Month: August 2024

Mastering Conflict: A Deep Dive into Robert Moment’s ‘Conflict Resolution Skills’

‘Conflict Resolution Skills’ is Robert Moment’s new book.

Robert Moment is an ICF Certified Leadership, Executive, Emotional Intelligence, and Peak Performance Coach with over 15 years of experience in coaching and more than 20 years in Fortune 500 corporate roles. He specializes in building high-performing teams and unlocking the potential of leaders. Recognized as a Top LinkedIn Voice in Leadership Development, Robert is dedicated to empowering professionals to excel in their careers and transform their workplaces. His new book “Conflict Resolution Skills: The Proven System for Building Confidence, Communicating Effectively and Resolving Workplace Conflicts with Ease,” he provides a comprehensive guide to turning conflict into a powerful catalyst for growth and innovation. (Amazon, 2024)

“Conflict Resolution Skills” – Drawing on over 15 years of coaching experience and 20-plus years of Fortune 500 work experience, Robert Moment shares strategies that have helped countless teams transform disagreements into opportunities for collaboration and success.

This book is packed with practical tools and techniques that will empower you to:

  • Approach Conflict with Confidence and Grace: Develop the mindset needed to tackle conflicts head-on.
  • Communicate Clearly and Effectively: Master the art of communication, even in the most challenging situations.
  • Build Trust and Foster Empathy: Learn techniques to create understanding and mutual respect among team members.
  • Navigate Difficult Conversations: Discover strategies for de-escalating conflicts, managing emotions, and finding win-win solutions.
  • Enhance Your Leadership Skills: Become a catalyst for positive change and create a harmonious, productive work environment.

Whether you are a manager, employee, or leader striving to improve your interpersonal skills, this book will equip you with the knowledge and confidence to resolve conflicts and drive positive change in your organization. Transform your approach to conflict and unlock the potential within your team. Order your copy today and start your journey towards a more harmonious and productive work environment.

Review:

This book is an invaluable resource for anyone navigating the complexities of workplace dynamics. In this useful guide, Moment organizes conflict resolution into accessible strategies, making it suitable for both newcomers and seasoned professionals.

He begins by defining conflict as what happens “when individuals possess differing needs, goals, or values, leading to disagreements that can either be personal or systemic within an organization.” Along with that, he explains the various types of conflict and the role that emotions play in it. The book is well organized, featuring clear explanations of core concepts and real-world examples that illustrate each point. The focus is on the importance of building confidence and effective communication, highlighting how these skills are crucial in diffusing tense situations. His step-by-step approach provides readers with actionable techniques, such as active listening and empathetic engagement, which can be immediately applied.

Chapters include:
Introduction
Chapter 1 The Foundation of Conflict Resolution
Chapter 2 Effective Communication Skills for Conflict Resolution
Chapter 3 Understanding Emotions in Conflict Management
Chapter 4 Different Communication Styles and Conflict
Chapter 5 Mastering Leadership Styles for Effective Conflict Resolution
Chapter 6 Conflict Negotiation Strategies for Win-Win Outcomes
Chapter 7 Conflict Resolution Skills: Top 20 Skills Managers Need to Resolve Conflict in the Workplace with Ease
Chapter 8 Mediation Skills for Resolving Conflict
Chapter 9 Resolving Workplace Conflicts: Common Scenarios and Solutions
Chapter 10 Conflict Resolution and Organizational Culture
Chapter 11 Legal and Ethical Considerations in Conflict Resolution
Chapter 12 Self Care and Resilience in Conflict Resolution
Chapter 13 Applying Conflict Resolution Skills Beyond the Workplace
Chapter 14 The Conflict Transformer: 30 Expert Tips to Turn Workplace Challenges into Opportunities
Chapter 15 R.E.S.O.L.V.E™ Your Workplace Conflicts: A Coaching Exercise
Conclusion

Highlights:

Chapter 3: explains the importance of emotional intelligence, especially in yourself because once you acknowledge and understand your own feelings, you can begin to efficiently deal with conflict. Self awareness is key. “Emotions can act like unpredictable waves, crashing down unexpectedly or quietly bubbling beneath the surface, complicating even the simplest interactions.”

Chapter 13: emphasizes how knowing how to deal conflict can be useful outside the workplace, including in the community and in personal relationships. “Effective conflict resolution is not just about finding a quick fix; it can significantly strengthen relationships, enhance mutual understanding, and promote a sense of harmony.”

Each chapter ends with Coaching Questions which further enhance the learning experience. It is an easy read with language that is clear and concise. What I especially liked is the combination of theoretical insights with practical applications, empowering readers to not only resolve conflicts but also foster a more collaborative work environment.

Overall, “Conflict Resolution Skills” is an essential read for anyone seeking to enhance their interpersonal skills. It’s not just about resolving disputes; it’s about cultivating a mindset that promotes understanding and cooperation in the workplace. Though highly recommended for managers, team leaders, and employees seeking to improve their conflict management abilities and create a more positive and productive workplace, anyone outside the work environment can benefit from the practical material.

*The author was contacted for an honest review of this book. The views and opinions expressed here belong solely to her.

Rating: 4 out of 5.

Celebrate National Wellness Month at Thompson San Antonio – Riverwalk

Join Thompson San Antonio – Riverwalk for a series of workouts and an LSPACE Wellness Event. Photo: Thompson San Antonio – Riverwalk, used with permission.

Thompson San Antonio – Riverwalk has some exciting programming for National Wellness Month this August. (Thompson San Antonio – Riverwalk, 2024)

Thompson San Antonio Spa is here to promote healthy habits and support you in your self-care journey. This August for National Wellness Month, Thompson San Antonio Spa is partnering with top local fitness instructors to offer you and your friends a series of dynamic workouts. Don’t miss this opportunity to enhance your fitness routine and enjoy a luxurious post-workout pool day.

To enjoy this series of diverse workouts every week leading up to the LSPACE Wellness Event & Fitness Sampler, just choose the date and the workout you’d like to attend. Classes are $30 per person.

Happening every Sunday in August at 8a.m.

Cenote Pool Deck, 4th floor
Thompson San Antonio (check-in at 3rd floor Spa)
115 Lexington Ave
San Antonio, TX 78205

Workout Schedule

8/11 – Sweat & Swim Luxe with Instructor Chasity Morales

An invigorating workout combining mat core Pilates strength and a soothing stretch recovery.

8/18 – Full-body Workout with Instructor Wela

A high-intensity, circuit-based training program that blends functional exercises to improve strength, endurance, and overall fitness. Includes cardio, strength, and interval training designed to keep your heart rate up and maximize calorie burn.

8/25 – LSPACE Wellness Event & Fitness Sampler

Thompson San Antonio – Riverwalk invites you to a premier fitness event in partnership with LSPACE, the quintessential California beach lifestyle brand that believes the perfect fit is everything. Your ticket includes a sampler of four fitness classes led by local instructors, followed by a Sip & Shop experience. Explore the brand’s swimwear and activewear line, featuring beautiful everyday pieces designed with your moves in mind. Then, indulge in a mimosa bar + breakfast bites at Thompson’s Cenote Pool Deck.

Bonus Perk: After your workout, enjoy complimentary access to the exclusive Cenote Pool Deck for the ultimate pool day. Not to be missed, the LSPACE x Thompson curated cabana outfitted with LSPACE pillows, champagne buckets, and festive cups for enjoying a complimentary round of the LSPACE x Thompson Summer Breeze, a craft cocktail inspired by the quintessential California beach lifestyle brand. When you book the cabana, you’ll take home branded SWAG including a canvas tote, towel, and postcard with a curated music playlist to keep the good vibes going all summer long.

Reserve your spot now and join us every Sunday in August to take the first step towards a healthier, more energized you.

For more information and to reserve a ticket for these classes, book HERE.

Photo: Thompson San Antonio – Riverwalk, used with permission.

Diving Deep: What Makes The Well a Must-See Horror Film

The supernatural horror film The Well arrives in select theaters on August 9. Courtesy photo, used with permission.

Supernatural horror films captivate audiences by tapping into the unknown and the unexplainable. By introducing eerie elements like ghosts, demons, and ancient curses that defy logical understanding, they blur the line between reality and fantasy. These films evoke a primal sense of dread, utilizing atmospheric tension, unsettling soundtracks, and eerie visuals to create a palpable sense of menace. By exploring what lies beyond the realm of the living, supernatural horror challenges our perception of reality and taps into our most profound anxieties.

With that said, in today’s movie news, if you love these types of films, there’s a new one coming out today. The supernatural horror film The Well arrives in select theaters on August 9 and On Digital and On Demand September 3, 2024 via Uncork’d Entertainment. (The Well, 2024)

Starring the final girl from Terrifier 2 & 3 – Lauren LaVera – The Well is a gothic horror that embraces gore and practical effects. Italian pop star Federico Zampaglione (Shadow, Tulpa: Demon of Desire, Morrison) directed the film and co-wrote the script with Stefano Masi.

Starring alongside LaVera is Claudia Gerini, Giovanni Lombardo Radice, Taylor Zaudtke, Linda Zampaglione, Jonathan Dylan King, Lorenzo Renzi, Gianluigi Calvani, Yassine Fadel, Melanie Gaydos, Stefano Martinelli, and Courage Oviawe.

Official Synopsis: On behalf of her father, a young American art restorer travels to a remote Italian village to bring a medieval painting back to its former glory. There she meets a beautiful but aging duchess and her troubled young daughter who warns her that the painting is cursed and that she must leave before she falls prey to an evil witch who drinks the blood of tourists to achieve eternal life.

Photo: The Well, used with permission.

Celebrate National Whataburger Day with Free Birthday Cake Shake

For one day only, Whataburger will gift fans a limited-edition birthday cake shake for FREE exclusively through the Whataburger app while supplies last. Photo: Whataburger, used with permission.

Orange you glad it’s Whataburger’s birthday? On Thursday August 8, Whataburger turns 74, marking another year of serving hot, fresh, delicious food just like you like it. It’s a big deal. It is so big the brand even has its own holiday around it, lovingly called National Whataburger Day. The birthday brand is celebrating big by dropping a special birthday cake-flavored shake and giving it away for FREE to fans for one day only through the Whataburger App. So, don your party hats and favorite Whataburger gear—it’s time to party! (Whataburger, 2024)

Whataburger’s Birthday Shake is a delectable delight. Made with the chain’s classic Vanilla Shake base, the new dessert is 20 ounces of sweet, creamy goodness. Prep your Instagram Stories because this special shake will be the iconic Whataburger orange, topped with white whipped cream and finished with bright orange sprinkles. It’s all wrapped up in a clear plastic cup with a domed lid so fans can appreciate every detail ‘til the last drop. 

“The Birthday Shake tastes like fun,” Whataburger SVP and Chief Marketing Officer Scott Hudler said. “With its signature orange color, whipped cream, and sprinkles, it looks like a party in a cup. The icing on the shake is that Whataburger Rewards program members can celebrate this milestone with us by getting their shake entirely for free, no purchase necessary. It’s like inviting hundreds of thousands of your closest friends to your birthday party!”

Fans who have downloaded the Whataburger App and created a rewards account can enjoy the free Birthday Shake on Thursday, August 8, from midnight to 11:59p.m., available exclusively through the app. Want a taste of Birthday Shake but can’t make it on National Whataburger Day? The super limited-time Whataburger Birthday Shake will be available after August 8 while quantities last. But, like any other birthday cake, once it’s gone, it’s gone–so don’t wait to order your treat.

In addition to the shakeover, Whataburger is celebrating with the community by fulfilling $74,000 worth of teacher supplies wish lists throughout August as part of the Whataburger Feeding Student Success charitable giving program. Do you know a teacher who could use a little love? On August 8, Whataburger will post on X (formerly Twitter) asking its followers to nominate teachers in their lives who could use some help buying school supplies for the new year. The brand will fulfill wish lists until $74,000 is spent!

The free Birthday Shake offer is exclusive to the Whataburger App, with one shake per reward member. Customers who download the app and create an account will immediately earn rewards and exclusive offers. The shake will also be available in-store, at the drive-thru and online while supplies last. Prices and availability vary by market. 

Photo: Whataburger, used with permission.

Reimagining Health Benefits: Insights from ‘The End of Employer-Provided Health Insurance’

Written by a world-renowned economist and New York Times best-selling author, this insightful guide explains how individual health insurance offers more to employees than employer-provided plans. Photo: Amazon

Paul Zane Pilzer is an economist, social entrepreneur, professor, public servant, and the New York Times bestselling author of 11 books and dozens of scholarly publications. A former commentator on National Public Radio and CNN, Pilzer has been profiled on the front page of The Wall St. Journal and on the cover of more than 100 magazines. He speaks live each year to approximately 200,000 people and more than 20 million copies of his works have been sold.

Rick Lindquist is President and CEO of Zane Benefits. Lindquist is a frequent speaker and reference for his expertise on personalized employee benefits, tax and health policy, and the Affordable Care Act. Rick joined Zane Benefits as its thirteenth employee in 2007 and took over as President in 2011. Rick received a B.S. in Economics and a B.A. in Computer Science from Duke University.

They are co-authors of the book “The End of Employer-Provided Health Insurance: Why It’s Good for You and Your Company,” an insightful guide that explains how individual health insurance offers more to employees than employer-provided plans.

The purpose of “The End of Employer-Provided Health Insurance” is to show you how to profit from this paradigm shift while helping you, your family, and your employees get better and safer health insurance at lower cost. It will help you save thousands of dollars per person each year and protect you from the greatest threat to your financial future—our nation’s broken employer-provided health insurance system.

This book is written to ensure that you, your family, and your company get your fair share of the trillions of dollars the U.S. government will spend subsidizing individual health insurance plans between now and 2025. You will learn how to navigate the Affordable Care Act to save money without sacrificing coverage, and how to choose the plan that offers exactly what you, your family and your company need.

Using the techniques outlined in this book, you and your employer will save money on health insurance by migrating from employer-provided health insurance coverage to employer-funded individual plans at a total cost that is 20 percent to 60 percent lower for the same coverage. That’s $4,000 to $12,000 in savings per year for a family of four for the same hospitals, same doctors, and same prescriptions.

Review:

This book is a thought-provoking exploration of the future of healthcare in America. Pilzer and Lindquist argue that the traditional model of employer-provided health insurance is on the brink of collapse due to escalating costs and shifting economic realities. They envision a transformative shift towards a more consumer-driven approach, where individuals take greater responsibility for their own health coverage.

The authors meticulously dissect the flaws in the current system, highlighting how it burdens businesses and limits consumer choice. They propose innovative alternatives, such as health savings accounts and portable insurance plans, which could offer greater flexibility and control. Pilzer and Lindquist also explore the implications of these changes for both employers and employees, presenting a compelling case for why a systemic overhaul is necessary.

The material aimed at employers and small business owners occasionally assumes a level of economic literacy that may be challenging for some readers. The exception is Part II How to Make Individual Health Insurance Work for You and Your Family. It does an excellent job of explaining the basic terms of health insurance, such as deductibles, copays and coinsurance. One highlight is Chapter 9 How to Choose Your Coverage – Bronze, Silver, Gold, or Platinum, which explains the major differences between the levels of coverage and Chapter 12 How to Reduce Your Individual Healthcare Costs, such as opening a Health Savings Account (HAS) through your bank or credit union, shopping for a new health insurance plan annually, and of course, changing your lifestyle (diet and exercise). This part on its own is a must-read for readers needing guidance in navigating the complicated healthcare shopping experience. 

Overall, “The End of Employer-Provided Health Insurance” is insightful and forward-thinking and leads the important conversations about the future of healthcare and the need for reform. It was published in 2014, so some of the information is outdated, such as tax penalties for not purchasing health insurance, but the general topics are always useful. For those interested in the intersection of economics and health policy, this book is a valuable and engaging resource.

“Healthcare costs now consume almost one-sixth of America’s economy, and, during your lifetime, medical and health insurance costs are likely to be your largest or second-largest expense after housing. Your employer-provided health insurance is arguably the number one threat to your financial future.”

*The author received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. The views and opinions expressed here belong solely to her.

Rating: 4 out of 5.

Two Trains Left’s ‘Probably For Nothing’: A Look into Their Latest LP

Two Trains Left announce new LP Probably For Nothing. Courtesy photo, used with permission.

Two Trains Left is a pop-punk band hailing from Paris. Their debut EP Sorry & Pathetic, released in 2018, garnered significant attention and set the stage for the band’s future successes. This initial triumph led them to open for notable acts such as Anti-Flag, Story Untold, Between You & Me, and Hockey Dad in Paris, as well as Møme on the main stage of the “24h de l’INSA” festival in Lyon. (Two Trains Left, 2024)

The group recently released their new single and music video for “Sail Away” featuring long time supporters Chunk! No Captain Chunk! Blending both Parisian artist’s distinct styles together brings a powerful dynamic to the song, creating a unique sound that serves as a personal anthem of growth, self-discovery, and determination. Combining catchy guitar riffs, groovy bass lines and powerful vocals, “Sail Away” invites listeners on a journey through raw emotion and undeniable intensity.

They also announced that their latest LP, Probably For Nothing is scheduled for release on September 20. The 12 track album produced by easycore icons Chunk! No Captain Chunk! frontman Bertrand Poncet takes listeners on a thrilling ride through Two Trains Left’s evolving soundscapes, showcasing their unique blend of high-energy tracks and reflective ballads. Probably For Nothing seamlessly combines infectious melodies with heartfelt lyrics, reflecting the band’s coming of age while encapsulating their journey through the unknown.

Speaking to how one’s personal evolution can lead to resilience and liberation, even if the outcome is uncertain, the band shares:

“Probably For Nothing captures our evolution and experimentation in a way that feels cohesive and engaging. We wanted to create an album that resonates deeply with listeners, offering them a mix of powerful anthems and reflective ballads that they can connect with on a personal level. Our hope was to leave a lasting impact and provide a memorable and engaging listening experience from start to finish.”

Probably For Nothing tracklist

Never Again

Disappear

Lack of Sleep

Something New

Innocent Hearts

Need You Here

Broken Pieces

Alone

Comfort Zone

Feeling Fine

Sail Away

Probably for Nothing

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Probably For Nothing release date

Current Highlights: What’s New at Contemporary at Blue Star This Summer

Installation view C& Center of Unfinished Business, HERE AND NOW at Museum Ludwig: Dynamic Spaces, Museum Ludwig, Cologne 2020, © Contemporary And, photo: Rheinisches Bildarchiv Köln, Cologne / Nina Siefke

The Contemporary at Blue Star is excited to announce three new exhibitions, The C&s Center of Unfinished Business, Kaysaypac: Portraits and Figures by Leeanna Chipana, and Cheng Xinhao’s Silver…and Other Elements. The summer exhibitions weave an unavoidable thread that sparks conversation around the history of colonialism, its presence in contemporary life, and encourages education and dialogue. They are currently on view until October 6, 2024. (Contemporary at Blue Star, 2024)

The C&s Center of Unfinished Business
Contemporary is thrilled to partner with C&, a multimedia platform for contemporary visual arts, to present the Center of Unfinished Business, a reading room that encapsulates an array of books that explore the persistence of colonialism in various ways, from its origins to how it effects people and places today. You’ll find texts on the way land and culture have been forcibly stripped from native people due to colonialism alongside texts that explore how empire-building also connects to fashion, 21st century capitalism, and more.

Launched in 2017, the Reading Room has traveled to institutions around the world. As it travels, the room integrates books from each of its host venues (and their collaborators), who add text that is relevant to the place the Reading Room inhabits. For the Contemporary’s iteration of this installation, we have partnered with the Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center Latino Bookstore to include texts that touch on the themes of colonialism and borders that are present in the exhibitions in the surrounding galleries.

Kaysaypac: Portraits and Figures by Leeanna Chipana
Born in Long Island, New York to an immigrant Quechuan-Peruvian father and American mother, Leeanna Chipana draws from her Quechuan and American identity by incorporating Incan, Aztec, and Mayan iconography with classical European oil painting techniques and approaches. The blending and blurring of indigenous figures and Western techniques is an effort of disrupting colonial erasure by placing Indigenous-Latinx figures at the forefront of a very Euro-centric style of painting.

The exhibition title, Kaysaypac (pronounced cow-say-pak), a nod to Chipana’s Quechuan-Peruvian heritage, is a phrase often used while making a toast or a cheers and translates to “to live/to life.” Further cementing the presence of indigenous peoples, this sentiment incorporated into the title is a dedication to the descendants of the Incans continuing to live in community, surviving colonialism and violence.

Cheng Xinhao
Silver…and Other Elements
In this four-channel film, Cheng Xinhao investigates the Mang people’s (the indigenous people living at the border of Vietnam and China) adaptation to shifting borders and changing systems. To explore this moving borderline and the migration of its people, Xinhao follows the fluctuating use of currency.

These shifting borders create a state of in-betweenness and displacement—a sentiment many border communities around the world still struggle with, and yet adapt to. Xinhao’s video raises the question: what symbols are appropriated and survive under new regimes? Will they be incorporated into existing systems, or will new forms be created?

Contemporary at Blue Star
116 Blue Star
San Antonio, TX 78204

Public visiting hours during exhibitions:
Monday – Tuesday Closed
Wednesday 12p.m. – 5p.m.
Thursday – Friday 12p.m. – 8p.m.
Saturday – Sunday 10a.m. – 6p.m.

Admission is always free.

Photo: Contemporary at Blue Star, used with permission.

How Daniel Patrick Forrester’s ‘Consider’ Challenges Conventional Thinking

‘Consider: Harnessing the Power of Reflective Thinking in Your Organization’ by Daniel Patrick Forrester

Daniel Patrick Forrester founded THRUUE, Inc., an expert consultancy that supports leaders and boards bridge the gap between strategy and culture. With the explosion of data and hyperconnectivity, Daniel’s curiosity led him to research how leaders responded to the onslaught of available data and to publish his first book, “Consider: Harnessing the Power of Reflective Thinking in Your Organization.” It centers around the role reflection can play in dramatically improving corporate outcomes. As a top nonfiction leadership book, it has impacted the lives and work habits of small and large organizations from around the world. (Amazon, 2024)

“Consider: Harnessing the Power of Reflective Thinking in Your Organization”

“STOP, THINK, AND DON’T DO SOMETHING STUPID!” This is the warning Dr. Robert Bea drills into his Civil and Environmental Engineering students at the University of California in Berkeley. Bea wants to dramatize what he terms the inevitable “oh shit” moments that present themselves—before an actual engineering calamity like the Deepwater Horizon/BP disaster happens.

There’s an intangible and invisible marketplace within our lives today where the products traded are four fold: attention, distraction, data and meaning.

The stories and examples within “Consider” demonstrate that the best decisions, insights, ideas and outcomes result when we take sufficient time to think and reflect. While technology allows us to act and react more quickly than ever before, we are taking increasingly less time to consider our decisions before we make them. Reflection supplies an arsenal of ideas and solutions to the right problems. Including interviews with leaders such as General David Petraeus, attorney Brooksley Born and global investor Kyle Bass, Forrester shows us that taking time and giving ourselves the mental space for reflection can mean the difference between total success and total failure.

Review:
This book is an insightful exploration into how reflective thinking can revolutionize organizational dynamics and decision-making. Forrester suggests that the ability to pause, reflect, and engage in deep thinking is essential for encouraging innovation and strategic clarity in today’s fast-paced business environments.

It is organized around practical strategies and real-world examples, demonstrating how reflective practices can be systematically integrated into organizational cultures. He explains that reflection is not necessarily a passive activity but an active, intentional process that can lead to more informed and creative decision-making. By introducing concepts such as “reflective leadership” and “strategic pauses,” Forrester provides actionable tools for leaders seeking to cultivate a reflective culture within their teams. One term that stands out is “plastic time,” what people are now experiencing when they are in “a constant state of interruption and movement between many different tasks.”

It is divided as follows:

Introduction: The Space between Data and Meaning
1. The Human Need for Think Time
2. Forcing Think Time
3. Thinking Out Loud
4. Promoting Think Time
5. Taking a Step Back
6. Too Big to Think?
7. Rapid Contemplation
8 .Outside the Day-to-Day
9 .Reflection and Extreme Situations
10. The Future of Think Time and Reflection

By combining theoretical insights and practical advice, the information is accessible to both senior executives and mid-level managers. Forrester’s writing is clear and engaging, with a focus on real-world applications rather than abstract theories.

Overall, “Consider” is a valuable resource for leaders looking to harness the power of reflection to drive organizational growth and resilience. It is recommended for readers interested in books on workplace culture and leadership/motivation.

“I do not wish to suggest that being alone and thinking always leads the mind to positive and beneficial outcomes… Alone time and reflection when one’s mental model of the world is perverse can give rise to the unimaginable.”

*The author received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. The views and opinions expressed here belong solely to her.

Rating: 4 out of 5.

Navigating Life’s Challenges: Brian Hampton’s ‘It’s a Great Life If You Don’t Weaken!’

‘It’s a Great Life If You Don’t Weaken!’ is Brian Hampton’s motivational new book. Photo: Amazon

Motivational books inspire readers to overcome challenges, set goals, and achieve their potential. They offer practical advice, personal anecdotes, and powerful strategies to cultivate a positive mindset and drive personal growth. By sharing stories of triumph and resilience, these books empower individuals to push past obstacles and embrace their strengths. They often provide actionable steps and reflective exercises to help readers stay focused and motivated. Whether through renowned authors like Tony Robbins and Brené Brown or lesser-known voices, motivational books can serve as a catalyst for change, encouraging people to pursue their dreams with confidence and determination.

If you’re looking for the next best self help/motivational book, consider Brian Hampton’s “It’s a Great Life If You Don’t Weaken!’ At 80 years of age, this first time author has written a life empowerment book and is dishing out advice based on his experiences. Check it out!

Brian Hampton has earned two master’s degrees, but it is through his hard-earned experience in different jobs and even occupations that he learned all the techniques he shares with his readers. He has been an Advertising Ex., Political Consultant, Federal Gov’t. employee at the national headquarters of the Federal Trade Commission, a Fundraiser with the USO World Headquarters, a Bill Collector, Telemarketer, and Entrepreneur. Earlier in his career, he earned a commission as an Infantry Officer in the US Army and taught classes in Psychological Operations and Persuasive Communications to Special Forces Majors and Colonels at the JFK Center for Special Warfare. Later in the active Army Reserve, he had tours at the Pentagon where he held a top -secret clearance. His new book “It’s a Great Life If You Don’t Weaken!: How to Deal with the Ups and Downs in Life and the Jerks In-Between” goes beyond the self and dives into the art of how to deal with the distressing predicaments and people that we encounter all too often in our daily lives. (Amazon, 2024)

“It’s a Great Life If You Don’t Weaken!”

Brian Hampton shares a treasure trove of tried and tested techniques, honed through personal experience and a successful career spanning many fields, which empower readers to triumph in the realm of office politics and handle encounters with anyone, from plumbers, veterinarians, lawyers, and doctors, to dentists, insurance companies, bad drivers, and even discourteous customer service representatives. 

The practical transactional techniques within are particularly appealing to men between the ages of 30 and 60, a demographic that has been traditionally underserved in the realm of non-fiction literature. However, women will also discover its relevance to the obstacles they have long faced. Additionally, the concise chapter index caters to the shorter attention spans of younger generations, offering them quick answers to their immediate concerns.

“It’s A Great Life If You Don’t Weaken!” stands out not only for its invaluable content but also for its reader-friendly format. Hampton’s compelling techniques for a better life are delivered in an engaging and often amusing fashion, captivating readers from start to finish. This guidebook is a must-have addition to the toolkit of anyone seeking practical strategies to conquer life’s challenges, triumph over difficult people, and find success in both personal and professional spheres. It offers a refreshing perspective and addresses a crucial interest of the audience—how to navigate the world outside themselves with confidence and resilience.

Personal Memories and Untold Stories: A Review of ‘Remember the Time’

‘Remember the Time: Protecting Michael Jackson in His Final Days’ by Bill Whitfield and Javon Beard. Photo: Amazon

Experts in the field of private protection, Bill Whitfield and Javon Beard served for two and a half years as the personal security team for Michael Jackson and have worked with numerous other high-profile clients, including Sean “P. Diddy” Combs, Alicia Keys, and Shaquille O’Neal. (Amazon, 2024)

Coauthor Tanner Colby is the author of the New York Times bestseller “The Chris Farley Show: A Biography in The Acts,” “Belushi: A Biography,” and “Some of My Best Friends Are Black: The Strange Story of Integration in America,” which was nominated for the Andrew Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Nonfiction by the American Library Association. He is also a frequent contributor to Slate magazine.

Their book “Remember the Time: Protecting Michael Jackson in His Final Days” is the story of a man struggling to live a normal life under extraordinary circumstances and the story of a father fighting to protect and provide for his children. It dismantles the tabloid myths once and for all to give Michael Jackson back his humanity.

“Remember the Time” – Hounded by the tabloid media, driven from his self-made sanctuary at Neverland, Michael Jackson spent his final years moving from city to city, living with his three children in virtual seclusion, a futile attempt to escape a world that wouldn’t leave him alone. During that time, Bill Whitfield, a former cop and veteran of the security profession, and Javon Beard, a brash, untested rookie, both single fathers themselves, served as the singer’s personal security team

Stationed at his side nearly 24/7, their job was to see and hear everything that transpired, and to keep everyone else out, making them the only two men who know what 60 million fans around the world still want to know: What really happened to the King of Pop?

Driven by a desire to show the world who Michael Jackson truly was, Whitfield and Beard have produced the only definitive, first-person account of Michael Jackson’s last years: the extreme measures necessary to protect Jackson and his family, the simple moments of happiness they managed to share in a time of great stress, the special relationship Jackson shared with his fans, and the tragic events that culminated in the singer’s ill-fated comeback, This Is It. The truth is far more compelling than anything you’ve yet heard.

It is divided as follows:

Prologue
Part One: Can We Go Back to Neverland?
Part Two: Why Don’t They Just Leave Me Alone?
Part Three: This Is It

Review:
This book gives readers an intimate and compelling look into the last years of Michael Jackson’s life. It provides a unique perspective on the King of Pop, revealing the challenges and complexities of protecting such a high-profile figure.

Whitfield and Beard, who served as Jackson’s head of security and bodyguard respectively, deliver an insider’s view that humanizes the pop icon. Their accounts are filled with personal stories and reflections that paint a portrait of Jackson as a deeply private man struggling under intense public scrutiny. By exploring the logistical and emotional strains of safeguarding someone so constantly in the limelight it highlights the lengths to which they went to ensure Jackson’s safety and well-being.

Overall, while the book’s revelations are sometimes sensational, they offer valuable insights into Jackson’s final days and the pressures he faced. It’s a poignant read for fans and those interested in the complexities of celebrity life, providing a detailed understanding of Jackson beyond the headlines.

“Remember the Time” feels authentic, especially the heartfelt respect the authors clearly have for the late singer. An easy read, it is an important piece of pop-culture history and recommended for readers interested in knowing more about the late King of Pop, including the early years.

“Because all I felt was anger. That overtook everything else. I sat there with all these people getting up onstage and talking about what a great friend Michael was and how much he meant to them, and the only thing I could think was: Where were they?…Where were all these people when he needed them?” – Bill Whitfield

*The author received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. The views and opinions expressed here belong solely to her.

Rating: 4 out of 5.