing market and the changing dynamics, interests and needs of the people in the market. A whole new language is developing where we “Google” things we do not know and train ourselves real time with videos on “YouTube.” We “beam” things to one another, like books and photos, and we use our phones as navigation devices, flashlights, video cameras and personal computers. We work “on-line” to pay bills, book hotels, buy tickets and select an airline seat.
The upside to all of this change is fascinating — for the entrepreneur and innovator. The sweet smell of opportunity and success is captivating. However, it might just be terrifying for the “Play it safe” manager or middleman. Chances are you want this book because you know that putting your head in the sand and going through life with the brakes on is not a wise strategy. You know there is an abundance of opportunity in the market and you want a piece of it. The very thought of coming up with a better way to do something or a new product offering excites and inspires you. It makes you feel alive. It makes your team feel alive. Yes, it can be a bit daunting from time to time but it is this very essence of change and innovation that summons life force through you. Resisting it, denying it, or rationalizing why it isn’t a good time is ultimately a killer. Remember, leapfrogging the competition isn’t just about outsmarting the external forces against you and your business. It is also about leapfrogging your own resistance to change. Sometimes it’s best to make the change, not manage it. I am excited to present this book to you. Please enjoy it.
“John Murphy is one of my all-time favorite authors. He is brilliant; and this book is a must-read for any leader or anyone wanting to start a business.”
— Mac Anderson
Founder of Successories and Simple Truths
“I love the way John Murphy combines positive thinking and passionate creativity with practical action and results in the book Zentrepreneur. This book is a winner for anyone who wants to get out of their own way and lead with passion.”
— Janet Bray Attwood NY Times Bestselling Author, The Passion Test
“Improvement tools and systems are not all that helpful or effective without the will to act. John Murphy's combination of positive thinking and disciplined processes is a winning approach to becoming better; no matter the business.”
—Timothy D. Gill, Brig General USAF (Ret.) Process Improvement Black Belt
Business Consultant and Lean Six Sigma Practitioner
“In his exciting new book, award-winning author John Murphy demonstrates that it is the catalyst of tapping into your creative essence combined with practical hard skills that unleashes quality intuition and clarity of purpose.”
— R. Michael Armstrong Wall Street Executive
“John Murphy is one of the rare individuals who see the connection between the mental, spiritual and emotional well-being of an individual and his or her ability to direct positive energy into their business endeavors. John is a leader at shining the light on the prerequisite of a positive outlook on high end success in any work environment. I love John’s books! Zentrepreneur will no doubt be a hit”
— Scott Stone, JD, Master Black Belt
Senior Director Human Resources, Catalent
“John Murphy is the quintessential leader for this unique time on earth — a time in which old paradigms of success are being questioned and we must see outside the box if we intend to succeed. In Zentrepreneur, John helps us to recognize that each of us is, in fact, confined by "the box" which is nothing more than our own self-imposed limitations. He then leads us out by sharing real and raw experiences of great successes and painful losses from his own life and skillfully guiding us to awaken the zentrepreneur that lies within.”
— Debra Poneman, best-selling author
and founder of Yes to Success Seminars, Inc.
“Enlightening, inspiring, powerful, profound. Let this book light up your life!”
— Dannion Brinkley NY Times Bestselling Author, Saved by the Light
”The purpose of this book is to explain how to step up and accelerate success. Why wait? Why not seize the moment? Why not get started immediately? Why make excuses that limit us? Why rationalize our undesirable results and restrict ourselves? This book is not about self-imposed resistance to change. It is about flow. It is about energy. It is about movement and motivation, insight and inspiration. It is about ”taking away” lessons learned from the best of the best, people who in many cases overcame tremendous odds to reach levels of performance and prosperity that many only dream of. Take these tips and use them to elevatate your life.”
“John Murphy has developed the art of saying ‘more’ with ‘less’ than any author I've known. So many times I've said, ‘it's not what you say, but how you say it that turns the switch from ‘off’ to ‘on’, John's writing style is clear, concise and engaging. He asks questions to make you think and makes his point in a way that makes the reader say, ‘Wow. I never thought of it quite that way!”
— Mac Anderson
Founder of Successories and Simple Truths
“This is a fantastic book that I have found very helpful already. I highly recommend this book to all.”
— Rick Lee, Wales, Utah
“Stepping up was inspirational reading and the artwork just wonderful.”
”The truth is world class service organizations know and apply certain practices that most companies do not. This is what differentiates them from the pack. This is what keeps them moving forward on the leading edge of innovation and change, forcing others to catch up. They do things that exceed customer expectations. The solve problems before customers even know there is a problem. The fill latent needs before customers know they have a need. They offer value propositions that seem impossible, yet they deliver on their word. They understand that the customer is not always right, that the customer often does not know what they want until they see it…If you are serious about “wowing” your customers and growing your business through genuine best practices, read on. Some of the secrets revealed in this book may surprise you. After all, if everyone knew these secrets and everyone applied them, they wouldn’t be secrets.”
“This book is a great read. It has lots of great ideas to keep you on the top of your game in business.”
— Chris, Ohio
“As stated on the back cover, ‘If you are serious about “WOWING” your customers and growing your business through genuine best practices…,’ you certainly need to add this book to your reading library.”
— Willie, Arkansas
“Great book — Your entire team should read it! Great examples of the creative and unique ways companies are serving their customers. Makes you want to better serve others and create WOW experiences for your customers.”
— M Dean, Chicago
“Written with humor and flair, yet not sacrificing helpful examples and tips, plus thought provoking action steps. I am going through it step by step and applying ideas to wow my album making clients. Am also sharing tips with my business partners. A win-win investment that keeps on giving.”
— Carolyn, Ohio
“It hits so many points that can be used in our hotel business. As I complete the book, I challenge other managers to read and use with their own departments. This one is a homerun.”
— Karen, Texas
“Wow — Super book. I read it twice and all I can say is WOW!”
— Anonymous, Chicago
A 2013 keynote speech where John discusses his new book, The How of Wow!.
”Whether they are a positive force in our lives or obstacles to the goals we want to achieve, habits become ingrained through repeated actions. To win — to break self-defeating attitudes and behaviors — we must understand that we have the power to choose and the power to change. We have the power to let go of old thinking and adopt the mindset of a champion.”
“Excellent reading for everyone. This book provides a step-by-step review, evaluation and action plan for eliminating those old bad habits. Very sound advice.”
— Bruce, Wisconsin
“In my opinion, Habits Die Hard is the most important book of the three books I ordered and received. The reason that I put it first in importance is because in order for one to achieve any goals one sets, and be successful in any area, one must first examine his or her habits and find those that would hold one back from achieving the other two.”
— Sydelle, California
“The book is a handy resource and a quick read. I typed the 10 steps and put them on my wall so I can see them each day. They are right on target for what one needs to do to replace unwanted habits with successful habits. Very inspirational.”
— Anonymous, Texas
“This book contains very insightful information and skill building exercises for assisting people with breaking habits. I have recently started using it with clients in two different programs and many say they enjoy it and are inspired to change.”
— Walter, New York
“This is a remarkable book. It has great advice that is helpful not only to me, but to my staff and even the students we serve.”
— Rick, Utah
“This book is a must for any leader that is trying to create a change within his or her organization. I am in the process of buying several copies for key leaders within my plant.”
— Brock, Louisiana
“Totally inspirational. Everyone can benefit from this book.”
We are all blessed with an opportunity to bring greater joy and prosperity to this world. The hand we were dealt simply makes it interesting. The secret to it all is in how we perceive things. Is your life “half-empty” or “half-full?” More importantly, what is even “in your glass,” and how long have you been holding on to it? In Half-Full, author John J. Murphy shows us how this choice in perception makes all the difference.
“Good book. Good information for when LIFE throws us a curve. Interesting perceptions for life events.”
— Thomas, Texas
“I am enjoying the encouraging thought very much! Very thought provoking on how to live a more optimistic life. Written in a way that keeps it interesting and not just a lecture!”
The i in Team challenges common misperceptions about teamwork and exposes the critical ingredients missing from many of today’s teams, businesses, and organizations. In it, authors Michael McMillan and John Murphy show you how to experience a paradigm shift, transcending independent thinking and unleashing interdependent power. This book will show you how to tap the unique potential, inputs and talents of the individuals on your team, while creating more intrigue, involvement and interaction among team members.
In reading The i in Team, you’ll discover that not only is there an “i” in team, there are many.
“My daughter is a manager where she works and they are starting a team approach incentive program. She saw my The I In Team book on my counter top and started reading it." This is an awesome book and can help us”
— Karen, Pennsylvania
“The i in Team is filled with ideas for building great creative teams. Ideas that can be implemented in classrooms to boardrooms, from ditch diggers to canal builders. My only suggestion: Summarize this edition and follow the Simple Truths' plan of Simple, Short, and Inspirational. Then expand this edition to a classroom or boardroom textbook.”
”Light a match in a dark room and watch as the light instantly overcomes the darkness. Observe the power, energy and grace of that single, solitary flame dancing with life. Now light several candles or kindle a fire and experience the added warmth and comfort extending from that first, vulnerable flame through others. This is the heart and soul of leadership — the essence of inspiring people and awakening the spirit in work.”
“Every manager, CEO, school administrator and principal should read this book. John Murphy, author of our best-selling book on teamwork, Pulling Together, follows up this best seller with a leadership book like no other. Learn the ten essentials to inspiring others and you will find that not only are you performing better as a leader, but your team is sharing your vision and following your lead to ultimate success.”
Allbooks Reviews 2010 Editor’s Choice Award winner
for best inspirational book.
How long has it been since you held a negative thought and responded in a critical way? Think carefully. Consider all situations: a traffic jam, a slow computer, an unfriendly neighbor, a demeaning boss. Do you find that you experience criticism and judgment frequently? Do certain people and situations tend to annoy you? Are you someone who gets agitated and stressed often? Beyond Doubt offers a simple, four-step model, The Ring of Peace, to help you release tension, anxiety and grievances from your life. It teaches ordinary people how to experience extraordinary peace of mind and equanimity.
John Murphy introduces the Ring of Peace. “Let Be, Let Go, Let See, Let Flow.” John however introduces the four steps as follows: “Let Flow, Let See, Let Go, Let Be.” To our linear thinking, this is backwards. This, my friend is the magic key, the “ah-ha” moment, the one thing that makes the curtain pull back and clarity finally lead to Truth. For many years we have been taught to “Let Be” first. As the author explains, this would be impossible for anyone to maintain. Thus many seekers simply give up or like myself, trudge onward, picking up bits and pieces here and there but something is always missing. By explaining the four steps, beginning with Let Flow, we understand each individual step more clearly, thus making more sense of the other three. Also since the four steps are in a ring, there is no beginning and no end, no linear start and finish. Just as our Spirit lives forever in the circle of life, so the ring continues from one step to the next.
The simple four-step ring of peace introduced by Mr. Murphy in Beyond Doubt is amazing. This book is so much more than the traditional self-help book. It is an eye-opening wake up call for everyone. Beyond Doubt guides us to letting go of the negative, embracing the positive and finding an unbelievable calm. Since reading this book, the self-imposed stress brought on by events beyond my control are a thing of the past. Thank you, John, for writing a book that makes sense and is easy to incorporate into anyone's life.
“John Murphy's book Beyond Doubt, is at once reassuring and provocative. The reassurance John offers is a simple method for claiming a sense of calm and inner peace during the most challenging situations. What's so provocative is the message of ease and discipline in which we can obtain our most natural, resourceful state. This book has everything to do with personal development and professional growth whether you work alone, in teams, or in large organizational settings.”
It's easy for any organization to say...."we value teamwork." However, saying it, versus committing to the principles to grow it, can be 2 different things. And that's what Pulling Together is all about! Author John Murphy presents the ten rules for high performance teams in an engaging way that every person in your organization can understand. John is a highly recognized author (10 books), speaker and management consultant who has helped some of the world's leading organizations create environments that value and reward teamwork. He's also appeared on over 400 radio and television stations and his work has been featured in 50 newspapers nationwide.
Pulling Together captures the essence of teamwork better than any book I've read. It takes what can be a complex topic and presents the ten rules in a way that anyone can understand. If you have each member of your team read it, and then discuss how each rule applies to your organization, your chances of "pulling together" will be greatly improved!
“…Finally, a concept that realistically addresses the communication and motivational problems in everyday business… a definite must for today’s manager who wants to lead effectively and break through the paradigms that stand in the way of real progress.”
—Ted Gedra, Executive VP, Wolverine Footware Group
“ John Murphy’s Pulling Together is awesome. It is a manager’s dream. Being a manager, the first key to success is teamwork. This book is a comprehensive text, yet a common sense and fun way of building, maintaining, developing and accomplishing success through teamwork. Pulling Together is a must read for all employees.”
—Mark Tabit, The Tabit Group, Global Wealth Management, Beverly Hills
“You must and will change. Agent of Change will help you do it properly.”
—Richard M. DeVos, Co-founder Amway Corporation
Author, Compassionate Capitalism
“ If you want a strong, positive ‘jump start’ to your professional and personal lives, then John Murphy’s books, Agent of Change and Reinvent Yourself are must reads! These books penetrate right to the core of principle-centered leadership and proactive change management. I highly recommend both of them to anyone looking to lead a more fulfilling life. John Murphy is a winner — and so are his books!”
—Ed Robertson, Brig. General USAF (Ret.)
Communications Officer, Desert Storm
“The ability to change and adapt in today’s world is critical to the success and survival of any business. John Murphy’s book, Agent of Change, does an outstanding job detailing how we can lead people and organizations through change. I highly recommend this book to anyone desiring to improve their personal leadership skills.”
—Peter F. Secchia, Chairman, Universal Forest Products
and Former Ambassador to Italy
“Agent of Change is a book for anyone who is trying to change things, whether it be at work, home, or in the community. Let John Murphy be your guide through the mine fields that accompany any change effort.”
—Ken Blanchard, PhD, Co-author of The One Minute Manager
“I can’t help but tell you how much I enjoyed Reinvent Yourself. The easy story telling style made it a real page turner. I think we all need to continually reinvent ourselves,…so thanks for giving us the outline to do just that. Keep up the good work. You are making a difference.”
— Rocky Bleier, Four-Time Super Bowl Champion
“There is a book I want you to read. As a syndicated columnist, I regularly get business books sent to me, often several in a week. I look through them all, hoping to find a gem… and I have! It’s John Murphy’s Reinvent Yourself. What I admired most about the book is that it captured the relationship between work, personality and family. It is heartwarming and soulful and a good read.”
—Dale Dauten, Author, The Max Strategy,
Excerpt from The Chicago Tribune, syndicated column by King Features
“Reengineering isn’t just about changing corporate systems and structures. It’s about getting people to feel more autonomy and ownership in what they do… that’s what I like about John Murphy’s book, Reinvent Yourself. It focuses on change at the personal level. The book is a real winner. I highly recommend it.”
—Dr. Denis Waitley, Author,
The Psychology of Winning and Empires of The Mind
“This book helped me reconnect with the fifteen years I spent on the factory floor at GM. It is an excellent representation of what change looks like from the inside. It captures the reality of personal change, corporate change, and breaking the inertia of the status quo. If this book can help more people find their own critical mass for change and inspire them to move forward, it will have served its purpose.”
—Keith Copeland, Management Consultant
“Motivating people to advance themselves takes more than offering a pay-for-knowledge system. Managers must understand the mindset of the people working on the factory floor. That’s what I like about this book. It takes the reader far beyond the mechanics of developing a pay-for-knowledge system and into the world of true personal empowerment. As someone who worked his way up off the factory floor and, in fact, implemented a pay-for-knowledge system, I highly recommend this book to anyone looking to lead people more effectively.”
—Kaiser Downing, Production Manager, Kent Quality Foods
“A fresh and unique introduction to the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator concepts, particularly valuable because it teaches through applications.”
—Ken Taber, MSW, NCCC, Career Counselor
“If you want a strong, positive ‘jump start’ to your professional and personal lives, then John Murphy’s books are must reads! These books penetrate right to the core of principle-centered leadership and proactive change management. I highly recommend them to anyone looking to lead a more fulfilling life.”
—Ed Robertson, Brig. General (Ret), United States Air Force
“Change is a gift, something we need and should not avoid. Just as we breathe, so must we change and adapt to a world that demands alternatives. With change comes growth, improvement, discovery and adventure. Without change we limit ourselves — physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually. Choose change, and make a difference in life!”
“Just when you think the pressure might ease, you hear the corporate mantra again. ‘Better, faster, lower cost. Better, faster, lower cost. Better, faster, lower cost.’ Management will not let up. The customer’s expectations are climbing. The competition is fierce. New, more demanding standards are set. We have to work smarter. We are committed to excellence. So, what is one to do? How is one to accomplish more with less?”
Here is a book with answers. By committing to the principles outlined and using the tools offered, astonishing results can be accomplished in a very short time. This is not theory. The principles and tools are proven. Join the ‘best in class’ and experience the world of on-going excellence Use this book as your guide. There is nothing quite like the taste of success.”
