Red Rubber Ball At Work

The Red Rubber Ball At Work is an excellent companion to Rules of the Red Rubber Ball! I was expecting to be a more of the original (which I also loved) but the author slightly shifted the approach in this wholly original addition to the Red Rubber Ball series. I thought it was going to be focused on applying the principles learned in the first book at your office (“at WORK”) — but the ideas inside are all about putting the original concepts into action (“AT WORK.”) Chapters are divided by focus (Innovation, Results, Teamwork, Leadership and Curiosity.)

This is not a case of the author telling you what you should do to put his concepts into action — this is a collection of some well-known (and soon-to-be-well-known) individuals who have been implementing Red Rubber Ball insights since they were kids, and the brief (but compelling) stories show you how they continue the path of the Red Rubber Ball into their adulthood and the way they left their mark on the world.

Stories from Seth Godin, Paulo Coelho, Malcolm Gladwell, Duff Goldman, and even Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson add to the poignancy of stories from folks I’d never heard of (but left an indelible impression upon me.) Be sure to read the stories from Carlos “Mare139” Rodriguez, Hendrik Mamorare, and Awista Ayub — they are especially inspiring.

My favorite parts of this book come at the end of each section in the form of a page or two labeled “Purposeful Play“, where the author gives you recommendations on websites to visit, videos to watch, books and articles to read, and provides links additional source material that I found of interest. It added to the value and impact the book had on me as a reader, and further drove home the important (and personal) message it contains.

I can’t wait to read it study it again.