As I read the last chapter of K&P I tried to keep more of an open mind than I had in the past. I tried to take what they were saying at face value and not read so much into their theories and suggestions. Approaching this chapter in such a way seemed to have a positive outcome. I liked Chapter 13, I thought it was well written, the information was well supported and it brought together different aspects from previous chapters.

Chapter 13 seemed to be the most realistic and upfront chapter. By far my favorite section that K&P wrote about was "Humility is the Antidote to Hubris." My favorite sentence, "You can do all of these leadership practices perfectly and still get fired!" (p. 347) FINALLY... the truth. As I read K&P throughout the semester, I continually felt like they were throwing this formula in my face, a failure-free formula that would guarantee that if I followed their leadership advice I would be the next amazing leader to be quoted in a book that has sold millions of copies. It was after I read this line that I gained a new appreciation for the book... it was at that point that I realized they knew that all of the principles don't always work - especially since individuals have the power and ability to interupt each principle as they choose.

Another quote from the chapter that I could relate to was, "There's a point at which each of the The Five Practices, taken to extremes, can lead you astray" (p. 347). This statement really rings true. I think it also speaks to my desire in past weeks to over-analyze each of the chapters, trying to find step by step instructions on how to succeed through the practices.

K&P finish the chapter with a story from John H. Stanford - a u.S. Army Major General who explains that the secret to success in life is to stay in love. I found this answer, like K&P to be unexpected. Love is the answer... oh dear! Yet, the more I thought about it, the more it makes sense. I took a step back and thought about my job and the days that I really love my job and how I pass along my love to others and what a difference that makes in productivity, relationships and overall morale in the office. Then I thought about my father, who has been doing the same job since he was 18... over 30 years - he does what he does because he loves it. My father absolutely loves his job, he loved it when I was a kid and he loves it now. When I visit my parents and I take the time to sit down with my dad and talk about work, his face lights up and he sparkle he gets in his eye when he talks about what he does on daily basis amazes me. He i s definitely in love with his job and it is a reflection of the relationship he has with himeslef, with his job and the leadership he exudes.

However, I love to play devil's advocate - can someone be overly in love? Can their passion be a roadblock to their success as a leader? Does their love get in the way of being able to see the other side of the fence? Can someone be so in love that they have blinders on and can't see what is really going on around them?