In Lessons from the Sandbox renowned consultant Alan Gregerman, shows how the insights gained from children can help companies to innovate, grow, and improve their bottom line performance.

Lessons is a book about the magic of childhood, the potential of adulthood, jumping in puddles, and prospering in tomorrow’s economy. Looking closely at the corporate world and the daily lives of children, Gregerman identifies 13 key “gifts” or talents we all possessed quite naturally as kids that are essential to business success. These are the gifts of play, enthusiasm, focus, urgency, leadership, wonder, curiosity, asking questions, trying new things, creativity, participation, making safe and cozy places, and accomplishing simple and great things. In addition to explaining these gifts and their importance, he shows in upbeat and practical terms how we can rediscover them and use them to improve corporate performance and our personal success.

The message of Lessons is simple and powerful. We all possess the innate ability to make a real difference in the world around us. But as we get older most of us lose the knack for tapping these gifts of childhood. And most companies lose the knack for inspiring us to really reach our full potential.

Lessons is a book for established companies and leaders who are looking for new ways to innovate, grow, and bring out the special talents in all of their people. It is also a book for entrepreneurs who are starting and building successful companies and would like to maintain their sense of energy, enthusiasm, and wonder. And, it provides new insight for everyone trying to balance work and family by showing how you can actually be more successful at work by spending time with and learning from children.

So if you have ever been a small child yourself or have small children in your life come join Alan Gregerman and his friends on a serious-and seriously fun-journey to the playground for some amazing lessons about leadership, learning, enthusiasm, asking a million questions, working together, thinking outside the box, and just plain having fun …lessons that we all knew naturally when we were kids. The success of your company could be waiting at the edge of the sandbox!

As the CEO of a global healthcare company and the father of four, all I can say about Lessons from the Sandbox is Yes, Yes, Yes! It is rare to find a book that is simple, informative, honest, and a lot of fun.

Lessons from the Sandbox is simply awesome! Now I understand why I love being a mother and the CEO of a high tech company. It's all about making magic, feeling free to jump in a lot of puddles, and living and working at the speed of life.

Alan Gregerman has an uncanny way of relating business objectives to the talents and attitudes we all had as children. The result is funny and provocative.

Lessons from the Sandbox is a wonderful book about recapturing the magic and sense of wonder we all had as children.

With a three-year-old at home, I couldn't tell if Lessons from the Sandbox was teaching me more about being a dad or about being a CEO! Regardless, it opened my mind and filled it with wonder.

From Publishers Weekly:
Like Peanut Butter & Jelly Management by Chris Komisarjevsky (Forecasts,Mar. 20), this lighthearted book draws on the lessons of childhood and family life to instruct readers how to run more productive and successful companies. Gregerman, a Washington-based consultant, believes that every employee and manager would benefit from taking a more childlike approach to work. Specifically, Gregerman's Big Lesson #1 is "You can only do really good work if you enjoy what you're doing." Other lessons include: "Matters of the greatest importance require urgency and persistence"; "We can only learn and grow if we are willing to try new things"; and "Never assume that an older sister or a co-worker is an expert with a scissors." Although it's true that adults avoid puddles whereas children love jumping into them, Gregerman doesn't make a convincing case that jumping into a puddle will transform his readers into more creative problem solvers. Aside from all its amusing anecdotes and funny quotes from kids, however, this book isn't likely to satisfy those in search of substantive management advice. Agent, Nancy Crossman. (May) Copyright 2000 Cahners Business Information.