It's also one of those books that is rather difficult to categorize. I got a chuckle from the Library of Congress catalog notations:
1. Business–Religious aspects–Buddhism
2. (several Tibetan words) Criticism, interpretation, etc.
3. Roach Michael, 1952–
4. Lamas–United States–Biography
5. Diamond cutting industry–New York–History

The bottom line for me is that your thinking determines your results. Don't like the results you're seeing? Look for the answers in your perceptions of how things work. Chapter Seven entitled “The Correlations or Common Business Problems and Their Real Solutions” delves into 46 common business problems and how to identify the “imprints” in your own thinking that are driving results. Roach mines the diamond industry for examples and insights about the business practices that hinder growth and those business practices that expand opportunity.

Here's just one example:
“Business problem 36: In your everyday business dealings, the people around you–customers, suppliers, and employees–tend to mislead you.”

For this problem, Roach explores the need to act on two fronts: first, paying attention to your own feelings of pride which can get in the way of listening to what others have to say. And second, avoiding the trap of doing what's right because you will be recognized or praised by others. In fact, the better you are at managing and leading others, the less you need any recognition from others at all.

“Get out of the habit of hoping for recognition or praise for yourself–get into the habit of looking hard for opportunities to give recognition and praise to those around you–and suddenly nobody in your world—customer, supplier, or employer—will ever be acting in a misleading way toward you.”

I've been paying attention this week to this one critical action: looking for sincere opportunities to praise and recognize the efforts of others. I don't know if my husband, children, co-workers, and colleagues have noticed yet. However, I'm having a wonderful week full of gratitude for the people in my business and home that have so enriched my life. I've been relaxed and focused despite some unexpected challenges.

I'll leave you with a final quotation:
“Admit it. You want to be good in business, you want to be a success in your life, but you also have a strong instinct that tells you life wouldn't be much unless it had a spiritual side to it....The fact is that, for real success in business, you're going to need some of the deep insights that come with a spiritual life.”