The blurbs for Initiative, my new book

May 8, 2019 by Joshua
in Creativity, Education, Entrepreneurship

Fountain Pen

My new book, Initiative: A Proven Method to Bring Your Passions to Life (and Work), is going to press, on time for a May 21 release.

In the meantime, I’ll share excerpts and inside views. Today I bring you the blurbs. I don’t know about you, but they make me want to read it.

Email me if interested in reviewing it before its release to post reviews so others know what to expect.

The Blurbs

Whether leading or following, you need to read Initiative. I have long yearned for such a book—the most clear and persuasive on personal development and leadership I’ve found in 60 years of adulthood. Spodek’s focus on initiative and reflection matches what I found important serving in and leading organizations from a few people to over 15,000 Marines and Sailors. He illustrates key ideas with meaningful examples and helpful practical exercises. it’s lucid, succinct, easy to read, and deeply profound. It has earned a prominent place in my library.

Lieutenant General Paul K. Van Riper, US Marine Corps (Retired)


The disease is helplessness and inaction, and Joshua Spodek has the cure: INITIATIVE. By taking initiative, we can connect with our passions and with people who can nurture those passions into actionable ideas that make money, create happiness, or maybe even change the world. Spodek starts off with some hard truths about today’s business environment, then follows up with the Method Initiative, a series of exercises that will help you identify your interests and create those connections that lead to success.

— Daniel Pink, author of WHEN and DRIVE


Many congratulations to Josh Spodek for Initiative! I loved his comparison of Shark Tank to the dog show. The common “wisdom” of expecting passion to automatically lead to action only works if you’re amazingly lucky. Initiative gives you a powerful toolkit to explore your interests and passions and create what makes you excited to work – how to make your own luck. No more Monday morning blues. If you work through the exercises here, you’ll stop saying “somebody should fix that” and become the one who does, to the world’s benefit, and especially your own.

Alan Iny, Global Leader, Creativity and Scenarios, Boston Consulting Group and co-author of Thinking in New Boxes: A New Paradigm for Business Creativity


Joshua Spodek restores the humanity, soul, and passion to the entrepreneurial spirit that built our nation. With simple steps and diverse stories, Initiative walks you through finding your passion and brining it to life with confidence.

Frances Hesselbein, Presidential Medal of Freedom honoree, president and CEO of the Frances Hesselbein Leadership Institute


If you’ve ever wanted to start a project but weren’t sure how, Initiative is the missing piece. With effective, step-by-step exercises and engaging real-life stories, this book will show you how to become someone who can start projects you love from scratch.

Dorie Clark, Duke University Fuqua School of Business professor and author of Entrepreneurial You and Stand Out


Why do people with the most education often feel they have the fewest options? Spodek offers a brilliant critique of the ways our education system kills students’ initiative. In a step by step fashion, he goes on to show you how to regain yours. A “remedial class” everyone should take!

Tony Wagner EdD, Bestselling author of The Global Achievement Gap and Creating Innovators, Senior Research Fellow, Learning Policy Institute


Joshua found what was missing from entrepreneurship! Initiative shows why most entrepreneurial resources are counterproductive for people outside Silicon Valley. Then it shows actionable steps based on real-life results, illustrated with real-life stories from Joshua’s decade-plus of research, teaching, and coaching. You will discover skills, confidence, and passions you always knew you had.

Marshall Goldsmith, Thinkers50 #1 in leadership and world’s #1executive coach


Initiative, action, and passion comprise one of the most important and overlooked virtuous circles in life. This book is your guide to implementing an empowering, world-changing feedback loop no matter what your age, interests or professional calling.

Jonas Koffler, NY Times bestselling author of Hustle


Joshua shows that not only are many of our fundamental entrepreneurship practices wrong and misguided, they can be downright counter-productive. What works for TV shows or Silicon Valley actually inhibit the rest of us from acting on passions that can get us promoted, hired, and funded. Initiative‘s surprisingly simple steps and real-life profiles of people who started from nothing show you how to bring them to life.

David Burkus, bestselling author, speaker, and professor of leadership at Oral Roberts University


Entrepreneurship is my jam! It’s disappointing how TV shows, movies, and universities discourage people from following their FIRE. Initiative cuts through the hype and myth. Joshua Spodek gets it and this book is proof. Initiative shows you what works and how people are implementing change in the world today.

John Lee Dumas, founder and host of the “Best of iTunes” Entrepreneurs on Fire podcast


We endure far more than we have to at work, and yet there we sit, stuck. What holds us back from yanking ourselves out of our malaise? Joshua Spodek knows and knows what to do about it. He unlocks the ultimate power—initiative—through insight and powerful exercises to give you the experiences, skills, and beliefs needed to get things going, no matter what you’re trying to accomplish. Take the initiative to buy this book—you won’t regret it.

Scott Mautz, Popular Keynote Speaker and Author: Find the Fire and Make It Matter


Another thought-provoking, life-changing book from Joshua Spodek. For anyone who wants to take the initiative to launch a business, get a new job, or change the world, this book is for you.

Kevin Kruse, CEO, LEADx and author, Great Leaders Have No Rules


I’ve seen many people create greatness in their lives and work. INITIATIVE teaches you how, by doing. Its real-life stories of people of diverse backgrounds and interests make the exercises and principles accessible to diverse readers. Its vivid imagery makes challenging concepts simple to understand and visualize.

Tom Ziglar, CEO, Ziglar, Inc., Proud son of Zig Ziglar


Again, email me if interested in reviewing it before its release to post reviews so others know what to expect.

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2 responses on “The blurbs for Initiative, my new book

  1. Pingback: The cover for my new book, Initiative: A Proven Method to Bring Your Passions to Life (and Work) » Joshua Spodek

  2. Pingback: Initiative: online for pre-order » Joshua Spodek

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