Why Pride Matters More Than Money: The Power of the World's Greatest Motivational Force (Crown Business Briefings) (Hardcover)

When I got into the book, I was pleasantly surprised to find out that the subject is how living in accordance with your values is more motivational than being paid more. I would have read the book much sooner if I had realized that.

The basic point is that focusing on money as a motivational tool causes game-playing where the individual and the organization are pitted against one another. Where the organization and the individual see themselves as living the same values, constructive, mutually supportive behavior follows.

The book has an extensive discussion of what the author learned from his mother and from Marvin Davis, former head of McKinsey & Company. That part could have been a lot shorter.

I was intrigued to read in detail what the author feels is important about Marine training. Many books refer to Marines as having good values, but assume that the reader already has mastered the subject. I found the approach described here to be revealing and helpful.

Many who are stuck in organizations that are not doing well and have limited options will find the examples from General Motors to be valuable for seeing how the desire to do a good job can overcome many obstacles. Like a team that has had a good meeting of the minds at half-time, you can come back to take on all comers before the game is over. It's very fine material.

Unless you like to read lots of cases, how to implement the book's lessons is summarized nicely in an article-length epilogue beginning on page 181. If you already agree with the author's premise, you can start reading there and save a lot of time.

Where else in life are values important? How can you help bring them out in a positive way?

I wholeheartedly embrace the sentiments expressed on the flyleaf, such as "pride in one's work ... and in the sense of accomplishment, camaraderie and emotional attachment that comes with it is the key to success ...".

But what did I actually 'learn' from this book that I could take away and use, to change myself or to shared with others? The answer is -- nothing. Contrary to the flyleaf, I found it neither "inspirational" nor "practical", just 'light'.

Maybe the 19-page Introduction should have served as a warning, but there was just no substance to the book. If a College Student had turned this in as a paper, then I would have accused them of stringing together a number of disparate stories, but never once did it actually come to any conclusion as to 'why', 'what' or 'how'?

It just relies on the innate 'sensibility' that "show me the money" isn't the answer, but it didn't explain to me what 'is' the answer.