The 3rd Alternative

Solving Life's Most Difficult Problems

By: Stephen R. Covey

Narrated by: Boyd Craig

From the multimillion-copy bestselling author of The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, hailed as the #1 Most Influential Business Book of the Twentieth Century, The 3rd Alternative introduces a breakthrough approach to conflict resolution and creative problem solving.

There are many methods of “conflict resolution,” but most involve compromise, a low-level accommodation that stops the fight without breaking through to new and innovative results. The 3rd Alternative introduces a breakthrough approach to conflict resolution and creative problem solving, transcending traditional solutions to conflict by forging a path toward a third option. A third alternative moves beyond your way or my way to a higher and better way—one that allows both parties to emerge from debate or even heated conflict in a far better place than either had envisioned. With the third alternative, nobody has to give up anything, and everyone wins.

Through key examples and stories from his work as a consultant, Covey demonstrates the power of 3rd Alternative thinking. His wide-ranging examples include a Canadian metropolitan police force that transformed a crime-plagued community; a judge who brought a quick, peaceful end to one of the biggest environmental lawsuits in American history without setting foot in a courtroom; the principal of a high school for children of migrant workers who raised their graduation rate from 30 percent to 90 percent; a handful of little-known people who are quietly finding new ways to bring peace to the Middle East; and many others. These various groups and individuals offer living examples of how to create new and better results instead of escalating conflict, as well as how to build strong relationships based on an attitude of winning together.

Beyond conflict and compromise, The 3rd Alternative unveils a radical, creative new way of thinking.

Move out of drama to shared results!

Duality is the enabler of conflict. Consider a 3rd alternative. Covey calls it synergy. i call it oneness. Oneness allows for a coin's two sides, heads and tails, to support "coiness." Vote for the right and necessity of both sides to exist. Reality requires duality. Let it be. Avoid attaching yourself to one side, thinking one side is right. Conflict needs righteousness. Seek thinking that supports both sides of an agrument to co-exist. Results, performance, synergy, genius, love, and creativity are the payoffs! Learn how and practice what Covey knows. [e-mail]

Important Message for Our Time

If you could sum up The 3rd Alternative in three words, what would they be?

This is a great book about changing your perspective from being a 2-alternative thinker to being someone who pursues a 3rd Alternative. Third alternative thinkers work for Win-Win and produce the most meaningful change and the most positive results. Let your mind pursue the 3rd Alternative and begin to find new answers to your most difficult problems.