Courageous Visions: How to Unleash Passionate Energy in Your Life and Your Organization

This is a book which should be read, digested, and incorporated into the conciousness of just about every entrepreneur. If this was simply a motivational work it would still excel its peers. What makes Lasley's tome exceptional are the steps leading from one's passion to the execution of actually living one's vision. Unlike many self-help books this is a work for people who envision going well beyond inner changes and wish to extend their world through organizational superiority and leadership characteristics. A mature person can use this book with greater effectiveness than many Business School texts. The chapter on "Turning Vision Into Action" was perhaps the most critically valuable as it integrated much of the book around principles such as planning and goal-setting, providing methodologies to bring everyone on-board and to get from "A" to "G", altering attitudes, delegating, and inviting everyone to embrace risk, newness, and calculated changes for growing an organizaiton with is stable and dynamic simultaneously. The author attaches a short 3-page bibliography and a 6-page index, but her 87 chapter sections are easy to use if the reader looks to the table of contents for guideance. This is a valuable addition to a select short-list of humanistic organizational development books. Its utilization of self-awareness themes of our times coupled with highly specialized and knowledgeable experiences of an executive coach makes this appropriate for stocking in our Business as well as Personal Growth sections.

I loved how the author clearly addressed using the material for both individual and group work. I've now had a chance to experience her methods both personally and as a corporate coach/facilitator. I recently utilized some of the storytelling exercises with a team that had gotten a bit off track and found trust waning. There was a richness and uniqueness to the experience that completely shifted the tone of the session and set the stage for a more collaborative interraction. Thank goodness I found this tool!

I've had many visions that never make their way to reality. They get stuck between passionate ideas that resonate with my values and the practical daily actions that make them real. Martha Lasley includes both sides in her book. With provocative questions and exercises she leads an individual or organization through a visioning process. Then Martha bridges that gap between idea and reality in her chapters on communicating the vision, team work, leadership, actions and obstacles. This is valuable information for visionary leaders! Also, I used a form of "appreciative inquiry" (chapter 3) during a serious family breakdown with my teenagers - as a result we had solutions that were energizing, creative and positive. Read Martha's book if you have a dream for yourself and/or your small or big organization that you want to make real.

This amazing book, which seems to be about coaching and about getting your life organized, turns out to be nothing less than a blueprint for cultural change. Lasley weaves stories from her wide experience with people and change into a highly readable how-to that speaks to the heart--of the person, of the organization, of very civilization. Awareness of values takes top priority--and finding the courage to put our best values into practice is the heart of the book. Lasley's thesis is that if each one of us finds our passion, we will work together to make the world a kinder, juster, better place; and we'll be fulfilled in the doing of it. "Find the place within where your passion runs deep," she says, "but also find the quiet and calm that help you relax and fill the well of your soul." Lasley draws examples from corporate consulting, and from personal quest, such as the three nights she spent alone on a mountain; and in every case the stories are clearly relevant and laced with humor. Readable, inspiring--you'll want to do the exercises, share the work with others, follow this gentle leader into a future of service and connection. This book takes us way beyond our usual daily attempts to cope, and teaches us that we can stretch ourselves, help each other, and in the process start building the future together. Wonderful book, highly recommend it.

I have read many books on visioning, and after a brief spurt of renewed energy I find myself back at square one. In this book, Creating Vision, Ms Lasley has hit on something that runs deep and true, that is both spiritual and practical, and that will carry through all the ups and downs of truly living vision. She also did a great job relating the applicability of her ideas to both individuals and organizations. As a leader within an organization, I now have many new tools and inspirations for living and working from a deeper sense of purpose and integrity. What a marvelous hands-on guide to creating fulfillment in all aspects of one's life!