Book Review: Monday Morning Choices

[bedsitter23]

Monday Morning Choices: 12 Powerful Ways to Go from Everyday to Extraordinary by David Cottrell

My rating: 2 of 5 stars


Monday Morning choices is part of the excellently branded Monday Morning series which says all of the serious stuff we think about we should do so at the beginning of the week.

This works as a great forum for book club discussion. The chapters are super short so no worries about getting behind. There are discussion questions at the end.

There are good points. Essentially, we should care what people think (Dress for success) and not care what all people think (as Bill Shakespeare said “Haters doth going to hate”). He uses a term “enemy” which seems extreme, but it is a good eye opener that as a leader you most likely will have some people actively working against you.

Otherwise, the stuff here is pretty basic, but if you need that push “Get off your rump and do it”, you can find that push here. Other hot takes include “Read everyday” and “you are the company that you keep”. Some basic principles about not being a victim and to make productive choices. In 21st Century America, there are rarely clear life paths. You will not be given a mentor and you will not be given a road map. You need to venture forward yourself. No one will do it for you.

My concern is that this book is a bit “rah rah” and those who might be further along in their career or looking for something deeper won’t get as much out of this book due to lack of specifics.

Each chapter ends with a page-plus of inspirational quotes. That really isn’t my thing and seems like overkill especially in the internet age.

The positive of the book is that it uses a lot of anecdotes . There is a honesty that the best way to learn is to fail. That truth is here, of course, though my observation of corporate life is everyone would rather play safe than taking an unsure step.

There is the story of the day FedEx launched. The first day was 12 packages (and they had 14 planes). Fred Smith got a C on his paper where he explained his idea. No one could grasp an idea that you would route a package through Memphis that was going to Los Angeles from San Francisco. Pat Brown quoting War and Peace’s Count Rostov to Ronald Reagan. “Why, they’re shooting at me. Me who everyone loves”.

Overall, there is plenty of stuff here for the right audience and can be boosted by discussing with others. While I think most will find the stories memorable but the message lacking.



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