When the Sun Shines Through: Change the Way You Face the Day (Book Two)

First, let's think about work. Did you know that even gifted executives derail in their careers because they haven't mastered the subtleties of:

1. Collaboration
2. Forging a mentor relationship and
3. Knowing and acting on their unique strengths?

These shortcomings reveal themselves most when challenges are new and the answers are few.

Regular reflection that includes poetry can add the missing dimension to you if you face such challenges and feel you're losing influence in your life. It lets the light in, and poise is the outcome. Dutch priest and psychologist Henri Nouwen famously wrote, "Silence is the home of the word." And in fact, the recent, enormous popularity in the work force of the book Quiet by Susan Cain, shows how reflection as a powerful quality has gained true traction.

So, how do you find clarity in your mind and embolden your own voice? How do you rid yourself of the fear that life is passing you by? You're not getting any younger . . . and perhaps you're not doing anything about it?

The answer is through personal self-discovery and transformation, says Allan Cox in his latest book, When The Sun Shines Through. Transformation, however, doesn't come easy. It takes guidance to re-imagine your life, to live more fully and claim what your unique strengths are, not just at work, but across your whole life. This also takes soul-searching

This new book, part of Allan's ongoing series, Change The Way You Face The Day, contains 13 chapters which prompt questions readers might not have asked themselves in a very long time-if ever. The book briefly, yet deftly, weaves Cox's original poetry, his photos and perspectives to bring a fresh self-sufficiency. It invites you to dig deep for unique insights and establish new boundaries and grounding.

Why poetry? "To make people more thoughtful," says Cox. "And it allows me to make the books in the series of small size because I'm able to deliver more accessible essence in a one-page poem than in a 20-page article." Cox blends his incisive presence with a perspective on poise honed from decades of leadership work among CEOs and their top teams.

He adds, "You can't help but see yourself with fresh eyes as you delve into these pages. Truly seeing your feelings unfold for the first time is the purest form of reflection." He turns to Thomas Merton to deliver the real wallop: People may spend their whole lives climbing the ladder of success only to find, once they reach the top, that the ladder is leaning against the wrong wall."

Allan's book is trying to help readers Wake Up and ask, 'Who am I now? What do I care about and believe in most deeply that I can deliver to the world, my family, my work? It holds up the mirror to its readers, helping them to dispense with the lethargy, the terrifying feeling that life is passing them by.

Allan's Q&A section is presented in a laid-back, conversational style that is comfortable, easy going and easy to understand. It's a great guide for Small Group discussion, When The Sun Shines Through is an ideal book for a handful of colleagues in the office once a week, a Saturday Morning Men's Group, a Monthly Women's Book Club or chatting at home with a few friends on a continuing basis. It is also powerful when just read alone.