10-10-10

April 13, 2009
Journalist Welch, coauthor of Winning (with her husband, former GE CEO Jack), offers an in-depth look at the decision making process that has brought her success and formed the basis of her work-life advice column in O, The Oprah Magazine. By imagining a decision's impact in the short and long term-in 10 minutes, 10 months, and 10 years-readers will discover not just their innermost values, but the wisdom to pursue them with confident and empowering choices. While easy to follow and simple in theory, the process can raise painful and challenging issues, illustrated in numerous case studies, Welch's personal story and the science behind 10-10-10. Welch also demonstrates how poor decisions are often the result of stress and guilt, rather than a lack of understanding or knowledge; the practical upshot of her approach is the ability to break through the often paralyzing ambivalence that keeps people in dead end jobs and relationships. Anyone who feels stuck, rushed or simply too emotional to make important life decisions should find Welch's technique surprisingly useful, and her guide to it both rallying and rational.

Instead of acting on impulse or instinct alone, this guide to life management suggests we ask what impact a decision or action will have in 10 minutes, 10 months, and 10 years. It's a simple tool for making decisions in the realms of career, business, leadership, romance, health, friendship, marriage, and family. Journalist and former HARVARD BUSINESS REVIEW editor Suzy Welch offers a smooth blend of insights about human nature and concise vignettes about how 10-10-10 has worked for dozens of people--including herself. Though her reading is determined and her pronunciation clipped at times, Welch sounds authentic and confident about her ideas. Most memorable is the sense of a warm human being who is willing to share her vulnerabilities and interested in helping her listeners. T.W. (c) AudioFile 2009, Portland, Maine