“Show me the books she loves and I shall know the woman…“

The Napkin, The Melon and the Monkey

Barbara Burke

Meet Olivia, the newest hire at Mighty Power’s customer service call center. Excited to have a stable job and a good salary, Olivia starts out with a sunny disposition and a can-do attitude. However, the constant barrage of angry calls soon wears her down. Instead of handling these frustrated customers in a calm, professional manner, as she was trained to do, she loses her temper and strikes back. Terrified that she will be fired for her behavior, she asks Isabel, an experienced rep and the call center’s wise woman, for help. The extraordinary advice she receives changes her life, and may change yours, too.

THE NAPKIN, THE MELON & THE MONKEY: How to Be Happy and Successful at Work and in Life by Simply Changing Your Mind (Hay House, February 1, 2010, $19.95) is a modern-day fable by internationally acclaimed workplace training expert Barbara Burke that will help transform the way you handle the frantic chaos of your day. You may even crack a smile sitting in traffic, waiting in line at the grocery store or watching that one Dora the Explorer episode for the fifteenth time!

The secret to sanity when the pressure builds is being able to stop long enough to have a SODA – Stop, Observe, Decide and Act – Burke’s simple four-step method for tackling stressful, emotionally-charged situations. “When we are forced to deal with a difficult, irate person at work, someone whom we feel is attacking us, our natural response is to become defensive,” says Burke. “You need to realize that the person is angry about the situation. It isn’t personal.” Burke provides the framework for an improved attitude with 22 thought-provoking Aha!s, such as:

• Problems can be gifts in disguise.

• Just sit there. Do nothing.

• The nicer I am to myself, the nicer I am to others.

• People harmonize when they are tuned to the same frequency.

• Real freedom comes from letting go of the outcome.

THE NAPKIN, THE MELON & THE MONKEY serves as both a powerful resource for professionals looking for easy-to-use tools to sharpen their “inner game” and as an inspirational tale for those who want better relationships and a happier life.

mythoughts

The title of this book, “The Napkin, The Melon and The Monkey”, was what initially drew me to the book review. What in the world would be inside a book with that title? I was soon to discover exactly what was inside this book.

Barbara Burke created a character and a storyline in which we could not only relate but identify, sympathize and rally for and (at times) against. I enjoyed the ease in which her main character, Olivia, was willing to change. After all, in my opinion, change first starts with identifying that change is needed. Olivia was quick to realize that and wise to seek out advise from a “pro” of the customer service world. Her very own Yoda if you would

As the book reads…it is much like a self-help book yet has a fun story line that gives you the opportunity to immerse yourself in the characters and situation and not just the self-help aspect.

Barbara created 10 ah-ha moments which included (to name a few):

Problems can be gifts in disguise
When all else fails, have a SODA (Stop, Observe, Decide, and Act)
A simple apology works wonders
The less I talk, the more I learn

I spent many years working in the retail market and can completely relate to the 10 ah-ha moments described. Being able to relate to the circumstances that Olivia goes through allowed me to see the “realness” of Barbara’s book. It therefore took the step from positive opinion to practical advise. Practical advise that will be well received and appreciated from those fortunate enough to read her book.

My favorite of the 10 ah-ha moments is #6 SODA (Stop, Observe, Decide and Act)…how fortunate one will be if they could muster that type of mentality. Whether you are working in a customer service atmosphere or home schooling twins (like I am) you will benefit from #6 as well as the other 10.

One of my lucky IE Mommy friends will be able to benefit from the rest of the 10 ah-ha moments as we will be giving away a copy of The Napkin, The Melon and The Monkey. Check out the details below.

**One Lucky IE Mommy Friend will WIN a copy of The Napkin, The Melon and The Monkey**

To Enter:

Mandatory Entry: Friend the IE Mommy on Facebook
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