I love the title despite my huge hatred for hair and the grossness of the idea of hairballs. A corporate fools guide to surviving with grace ebook by gordon mackenzie find out orbiting the giant hairball gordon mackenzie pdf download get orbiting the giant hairball. The hairball is the tangle of rules intended to maximize productivity in a bureaucratic company but often impedes or stifles. He jumped on a train headed to kansas city and built the largest social expression company in the world. In his book, orbiting the giant hairball, mackenzie. Orbiting the giant hairball pdf by gordon mackenzie. Change agents, creative types stuck in the stifling corporate culture and what you can do about it, storytellers. A corporate fools guide to surviving with grace, in 1996. A place for those of us who cherish gordons book and wish to honor his legacy. A corporate fools guide to surviving with grace book online at best prices in india on.
I didnt really know what to expect from the book, but i loved it. Gordon was an employee of hallmark cards for 30 years, where he inspired his colleagues to slip the bonds. The author worked at hallmark cards for 30 years in a variety of creative roles even having the unusual title of creative paradox, at one point and was described. Orbiting the giant hairball by gordon mackenzie recommended for. Orbiting the giant hairball by gordon mackenzie essay. Summary of orbiting the giant hairball by gordon mackenzie. Orbiting the giant hairball a corporate fools guide to surviving with grace july 21, 2009 2.
While the enthusiasm for creative free expression seems to run freely for the youngest children, the author notes. He teaches how to emerge from the giant hairball that tangled, impenetrable mass of rules, and systems, based on what worked in the past and which can lead to. In his deeply funny book, exuberantly illustrated in full color, he shares the story of his own professional evolution, together with lessons on. In orbiting the giant hairball, gordon mackenzie writes about his experiences working for hallmark in the land of oz. Ideos general manager tom kelley relays a tale about artist and author gordon mackenzie.
It is an autobiography of gorden mackenzies organizational life as a creative force at hallmark cards. Orbiting is one of my alltime favorite books for its important message hidden within a fun and interesting narrative. A corporate fools guide to surviving with grace 9780670879830 by mackenzie, gordon and a great selection of similar new, used and collectible books available now at great prices. In commenting on a recent post, paula thornton interestingly makes a connection between my description of the wiggly world of organizational dynamics and gordon mackenzies notion of the giant hairball, as entertainingly described in his book orbiting the giant hairball mackenzie uses the giant hairball metaphor to describe a corporate world which is honeycombed with.
Although i have read many excellent books about nurturing creativity and working creatively in companies, this is the first book i have read where the author has been someone who has done that repeatedly and in a variety of ways. Thats how he came up with the mental image of the corporate hairball a disgusting but instructive metaphor this hairball comprises all the. He was a metal sculptor, management consultant, keynote speaker, author, artist and poet. So people laugh at him and his ideas thats fine with him. A corporate fools guide to surviving with grace by gordon mackenzie and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. But too often, even the most innovative organization quickly becomes a giant hairball a tangled, impenetrable mass of rules, traditions, and systems, all based on what worked in the pastthat exercises an. A corporate fools guide to surviving with grace mackenzie, gordon on. S everal years ago i was introduced to a little book titled orbiting the giant hairball. Gordon mackenzie, author of orbiting the giant hairball, worked in the creative department of hallmark cards for 30 years. Before long, explains author gordon mackenzie, where there was once nothing, this tangled impenetrable mass has begun to form. To me, the central insight of the book, is that gordon mackenzie is not afraid of being a fool and that this is how he achieves many of his successes. Gordon mackenzie successfully tells us how to survive the natural gravity of the giant hairball that sucks the life out of creativity, innovation, and the very people that corporate entities require to stay vital. Well email you at these times to remind you to study. Orbiting the giant hairball deserves more than five stars for the potential benefits it brings to all who read and apply it.
When employees participate in this work environment, they become entangled in the hairball. In his deeply funny book, exuberantly illustrated in full color, he shares the story. Book overview the book orbiting the giant hairball was written by gordon mackenzie in 1996. Read orbiting the giant hairball pdf by gordon mackenzie viking listen to orbiting the giant hairball. Gordon was an employee of hallmark cards for 30 years, where he inspired his colleagues to slip the bonds of corporate normalcy and rise to orbit to a mode of dreaming, daring, and doing. He compares the organization and processes at hallmark cards to a giant hairball. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. This book, subtitled a corporate fools guide to surviving with grace, was recommended to me by my longtime friend and colleague robyn rickenbach of springboard international.
Buy the hardcover book orbiting the giant hairball. A corporate fools guide to surviving with grace at. Orbiting the giant hairball gordon mackenzie worked at hallmark cards for thirty years, where he inspired his colleagues to slip the bonds of corporate normalcy and rise to orbit to a mode of dreaming, daring, and doing above and beyond the rubberstamp confines of the administrative mindset. It is this resulting mass of hair this hairball that drives mackenzie to write. Orbiting the giant hairball is one of the most unusual business books ive read. Gordon was an employee of hallmark cards for 30 years, where he. The hairball is the tangle of rules intended to maximize productivity in a bureaucratic company but often impedes or stifles our best work. I want to call out a few points from the book that add to my recommendation that this book is. The author uses a series of often humorous, short, personal stories to reflect on and. Orbiting the giant hairball chief happiness officer. Originally selfpublished the book became a business cult classic. But too often, even the most innovative organization quickly becomes a giant hairball a tangled, impenetrable mass of. In his book, orbiting the giant hairball, mackenzie asks school children from kindergarten through sixth grade if they consider themselves to be artists.
A corporate fools guide to surviving with grace by gordon mackenziemy rating. Gordon mackenzie orbiting the giant hairball posts. And its one hes broadcasting beyond the cardmakers kansas city campus. The most important dialogue group in latin america part three recognition and the dynamics of thinking. Pick up the key ideas in the book with this quick summary. And i would encourage you to get a copy of mackenzies book. Gordon was an employee of hallmark cards for 30 years, where he inspired his colleagues to slip the bonds of. This book was given to me my by my friend and agile coach, jamie gillis, who considers this book a game changer for his life. The book orbiting the giant hairball was written by gordon mackenzie in 1996. In the 224 pages, gordon describes his journey as a creative in a corporate environment. About gordon mackenzie many people might have considered the late gordon mackenzie a renaissance man.
Learning to orbit the giant hairball creativitycrisis. After working for hallmark cards, he started to give workshops and tutorials centered on maintaining creativity in the corporate world. In his deeply funny book, exuberantly illustrated in full color, he shares lessons on awakening and fostering creative genius. Change agents, creative types stuck in the stifling corporate culture and what you can do about it, storytellers this book was given to me my by my friend and agile coach, jamie gillis, who considers this book a game changer for his life. Many have read this book and commented on critical points it makes in terms of what it takes to innovate, what kills creativity and innovation and so on. Giant hairball meets the wiggly world of organizational. Orbiting the giant hairball summary orbiting the giant hairball orbiting the giant hairball. Orbiting the giant hairball a corporate fools guide to surviving with grace by gordon mackenzie viking penguin, 1998. Orbiting the giant hairball by gordon mackenzie the book orbiting the giant hairball was written by gordon mackenzie in 1996. Its only available in hardcopy and there is a good reason, its filled with little doodles and art from the author, gordon mackenzie.
These blinks explain how to evade the dark, creativitystifling vortex of corporate bureaucracy by balancing corporate restraints with personal creativity. A corporate fools guide to surviving with grace hardcover 1 apr 1998 by gordon mackenzie author. Has orbiting the giant hairball by gordon mackenzie been sitting on your reading list. Will mcinnes culture shock a handbook for 21st century business. Synopsis of orbiting the giant hairball by gordon mackenzie.
I picked up the book, orbiting the giant hairball by gordon mackenzie, for one reason only the title. Orbiting the giant hairball orbiting the giant hairball. A corporate fools guide to surviving with grace from the worlds largest community of readers. Mackenzie was hired on as a creator for the company, and during a staff meeting. Read summary of orbiting the giant hairball by gordon mackenzie. Make your job difficult, stretch yourself thin, stress yourself out and eventually you, too, may be honored with executive approval. A corporate fools guide to surviving with grace audiobook by gordon mackenzie read online orbiting the giant hairball. Mackenzie visited fast company to discuss his book, how to orbit a. Orbiting the giant hairball 1996 is a guide to surviving at a corporation while holding onto your creativity. Gordon mackenzie treats us to a lyrical account of creatively pursuing his 30 year career with hallmark, a traditional pyramid organization, in orbiting the giant hairball. A corporate fools guide to surviving with grace by gordon mackenzie isbn.
Its irreverent, full of drawings, and completely chaotic in the most wonderful way. Gordon mackenzie, the author of the book, worked at hallmark cards for 30 years to the day. His workshops were further developed into his book orbiting the giant hairball. Orbiting the giant hairball by gordon mackenzie coffee.
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