Book

Make Waves

Be the One to Start Change at Work and in Life

Patti Johnson

Bibliomotion, 2014

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Instigating change can seem like a daunting task that is best left to business visionaries like Steve Jobs or world leaders like Nelson Mandela. Consultant Patti Johnson believes that anyone at any level of influence can start a powerful change. The secret is to be observant enough to spot openings and proactive enough to take action. When you see a need, you can start an expanding wave that can sweep through your company, your industry, your community and even the whole world. Johnson offers tips on finding opportunities for change and attracting others to your cause, but her book isn’t primarily a step-by-step manual. Instead, along with useful charts and sample questions, she offers inspiring stories and profiles of innovators to show how to cultivate a “Wave Maker” mind-set. getAbstract recommends her invitation to be a change maker to start-up entrepreneurs, problem solvers and leaders who want to cultivate organizational change.

Summary

Rock the Boat

Change usually starts with questions. An individual looks at the world or even at how his or her company does things and asks, “Why must it be that way?” “What’s the alternative?” When Apple founder Steve Jobs and Netflix’s Reed Hastings asked questions like that and went after the answers, they revolutionized technology and entertainment.

Visionary entrepreneurs and world leaders aren’t the only ones who can change the world. Anyone at any level of an organization can question the status quo and rewrite the rules. You just need to spot an opportunity for change and take ownership. Don’t wonder, “Why doesn’t someone do something about that?” Instead ask, “What can I do about it?”

A change is like a wave. It starts with something small – one person deciding to act – and ripples outward, influencing people as it goes. Emma Scheffler, a teenager with diabetes, wondered how she could help other diabetic kids. She started a wave when she formed Insulin Angels, a charity that provides information and peer support to hundreds of ailing children and their families.

Starting a wave enhances your career as well as your personal growth. When you move...

About the Author

Patti Johnson is the founder and CEO of PeopleResults, a consultancy. She teaches at Southern Methodist University in Dallas and is an instructor for the Bush Institute Women’s Initiative.

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C. M. 2 years ago

Very nice text. It’s so helpful to open the mind toward new strategies for innovation
y. w. 6 years ago

Very nice, good to refresh
V. M. 7 years ago

You can normally learn a lot for yourself