The requests that I have had to turn “What my Sherpa taught me about TEAMS” into an audio book has been overwhelming. I was initially hesitant to do so as I believe it is a book that is best read with a highlighter and a pen. In some ways it is a workbook to identify the areas where you may need to direct your attention and I believed that the Sherpa Lessons maybe diluted in the audible format.
On the other hand, I love a self-narrated audio book and believe that the messages can be enriched by hearing the author’s tone and inflection in conveying the words. Although there is a school of thought that listening to an audiobook is lazy and doesn’t require the same amount of concentration as reading. There are studies that show that comprehension skills are shown to work the same whether you’re reading or listening, and understanding and retaining information works similarly at the cognitive level regardless of the format.
As part of my decision making, I considered if ego was getting in the way, although I may be the author it is not for me to decide how my book is best consumed, that is up to the receiver of the book. I have put the ideas and theories into the world for the reader/listener to interpret as they will.
The experience of running a self-improvement book club has shown that audio, physical or eBook is a decision that delivers a different experience and there are so many other variables which affect how someone receives the book content. Providing options on how your message is delivered is one of the lessons from a Sherpa in the chapter in Connection.
“Communicate in different ways, words are not always the best way to convey a message.”
So, while I have firmly decided not to develop an interpretive dance for each of the Sherpa lessons I did convert my office into a studio for a month and read aloud my book and I am today releasing the audio book to you all for a discounted price for the rest of September. The act of reading my book 12 months after publication has been enlightening. I am truly proud of the work that I have done and there were points when I felt the need to stop and give myself a pat on the back there are some real nuggets of gold to be unearthed and I am pleased to be able to share it with you.
“The greatest regret people have at the end of their life is wishing they had the courage to live the life they truly wanted. You can ensure you avoid this regret by calling out inappropriate behaviour, creating trust and belonging in all teams you are a part of and speaking your truth. Do not be a slave to a job that is not providing fulfilment; take one slow Sherpa step to more closely align your work with your values and improve your level of engagement every day.”
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