Barbara Burke self-published her novel, The Napkin, the Melon & the Monkey, in 2006 and found it to be so successful that Hay House bought the rights to publish it in 2008. The Hay House version releases Feb. 1.
I enjoy “collecting” business novels — works of fiction that teach business lessons through storytelling — and am usually so excited to come across one that I tend to spread the word before I’ve finished reading them. (interestingly, Steve Denning said in a blurb for the book that business fables are “a dime a dozen;” yes, I come across them with some regularity, but I don’t feel they are all that common.)
A synopsis from Burke’s site:
As a new customer service agent, Olivia has been trained to handle irate customers in a calm, professional manner. But one day she loses control and yells back. Terrified that she’ll be fired, she seeks out Isabel, the call center’s sage.
The extraordinary advice she receives from her wise mentor changes her life:
- SODA (Stop. Observe. Decide. Act) — a sure-fire formula for remaining calm
in any situation - Unplugging — a centuries-old practice to reduce anxiety and promote creativity
- Aha!s — 22 practical insights that become the framework for living a happy life
This modern-day fable shows us that the best way to reduce stress is to cultivate mindfulness. While we cannot control much of what happens, we can get better outcomes if we stop to see situations clearly and calmly.
This book serves as both a powerful resource for business professionals looking for practical, easy-to-use tools for dealing with difficult people and an inspirational tale for those who want better relationships and a happier life.
From the Cover:
Wouldn’t it be nice if you could become happy and successful
by simply changing your mind?
Meet Olivia, the newest hire at Mighty Power’s customer service call center. Excited to have a stable job and a good salary, Olivia starts out with a sunny disposition and a can-do attitude. However, the constant barrage of angry calls from frustrated customers soon wears her down. Instead of handling these irate customers in a calm, professional manner, as she was trained to do, she loses her temper and strikes back.
Terrified that she will be fired for her behavior she asks Isabel, an experienced rep and the call center’s wise woman, for help. The extraordinary advice she receives changes her life, and may change yours, too.
In this modern-day parable, author Barbara Burke introduces 22 unforgettable life lessons that are the framework for living a happy, struggle-free life. We learn that while we have no control over much of what happens to us in life or the behavior of others, we can choose our reaction. The secret to success is being able to stop long enough to see situations clearly—to see “what is.” Making this one small change gives us the power to make better decisions and get better outcomes. Being more mindful enables us to handle even the most challenging interactions with customers, co-workers, friends, and family with grace and ease. The Napkin, The Melon & The Monkey serves as both a powerful resource for business professionals looking for easy-to-use tools to sharpen their “inner game” and as an inspirational tale for those who want better relationships and a happier life.
You can listen to the book’s first chapter, read by the author here.
Greetings Kathy! Thanks so much for reviewing my book! Like you, I am passionate about introducing others to the power of “story.”You are doing some terrific work in that area.
Stories are used in two important ways within The Napkin, The Melon & the Monkey o Isabel (the wise woman) offered Olivia (main character) advice in the form of stories that had been passed down in her family from generation to generation. In truth, The 11th Problem, SODA (a metaphor for mindfulness), The Fighting Melons, The Monkey Story have their roots in the Buddhist tradition and are 2500 years old. o Olivia used a story circle as a team building exercise to help her dysfunctional team work together. Using the story of the Fighting Melons as an example, she asked the team members to sit quietly in a circle and listen as each person told their story of the person in their life who had the most influence on who they are today. It worked. Once her team stopped bickering and started being more compassionate and supportive of each other, they rose to first place in a matter of weeks.
If any of your readers would like to use the book within their organizations for team building or as a tool for leaders to create better employee engagement, I’d be happy to share what I know. I also do speaking about using mindfulness in the workplace.
All the best to you and your community of storytellers.
Barbara
P.S. I’d be happy to send you a copy of the “original” version of the book with my compliments.
My pleasure, Barbara, and thanks for stopping by and sharing the additional insight. Hope you saw that I blogged about it yesterday: http://astoriedcareer.com/2010/01/following-up-on-some-recent-en.html