Good Business

Leadership, Flow and the Making of Meaning

By: Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi

Narrated by: Truitt Blassingham

Since Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi published his groundbreaking book Flow more than a decade ago, world leaders such as Prime Minister Tony Blair and former U.S. President Bill Clinton, and influential sports figures like Super Bowl champion coach Jimmy Johnson have all been inspired by the book. In today's corporate upheaval, a new business paradigm is evolving. While many CEOs are being exposed for their greed, truly visionary leaders believe in a goal that benefits themselves as well as others. They realize that it is their vision and "soul" that attract loyal employees willing to go above and beyond the call of corporate duty. And their employees are realizing the same thing. While 80 percent of adults claim they'd work even if they didn't have to, the majority of them can hardly wait to leave their jobs and get home.

Good Business starts with the premise that this is an age in which business and work have replaced religion and politics as central forces in contemporary life. This audiobook reveals how business leaders, managers, and employees can find their "flow" and contribute not only to their own happiness, but also to a just and evolving society. It identifies the factors crucial to the operation of a good business: trust, the commitment to fostering the personal growth of employees, and the dedication to creating a product that helps mankind. Good Business is a must-listen for anyone who values the positive contributions of individuals in the changing world of business.

©2003 Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi (P)2002 Simon & Schuster Inc. All Rights Reserved, SOUND IDEAS is an imprint of Simon & Schuster Audio Division, Simon & Schuster Inc.

Critic reviews

"Csikszentmihalyi shows how moral responsibility, respect for the environment and clean bathrooms can make a business good and the whole world better." (Publishers Weekly)

Relevant, practical and inspiring

Enjoyed the book overall. Quick read. I appreciated the applications of flow to the business setting.

reinforcing read

enjoy his work very much. This was a bit of a recap of flow with not much new bit worth the listen.

should be mandatory for any business leader

no single book is more important than this one in shaping the evolution of business in the future.

Needs Updating

The author came up with a new and revised version so Audible needs to do this one again. lol! But I thought this was a really good book

A must read

Easy listening if you have already read "Flow" from Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi. Well structured book and makes a lot of sense in any stage of life.

Good thoughts

Unique thoughts on creating flow and create high amusment on the workplace for all employee, engaged in achieving companies goal.

Classic Mihaly

Wish Audible had more from this author. Good summary of his theory of flow in business.

"Flow" through a business perspective

Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, the author who coined the term "flow" (moments where you are in peak concentration, immersed and doing what you love and know how to do best), has transposed his ideas to the business world, with tons of examples from companies and leaders that do "Good Business".

Inspiring, the book helps entrepreneurs and managers find their way, turning their companies and departments into flow inducing places.

Although not a breakthrough kind of book, it`s packed with wisdom and can be exactly what one needs to get moving in the right direction and in high gear. Recommended! =)

Flow and Corporate responsibility

Nearly a decade ago I was captivated by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi's books "Flow" and "Finding Flow". Here he takes his ideas to the next logical step - moving from the individual to the organization.

This program takes you first through why, and then HOW organizations can get better resuts, how executives can better themselves, and how everyone can be more creative and more rewarded by their jobs. It simply(!) requires creating an environment where flow is more easily achievable.

Yes, most of us probably could find a way to find flow in almost any work situation, with enough practice and thought. But few have the time and focus to achieve this. This book helps the manager see how (and why) to focus their organizations differently, to promote flow. It discusses PERSONAL choices in how we live, and why we live that way, and how changing the environment to promote flow will promote our entire wellbeing.

This is not a "How To" book. It is much more powerful than that, if you bring the right skills and background. Like the book "Learned Optimism", "Good Business" helps you learn and think about yourself, why you function as you do, and how you can change it.

In personal growth, there is no substitute for personal effort. But there are some outstanding guidebooks. They will be different for each of us - but this is one of mine.

Lacked Structure

I really liked the ideas in this book but I found myself looking for a but more structure. Ideas seemed to be delivered in no particular order. Would have been nice to build one concept on top of another. Still a good read though