OF PEBBLES & GRENADES: 3 Keys to Self-Mastery

Debut author Corrales uses a metaphor of pebbles and grenades to jump start a path to self-discovery.
Providing three keys to self-mastery, life and leadership coach Corrales fills a niche in the leadership studies genre by giving readers the blueprints for becoming secret agents of love and transformation, or SALT. The author sums up her approach this way: “There are three major altitudes from which to live life: (1) Emotional, (2) Rational, and (3) Intergral. Another way to say it is that we can live from the altitude of Power, the altitude of Principle, and the altitude of Purpose.” Acronyms used throughout are memorable and promote easy comprehension of major concepts. Common-sense concepts for growth include: taking responsibility for one’s actions, controlling rather than being controlled by emotions, noting others’ feelings and perspectives, and most importantly, not viewing the world from an attitude of victimhood. Each chapter offers an explanation of concepts and personal exercises intended for readers to complete and analyze such as finding dysfunctional patterns in relationships and working to change them. Conceptually different from other self-discovery books, the questions being addressed here are: “What’s the maturity level of the leader?” and “How can the leader lead most effectively while encouraging the self-discovery and transformation from those being led?” The text is often unnecessarily repetitive in detailing centralized themes and ideas, and the busy formatting tends to distract from rather than enhance the material. Later chapters detail six habits used by leaders operating within the perfected skill set of the third altitude—the optimal leadership realm. In-depth and instructive practice activities guide readers through the concepts of acting with purpose, dealing with behaviors and habits of individuals not operating at the same levels, and working through attitudes of negativity and ambivalence. The guide ends with a bit of self-promotion for future volumes, which may leave readers wondering if fulfillment is just pages away.
An easy to access, step-by-step approach to self-mastery.