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The Wisdom of Oz: Using Personal Accountability to Succeed in Everything You Do
Why does the story of Dorothy, the Scarecrow, the Tin Man, and the Cowardly Lion touch us? Like all great entertainment, their journey resonates. We see ourselves in the characters and likewise wish we possessed the power, the brains, the heart, and the courage to make our own dreams come true.
So what are your dreams? What do you want? Is it a promotion? Improving a relationship? Rescuing a child? Finding a new job? Saving a marriage? Getting a degree? Finding the love of your life? Making a difference in your community? This book will help you get whatever you consider worthwhile in life.
Simply put, when you unleash the power of personal accountability it will energize you in lifealtering ways, giving you a concrete boost that enhances your ability to think, to withstand adversity, to generate confidence, and to increase your own natural emotional, mental, and intellectual strength. Roger Connors and Tom Smith know this because they’ve seen it work in their own lives and witnessed it in the lives of some of the most successful and influential people in the world.
The authors first introduced this powerful accountability philosophy in the New York Times bestseller The Oz Principle . Since then, millions have come to know them as “The Oz Guys” and they have gone on to help leaders all over the world teach and apply the principles you’re about to learn. Principles that have generated billions of dollars of wealth—along with a host of even more important results. Devotees of The Oz Principle have brought lifesaving medications to market, created better education in community colleges, greatly surpassed charity fund-raising goals, and improved medical practices in battlefield hospitals.
In The Wisdom of Oz , Connors and Smith present the practical and powerful principles of personal accountability in simple, down-to-earth terms that you can apply in your homes, schools, communities, churches, and volunteer groups. The book will help you strengthen family relationships, improve friendships, motivate children, increase value on the job, improve health and financial well-being, or achieve whatever it is you most desire.
Drawing on engaging stories about those who have overcome great odds—including South African president Nelson Mandela, Polish WWII hero Irena Sendler, and everyday men and women—Connors and Smith demonstrate that by taking personal ownership of your goals and accepting responsibility for your performance, you also take control of your success.
You will read stories about people just like you who learned to beat their struggles, like the New York area fisherman who fell off his lobster boat and was adrift at sea for twelve hours in the chilly Atlantic . . . but survived. You will learn the traits that allowed a college senior who landed flat on her face in a 600-meter race to jump up and win. Or a thirteen-year-old soccer player who moved from the bench to the starting lineup.
You will discover that while no one will ever wave a wizard’s wand and magically solve all your problems, there is a way to experience the near magical impact of personal accountability.
So what are your dreams? What do you want? Is it a promotion? Improving a relationship? Rescuing a child? Finding a new job? Saving a marriage? Getting a degree? Finding the love of your life? Making a difference in your community? This book will help you get whatever you consider worthwhile in life.
Simply put, when you unleash the power of personal accountability it will energize you in lifealtering ways, giving you a concrete boost that enhances your ability to think, to withstand adversity, to generate confidence, and to increase your own natural emotional, mental, and intellectual strength. Roger Connors and Tom Smith know this because they’ve seen it work in their own lives and witnessed it in the lives of some of the most successful and influential people in the world.
The authors first introduced this powerful accountability philosophy in the New York Times bestseller The Oz Principle . Since then, millions have come to know them as “The Oz Guys” and they have gone on to help leaders all over the world teach and apply the principles you’re about to learn. Principles that have generated billions of dollars of wealth—along with a host of even more important results. Devotees of The Oz Principle have brought lifesaving medications to market, created better education in community colleges, greatly surpassed charity fund-raising goals, and improved medical practices in battlefield hospitals.
In The Wisdom of Oz , Connors and Smith present the practical and powerful principles of personal accountability in simple, down-to-earth terms that you can apply in your homes, schools, communities, churches, and volunteer groups. The book will help you strengthen family relationships, improve friendships, motivate children, increase value on the job, improve health and financial well-being, or achieve whatever it is you most desire.
Drawing on engaging stories about those who have overcome great odds—including South African president Nelson Mandela, Polish WWII hero Irena Sendler, and everyday men and women—Connors and Smith demonstrate that by taking personal ownership of your goals and accepting responsibility for your performance, you also take control of your success.
You will read stories about people just like you who learned to beat their struggles, like the New York area fisherman who fell off his lobster boat and was adrift at sea for twelve hours in the chilly Atlantic . . . but survived. You will learn the traits that allowed a college senior who landed flat on her face in a 600-meter race to jump up and win. Or a thirteen-year-old soccer player who moved from the bench to the starting lineup.
You will discover that while no one will ever wave a wizard’s wand and magically solve all your problems, there is a way to experience the near magical impact of personal accountability.
160 pages, Paperback
First published September 4, 2014
48 people are currently reading
248 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
January 31, 2015
The basic concept of the book is a good one that has been written on much better by other people. Take responsibility for your actions and your response to situations. The book, however, is poorly written. The book reads as a collection of pithy sayings and is quite repetitive despite its short length. The authors never go deep or examine their topics with anything resembling intellectual rigor. They claim to have done a great deal of research yet the book has no end notes, footnotes, or even an index. They even attribute the "10,000 hour rule" to Gladwell instead of Ercisson.
This should never have been a book, it's more like a poorly researched article. I kept reading and waiting to get to the substantial parts of the book but they never came. The see it, own it, solve it, do it steps that are supposedly the keys to the process the authors are presenting is remarkably similar to the Boyd cycle (observe, orient, decide, act) and the PDSA (plan, do, study, act) found in lean thinking. No new ideas here and the idea it does present is done very poorly and with little substance.
Skip this book and read "Message to Garcia" or Pressfield's "The War of Art" instead.
This should never have been a book, it's more like a poorly researched article. I kept reading and waiting to get to the substantial parts of the book but they never came. The see it, own it, solve it, do it steps that are supposedly the keys to the process the authors are presenting is remarkably similar to the Boyd cycle (observe, orient, decide, act) and the PDSA (plan, do, study, act) found in lean thinking. No new ideas here and the idea it does present is done very poorly and with little substance.
Skip this book and read "Message to Garcia" or Pressfield's "The War of Art" instead.
September 5, 2014
Fantastic! Utterly simple and yet elegant! So powerful that I'll show up tomorrow and the next day different and better. Thanks for a wonderful pick-me-up and fresh perspective on how to initiate my own success. I am better because of this book!.
October 13, 2017
Absolute garbage.
August 14, 2022
Wonderful book! Aimed at businesses having execution hiccups due to regressive mindset of employees
+ The below and above the line approach is credible
+ 4 step process to coaching people on accountability is the need of the hour - See it, Own it, Solve it, Do it.
+Easy to read and to the point. The checklists at the end of each chapter are useful
- The Oz reference is for people who have read it. I haven't
Notes
Below the line = the blame game it's not my job covering your tail, wait&see, tell me what to do, confusion, finger pointing, ignore or deny
Above the line = See it, Own it, Solve it, Do it
See it = Acknowledge to self whether the behaviour was below or above the line
Own it = Change the "Below the line" glasses to "Accountability" glasses - what else can I do?
Solve it = Problem solving
Do it = Just do it
+ The below and above the line approach is credible
+ 4 step process to coaching people on accountability is the need of the hour - See it, Own it, Solve it, Do it.
+Easy to read and to the point. The checklists at the end of each chapter are useful
- The Oz reference is for people who have read it. I haven't
Notes
Below the line = the blame game it's not my job covering your tail, wait&see, tell me what to do, confusion, finger pointing, ignore or deny
Above the line = See it, Own it, Solve it, Do it
See it = Acknowledge to self whether the behaviour was below or above the line
Own it = Change the "Below the line" glasses to "Accountability" glasses - what else can I do?
Solve it = Problem solving
Do it = Just do it
September 12, 2014
I have read all of the books by these authors and have found them useful in my business, especially when it comes to holding myself accountable for results. They make a simple yet powerful point: as Dorothy and her companions on the yellow brick road discovered, the power to get what you want in life resides inside of you, not behind some wizard's curtain. This new book brings that message home, where it will benefit friends and family seeking more out of life. I especially liked the stories about ordinary folks who have achieved extraordinary results.
May 19, 2022
Had my mentor at work not given this to me to read, I wouldn't have. It's great to teach about self-accountability and taking matters into your own hands, but as someone who already knew these things, it wasn't all that helpful. The book kind of felt like a general overview and didn't give any real advice or tips/tricks. I'm really happy that it was a quick read and I finished in about an hour.
Though I did not enjoy or gain anything from this book, I can see the appeal and how others might gain from it.
Though I did not enjoy or gain anything from this book, I can see the appeal and how others might gain from it.
January 21, 2018
I admit that I am very slow when it comes to self help book. I used to abandon some books (hahah!)
However, this book is a must because:
1. Thin book 😛, only 143 pages, so psychologically, you won’t think it will be very difficult to finish.
2. Practical example and story so you don’t find it hard to understand. The writers gave example of some Youtube videos related to the topic. Take your time to watch the video when reading the book so that you have deep understanding.
However, this book is a must because:
1. Thin book 😛, only 143 pages, so psychologically, you won’t think it will be very difficult to finish.
2. Practical example and story so you don’t find it hard to understand. The writers gave example of some Youtube videos related to the topic. Take your time to watch the video when reading the book so that you have deep understanding.
February 29, 2020
This is not a badly written self-help book. They are not new ideas but like many of the books on personal development, it is written with a specific audience in mind. Many might think they are just simple ideas but this may help a confused reader who is stuck in a problem not knowing why. I enjoy reading the stories and I will ask the 4 main questions consistently and I hope to see results. If not, at least they will make the problem less stressful.
January 29, 2017
A quick read that boils down the Oz accountability into 140 pages. Definitely a good read and suggestions for application in everyone's lives. I high heartily recommend this for us all to live "above the line" and out of the victim mentality that prevents a lot of us from reaching our full potential.
June 7, 2018
READ JUN 2018
Another in a series from the accountability experts at Partners in Leadership. This is a more concise summary of the original, The Oz Principle, and is a must read for anyone wanting to understand personal accountability or to increase their effectiveness with personal accountability.
Another in a series from the accountability experts at Partners in Leadership. This is a more concise summary of the original, The Oz Principle, and is a must read for anyone wanting to understand personal accountability or to increase their effectiveness with personal accountability.
September 20, 2020
The book is OK, though it could easily have been an article. It’s life changing if you’ve never heard the advice before, which seems implausible if you’re over 12, and the tie to characters in the beloved Wizard of Oz is clever. However, for a better, less redundant version, follow John G. Miller and read his Question Behind the Question. https://qbq.com/
August 31, 2022
(Biased because I knew one of the authors before reading the book)
The principles taught in this book can be applied to EVERYTHING! It did help me realize a few new perspectives on the difficulties I face today as a young stay at home mother. I like that this book isn't centered on one aspect of life. This will be a book I continue to reference when I find myself in different situations.
The principles taught in this book can be applied to EVERYTHING! It did help me realize a few new perspectives on the difficulties I face today as a young stay at home mother. I like that this book isn't centered on one aspect of life. This will be a book I continue to reference when I find myself in different situations.
January 1, 2024
A short outline of principles to improve personal accountability. I thought there were some good take aways and actionable ideas to use the concept of personal accountability to move one’s goals forward. It was a good reminder that, when we do have the ability to control a situation, we often are the biggest barriers to our own success.
July 29, 2017
The latest in corporate hype, it has some good ideas but can quickly turn a company into weird cult like behavior. I've experienced being educated into the Oz Principle and it was a strange experience. Read it for the good points but don't make it your religion.
January 3, 2018
This book will help you see that your own motivation is necessary for success but it doesn’t really give you the steps needed to reach those goals. He uses an above the line model which is helpful but not as helpful as some other strategies.
January 25, 2018
Great and quick read!!!
I would recommend that anyone struggling to get things done read this book!! It’s full of things I’ve known for some time, but seeing it laid out this way makes achieving your goals much more clear and doable.
I would recommend that anyone struggling to get things done read this book!! It’s full of things I’ve known for some time, but seeing it laid out this way makes achieving your goals much more clear and doable.
February 24, 2018
Good update to the Oz principle. It's all about accountability. See it, Own it, Solve it, Do it. The book expands on these principles and shows examples in different areas of life to achieve success at any level.
November 6, 2019
You will learn more about what personal accountability really means. The insights gained & principles learned will without doubt change lives. Definitely worth the read. Great book if you are looking helping others with Personal Development or even if you are looking to develop yourself.
December 18, 2019
An interesting book that talks about the importance of being accountable for your actions. It demonstrates the big picture of the dangerous of playing victim and pointing fingers in professional and personal life. Good read 👍🏼
January 9, 2020
Personal accountability a problem with you or others you know? This lighthearted look at personal accountability through the lens of The Wizard of Oz will help you look at the way you are accountable for responsibilities--as well as how others are holding up their end of the bargain. Good read.
November 3, 2020
The Wisdom of OZ, everyone should read this book a least once. A lot of great wisdom packed into about 140 pages, a short read but well worth it. Always think above the line. See it, Own it, Solve it, Do it, stop making excuses for yourself.
December 7, 2022
One of the better self-help books I have read. I enjoyed the theme of "The Wizard of Oz", but it sometimes felt like a surface layer analogy. The mix of famous and everyday people in the stories made the advice both aspirational and relatable.
July 11, 2018
I love the way who the authors relate their strategies and tips with the old move that we all have seen "The Wizard of OZ"! Fun to read and easy to remember.
March 5, 2019
A good quick read.
May 12, 2019
Good read
Interesting, quick, powerful read. Valuable for individuals, teams and businesses. I like the challenge questions to help you take action.
Interesting, quick, powerful read. Valuable for individuals, teams and businesses. I like the challenge questions to help you take action.
June 11, 2019
Pretty basic principles for accountability for self. Loved the connections to the wizard of oz. Easy read
November 22, 2019
If I read this 10 years ago it might have had a bigger impact on my career and life.
January 21, 2020
một cuốn sách nói về thiền và cách thiền
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 4, 2024
Good reminder that we’re accountable and need to be the ones taking action to make the changes we want in our lives. Other than that it was pretty basic and simplistic.
May 30, 2024
Simple but powerful. It's all about personal accountability and realizing that "if you don't own it then you can't change it."
Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews