We Got Fired!: And It's the Best Thing That Ever Happened to Us

by Harvey MacKay

Book Overview

No fight left? No future? Does the handwriting on the wall say utter failure? Harvey Mackay, one of the world's best-selling motivational and business authors tells you why it isn't so. He reveals... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0345471865
• ISBN13: 9780345471864
• Release Date: September 2004
• Publisher: Ballantine Books
• Length: 347 Pages
• Weight: 1.35 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 6.4" x 9.5"

Customer Reviews

Very motivational!

I thoroughly enjoyed reading "We Got Fired! And It's the Best Thing That Ever Happened to Us" by Harvey Mackay. The book is extremely motivating and full of great advice and tips to help you drive toward success no matter what has happened with your current or recent job. It's not a how to book regarding what to do if you lose your job, it is a motivational book to let you know it is not the end of the world and there are many possibilities out there to look toward. Mackay interviewed twenty-eight prominent figures that have been fired only to go on and succeed and do much better after losing a job. Some of these people include Muhammad Ali, Michael Bloomberg, Donald Trump. Mark Victor Hansen, Lou Holtz, Billie Jean King, Larry King, Robert Redford, and Jesse Ventura. Mackay relates all of their stories in an entertaining, interesting, and educational manner, and always ends with his own personal moral to the story. Between these twenty-eight case studies, or interviews, Mackay includes short little one to two page sections sharing information about others who have been fired, wisdom, anecdotes, and aphorisms, often with his moral at the end of these too. Morals such as, "Every event in life always has two sides. Energize yourself by picking the proactive one!" or "Some people rebound from a firing setback because they are destined to. Most people rebound because they are determined to." Sure, some of the quotes and morals might sound cliché, but that does not make them any less relevant. For any person who has been fired or recently leg go for whatever reason, this book is an uplifting, motivational read that will brighten your spirits and show you that many people have not only overcome a firing hardship, but went on to greater success than they would have ever known without losing the previous job. I think this book will also be motivating for those that have not lost their job, but are unsatisfied and looking for change. This book may be the push needed to overcome the fear to leave. One of the good things about getting fired or laid off is that it forces you to pursue dreams you maybe wouldn't have due to a fear of the unknown and not wanting to leave security. But as we are all seeing these days, and as this book illustrates, what is security? I think business people and entrepreneurs will also enjoy this book for the success stories, even if they have not lost a job. It makes you feel good reading about success, and helps light sparks of your own creativity. I think Mackay did an excellent job of telling the stories of those he chose to profile. It was fun to read, made me feel good, and prompted some creativity regarding some of my own writing and plans. This is an excellent book for the troubled times many are facing right now, and will be a motivating book for years to come. Reviewed by Alain Burrese, J.D., author of Hard-Won Wisdom From the School of Hard Knocks and the dvds: Hapkido Hoshinsul, Streetfighting E

Very Inspirational

I have been a big Harvey Mackay fan ever since I read Swim with the Sharks. Having been fired from a few jobs myself, I agree that each time it happened, my life was spun in a more positive direction. Once you get past the shock, disbelief, and anger stages, you realize that there might be greener pastures elsewhere. Reading about how Lee Iacocca was humiliated at Ford Motor Company after spending 32 years there reminded me that even dedicated, hard-working, creative people are subject to the whims of others. For me, being fired led to a whole new career. I am now and author, publisher, and coach to new consultants. We Got Fired! is an inspirational, well-written, compilation of personal stories that demonstrate how strong people can recover from adversity. Even if you have never been fired, you should read this book. I highly recommend it. Mitch Paioff, Author, Getting Started as an Independent Computer Consultant Getting Started as an Independent Computer Consultant

Getting Fired Is Not So Bad

Harvey Mackay, known to many as "Mr. Networker" has interviewed some of the top people in the business, sports and entertainment worlds and found out that they all have something HUGE in common on their path to success....they were all fired at some point along the way. The thought of being fired frightens most people. Regardless of the reason, the uncertain feeling of what you would do next can be overwhelming. But these leaders, including: Bill Belichick, Mark Victor Hansen, Lou Holtz, Joe Torre, Lee Iacocca, Larry King, and others, were all canned at some point. There stories make the rest of us have hope. It is a reminder that the best times are still to come, no matter what the problem. Mackay is one of my favorite writers, and he does not let us down in this book.

Timeless Empowering Message Contained Within

This book is not about handling the stress and limiting the embarrassment of getting fired. This book is much bigger than that. It's about overcoming FEAR and persevering in face of MASSIVE REJECTION. In order to grow and become a SUPER SUCCESS you need to go out of your comfort zone and do things you have never done. Sometime you will get scratched, hurt and/or even severely burned. However what hurts instructs. You can learn from your rejection and go even grow from your rejection with the right attitude. That what makes this book so special--it provides you with role models who have that "right attitude". That's why I love this book so much. It shows you the hurting times of these greats-and how they went through the struggles to become a super successful. You too can become a super success when you overcome your fears that are holding you back. I urge you to read this book and take to heart the empowering message contained within it. Zev Saftlas, Author of Motivation That Works and Founder of www.EmpoweringMessages.com