Rethink Happy An Entrepreneur's Journey Toward Finding Authentic Joy
Produktdetaljer
Biografisk notat
Doug Kisgen is a serial entrepreneur, speaker, consultant, and personality expert. He has extensive experience in performing arts, senior care, and working with at-risk teenagers and entrepreneurs (who are much alike!). He has a Bachelor of Science in Biology, a Servant Leadership Certificate from Gonzaga Graduate School, is a certified catechist, and a graduate of the Entrepreneurial Masters Program hosted by MIT. Doug has also participated in formal spiritual direction and doctrinal formation since 2008. For the past eight years, he has been passionately engaged in learning how to achieve authentic joy. Doug uses a parable approach to sharing his insights, in "Rethink Happy" which combine old-school philosophy with a little new-school science. He and his wife of twenty-plus years have five children and live in the hill country of South Texas.Rethink Happy An Entrepreneur's Journey Toward Finding Authentic Joy
Recent high-profile business disasters have reminded us that intellect, degrees, and eighty-hour weeks are not the essential ingredients for business success. Told in a delightful story form, Rethink Happy captures the soul of business and reminds us that uncompromising character, respectful relationships, and a commitment to the greater good of community lead to “uncommon” success and a life worth living. --- Dan Miller, author of 48 Days to the Work You Love<p>
</p><p>Scaling up a business not only takes its toll on the owner, it tends to spill over onto the family and other personal relationships, often ending in tragic messes. But it doesn’t need to be this way. We like to say that “routine sets you free,” and Doug’s book brilliantly highlights those routines that will set you free, bringing joy to both your life and those around you. It just requires the same skills needed to grow a successful business: focus and discipline. --- Verne Harnish, CEO Gazelles and author of Scaling Up (Rockefeller Habits 2.0)</p><p>
</p><p>Original and entertaining, Rethink Happy offers down-to-earth self-discovery lessons through a lighthearted, purposeful story. --- Mary Leonida, president and CEO, Polaris Cos. and Track Consulting</p><p>
</p><p>Prepare to be inspired! Yes, each one of us is called to live a more authentic and meaningful life. --- John S. Archer, president and CEO, Concepts for Business</p>
Have you experienced business success and wondered if there is something more?
Have you figured out how to be successful at home as well as in business?
Do you struggle with finding time to think?
Have you learned how to make sense of setbacks and “bad things happening to good people”?
Cleve has it all. Or so he thinks. Until an apparent chance encounter with an old man named Camino causes him to realize that what he believes is happiness is merely a shadow of the joy he could experience.
Yes, having money and cool cars and freedom is fun, but happiness is not a result of accumulating stuff. Told in a compelling parable format, "Rethink Happy" challenges readers to redefine authentic joy. Join Cleve as Camino leads him on a journey through three key principles of old-school philosophy and new-school science toward understanding the secrets of living authentic joy.
Doug Kisgen hit rock bottom in the early 2000s when the business he was trying to grow took on so much debt that he and his family could barely make ends meet. It was then Doug realized that success and happiness has less to do with him and his ego and more to do with something much more profound. Since then, Doug has built and sold an INC5000 Fastest Growing Company and built a consulting business with clients in fifteen states across the US. "Rethink Happy" is Doug’s latest entrepreneurial venture, and the concepts he teaches through a parable format combine old-school philosophy with a little new-school science to help readers learn how to achieve authentic joy.
Chapter 2 The Introduction
Chapter 3 The Invite
Chapter 4 Check-In
Chapter 5 Cheers!
Chapter 6 Dreams and Fights
Chapter 7 The Call
Chapter 8 Home Sweet Home!
Chapter 9 Rude Awakening
Chapter 10 Setting an Example
Chapter 11 Right-Hand Guy
Chapter 12 Breaking Bread
Chapter 13 The First Question
Chapter 14 The Pitch
Chapter 15 The Commitment
Chapter 16 The Basics
Chapter 17 Think Time
Chapter 18 Truth
Chapter 19 Science
Chapter 20 Virtue Overview
Chapter 21 Gut Check
Chapter 22 Assignment #1
Chapter 23 Tip the Scales
Chapter 24 Home Part Deux
Chapter 25 Father-Son Time
Chapter 26 Slow Start
Chapter 27 Camino, Part Two
Chapter 28 Recap
Chapter 29 Little Sisters
Chapter 30 Discomfort Zone
Chapter 31 Don’t Judge a Book by Its Cover
Chapter 32 The Truth about Suffering #1
Chapter 33 The Truth about Suffering #2
Chapter 34 Detach
Chapter 35 The First Battle of the Will
Chapter 36 Assignment #2
Chapter 37 Active Versus Productive
Chapter 38 Talent and Balance
Chapter 39 The Battle Begins
Chapter 40 Reconnecting
Chapter 41 Setting a Date with the Fam
Chapter 42 Not-So-Green Thumb
Chapter 43 Family Outing
Chapter 44 Screwup
Chapter 45 One and Done
Chapter 46 Surprise!
Chapter 47 Weekly Self-Report
Chapter 48 Meeting #3
Chapter 49 Sacrificial Learning
Chapter 50 Passive Sacrifice
Chapter 51 Principle #3
Chapter 52 Reaction
Chapter 53 In Defense of Self-Absorption
Chapter 54 Family and Personal Prayer
Chapter 55 The Steps to Lectio Divina
Chapter 56 Hesitant, but Intrigued
Chapter 57 Final Words of Wisdom
Chapter 58 Cleve the Monk
Chapter 59 Final Report
Chapter 60 From Disappointment to Appreciation
Chapter 61 Reality Check
I can't believe I've gotten myself into this mess. Why am I going to all this effort if I'm getting nothing from it? Why'd Camino have to pick me, of all the people at the game, to sit by that day? I was fine. Just fine. I was successful, had a place I felt at home, even though it was at Tony's bar and ironically, not at home. I was a good father---I mean, I provided for my kids and I didn't demand a lot from my wife.
The twinge of guilt was like an arrow to my heart, from out of nowhere, as I remembered my son's reaction last night when I tried Camino's suggestion to "shoot the breeze" with him. Did I really only want to talk to him when I was pointing out something he was doing wrong?
And my wife thought I came home "early" last night, even though it was a good two hours after I left the office. Okay, so maybe I'm not going to get Father of the Year or the Husband Achievement Award, but my kids get pretty much everything they want and my wife can go shopping anytime.
I was just thinking about that at the game the other day. I've got it pretty good. I mean, things could always improve, right? What was it I was daydreaming about that day? Before Camino pushed his way into my life? Oh yeah, I was thinking about the trip I'd cancelled with my son. Again. Ah yes, there's that familiar feeling of failure now. I wasn't even watching the game, and suddenly I'd felt a presence.
A shadow fell over me, blocking the sun. As I wasn't seated within peanut-throwing distance of anyone else, naturally I looked up to see who could be blocking my sun. The tall stranger didn't say a word. Just took a seat (c'mon man!) right next to me.
Okay, just ignore him. Don't let anybody spoil this time. It's me time! C'mon, Cleve. Back to the smell of the grass, the taste of the cold beer in your hand. This is the life! Am I right? I'm free to do this--that's the American dream, right?
THE INTRODUCTION
Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed he was watching me out of the corner of his. Dang it, Cleve. You know the first rule is NEVER MAKE EYE CONTACT. I nodded. He nodded back. Well, this is just going swimmingly. Can I just ignore him now? Sighing, I leaned forward, hoping to avoid any conversation.
Apparently, he felt the same way, because he leaned forward too, as though to really grasp the situation on the diamond. I relaxed a bit. Maybe I really could get through this.
"So, what do you think?" The question came out of nowhere. I glanced at him again.
"Excuse me?" I was trying my best not to be rude, but man, he sat right next to me in a section full of empty seats. This was "me" time and it was sacred.
Recent high-profile business disasters have reminded us that intellect, degrees, and eighty-hour weeks are not the essential ingredients for business success. Told in a delightful story form, Rethink Happy captures the soul of business and reminds us that uncompromising character, respectful relationships, and a commitment to the greater good of community lead to “uncommon” success and a life worth living. --- Dan Miller, author of 48 Days to the Work You Love<p>
</p><p>Scaling up a business not only takes its toll on the owner, it tends to spill over onto the family and other personal relationships, often ending in tragic messes. But it doesn’t need to be this way. We like to say that “routine sets you free,” and Doug’s book brilliantly highlights those routines that will set you free, bringing joy to both your life and those around you. It just requires the same skills needed to grow a successful business: focus and discipline. --- Verne Harnish, CEO Gazelles and author of Scaling Up (Rockefeller Habits 2.0)</p><p>
</p><p>Original and entertaining, Rethink Happy offers down-to-earth self-discovery lessons through a lighthearted, purposeful story. --- Mary Leonida, president and CEO, Polaris Cos. and Track Consulting</p><p>
</p><p>Prepare to be inspired! Yes, each one of us is called to live a more authentic and meaningful life. --- John S. Archer, president and CEO, Concepts for Business</p>
Have you experienced business success and wondered if there is something more?
Have you figured out how to be successful at home as well as in business?
Do you struggle with finding time to think?
Have you learned how to make sense of setbacks and “bad things happening to good people”?
Cleve has it all. Or so he thinks. Until an apparent chance encounter with an old man named Camino causes him to realize that what he believes is happiness is merely a shadow of the joy he could experience.
Yes, having money and cool cars and freedom is fun, but happiness is not a result of accumulating stuff. Told in a compelling parable format, "Rethink Happy" challenges readers to redefine authentic joy. Join Cleve as Camino leads him on a journey through three key principles of old-school philosophy and new-school science toward understanding the secrets of living authentic joy.
Doug Kisgen hit rock bottom in the early 2000s when the business he was trying to grow took on so much debt that he and his family could barely make ends meet. It was then Doug realized that success and happiness has less to do with him and his ego and more to do with something much more profound. Since then, Doug has built and sold an INC5000 Fastest Growing Company and built a consulting business with clients in fifteen states across the US. "Rethink Happy" is Doug’s latest entrepreneurial venture, and the concepts he teaches through a parable format combine old-school philosophy with a little new-school science to help readers learn how to achieve authentic joy.
Chapter 2 The Introduction
Chapter 3 The Invite
Chapter 4 Check-In
Chapter 5 Cheers!
Chapter 6 Dreams and Fights
Chapter 7 The Call
Chapter 8 Home Sweet Home!
Chapter 9 Rude Awakening
Chapter 10 Setting an Example
Chapter 11 Right-Hand Guy
Chapter 12 Breaking Bread
Chapter 13 The First Question
Chapter 14 The Pitch
Chapter 15 The Commitment
Chapter 16 The Basics
Chapter 17 Think Time
Chapter 18 Truth
Chapter 19 Science
Chapter 20 Virtue Overview
Chapter 21 Gut Check
Chapter 22 Assignment #1
Chapter 23 Tip the Scales
Chapter 24 Home Part Deux
Chapter 25 Father-Son Time
Chapter 26 Slow Start
Chapter 27 Camino, Part Two
Chapter 28 Recap
Chapter 29 Little Sisters
Chapter 30 Discomfort Zone
Chapter 31 Don’t Judge a Book by Its Cover
Chapter 32 The Truth about Suffering #1
Chapter 33 The Truth about Suffering #2
Chapter 34 Detach
Chapter 35 The First Battle of the Will
Chapter 36 Assignment #2
Chapter 37 Active Versus Productive
Chapter 38 Talent and Balance
Chapter 39 The Battle Begins
Chapter 40 Reconnecting
Chapter 41 Setting a Date with the Fam
Chapter 42 Not-So-Green Thumb
Chapter 43 Family Outing
Chapter 44 Screwup
Chapter 45 One and Done
Chapter 46 Surprise!
Chapter 47 Weekly Self-Report
Chapter 48 Meeting #3
Chapter 49 Sacrificial Learning
Chapter 50 Passive Sacrifice
Chapter 51 Principle #3
Chapter 52 Reaction
Chapter 53 In Defense of Self-Absorption
Chapter 54 Family and Personal Prayer
Chapter 55 The Steps to Lectio Divina
Chapter 56 Hesitant, but Intrigued
Chapter 57 Final Words of Wisdom
Chapter 58 Cleve the Monk
Chapter 59 Final Report
Chapter 60 From Disappointment to Appreciation
Chapter 61 Reality Check
I can't believe I've gotten myself into this mess. Why am I going to all this effort if I'm getting nothing from it? Why'd Camino have to pick me, of all the people at the game, to sit by that day? I was fine. Just fine. I was successful, had a place I felt at home, even though it was at Tony's bar and ironically, not at home. I was a good father---I mean, I provided for my kids and I didn't demand a lot from my wife.
The twinge of guilt was like an arrow to my heart, from out of nowhere, as I remembered my son's reaction last night when I tried Camino's suggestion to "shoot the breeze" with him. Did I really only want to talk to him when I was pointing out something he was doing wrong?
And my wife thought I came home "early" last night, even though it was a good two hours after I left the office. Okay, so maybe I'm not going to get Father of the Year or the Husband Achievement Award, but my kids get pretty much everything they want and my wife can go shopping anytime.
I was just thinking about that at the game the other day. I've got it pretty good. I mean, things could always improve, right? What was it I was daydreaming about that day? Before Camino pushed his way into my life? Oh yeah, I was thinking about the trip I'd cancelled with my son. Again. Ah yes, there's that familiar feeling of failure now. I wasn't even watching the game, and suddenly I'd felt a presence.
A shadow fell over me, blocking the sun. As I wasn't seated within peanut-throwing distance of anyone else, naturally I looked up to see who could be blocking my sun. The tall stranger didn't say a word. Just took a seat (c'mon man!) right next to me.
Okay, just ignore him. Don't let anybody spoil this time. It's me time! C'mon, Cleve. Back to the smell of the grass, the taste of the cold beer in your hand. This is the life! Am I right? I'm free to do this--that's the American dream, right?
THE INTRODUCTION
Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed he was watching me out of the corner of his. Dang it, Cleve. You know the first rule is NEVER MAKE EYE CONTACT. I nodded. He nodded back. Well, this is just going swimmingly. Can I just ignore him now? Sighing, I leaned forward, hoping to avoid any conversation.
Apparently, he felt the same way, because he leaned forward too, as though to really grasp the situation on the diamond. I relaxed a bit. Maybe I really could get through this.
"So, what do you think?" The question came out of nowhere. I glanced at him again.
"Excuse me?" I was trying my best not to be rude, but man, he sat right next to me in a section full of empty seats. This was "me" time and it was sacred.