Change the way you see everything by Kathryn D Cramer and Hank Wasiak
This article was first published in August 2006 in Student Accountant.
On dipping into this book, you could be forgiven for thinking it is a guide to photographic techniques. The book’s life-changing lessons are delivered in part through the use of what the publishers describe as ‘photographic metaphors’. The pictures are great, but largely fixed by clever editing. Take for example the image of a man standing on one end of a perfectly balanced seesaw. Used as an illustration on the page that introduces the central idea of Asset Based Thinking (ABT), it left me wondering if the way to enlightenment was by cheating the laws of physics.
Such a reaction I soon realised was a manifestation of Deficit Based Thinking (DBT), the very thing the authors of this book are trying to liberate readers from. DBT comes naturally to many, causing us to highlight what is wrong rather than what is right. So, feeling thoroughly reprimanded, I mentally agreed to change my focus and take an ABT approach.
It takes about 45 relaxing minutes to read the book. The demands made on you as a reader are minimal. Ideas are simply expressed, regularly repeated, fulsomely illustrated, and backed up with simple exercises to help reinforce key messages. It’s all beautifully presented with extensive use of colour and large fonts. The paper is glossy, the pictures lovely, the inspirational stories no sicklier than others of this genre.
There are lots of catchy phrases you can call on to cheer yourself up during moments of stress, such as ‘the pursuit of perfection is not an asset but a liability, magnify what’s best and focus on what’s next, see yourself as a work in progress’. As I was reading it, I was reminded of those posters with inspirational messages that decorate many office walls. So imagine my delight on discovering that the last few pages of the book are a series of tear out and keep ABT Q Cards. The clever photography from the book is combined with some of its mantras for you to ‘create your own ABT ripple effect’. If you like those office posters, you’ll love this book.
Irene Krechowiecka is a career coach and journalist
Change the way you see everything, Kathryn D Cramer and Hank Wasiak, Running Press, ISBN 0 762 42723 X