Flipping the Switch

Flipping the Switch by John G. Miller is a personal growth/business book that is the follow-up to QBQ! The Question behind the Question.

Again, a quick read, which is a value in today's world where we're trying to make every minute of our day scream like a dollar on a Dave Ramsey budget. Again, Miller uses the very clear, common language and terms that I devoured in his first book. While QBQ! was the what and why of personal accountability, FTS is the how. Both times I have read this, it has been in conjunction with QBQ! and I find that's how these books message really shines. Too many authors in the personal growth and business philosophy genres I find are good at telling you what to do and why, but not the how, which I enjoy because I always want to know 1) how they implemented it (which reinforces that it works) and 2) allows me to see commons thread between their plans and my situation to form a good plan from start to implement rather than trial and error (and in this competitive climate, error can be costly).

I have read this book twice now (which is definitely not enough), the first time after hearing Dave Ramsey recommended it on the radio (in 2006, when I was a field rep for my company dealing directly with customers as a core part of my job) and this year when I was trying to follow up QBQ (now I'm a engineer that tends to deal with fellow team members and vendors rather than customers). Both times, I ended the books with the thought that the principles still work and apply, regardless of the change of my role, the people I interact with on a regular basis, or the change in job title/pay scale.

This book is common sense written in format that I can finish in under an hour on the train or plane so I can refresh the ideals in the books quickly and regularly.