Books

The Way of the Tiger: Gentle Wisdom for Turbulent Times


by Lance H. K. Secretan

 




In 1988, Lance Secretan was driving to a ski resort with his wife, and they were brainstorming ideas for his new book. Then, as now, there seemed to be an over-supply of management, leadership and self-help books, many saying the same thing, and looking very much alike. How could a new message be written that stood out in the crowded marketplace? “What about a fable?” Care Bears and Gummy Bears were the rage at the time, and so were penguins. So even the animal domain was crowded. And so the idea materialized of setting the entire story as a private journey among the animals at the zoo. Lance obtained unprecedented access to the Metro Toronto Zoo, spending six months researching, interviewing zoo executives, animal experts, handlers and keepers, visiting zoos around the world and gathering rare data about species, their habits and history.

 

The central premise of the book was that we all achieve a fulfilled life and become inspiring leaders by practicing three values:

  • Mastery:
  • Chemistry
  • Delivery

…and the story is about a ghost tiger called Moose who teaches Tamias, a chipmunk, these three values. A snake, Nemesis, thinly disguised as bureaucracy, “old story” thinking, and company politics, keeping popping up in different guises attempting to thwart the breakthrough thinking of Moose, Tamias and their zoo-pals. Through his brilliant storytelling, Lance raises the business of managing and leading in work and life to a personal art.

The book went on to become a world-wide smash and is often referred to by readers as their first, and sometimes favorite, encounter with Lance Secretan’s work. Writes Joao Jose de Vasconcellos Jr, from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on Amazon.com: “I read this book for the first time in the Portuguese version by the 70's and many other times during the last 25 years. It has really influenced my whole life. Thanks Secretan.”

First published in 1989, and since reprinted nine times and translated into many languages, this is the book that birthed the renowned idea of Values-centered Leadership®‘ which has since become a legendary practice within organizations worldwide.

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