Empowering Yourself: The Organizational Game Revealed

My 17 year old son's teacher gave this book to him to read. My son shouted about how he wanted to be a level 6 and his life goals have changed. I was so surprised to see my son act this way because he is very shy laid back person with no sense of direction. Within a few weeks my son order two items off an auction website and created his own business. It was like he was a new person on a mission. I asked him about the book and researched it, then ordered it myself.What do you know! I too was changed for the better. I am very interested it striving for the top more than ever. I do see things differently now on all levels. This book has really changed my life and I enjoyed every page. I have loaned it out many times and was informed by others they can't believe no one have told them about this book.If you want to really know about life levels, and understand the HUMAN race more, this book is for you. When you first read it you think it is all about business, however you will learn it is really about life. If you want to play this game of life or not you are stuck in it and you may as well understand how to win.

Very informative!

As an African American corporate employee Harvey J. Coleman thought his failure to break through the glass ceiling was race related. After being passed over one too many times, he broke with corporate America expecting to write the quintessential how-it-should-be-if-I-was-white book of upward mobility. After doing the research, much to his surprise, what he found was surprisingly different than what he originally thought.Refreshingly candid, Coleman's, Empowering Yourself, outlines the unwritten and unspoken rules of upward mobility. And once you understand the selection process and how it really works, you'll have some amazing aha moments. Coleman sheds light on the murky and illusory subtle paths of success with the Performance 10%, Image 20% and Exposure 70% (PIE) school of thought.Essentially, his premise; "upward mobility happens from the top down," states that the selection process involves three elements of unequal proportion: Performance, the initial consideration, represents 10% of the grading process. The question asked is: Are you GREAT; not good, but great at what you do? Image is the second consideration and it represents 20% of the grading process. At this point the selection process gets sticky. The question asked: Is your image palpable? Would you want to sit next to Dennis Rodman at a dinner party? Probably not! Exposure is the last and most important element representing 70% of the process; essentially, who you know and who knows you.For those who haven't been properly groomed expect your eyes to be opened because you will not see things same after reading this book. If you Class, by Paul Fussell, and The Unwritten Rules of Management, by William H. Swanson, you have the makings of a nifty starting point. As Coleman says at the close of his book, "Now that you know the rules, let the games begin."

I have been in the business world for 15 years now and 4 of those were in a large corporation with a matrix environment. I struggled with a lot of the politics and comments that I did not always understand. When I was given the opportunity to become an AVP, the dynamics got much worse and the feedback did not make any sense. In fact in trying to be authentic, I went away from what I was being required to become, to what I felt was me and not them, to my detriment. I really wish I had read, understood and internalized this book years ago.The book was an easy read, very clear and organized, and you can get to a chart and rate yourself eventually to find out where you stand. I did an average score for myself and it was very revealing. I think this is a must read for everyone in business who wants to climb the corporate ladder.One caution I would have is that, as the book says, we have the choice to play the game or not. I really hope less and less people play the game, as, quite frankly, the upper class has to realize the world is changing, and they need to adapt to the changing world as well. Maybe this is just wishful thinking.

I have read many business books that discuss how to have a good career. None reveal the best way to get ahead as well as this book. Sure, performance is key and so is working hard. But that will not get you to the top. The image you project as well as the exposure to the right people are even more important. Most people do not realize this. I wish I had this book at the start of my career right out of college. I have givent this book to one of my closest friends who kept getting let go from his job every time there was a cut back. 7 years later, he still has the same job and it is the most responsible job he ever had. This book is invaluable for knowing how the business game is really played.

Very good book and quick to read. This book will help you move up the ladder in your career.

Empowering Yourself by Harvey Coleman is one of my favorite books. A friend of mine recommended this book after being advised to read it for her professional development program. When I began reading it, I could not put it down! Harvey describe his experiences in Corporate America and how overachieving in performance is not the only key to rising high in thr Senior Executive Ranks, but playing "the people game" is the big portion of the puzzel that is never talked about. I ultimately recommend this book to those who lack the knowledge of the rules to the game of life.

This book is mostly for beginners just entering the job market as it provides mostly general guidelines about how the corporate system works. The focus is on PIE (Performance, Image, Exposure) along with discussion about how the poor, middle class, rich and super rich live and socialize. If you have already been in job market for a few years I recommended "Rise" or "Stealing the Corner Office", as both books provide much more detail about how to move up in the corporate world.

Me agradó, llegó bien

While there are some things in this book that seem a little too old fashioned to me, a good portion of it is still relevant.I'd say have an open mind when you read, because some of the content here is obsolete and not really something 2021 would agree with.

Interesting content on what performance is not enough.

Good book, useful to improve the professional image

Excellent book. Arrived promptyl