Amazon.com Amazon.com Review (ISBN 0060574593, Hardcover)

Procrastination is the focus of mega-selling One Minute Manager Ken Blanchard's latest business fable. Blanchard, and co-author Steve Gottry, tell the tale of "Manager Bob," the uber procrastinator, whose lateness, missed deadlines, and lack of priorities have put his job in jeopardy. And Bob is not alone. "If you study the personal and corporate crash and burns of this world, you'll discover that procrastinators move to the head of the class."

The authors create a dialogue between Bob and a fictional chief effectiveness officer who introduces a three-step strategy to work "on-time and on-target." The first technique "create priority," is explained in terms of triage, a battlefield term for assigning an order of medical treatment on the basis of urgency. Next, Bob encounters the intriguing notion of "Propriety" expressed in the format of a succinct "Bill of Rights": Am I doing the right thing, for the right person, at the right time, with the right reasons? Finally, Manager Bob learns to distinguish between interest and commitment and the deeper meaning of yes and no.

Each of the three strategies underline the premise of procrastination as a failure to define what is important. Occasionally, their message is sidetracked by cuteness, (nicknames for Bob) confusion, (calling the approach a "3-P strategy" ignores the C in commitment) and a contrived ending where Bob becomes the chief effectiveness officer. Still, the center holds with practical techniques, explained with brevity and clarity. Blanchard and Gottry know how to make a long story short. --Barbara Mackoff

Amazon.com Product Description (ISBN 0007179235, Hardcover)

This text is about how to overcome a diabolical career killer that is lurking out there every day. It's called procrastination. Our story begins with Bob, a typical middle manager, who typically puts things off until the last minute. And as a result, he misses deadlines because his lack of focus causes him to accomplish all the meaningless tasks before he gets to the important things. Bob rationalizes, justifies and tries to explain. But there is an answer. Bob learns to overcome his procrastination by developing a clear picture of where he's been, where he is now and where he's headed. As a result, he develops the ability to see how poor decisions separate him from good results. And in so doing, he commits himself to real goals, clear ideals and firm tasks that turn him from a "Last-Minute Manager" into "The On-Time, On-Target Manager".

Amazon.com Product Description (ISBN 0060584823, Audio CD)

Ken Blanchard's phenomenal bestsellers, such as The One Minute Manager® and Raving Fans®, have made him a globally recognized business legend. Now, he has joined with noted business author Steve Gottry to explore one of the most common and insidious problems plaguing the workplace -- procrastination.

The On-Time, On-Target Manager tells the highly recognizable story of Bob, a middle manager who tends to put things off to the last minute. He misses deadlines, rationalizes, justifies, and tries to explain. Luckily, Bob is sent to his company's CEO -- a new kind of CEO -- the "Chief Effectiveness Officer" -- who helps him deal with the three negative side effects of procrastination: lateness, poor work quality, and stress to himself and others. Bob learns how to overcome procrastination, and transforms himself into a productive On-Time, On-Target Manager through the Three P strategy.

With this engaging parable, Blanchard and Gottry tackle the problem of procrastination head-on, offering practical strategies any professional can immediately put into practice to improve his or her performance.

Amazon.com Product Description (ISBN 0007190352, Paperback)

How a 'Last-Minute' manager conquered procrastination. THE ON-TIME, ON-TARGET MANAGER is about how to overcome a diabolical career killer that is lurking out there every day. It's called procrastination. Our story begins with Bob, a typical middle manager, who typically puts things off until the last minute. And as a result, he misses deadlines because his lack of focus causes him to accomplish all the meaningless tasks before he gets to the important things. Bob rationalizes, justifies and tries to explain. But there is an answer -- and it's found in the helpful and enjoyable new book. Bob learns to overcome his procrastination by developing a clear picture of where he's been, where he is now, and where he's headed. As a result, he develops the ability to see how poor decisions separate him from good results. And in so doing, he commits himself to real goals, clear ideals, and firm tasks that turn him from a Last-Minute manager into THE ON-TIME, ON-TARGET MANAGER.