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Good Business  By  cover art

Good Business

By: Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi
Narrated by: Truitt Blassingham
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Publisher's summary

Since Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi published his groundbreaking book Flow more than a decade ago, world leaders such as Prime Minister Tony Blair and former U.S. President Bill Clinton, and influential sports figures like Super Bowl champion coach Jimmy Johnson have all been inspired by the book. In today's corporate upheaval, a new business paradigm is evolving. While many CEOs are being exposed for their greed, truly visionary leaders believe in a goal that benefits themselves as well as others. They realize that it is their vision and "soul" that attract loyal employees willing to go above and beyond the call of corporate duty. And their employees are realizing the same thing. While 80 percent of adults claim they'd work even if they didn't have to, the majority of them can hardly wait to leave their jobs and get home.

Good Business starts with the premise that this is an age in which business and work have replaced religion and politics as central forces in contemporary life. This audiobook reveals how business leaders, managers, and employees can find their "flow" and contribute not only to their own happiness, but also to a just and evolving society. It identifies the factors crucial to the operation of a good business: trust, the commitment to fostering the personal growth of employees, and the dedication to creating a product that helps mankind. Good Business is a must-listen for anyone who values the positive contributions of individuals in the changing world of business.

©2003 Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi (P)2002 Simon & Schuster Inc. All Rights Reserved, SOUND IDEAS is an imprint of Simon & Schuster Audio Division, Simon & Schuster Inc.

Critic reviews

"Csikszentmihalyi shows how moral responsibility, respect for the environment and clean bathrooms can make a business good and the whole world better." (Publishers Weekly)

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Flow and Corporate responsibility

Nearly a decade ago I was captivated by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi's books "Flow" and "Finding Flow". Here he takes his ideas to the next logical step - moving from the individual to the organization.

This program takes you first through why, and then HOW organizations can get better resuts, how executives can better themselves, and how everyone can be more creative and more rewarded by their jobs. It simply(!) requires creating an environment where flow is more easily achievable.

Yes, most of us probably could find a way to find flow in almost any work situation, with enough practice and thought. But few have the time and focus to achieve this. This book helps the manager see how (and why) to focus their organizations differently, to promote flow. It discusses PERSONAL choices in how we live, and why we live that way, and how changing the environment to promote flow will promote our entire wellbeing.

This is not a "How To" book. It is much more powerful than that, if you bring the right skills and background. Like the book "Learned Optimism", "Good Business" helps you learn and think about yourself, why you function as you do, and how you can change it.

In personal growth, there is no substitute for personal effort. But there are some outstanding guidebooks. They will be different for each of us - but this is one of mine.


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49 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Classic Mihaly

Wish Audible had more from this author. Good summary of his theory of flow in business.

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8 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

"Flow" through a business perspective

Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, the author who coined the term "flow" (moments where you are in peak concentration, immersed and doing what you love and know how to do best), has transposed his ideas to the business world, with tons of examples from companies and leaders that do "Good Business".

Inspiring, the book helps entrepreneurs and managers find their way, turning their companies and departments into flow inducing places.

Although not a breakthrough kind of book, it`s packed with wisdom and can be exactly what one needs to get moving in the right direction and in high gear. Recommended! =)

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8 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars

Lacked Structure

I really liked the ideas in this book but I found myself looking for a but more structure. Ideas seemed to be delivered in no particular order. Would have been nice to build one concept on top of another. Still a good read though

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3 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars

Very interesting book.

What did you love best about Good Business?

The philosophy was enlightening and informative.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Good Business?

The real meaning of happiness and self actualization.

Which scene was your favorite?

The discussion of flow.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Nothing.

Any additional comments?

Would have liked to have heard the unabridged version and would like to see the author's other books on audio.

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2 people found this helpful

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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

A must read

Easy listening if you have already read "Flow" from Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi. Well structured book and makes a lot of sense in any stage of life.

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2 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

should be mandatory for any business leader

no single book is more important than this one in shaping the evolution of business in the future.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Needs Updating

The author came up with a new and revised version so Audible needs to do this one again. lol! But I thought this was a really good book

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

can't believe it took me so long to find this book

So many great insights, wanted to bookmark what felt like every minute. Will me revisit past initiatives to modify and enhance them for better results using the principles of FLOW.

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  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars

Coulda been

I was pretty excited to read a business book by the originator of the concept of flow. Finally, some practical ideas about how to use this intriguing concept at work.

The book started off interesting enough, but soon stumbled amidst Marxist complaints about Industrial Age injustices in the workplace and platitudes about poor working conditions. Dr. Csikszentmihalyi is obviously an academician and not a business leader. His stilted language, passive voice writing, and examples all bespeak someone who may have *studied about* business in the modern era (apparently, the late 20th century from his examples), but has not actually *worked in* it. The ideas in this book are fuzzy generalizations inspired by Dilbert or The Office, but don't really give us much that is actionable, except to complain about pointy-haired bosses. The review of the elements of flow were somewhat interesting, but he missed a great opportunity to give us applications to today's workplace.

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