A couple weeks ago, Curt mentioned several books he had read. I’m a fan of the local library, so I went and selected the books. While there, other books jumped off the shelf and into my bag (what can I say, it happens … and I have a big bag). One book was Full Steam Ahead by Ken Blanchard and Jesse Stoner. It’s an easy, quick read like most of Ken Blanchard’s books. The subtitle – Unleash the Power of Vision in Your Company and Your Life – caught my eye. That’s what Curt and I have been talking about. We have a vision for the ReInvention Station; it just needs more meat and more understanding around it – and improved words for communicating it.

I had my first a-ha moment on page 27. Jim and Ellie were talking about full steam ahead. From the book: “Full steam ahead intrigued me. That night I did some research to see what I could find out about steam engines. I learned that the steam engine was without doubt one of the most influential inventions in the development of industry and civilization. In fact, the development of the steam engine made modern industry possible. Until then, people had to rely on their own muscles, the wind, or animals such as horses for power. One steam engine could do the work of hundreds of horses. It could supply all the power needed to run the machines in a factory. A steam locomotive could haul thousands of tons of freight. Steamships provided fast, dependable transportation. Full steam ahead certainly did describe the transformative power unleashed by vision!”

ReInvention Station. A steam engine at the station. Powerful. Fast, Dependable. Transformative. Influential. That’s what we want to be. 

Although I found the book a little too sappy for my taste and the ‘friendship’ between the president and a new, lower-level employee and the surrounding ‘relationship’ put me off, the true message of the book was good.

It’s full steam ahead for the ReInvention Station. Have you read any good books lately? Can you see the ReInvention Station vision? What ideas can you add to the vision? Let us know.