Wouldn’t it be nice if you could
become happy and successful by simply
changing your mind?
Meet Olivia, the newest hire at Mighty
Power’s customer service call center.
Excited to have a stable job and a good
salary, Olivia starts out with a sunny
disposition and a can-do attitude.
However, the constant barrage of angry
calls from frustrated customers soon
wears her down. Instead of handling
these irate customers in a calm,
professional manner, as she was trained
to do, she loses her temper and strikes
back.
Terrified that she will be fired for her
behavior she asks Isabel, an experienced
rep and the call center’s wise woman,
for help. The extraordinary advice she
receives changes her life, and may
change yours, too.
In this modern-day parable, author
Barbara Burke introduces 22
unforgettable life lessons that are the
framework for living a happy,
struggle-free life. We learn that while
we have no control over much of what
happens to us in life or the behavior of
others, we can choose our reaction. The
secret to success is being able to stop
long enough to see situations clearly—to
see “what is.” Making this one small
change gives us the power to make better
decisions and get better outcomes. Being
more mindful enables us to handle even
the most challenging interactions with
customers, co-workers, friends, and
family with grace and ease. The
Napkin, The Melon & The Monkey
serves as both a powerful resource for
business professionals looking for
easy-to-use tools to sharpen their
“inner game” and as an inspirational
tale for those who want better
relationships and a happier life.
Reviews:
"A marvelous tale packed with
ancient advice that works for modern
times. This book shows you practical
techniques for handling life’s
challenges more easily."
—Marshall Goldsmith, author of the
New York Times best-selling
What Got You Here Won’t Get You
There
"This is a special book.
Business fables are a dime a dozen.
But The Napkin, The Melon, and The
Monkey is something different. It
draws on the deep wisdom of the ages
and captures both the desperation
and the possibilities of the modern
workplace."
—Stephen Denning, author of The
Leader’s Guide to Storytelling
and The Secret Language of
Leadership
"Through her storytelling,
Barbara shows the importance of
caring and compassion and brings
alive the behaviors that can make a
difference to customers, companies
and customer service professionals
everywhere."
—Barbara Porter, Vice President,
Business Development
and Customer Service, Nicor National
