Stretch audiobook

My curiosity in Stretch was piqued after I went to a book event where Professor Sonenshein shared key takeaways from his research. The book did not disappoint. The format is tried and true, relying heavily on anecdotes, but I appreciate the personal anecdotes frequently interjected throughout. Particularly with self-help texts, it's nice to know that the author applies what he preaches. Better yet, the last chapter provides easy-to-implement exercises to start stretching. Maximizing value is a fundamental principle in my personal life, and Sonenshein's book adds to my toolbox.My key takeaways include: 1) get out of the vicious cycle of upward social comparisons (e.g. silver medalists are less satisfied than bronze medalists), 2) wealth of resources and performance follows a u-curve, 3) constraints and differing perspectives breeds creativity, 3) people are not actively listening +/-9 seconds before their turn to speak, 4) being frugal is about maximizing value where being cheap is about minimizing pain, 5) high expectations have a positive effect only when a matching expectation level is internalized by the individual.

I read this for a work project, and it’s inspired me professionally and personally.

This book will grab your attention from the first page and will never let go. Sonenshein’s warm and captivating style of writing combines cutting-edge science with vibrant anecdotes and examples (including some taken from his own personal life) to masterfully demonstrate how the basic human mindset that ‘more resources equal better results’ is inherently flawed. Instead, he takes you on step-by-step journey that will teach you how to successfully build upon and transform the resources you already have to achieve profound outcomes. In a world obsessed with the chase, this book truly empowers you—using very practical techniques—to inherently change the way you think about your work, your personal life, and even your approach to parenting. It's not surprising to me that STRECH has received rave reviews from popular media outlets and prominent academics alike. I can’t wait for what he’ll write about next. Highly recommended.

Well done!Being frugal, optimistic, and a DIY person, the title captured my attention. It was gratifying to see many of the principles I’d learned in having my own company and working for a nonprofit being highlighted here. These book is a good resource and reminder that we CAN do more with less. C-level leaders should be reminded of this mentality regularly.

Note: I wrote this as part of a book review series I started at my workplace.What kind of stretching are we talking about? I hope you’re not going to tell me I just need to unlock my inner potential through Downward Facing Dog.Well, I do love yoga, but this is a different kind of stretching altogether. Scott Sonenshein wrote this book to answer the question, “How is it possible to achieve more prosperous organizations, rewarding careers, and fulfilling lives with what’s already in hand?” In other words, how can we stretch the resources we already have to get more use out of them rather than continuously chasing after more resources? What’s the main takeaway?Resourcefulness, resourcefulness, resourcefulness. In the author’s words, “The problem is: We routinely overestimate the importance of acquiring resources but even more significantly underestimate our ability to make more out of those we have.” Can you unpack that a little?A lot of us tend toward a mindset the author calls chasing, in which we believe that the more resources we have, the more we’ll be able to accomplish and the better results we’ll get. As the author puts it, “Most of our time and energy get spent looking for tools and not actually putting nails into walls.” However, this mindset can lead us into perpetual dissatisfaction as we keep comparing our apparent lack of resources to those around us who always seem to have better stuff, and then we just keep amassing more and more resources, many of which go to waste as we lose track of our growing tool box. Worse still, too many resources can actually limit our efficiency and effectiveness because with very few constraints we no longer feel the need to—you knew I was going to say this—think outside the box. Cliché, but true!Stretching embraces the opposite mindset, in which we view constraints as opportunities rather than roadblocks. Instead of bemoaning the lack of a hammer, we find something else at hand to put nails into walls, like a rock or a can of beans. Not only do we waste less time and money going after resources we don’t necessarily need, but also we become more creative and effective problem solvers. We figure out multiple uses for resources that others may see as serving only one function, and we notice potential resources that others may overlook as trash. Nice, but how can this help me in my daily work?Wouldn’t you feel more empowered if you were told that you already have all the resources you need to get the job done? That’s what Sonenshein effectively is arguing here—no glib intended. “By adopting a stretching mind-set,” he says, “we can reach extraordinary potential with what we already have. It’s a matter of recognizing the untapped value in our resources and directing our energy to nurturing and developing what’s in hand.” The key word here is “mind-set”: stretching is not a gimmick for making resources out of thin air, it’s a mind-set that can help us make the most of what we have. Sonenshein cites organizational theorist Martha Feldman as proposing that “almost anything—tangible and intangible—has potential as a resource, but that to become anything valuable requires action. This helps us realize that resources don’t come from outside us—they’re not things we go out and get but rather things we create and shape.” If this sounds a little too woo-woo for you, then put another way, all the author is really saying is that “Constraints can motivate us to be resourceful, act in more creative ways, and solve problems better.” Certainly we could all benefit from the ability to solve problems better with more resourcefulness and creativity.What else makes this book worth the read?In addition to citing research studies that support the stretch mindset, the author shares lots of fascinating stories about people using resources in extraordinary and often unexpected ways. There’s the Van Man, who lives in an old Volkswagen behind a Walmart—even though he’s a multimillionaire. There’s the aspiring filmmaker who made his first movie on a shoestring budget of $3,000, using desk lamps in place of professional lighting and a wheelchair in place of a camera dolly (OK, spoiler alert y’all: it’s Robert Rodriguez :) ). You can find out how a single mother working as a secretary used her artistic bent to create a best-selling product that revolutionized office work in the twentieth century. And you can read about how America’s first black female millionaire turned her own social, economic, and health limitations into a business that not only made her very successful but also provided many other black women with a path to financial independence. Plus, the author offers some “stretching exercises” (hey, it’s his pun, not mine!), practical tips for using the stretch mindset in action.

Great book! He includes lots of examples and a map on how we can learn how to stretch.

One of an increasing number of books I've read< that focus on various facets of the way that life is so much more than bigger, better, faster more--In Praise of Slowness, The Slow Fix, Marie Kono's book on Tidying Up, Deep Economy, and others. This one focuses on the common theme by discussing ways in which one can move from a "chaser" mentality (more of X=better results) to a "stretch" mentality (better use of X=better results). As an academic, Sonenshein seems more interested here in proving his thesis and providing examples drawn from life to support it than he is in actually enacting the traditional "do-it-like-this" nearly handbook style of the self-help genre implied by the title. Still, while he is particularly effective rhetorically, he does spend at least a little of his time in each chapter beating on a horse long since deceased. In a strength many self-help books miss Sonenshein spends a chapter actually addressing those who might challenge his thesis, by demonstrating for the reader how it can be taken too far. At this point, Sonensheim actually becomes more instructive, detailing the difference between the ideas he's espousing and these "too-much-of-a-good-thing", "baby-with-the-bathwater" versions. He limits his example and provides enough open theoreticals to make the information immediately practicable. Had the book as a whole done that I'd have given it five stars.

This is a fasinating book which inspires much on the eradication of stubborn thought of getting more and more is good way of success. However, not only inspirations are outstanding but also in the last page-- the author gave his gartitude to those who ever helped him during his writing of this book, is an extreme imspiration for me. The last page gives the hint that our surrounding people are so important as to assist us not only in our daily lives but also, under certain circumstances, they may teach one the importance in problem solving while the critical moment has been coming.

Stretch: Unlock the Power of less- and Achieve More than You Ever Imagined (Hardcover) by Scott Sonenshein- The Book explains the difference between "Chasing" and "stretching" of available resources. Stretch shows why everyone performs better with constraints and why seeking too many resources undermines our work and well-being. To prove the point, the author mentions three steps a- embracing constraints, b- frugality c- uncovering hidden value. A stretcher a- knows a little about a lot of subjects, b- learn to manage expectations, c- combine resources and attempt for a solution. The principle enunciated in this book can be applied to personal and professional targets. The constraints are self imposed. Where well planned programmes fail when executed on ground level, the Commonsense ideas are workable. The Book proves the point of Stretch by stories of successful people who decided to do with the available resources. It is quite a good read book for all.

Brief of the book - Don't just chase resources and increase expenses. Focus on the resources you have already and learn how to be creative with them. Break down a resource into mini parts and reconstitute them in different ways. Find the unusual use of a resource. Don't buy unnecessary items - before buying ask - What is the need? Understand the difference between want and need. You need not necessarily be an expert to solve a difficult problem, you need to be creative, you have to stretch your creativity. Our performance is often limited by our expectations and beliefs. To grow, we have to raise our expectations. But don't overstretch yourself, don't over expect, instead raise expectations by little amount only. Doing exercise, practicing gratitude, and giving your mind some free time to wander are some of the good habits that create a helpful environment for stretch.- For brief summaries of books, you may visit upashu1.wordpress.com

This book could just as easily been called Resourceful: How to think outside the box when you can't afford a box. The main idea is we often have more resources than necessary to find an effective solution to a problem. By limiting our options we're forced to think about things differently which can lead to better solutions. But what do we do when we have unlimited resources? This book discusses strategies for looking at problems in new ways that force us to be more resourceful. There are a ton of useful examples of people who have achieved great success with limited resources. And the author provides plenty of scientific research to back up his claims. If you're feeling stuck in your business or creative work, this book will provide you some much needed inspiration and tactics to keep going.

Change it up a bit.. Focus too much on one thing or area and you can miss how things interact. While this is a good book, stretching should not be new to most. And yes, over-stretching can lead to injury, so how much is the right amount? Hard to say and it’s probably very individual. Start by changing things up a little and see what happens. Push yourself just outside your comfort zone and see how it can change your viewpoint. Basically, don’t do something because you’ve always done it, work on some new neural pathways.