Get Your SHIFT Together: How to Think, Laugh, and Enjoy Your Way to Success in Business and in Life, with a foreword by Jeffrey Gitomer

You gotta read this book - unless you are already one happy camper or want to remain miserable. Steve Rizzo cuts to the chase and lays it out in a manner that all of us can understand - Happiness is YOUR choice. When I first heard that I said, "Yeah, I know." But then I let it sink in. "Happiness doesn't 'happen' to me when the circumstances are right. Instead, I can choose to be happy whenever I want, like every minute of the day." That is a big change in perspective and one that I needed to hear. A lot of us think we know this but when we stop and really grapple with the idea, we really don't use it. We make excuses and blame our less than happy mood on something outside of ourselves. Steve Rizzo calls us out on that lie. Happiness is my choice! What choice am I making? That is a powerful challenge. If you like a serious challenge in life, you gotta read this book.I love his writing style as he weaves great stories, often with names we recognize, with powerful principles. I also love how he interjects humor and his zany personality with short comments that keep the mood light. That mood works to teach the reader exactly what he intends, that even in the midst of a bad situation where everything is going wrong, we have an opportunity to be happy. He tells those stories, true stories that have happened to him and others, in such a humble and welcoming manner that it feels like he is sitting next to you. I can't think of a better way to learn this critical lesson.I love reading biographies and especially the personal stories of how he chose to leave comedy at the moment he was about to realize his breakthrough. That takes guts - or stupidity. It doesn't take long to see that he is serious about the power of humor to change our lives. I like that. In the midst of this serious topic he infuses it with humor and this serves to model his mission. I don't see that often and enjoy it immensely when I do. I usually find superficial humor with no real substance or very serious discussions with little humor. He balances the two very well. That is another reason why ya gotta read this book.I've read a lot of books from popular press to highly technical. "Get Your Shift Together" is one of the easiest books to read that make the most sense. The concepts are easy to grasp but this is no "3 easy steps," so oversimplified that they are impractical. No, he details the rotten situations we encounter and shows how we can make them better with our choice to be happy in that moment. That is not an easy issue or answer but the remedy is simple to understand. In other words, Steve Rizzo's material is no joke, it is serious business that can change our lives, but he writes it in a way that leaves me laughing, thinking and changing. What a great combination. Like I said, yet another reason you gotta read this book.No wonder a friend told me yesterday that he is not only loving the book, but bought 3 more for family members before he finished reading the book. As he read further he went back and bought one for his boss. Now that is funny! How many of us good buy a book about "Humor is YOUR choice" and give it to our boss? That is a sign of a great book.The bottom line, this book helped me lighten up and be happy. I will definitely refer it to anyone who will listen.

I picked this book up because of its title and theme. I love the play on words, and the idea of shifting, as opposed to changing. As Steve Rizzo says, it seems less intimidating somehow. And it somehow connotes a smaller change. All the books I have read about change talk about making small, incremental changes to increase the likelihood of success. And this book is no different. What IS different is the humor and zest for life that is manifest in Mr. Rizzo's writing.Inside the front cover, the book promises to show us how to:- Find the humor in every situation- Turn negatives into positives- Make our workplace the best place to succeed- Stop being a full-time resident of the Negative Zone- Face our fears and get on with our lives- Make happiness a choice, and have fun doing itThe book delivers on these promises. It is easy to read, funny, inspiring, and practical. One of my favorite quotes is "People who are generally positive have problems just like everyone else. What separates the chronically positive from everyone else is that they know that their problems won't last and are simply part of the process of life...Pain is unavoidable, but to a person with a positive attitude, that's all it is: pain. It is not something to be compounded by doubt and past experience."This, along with Shawn Achor's "The Happiness Advantage", are my two favorite books on this topic. Happiness CAN improve not only your outlook, but also your health and performance. Happy reading!

I recently had the honor and pleasure to meet and interview Steve Rizzo. No doubt my review has been influenced by that opportunity. Steve is a class act. But back to the book review. The title is spot on to the message inside. Steve's personal stories had an impact on me because after only knowing him for 30 minutes I felt he was my friend. Well written with very insightful messages. The way he suggested I start my day has actually improved my days and my productivity. Steve cares about you, that's why he wrote this book. Take advantage of his friendship. Buy and share this book with all your friends. Maybe more importantly share this book with someone who may need to "shift" their thinking from a "woe is me" perspective to a more positive and effective way of thinking and living. BTW Steve, did you hear the one about..........

I picked up Steve Rizzo's book hoping to find answers to improve my attitude and outlook about the financial and personal pit I had fallen into. I could not put the book down, and I have read it several times, each time gaining even more insight into 'SHIFTING' my attidute. Steve adds knowledge and humor together to help you make an 'Attitude Adjustment' in your life. Life can 'knock' you down at times, whether its personal or business, Steve helps you affect a 'check-up from the neck-up' and maintain a 'possitive mental attitude and outlook' for today and into the future. This book is a 'keeper' and this reader will read it again, and again, and when ever life throws a curve ball!

This is, flat out, a terrific book. Through stories and anecdotes and a whole lot of self revelation - the author makes a very important point - not taking yourself too seriously is seriously important for our sanity and our ability to deal. Sometimes we get lost because we've lost the perspective that our sense of humor brings to us. I value this book. I enjoyed it. I laughed out loud at parts. I am doing my best to incorporate the smart, logical, good thinking that is abundant in this book. I say buy this because it's the funniest smartest self help book out there!

Laughter is the best medicineNot enough people do itLife is not as serious as we make itWe are here on BORROWED TIMEENJOY THE TIME!!!

Great book so easy to get into for every day use brilliant ways to ensure every day humour, it's what we need to lighten up from daily chores

Don’t recommend. This book was a pathetic excuse to brag about himself.