What others are saying about Basic Relationship and leadership strategies
Pre-Publication Reviews
A readily comprehensible how-to for managing others, but as importantly, managing oneself. Contains wisdom anyone can access, whether one plans on becoming a leader of industry or just a better counselor, teacher, or parent.—The US Review of Books Read the full review
This book is an accurate synthesis of a treasure chest of scholarly work. It is written in an honest and conversational style. It is the product of significant insight. Paul Heacock is, indeed, a Town Father who will raise global well-being.—Maria Hunt, Ph.D. Professor of Psychology, Avila University
Paul has a great memory for humorous anecdotes...they bring home the points.—Paula Kay, W. Kay and Associates
Very well written and extremely easy to understand and implement. To me, this is the BASIC training for life skills and reminds me in many ways of my experience in military basic training. If we wanted to survive basic, all of the trainees in my flight had to work together or suffer
the consequences, meaning we had to put our differences aside and make it work. —Danny Walker, Chief Master Sergeant (retired), Air National Guard
I enjoyed reading this book. It reminded me of concepts I had forgotten and I also learned some new things. I really liked the examples and good use of humor and anecdotes.—Jim Temme, Author, Trainer, Speaker and Consultant
It was a pleasure reading BASIC Leadership and Relationship Strategies and giving thought to the excellent content. The examples and stories really add clarity and color to the material.—Dave Wine, President and CEO MutualAid eXchange
This labor of love is very thought provoking and right on point. An excellent job capturing the core of leadership development.—Bob Gibson, President and CEO (retired), Medical Protective
This is a great summary of Paul's life, what he has learned, how he actually lives. Indeed, it's a great reflection on a life well lived. A good guide for all.—Cary Phillips, President and Founder, CP1 Consulting, LCC
Enjoy the read. If you’re young, applying these concepts can immediately better your life and relationships. If you are in the middle of your working life, application of these ideas will make the remainder of your career and relationships more fulfilling. Even if you’re “mature” like Paul and me, applying these great ideas to your relationships will significantly enhance the “golden years.—Dale Hotze, Managing
Director, AFM International
(Amazon) Reminds readers of the importance of authentic and connected human interactions that should be at the center of any career. Paul Heacock's "BASIC Relationship and Leadership Strategies" reminds readers of the importance of authentic and connected human interactions that should be at the center of any career. It is too easy in the heated environments of hyper-competitive fields to lose sight of the simple truths in Heacock's book that allow organizations, groups and teams to thrive. A self-described "commoner" -- not a typical description of someone with as many years of business success as he has -- Heacock shares his "common sense" guidance with humble generosity. — Dr. Janet S. Rose, Psychologist , William Allen White School of Journalism and Mass Communication, The University of Kansas
(Trafford Publishing) A collection of great concepts packaged efficiently together. I had the opportunity to be in a one hour presentation with the author and decided to buy the book because he was working on a short time frame for his presentation and I wanted more clarity on some of the concepts he discussed.As others have stated, this is a great book for individuals who want to learn relationship concepts with also some focus on leadership. Although I wouldn't limit this to just young adults as I have met several adults who in my opinion do not understand the benefits of these concepts or at least do not actively practice them. I believe the author’s humbleness and humor works well with the concepts that are given. I like the authors stance that this information is not new, but that he has complied the BASIC information for life. The author makes it clear that he is not presenting any new concepts to the world, but packaging a lot of concepts together in one book. He presents the information without a bunch of technical jargon or extra fluff wording. The book is really simple and to the point with a 'real' vibe that is not superficial. — Anonymous
(Trafford Publishing) Treats the BASIC concepts of success so simply and straightforwardly. In this age of gimmicks and theory, I was pleasantly surprised to find a book that treats the BASIC concepts of success so simply and straightforwardly. The compact chapters get right to the point and spotlight key concepts that make ideas memorable. Behavior and communication are key in "leadership, partnership and parenthood," and this book offers tools for self-improvement that I can use immediately. — Becky Blades, Entrepreneur, Strategist, Creative Consultant
(Trafford Publishing) Not another book written by an underachieving professor. This is not another book written by an underachieving professor who teaches and writes after failing in the business world. The author is a guy who came from humble means and has been successful at every level. He shares experiences in both personal and professional life and prides himself in his ability to lead effectively. If you live with or work with others, you can benefit from the author's ideas on how to get along. — Steve Kettner, Special Agent, Federal Bureau of Investigation (Ret), Independent Security and Investigations Professional
(Trafford Publishing) This book is full of nuggets that can be used in any walk of life. It is a practical common sense approach to all aspects of leadership in life. Very thought provoking, easy to read, and I wanted to finish the entire book before I put it down. Great book and I would recommend it to everyone. — Anonymous
(Trafford Publishing) Direct to point and truly inspiring. The title of the book speaks for itself. It's about the BASIC things in life that we take for granted and not realizing that this makes a big difference. — Cherry Williamson, Executive Administrative Assistant
(Trafford Publishing) I will be sharing this book with both of my sons so that they can benefit from Paul's fine work. This is a book that will improve your life or career if a young executive or improve your relationships after retirement. It is an easy read and provides valuable life lessons that will help you focus on and appreciate the people around you. Although not my first exposure to the concepts discussed in the book, I know I will learn something each time I pick up this book. I will be sharing this book with both of my sons so that they can benefit from Paul's fine work. — Anonymous
(Trafford Publishing) It's a good reminder of the attributes of effective leadership. We can all be better leaders in our personal and professional lives following the BASIC precepts outlined in Paul's book. He offers sound advice for our everyday social interaction. — G. D. Myers, President and CEO (Ret.), Cameron Insurance Companies
(Amazon) Highly useful publication. I rarely read so-called self-help books because I don't seem to find them very self-helpful....this one veers from my past experience because it is, on the surface, a quick read, an interesting read, and an easy to remember one using the acronym of BASIC. The interesting thing to me about this publication is that, although it is a slim book, it is packed with thought-provoking information that can serve as a useful reference tool with respect to dealing with people--both every day and important ones in your life. I just turned 67, still teach part-time, and want to keep my mind active. I think this publication is one of those should-have references that needs to be nearby for retrieval purposes on a regular basis. I highly recommend this one, especially for folks like me who normally shy away from self-helpies.....great job, Mr. Heacock! — Patrick McLean, Author, Independent Marketing and Advertising Professional
(Amazon) Essential life skills needed for leadership. This book pinpoints many life skills that are essential to developing a professional career and enhancing personal relationships. Mr. Heacock's true life stories add clarity and understanding to the important points he wishes to emphasize. Great book to give as a gift to a recent graduate or even just to have on your own book shelf as a reminder of the commonsense strategies everyone needs to use in order to grow both personally and professionally. — Anonymous
(Trafford Publishing) This simple mnemonic makes it easy to remember the ideals of a strong, caring leader. As a former employee, I watched Paul put his BASIC ideas to work daily. The principles outlined here will also be helpful in my high school classroom. Students need to see a model of great leadership in order to become great leaders themselves. The BASIC ideas and philosophy are applicable to all walks of life. — Joe Van Haecke, Teacher Des Moines Public Schools
(Amazon) A great book for the novice to the journeyman, whether young or older. I worked for [with] Paul in the past, a great mind and business personality. His book shares many obvious and conventional wisdoms that oh so often are forgotten. I also learned a couple new thoughts and much more about Paul as a first-class human being. He uses interesting stories to emphasize key points. The book is a comfortable and pleasurable read. It reads with confident acumen, humble wisdom, good pace, and a great tone; neither preachy nor haughty. GREAT work by a good man! — Scott Fausset, Instructional Designer and Intel Analyst, U.S. Army
(Amazon) “The most important decision we make each day is to be in a good mood.” Simplistic and yet simultaneously profound. Using his own life as the framework for examples, the author offers that the main purpose of his BASIC strategies is to expand the reader's 'tool kit.' Throughout this book Heacock craftily weaves examples from personal experience into a repetitive drum beat of true morsels of wisdom that serve to articulate the meaning of his BASIC strategy, with each nugget being a sterling example that every reader can relate to. I found myself penning in the margins check marks and stars, along with numerous underlines, all because the book is stuffed with leadership gems that are definitive keepers, be they for use in everyday dialogue or one's professional life. For example, one of the more memorable attitudinal statements attributed to French philosopher Voltaire was, "The most important decision we make each day is to be in a good mood." Simplistic and yet simultaneously profound! In the latter chapters of this book, the author introduces the important aspect of "care" into the BASIC strategy, i.e., "People don't care how much you know until they know how much you care." As Heacock reinforces, care directly contributes to the overall value of any leader's relationship. Simply stated, this easy read offers foundational points across the spectrum of personal relationships and leadership. This book is applicable to a wide range of readers, from a fledgling Boy Scout, as a means of critical dialogue at our nation's military schools, or simply a primer for anyone looking to 'return to the BASICs.' — Lieutenant General Garry Parks, U.S. Marine Corp (Ret), Chairman of the Board - Armed Forces Insurance Company
(Amazon) A MUST READ for everyone, but especially for your young adult children! My B. A. and M. Ed. are in Counseling Psychology and my (all but dissertation) doctorate is in Higher Ed Administration. Having said that, I am painfully aware of how much the types of tools in this book are needed for all of us, but particularly, in the general population, and even more so in the youth of today. I think this book does an outstanding job of explaining these basic psychological and emotional intelligence principles in easy to understand language. — Pamela Patton, B.A and M.Ed in Counseling Psychology
(Amazon) A massive amount of knowledge on leadership and self-improvement boiled down into a concise and easy to read format. After reading this book once, I have read and re-read sections of it many times over, I am convinced that this Author has read and retained the knowledge from every leadership and self-improvement book I have ever read. I find this book to contain a massive amount of knowledge boiled down into a very concise and easy to read format. I enjoyed every one of Paul’s personal anecdotes and even found myself chuckling out loud as I could relate to his pains of checking his left butt cheek for a "missing" wallet, or making a mess out of a milkshake on the job. I hope that everyone I give this book to will read it and enjoy it as much as I have - I plan on referencing it often in the future as well as having my children read it. — Sean L. Pitcher, CEO, Maximum Processing
(Trafford Publishing) I thought so highly of Paul's book and the life's lessons it contains that I purchased a copy for each of my adult children ages 35 and 32. I know they will benefit from this valuable information as I have. — Kurt Seelbach, President and CEO, Armed Forces Insurance Company
(Amazon) I’m impressed by the clarity and understandability of the writing. I relearned a lot of BASIC information I used during my 35 years as an Administrative Assistant. I was very blessed to have several bosses that used the BASIC principles. They made my work environment enjoyable and rewarding. The information in the book is very pertinent and I pray many people read and use the knowledge they learn in all aspects of their lives. Thanks for putting these BASIC truths into writing. — Gwen Hampton-Braniecki, Administrative Assistant (Ret.) General American Life Insurance Company
(Amazon) A genuinely common-sense approach to relationships. When presented with the prospect of reading another book on relationship and leadership strategies, I have to confess to one very straightforward and honest reaction. “OH, I’d really rather not.” But Paul Heacock’s book “BASIC Relationship and Leadership Strategies” amounted to a most pleasant surprise. He truly delivers on his promise to provide “commonsense ideas on how to get along better with the important people in your life”. Right from the start, Paul acknowledges the good news that we already know most of the truly important concepts. He reminds us that the key is pausing and remembering them when we most need them. Paul very modestly refers to himself as “just a commoner” who thinks and knows we can do better. He encourages us to view BASIC strategies as part of a journey and not a destination. While it’s easy to refer to this as a back-to-the-basics approach, one might consider a return to the basics as the initial step forward in the pursuit of doing better. And as we readers embark upon that journey, we are most gratified to be accompanied by “just a commoner” possessing a most uncommon knack for reminding us to pause, remember what we already know, and carefully apply it when and where it’s most needed. — Brad M. Fowler, President and CEO, Cameron Insurance Companies
(Amazon) One good book. Paul has compiled an invaluable, comprehensive collection of great ideas and rules of thumb about living a good life. BASIC Relationships and Leadership Strategies brings together proven leadership and management theories in one book. When these easy to understand principles are put into practice they can improve our relationships with the people who are important to us in our personal and professional lives. — Richard Kline, EVP (Ret.), Cameron Insurance Companies
(Amazon) Learning more about the basics of leadership. I highly recommend Paul Heacock's book to readers who are students of leadership. It’s a superb reminder of the fundamental aspects of humanity—respect, civility, compassion, selflessness, charity to name a few. Touches on the practical and ideal. Leadership is fragile, demanding, learning, emotional, inspiring, decisive, consequential, and mostly about making a difference. Paul wrote a simple, but masterful piece on how to engage with others as a leader. A must read. — Major General Tony Taguba (Ret), U.S. Army
(Amazon) Engaging book. The book is a very enjoyable read with a natural flow supported by good anecdotes and quotations. What could potentially turn dry and theoretical Paul keeps lively, accessible and engaging. — Jorgen Jensen, Independent Management Consulting Professional
(Amazon) Enjoyable read, laced with humor and good advice. Paul Heacock has pulled together a broad and interesting array of thoughts on leadership and relationships which he has personally vetted during his many years of experience as a businessman, husband, father and grandfather. An enjoyable read laced with humor and advice worthy of thoughtful consideration. — Andrea Lockridge, General Counsel, Secretary & V.P. Human Resources, Cameron Insurance Companies
(Amazon) Great life lessons and antidotes for better living. I just finished the book and thoroughly enjoyed it. There were some great life lessons and antidotes for better living through the BASIC’s. Interestingly, I left the book on a table by a reading chair and my wife and mother in law both liked the intro and plan to read it in 2015 as well. — Greg Haug, Managing Director, Aon-Benfield
(Amazon) A cogent and concise discussion on the fundamentals of good leadership. Paul Heacock has written a cogent and concise discussion on the fundamentals of good leadership that will serve both as a great primer for young leaders developing their skills and a reminder to more seasoned leaders that such skills are not as complex as they sometimes seem - leadership is BASIC. — Colonel Tom Dials (Ret.) U.S. Army
(Amazon) Making the relationships that matter to us better and more fulfilling. Paul draws from his considerable experience to guide readers wisely toward making the relationships that matter to us better and more fulfilling and helping us to be more thoughtful, careful, discerning leaders. Along the way, he reminds readers of ideas and strategies that we have foolishly stuck on a back burner -- to our detriment. — William D. Tammeus, Columnist, National Catholic Reporter and The Presbyterian Outlook
(Amazon) I enjoyed this book and found it to be full of valuable information. I found Paul's book to be very straight forward, down to earth, enlightening, and a refreshing reminder on how to get along and deal with the people in my life. I can relate to some of Paul's experiences having known him as a friend and as a client over the many years of our relationship. I certainly will recommend this book to others. — Phillip K. Marblestone, Partner (Ret.) Coopers & Lybrand/Price Waterhouse
(Amazon) A sound approach to Leadership. Paul Heacock, a leader who has "been there and done that," has written an excellent, very readable book on relationships and leadership strategies. He is a clear, concise, well-organized writer who gets to the heart of his matter quickly, without prevarication, through the use of a conversational, light, and smooth flowing style that often brings a smile to one's face. Paul introduces his BASIC acronym, the underlying construct to his leadership strategy, in his preface, and then in short, logically structured chapters, he effectively covers each letter, or principle, of the acronym. He sums up his key points in his "Final Thoughts." Nicely done--- a great tool for junior leaders/managers, military and civilian folks, those making the jump from technical positions to leadership roles, and also senior leaders who need to make adjustments to their style to help foster a more effective organization. — Colonel Norman Greczyn (Ret.), U.S. Army
(Amazon) A genuine and clearly crafted understanding of the nature or organizational dynamics. Paul Heacock has a genuine and clearly crafted understanding of the nature of organizational dynamics. He has deeply integrated and established a connection between a highly developed strategic focus and an equally important commitment to human dynamics which allow an organization to function out of trust, creativity and effectiveness---a “commonsense” approach to organizations and human interaction. In BASICS he intertwines the above threads in a way which can help a formal organization, a relationship with one other person, a family or any social network requiring structure and human interface to discover time tested themes to be considered and assimilated. The book is an easy read with clear and solid theory and practical ideas colored with quotations, witticisms and human anecdotes. A good read and a positive addition to the literature of the field. — Bentley Peters, President JB Peters Consulting Group, Inc.
(Amazon) A great gift idea. We bought two copies of Paul's books for our grown sons. I read the book prior to giving them away and was so impressed by Paul's practical and inspirational words. Paul addresses BASIC needs in work and personal relationships. We can all use reminders of how to improve our lives. This is a suitable gift for any age person. — Judy Oberkrom, Housewife and Mother
(Barnes and Noble) Takes what many others talk/speak about and presents it in ways anyone can understand. Great read/writing on behalf of Paul who I have known for over 20 years personally and professionally. Covers the virtues of life and often times why people behave the way they are behaving. Great book Paul. — Dick Brooks, Owner, Sandler Training
(Trafford Publishing) It is always valuable to reinforce the foundation from which you manage. Paul's book is a great handbook for doing that. I'll keep it nearby for an instant refresher! — George Zock, Independent Financial Services Professional
(Trafford Publishing) Paul has captured key values to leadership qualities. I have known Paul a LONG time and have always been amazed at his detailed approach to everything he is involved in. It was good to be reminded again of how simple some of the strategies really are. Good reading for all especially those aspiring "new" leaders. — Kent Osborn, Member of the Board of Directors, Cameron Mutual Insurance Companies
(e-mail) A great message for all who read it to make the world a better place by beginning with ourselves. We have a church staff meeting on Friday and I will give each a copy... really looking forward to our lunch conversations in the coming weeks!!! — Father Rickey Valleroy, Pastor, St. Joseph’s Church
(e-mail) This book not only contains a great story, but it is beautifully presented. I enjoyed reading and rereading BASIC Relationship and Leadership Strategies. There is a tremendous amount of effort, knowledge and talent crammed into these pages. The writing, with lots of warmth and lightness, and a generous touch of self-deprecation, shows the author also places a very high value on this overview of the crazy world in which we live. I also enjoyed and appreciated the anecdotal approach to making key points relating to both the business and personal aspects of the message. — Bob Adams, President and CEO (Ret.), Frankona America Life Reassurance Company
(Amazon) The concepts are easy to understand and implement. I was impressed with the ideas and concepts presented in the book. The concepts are easy to understand and implement. These BASIC strategies apply not only to your professional life, but to your personal life as well. A great book for all. — Stacey Unzicker, Senior Quality Assurance Specialist, Armed Forces Insurance Company
(Letter) What I learned from this book, even at 91 years old, was great. I wish I read it years ago!. — Marge Culliton, Grandmother of 9
(Trafford Publishing) Basic Relationship and Leadership Strategies is a simple, down to earth read, and power packed. It keeps you focused on what is important and how to handle the important which is basically relationships whether casual or working relationships. The applications that Paul presents can be used in every area of your life and they are simple to apply. A very enjoyable read. — Faye Otto, Account Specialist at Joyce Meyer Ministries
(Trafford Publishing) An educational and entertaining read. Many of Paul's life experiences we can all relate to, and he ties them into valuable points we can use in our lives and businesses. — Bob Cummings, CPA, RMMC CPA's
(Trafford Publishing) Paul has written this book in a way that makes it easy to remember the BASIC strategies. The illustrations and personal experiences are what make this book enjoyable to read. I would highly recommend reading BASIC Relationship and Leadership Strategies. — Becky Turnbull, Director Strategic Planning at Armed Forces Insurance
(Trafford Publishing) Paul's managed to assemble some of the best practices in developing and maintaining healthy relationships. His style comes from a place of caring where everyone, regardless of a specific station life, will surely benefit from learning something new while recharging resident good habits. I'm thankful for his experiences and highly recommend this insightful read. — Samuel T Broomer , Executive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer at Berkley Re Direct (a W.R. Berkley Company)
(Barnes & Noble) I found this book to be a very interesting and quick read. The author has done an excellent job in presenting a comprehensive list of traits and skills that we all have, but for various reasons do not use them effectively. I know we can't 'teach old dogs new tricks' but the author certainly presented them and hopefully readers pick up on those unused and sealed away skills. — Doug Lang, Vice President Human Resources (Ret.) Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada.
(Trafford Publishing) This book was easy to read, simple, to the point and definitely an “eye-opener”. Basic Relationship and Leadership Strategies, is a great book and the author did an excellent job. I feel the title of the book was very appropriate as well. There are many areas of our life, that we need to find a way to get back to “The Basics”. This book was easy to read, simple, to the point and definitely an “eye-opener”. The author also shared some insight regarding his personal life, which I find interesting, as it’s always nice to know what’s really behind the author. In summary, it was great and I look forward to the release of his next book. — Deana Richardson, Virginia State Sales Manager, MutualAid eXchange Insurance.
(Amazon) Easy read on the go. Very inspiring, informative outlook that can be applied to everyday life of a working mom. Easy read for selective information when on the go, while also a fluid, informative storybook through all the examples when time allows. Definitely would recommend. — Lindsey Scott, Software Engineer, MAX Insurance Group.
(Amazon) This is a very good book that makes a lot sense to me. I found the discussion of the “Cs” (Commonsense, Caring and Communication) most helpful. While I don’t currently manage anyone at work, the book does offer a lot of useful information that can be applied to managing my own self and thus its lessons extend into my home and personal life. — Brad Schrum, Commercial and Church Lines Underwriter, MAX Insurance.
(Amazon) BASICs – A must read. Paul Heacock is not a rocket scientist. He is, however, an accomplished business leader, devoted family man and perhaps most importantly for readers, someone who can help you see common sense applications of the basics of relationships and leadership in everyday life. Paul’s book is a quick read (only 70+ pages), but in those pages, with the everyday examples he uses, he helps remind us all of the basics we need to get back in dealing with business and personal relationships in our everyday life. I heartily recommend the book. — Dave Skup, Chief Financial Officer, Guarantee Insurance Company.
(Amazon) The most important concepts every person in leadership needs to know. Paul's book was a delight to read and filled with a summary of the thoughts of some of the greatest leaders and scholars of all times. It is a must read for anyone assuming a leadership role and even more critical for those who are currently in leadership and are struggling with how to motivate their teams. Simple and basic - yet filled with the most important concepts every person who wants to lead others should know. — Cathy Ellwood, Senior Director – Financial Leadership Rotation Program (Ret.), Nationwide Insurance, Founder, Ellwood Enterprises, LLC.
(Amazon) A collection of great concepts packaged efficiently together. I had the opportunity to be in a one hour presentation with the author and decided to buy the book because he was working on a short time frame for his presentation and I wanted more clarity on some of the concepts he discussed.
As others have stated, this is a great book for individuals who want to learn relationship concepts with also some focus on leadership. Although I wouldn't limit this to just young adults as I have met several adults who in my opinion do not understand the benefits of these concepts or at least do not actively practice them.
I believe the authors humbleness and humor works well with the concepts that are given. I like the authors stance that this information is not new, but that he has complied the BASIC information for life. The author makes it clear that he is not presenting any new concepts to the world, but packaging a lot of concepts together in one book. He presents the information without a bunch of technical jargon or extra fluff wording. The book is really simple and to the point with a 'real' vibe that is not superficial.— Jordan