Let's cut to the chase. The message of this book is quite simple:
Change your current attitude and increase your productivity so that you will ad value to your company in the long run. In other words, all for the benefit of us (managers, CEOs, Bill Gates, etc.) at the expense of you, the employee (the tried and true 'profits over people' mentality rears its ugly head once again in corporate America). If the events of September 11 or the recent Enron affair haven't yet taught us that money and misguided "motivation" should NOT be the primary goals in life, I don't know what will.

I am commenting on this book because the three previous comments indicate that the readers are not aware that each person is responsible for his/her outcomes. The message of this booklet and those in the know is:"YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE" for your own success. This is the message of today.

My opinion is that everybody should realize that the 13 rules for job success are and always have been the keys to progress and success. If every person understood the message of this booklet we wouldn't have so many people who don't realize that every human being needs the satisfaction of achievement and accomplishment. This can only be obtained by working, thinking, studying, reading, helping, etc. When we don't get the satisfaction of achievemenet and accomplishment we turn to watching television, drinking alcohol, smoking, taking drugs, etc.

As a manager in a highly competitive service industry, I could not deliver a better message to my staff than this short, highly readable "who's in charge of your life" script for the entrepeneur in all of us.

Adaptability, accountability, and the pure joy of realizing your version of yourself in this age of the "chaos theory" is in there. A fun, inspiring, recharging read.

In parental fashion, the book blames the workers for corporate failures. This pro-management piece of propaganda insinuates the workers are the problem, it stereotypes them as malcontents and recalcitrant rebels. In a "thou shalt be ashamed of thineself" mode it warns that management failures are due to the intransigent and rebellious employees' indifference toward managment and change. The book absolves management of all failures and instead points the finger at the work staff's inability to cope with change. It further justifies management's "cold" behavior as being in the best interest of the corporation (vs. employees).

I agree management's vision and actions should be directed toward its corporate goals and longevity, but it gives no credit to most of the employees who understand this. Instead, it preaches that "you" workers are mostly incapable of long-term vision & understanding that change is "good", and that "good ole" management has to beat this fact into you employees.

Basically, the book justifies all management action and behavior while chastising workers for not going along, not coping, and ultimately being responsible for negative outcomes. The myths stereotype workers as sniveling, ungrateful, and behind-the-times, while justifying management's mistakes as a "cost of doing business".

The book has many fine points and can go a long way toward acceptance if it could present a more effective picture of management and employees in a joint venture together, in a partnership for the betterment and enhancement of the employment and paycheck producing corporation. Cut out the guilt production and anti-employee negativity and expound instead on the positivity of shared responsibility for the well-being of the company.

There are 14 2-page topics. If you know how to do them, then this would be a great reminder. If you don't know how to do them, the guidance is limited. This looks more like one of the handouts for a presentation or short course that the authors' company teaches.

Seriously disappointing.