Bible Scriptures in Designed for Success - Book Report/Review Example

Use of Bible Scriptures in the Book, “Designed for Success” Dondi Scumaci has arranged the chapters in her book following the pattern of the Ten Commandments in the Bible. Each chapter is an anecdote relating an imaginary situation in which a woman is facing a situation as an employee. Each anecdote thus discussed is helpful to understand the particular commandment for success, analyzed in that particular chapter. There are lots of quotations from the scriptures as well as spiritual correlations throughout the chapters. The introduction of the book begins with a few lines from the psalms: “You know me inside and out, you know every bone in my body; you know exactly how I was made, bit by bit, how I was sculpted from nothing into something. Like an open book, you watched me grow from conception to birth; all the stages of my life were spread out before you, the days of my life all prepared before I’d even lived one day” (as cited in Scumaci, 2007, p.1). These words have multiple meanings in the context of this book, as they can be taken as words said by women to men, women to god or a woman to another woman who can guide and support her. The first sentence in this chapter is, “good news” (Scumaci, 2007). Here also the biblical language is used to make the point home. Scumaci (2007) goes on to say that for a woman, “the path.. (ahead)… is not always well-marked.” The author talks about a friendly voice that would act as a personal navigating system for you in every moment of confusion and crisis. This idea itself is very close to what Bible says about your inner voice (Scumaci, 2007). The challenges that one face in one’s workplace are, according to the author, considered as “calls to action” (Scumaci, 2007). Here again, the spirit of Bible is reminded of. Listing the stereotypes promoted by the society regarding women, Scumaci talks about the danger of fitting into them. Both the positive and negative stereotypes as well as the leadership attributes of women are also listed in this chapter. Towards the end of this introductory chapter, like a divine messenger, she asks the reader to pass along, whatever she has understood, to others. The biblical spirit is once again reflected in this statement. Chapter 1 is titled, the call to action. Again, there is a quotation from the proverbs. It says, “Listen as wisdom calls out! Hear as understanding raises her voice! On the hilltop along the road, she takes her stand at the crossroads” (as cited in Scumaci, 2007, p.5). Here, the author is trying to prepare the readers to be receptive to what is said in the coming pages of the book. The quotation from Proverbs is used to elicit total faith in what is being said. While talking about the glass ceiling that has limited the opportunities of women drastically, Scumaci is again drawn to quote Bible. She (Scumaci, 2007) says, “consider the story of queen Esther in the Bible. This is a woman who could have reasonably excused herself from the challenge by claiming a glass ceiling exemption.” Chapter 2 is titled commandment 1 and discusses the commandment derived by Scumaci (2007), namely, “manage your message from the inside out.” This chapter categorizes the communication that you make with your outside world into specific messages and sorts them out as negative and positive. Then the author helps you in finding ways to replace the negative messages with positive ones. The importance of precise and powerful communication is stressed using words from Bible when Scumaci says, “death and life are in the power of the tongue” (as cited by Scumaci, 2007, p.29). Scumaci (2007) also delineates seven simple ways to strengthen one’s communication skills. Third chapter discusses the second commandment of Scumaci (2007), which is, “empower yourself-what are you waiting for.” Here, the author (Scumaci, 2007) warns you that you need to empower yourself and also “eliminate what is disempowering.” Scumaci (2007) also rightfully points out that from an empowered position, one will have an advantage over others in decision-making. Parable of talents from Bible is directly quoted here. The story of the three servants who were given responsibility by their master when he had to leave the place on some urgent business is retold as an example for how to live up to the crisis situations (as cited by Scumaci, 2007, p.62). Fourth chapter is about equipping oneself with awareness. This chapter begins with the words that “awareness is essential to surviving and thriving” (Scumaci, 2007). One has to be more aware of one’s “responses, reactions and needs” is the message of this chapter (Scumaci, 2007). The next step, according to Scumaci (2007) is to become more aware of others so that one can develop one’s relationship skills. The fifth chapter elaborates on the idea of becoming a skilled negotiator. The basic idea discussed in this chapter is that “we don’t necessarily earn what we are worth; we earn what we believe we are worth and what we negotiate for” (Scumaci, 2007). Scumaci (2007) says that men ask for more when they negotiate while women always ask for less. She (Scumaci, 2007) provides the reader with many candid examples to prove her point. She (Scumaci, 2007) once again quotes Bible in this discussion and says that in the Bible, we are encouraged to ask and to keep asking- “keep on asking and you will receive what you ask for, keep on seeking and you will find” (as cited by Scumaci, 2007, p.102). Lead from your current position, is the commandment of the sixth chapter of Scumaci’s book. Here the message is bluntly stated as, “the first person you must learn to lead is you” (Scumaci, 2007). Scumaci advises that one should never hesitate to take the lead. When one learns to lead from one’s current position, according to Scumaci (2007), one has learned to create a bright future for oneself. Build a bridge to the future, is the next commandment, which is discussed in the seventh chapter of the book. In this chapter, Scumaci (2007) asks every woman to “isolate the gaps, develop action steps, anticipate obstacles, and identify the resources you need.” These steps, taken together can lead to you building a bridge to the future is the message of this chapter. This is all about constructing a dream, which is really big, backing it up with a solid plan of action, and also creating a powerful network of support for your action plans (Scumaci, 2007). Scumaci (2007) here finds a quotation from Bible, which is very apt to the theme being discussed. Even the word, ‘project’, is uttered in these lines. The quotation says that, “he is my home base and my shelter. The chairman of my board is Christ, without whom I can do nothing. When he endorses a project, it is fully funded and richly blessed” (as cited by Scumaci, 2007, p.150). These lines are very much in consent with the great optimism that is projected in this chapter about future. “You use steel to sharpen steel, and one friend sharpens another” is another message from Bible that is used here to give a stress to the argument (as cited by Scumaci, 2007, p.149). Think like a project manager, is the theme of the eighth chapter. This is also the seventh commandment. This chapter tells the reader that to think like a project manager is to become more “compelling, confident and prepared” (Scumaci, 2007). Scumaci (2007) says that it is important to understand what exactly drives your project. Carrying out a post-project review and comparing the results with the goals adds the finishing touches to the implementation of a project. A good project manager has the ability to know where your project has reached in any given time and space. Invest in the success of others is yet another commandment that Scumaci puts before her readers. This is about the “amazing transformation that occurs when we lead others to the next” (Scumaci, 2007). It is also about bringing “people with you on this journey of success” (Scumaci, 2007). To be democratic in your decisions and to be ready to hear what others have to say, are the two major attributes necessarily associated with this particular commandment. Breaking through the barriers, is the title of the next chapter and the next commandment. Here, the woman professional is encouraged to connect with people across the organization based on the common goals of the entire organization or the employees. Here, the concept of breaking the barriers has its roots in Biblical values such as universal love and loving one’s neighbor as yourself. Tolerance and reaching out to others as prescribed in Bible is the only way this commandment can be practiced. Add value to everything you do is the message of the succeeding chapter. In the job market, Scumaci (2007) is demanding of the reader to rise above being a commodity by adding qualitative elements to whatever one does and thinks. She (scumaci, 2007) reminds every woman who reads her book that adding value to oneself and one’s work has to be a daily process. The reason that she gives for making such an effort is that you are considered as exceptional only when you exceed the “expectations of your customers” (Scumaci, 2007). Here the very famous saying from Bible is recapitulated in the minds of the reader, namely, what you sow, you will reap (as cited by Scumaci, 2007, p.149). Answering the call is the final chapter and the final commandment in this book as well. Here a reassuring quotation from Bible is used. It says that, “the Lord will send a blessing on your barns and on everything you put your hands to. The Lord your God will bless you in the land he is giving you” ((as cited by Scumaci, 2007, p.236). The author in the end of the discourse wishes to impart some words of support for her readers. This gesture of support comes through the words, “may God prosper the work of your hands and the work of your heart” (Scumaci, 2007). The faith in the importance of divine intervention for any kind of success in life is once again stressed here. Scumaci (2007) concludes this chapter by wishing her readers, “as you design your life, may the blessings of God overtake you” (Scumaci, 2007). When reading through this book, it can be seen that transformation and faith are the two basic tenets on which Scumaci builds her theories regarding success. For her, success is not just material but holistic and spiritual. In the effort to impart her time proven solutions to the women around her, it is the Bible that becomes her inner voice and her personal navigator. References Scumaci, D. (2007) Designed for Success, Manchester: Excel. Read More