GAMA International Journal January-February 2014 - 63

h av e yo u re ad . . .

brainstorm: Harnessing the power of productive obsessions
eric Maisel, ph.D. and Ann Maisel | new World Library | 304 pages
John A. Ramos, CMFC, is owner of trajectory Consulting, a
professional development firm that focuses on assisting new and
experienced leaders in the insurance and financial services industries
in expediting and improving their processes and systems. John began
his career in financial services as a producer with Waddell & Reed,
where he eventually served more than 25 years in leadership roles,
11 of them as regional vice president for the firm's operations in the
Pacific states.

a step-by-step
process for starting,
maintaining, and
ending a productiveobsession group."

John a. R amos, CMFC

"Brainstorm offers

IF YOu WANT TO ATTACK YOuR OPPORTuNITIES AND PROBLEMS WITh
a higher level of creativity and more fully access the billions of neurons you are
endowed with, then Brainstorm: Harnessing the Power of Productive Obsession
has some wonderful ideas to help you along.
eric and Ann Maisel introduce the idea that brainstorms and productive obsessions
are a gift you can give your brain "by inviting it to think hard about something that
matters to you, and your brain thanks you, having been waiting for exactly that
invitation."
They add that negative obsessions occur against our will. We obsess "about some
trivial matter at work and, that matter having been resolved, we obsess about the next
trivial matter. We obsess about things that we want to have happen, like winning the
lottery, and about things that we don't want to have happen, like getting wrinkles."
These negative obsessions use the astonishing power of our brains unproductively.
Productive obsessions, on the other hand, must be selected with a purpose in mind.
The book debunks popular myths that a productive obsession must be fueled by
passion, and that it will feel easy and be fun if it's worth pursuing. Instead, what fuels
a productive obsession is having a good reason to pursue it - and knowing that
productivity is not easy and that fun is not the only value worthy of pursuit.
Although at times the book seems addressed to artists, musicians, and scientists,
everything described is actually applicable directly in any endeavor, including business
and personal development. Whether you want to write a book or symphony, build an
Internet business, or accomplish the next milestone of your agency or firm, Brainstorm
will give you specific and concrete ways to engage your billions of neurons and

have you read?
Have you read a book that you
couldn't put down-or that you
keep bringing up to associates
and friends? Have you read
a new best seller with fresh
perspectives or do you keep
going back to an old favorite
on your bookshelf that has
given you lasting wisdom?
Share your find with fellow
GAMA members by emailing
gij@gamaweb.com.

synapses in your productive obsession.
However, Brainstorm is not a get-rich-quick scheme. The authors rightly point out that
brainstorms, productive obsessions, and hard work do not guarantee successful results;
instead, they provide "... the possibility of successes - which you never would have
achieved if you had avoided thinking ... ."
At the time of writing, eric Maisel facilitated a "productive obsession" cyberspace
group that elicited many meaningful insights from group members and is included
throughout the book. For those who find the dynamics of group interaction helpful,
Brainstorm offers a step-by-step process for starting, maintaining, and ending a
productive-obsession group.
either way, Brainstorm will surely give your brain something to chew on and possibly
the beginning of a new "... wonderful habit of mind that's available to you right now."
january/february 2014

GAMA International Journal January-February 2014

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of GAMA International Journal January-February 2014