It's Called Work for a Reason!: Your Success Is Your Own Damn Fault

by Larry Winget

Book Overview

Larry Winget, America's pitbull of personal development, makes the case that poor results in the workplace ae the result of apathy and poor performance: workers are poorly trained, customer service is atrocious and companies are willing to tolerate it.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1592402267
• ISBN13: 9781592402267
• Release Date: December 2006
• Publisher: Gotham Books
• Length: 240 Pages
• Weight: 1.12 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 6.2" x 9.2"
• Age Range: 18 years and up
• Grade Range: Postsecondary and higher

Customer Reviews

You will love it or hate, and if you hate it, who cares?

I can definitely understand why Larry Winget is the self proclaimed worlds only irritational speaker®. He is very blunt, and he speaks the things that most people understand, but do not want to say. We live in a politically correct society, and nobody wants to hurt someone elses feelings, even though that person is not doing their job. Except for Larry, he enjoys giving people a hard time, especially when he receives poor customer service. And those people deserve what they get! This book is mainly common sense. Almost everything in this book you already know. The difference is that you may not voice that concern, or your company may not voice that concern. In my opinion the customer is not always right, but the customer pays the bills and the customer must receive excellent customer service in order to get the customer to give you money by buying your product or service. Its not rocket science. I also liked this book because finally someone agrees with me. My company uses the term "he/she gives 110%" Really? 110%? It makes me crazy every time I hear that comment. 100% is everything a person could possibly give, it is everything they have. But you are telling me this other person can give 10% more than everything they possibly have? Really? No wonder so many companies are in financial trouble right now. Those 110% geniuses who obviously skipped math and physics classes in school are in charge of the company budget.

If you can't handle the truth, don't bother buying it.

I debated for a long time whether to give this book 2 stars or 5. Normally, it wouldn't be an issue -- I mean, you either like a book or you don't. The problem with this book was that I loved certain parts of it, and other parts I questioned. However, in the end I decided to give it 5 stars for one simple reason.... the author tells the truth, and sometimes the truth isn't what you want to hear. To be fair, in the very beginning the author will tell you that you will like certain parts of this book and hate other parts. But believe me when I tell you this -- the parts you like, you will love with a passion. Honestly, I have never read a business book as good as this one. It was an impulse buy at the airport while waiting for a flight and believe me, it was the best buy I ever made. The author does a terrific job of basically telling it like it is -- work is WORK. It is not play time, it is not social hour and it is not time for doing your personal errands. He points out why our workplaces are overloaded with people who do nothing but pull the entire performance of the company down. People who should be fired, but management doesn't have the guts to do it. He also does a 180 and goes on to say that there are also companies out there who treat their employees like they are nothing -- that they think low pay and dissrespect is a wonderful way to keep those employees in their chairs and thankful to have a job. That's part of the love/hate relationship with this book. He examines both sides of the business coin. Both the employee and the company. And when he does it he doesn't hold back any punches! One part I particularly enjoyed was his whole take on this "team" nonsense. I'm sure you've read plenty of books about the precious team and how we all must "get along" and "work together". Well he flat out says that teamwork doesn't do anything but let the slackers hide amongst the group while bringing down productivity. Individuals wants recognition when they do something -- and a true superstar does not want to share that with anyone. They did it, they deserve the credit, not the other bunch of people who did nothing but call useless meetings to discuss the same items over and over again. The same goes with another example he gives of superstars. Who cares if they come in at 9AM and leave at 10AM? If they are doing 4x the work of everyone else then they have EARNED it! As an employer learn that superstars work by their own rules and tell the complainers who have a problem with it that when they start doing 4x the work of everyone else then they can talk -- but until then sit down, shut up and get to WORK! If you are an employee... READ THIS BOOK! If you are an employer... READ THIS BOOK! If you are a CEO... READ THIS BOOK! Read it, undertand what he is saying and then ACT! For the sake of the employees left who still are trying to be productive and get things done... ACT!

CEO's should read this but they won't ... great book Larry!

Larry isnt for everyone but should be. He hit the nail on the proverbial head this time. Told in his cant miss style and simple, easy to read and to the point. High schoolers to CEO's should take heart and Larry's advice. love the book.

No Platitudes - Lots of PUNCH!

I highly recommend the purchase of this book! I read this book at a time when I was really miserable at work. Other books told me that I needed to be "happy" at work or find work that made me "happy". Larry's book told me that it really is called WORK for a reason...it's not called PLAY or FUN! That may seem harsh but it helped me SO much to know that I just need to show up and do what I am well paid to do and quit griping about it. Everything changed when my attitude about work changed. Work doesn't have to be the source of my happiness and I can do my job, do it well and take pride in my efforts even when some aspects of the job or people are irritating or even stupid! Who knew???

A Must Read

Larry Winget calls himself the Pitbull of Personal Development. I think the Pitbull of Personal Responsibility is more like it. This book is filled with great ideas that every company, manager, and employee should adopt, but most won't. They will read the book and laugh at Larry's sense of humor - did I tell you this book is funny? They will tell their friends, "Now this guy is telling the truth." They will tell their co-goers (read the book to find out what that means), "We should operate this way." But, they won't take responsibility for changing their personal or company performance. And that's too bad, because It's Called Work for a Reason is full of ideas that will make you more attractive as an employee and make your company more attractive to customers. Read this book more than once. The first time through you will probably be laughing too much to catch the wisdom. Randy Pennington Author, Results Rule! Build a Culture that Blows the Competition Away