It has often been said that what we fear the most is change. As we become comfortable with our daily routines — what we wear, what we do, even what we eat, stepping outside the realm of our safe cocoons can cause a great deal of stress. As we all know, however, change is a part of life, particularly when it comes to work and relationships. It is imperative for developing leaders to know how to recognize change, acknowledge it and, accept it gracefully.

Taming the Dragons of Change by Dr. Dick Stieglitz offers ideas as to how to accomplish these three actions. In a tone that is more conversational than formal, Stieglitz discusses different types of change, when change occurs, who is likely to be affected by change and how not to be stressed by change. Readers are asked to realize that change is normal and can be a great learning tool in dealing with both sudden and gradual adjustments to careers and personal lives.

Unlike many books of this genre, Dr. Stieglitz book uses real-world examples to underscore his main points and offers practical advice and
guidance. His main message is that we must all acknowledge that change is constant; it is to be expected and embraced. Whether we want to admit it or not, without change we can not grow.

As a rule, I avoid the Self-Help section at bookstores. I find most self-help books to be poorly written, preachy pieces of drivel penned by individuals (or their team of research assistants, i.e., Dr. Phil) of questionable credentials and little value.

Most of these “writers” simply reinvent the wheel, peddling the same trite platitudes that cater to society’s quick fix improvement bulimia. What do I mean by “bulimia?” Our nation gorges itself on self-help material, regurgitates it and then looks for the next panacea. They rarely find true psychological or emotional sustenance, forever seeking answers from without when they need to begin looking within.

When I was approached to read and review Taming the Dragons of Change, I groaned inwardly. I saw the word “dragons” in the title and thought an esoteric compilation of gibberish written by a crystal rubbing, granola munching, clog wearing, meditating vegan paraprofessional combining a shaky grasp of neo-Jungian and cognitive behavioral theories would soon arrive on my doorstep. Much to my relief and delight, this was not the case.

Taming the Dragons of Change is a sweetly insightful collection of vignettes exercising common sense (hip hip hurray), contemplation and a wealth of life experience written by a learned, successful and pragmatic man. Dr. Stieglitz offers narrative snapshots from his life, which convey a simple wisdom. The vignettes encourage one to challenge old ways of thinking and being and to make peace with and embrace the only constant in life: Change.

A theme that resonated with me whilst reading is how we needlessly complicate our lives. Dragons of Change offers assistance in deconstructing man made mountains into manageable molehills. Dr. Stieglitz emphasizes our emotional response to change rather than change as the “dragon” source. Life is what we make of it.

We can hide from, hate or harness the dragons of change. It’s a choice. As far as I’m concerned, I’ll take a a new pair of riding boots and a riding crop, please.

I unreservedly recommend this book for those in the mood for a refreshingly honest and straightforward approach to change. Thank you, Dr. Stieglitz.

Dick Stieglitz may not be a rocket scientist but he is a nuclear engineer and has a PhD to go with it. He is a man who has had a lot of success in his life. He has started and run several very successful companies, led flourishing careers, and enjoyed a comfortable life. He also has seen hardships. From his rough beginnings in an orphanage to marital separation to dealing with a troubled and rebellious daughter Dick has had to encounter the darker side of life as well. We all go through our own ups and downs, but what sets Dr. Stieglitz apart from the rest of us is that he put into writing his battle with change and shares the tools that he used to help confront its dragons.

The first thing that struck me when I began flipping through the pages of Dr. Stieglitz’s ‘self help’ book for change was the honesty and frankness of his style. On page one he unveils his life story and moves through the successes and failures that have taken his life for its ride. His need for control was what led him to success and also primed him for failure. He uses this as a springboard for confronting change in our lives. Change is inevitable and we can’t hide from it; we get caught when we try to impose our old ways upon an ever-changing new world. The book is geared to help the individual adapt to the change that is sure to enter their life and how to actually use change to their advantage. This is not your typical book as there isn’t a linear order that must be followed for the book to be effective. In fact Dick recommends that the reader flip through the book and read and apply only the sections that seem to be most relevant. He is straightforward with the fact that he does not have all the answers and that even the tips he has written aren’t universal truths. The beauty of ‘Taming the Dragons of Change’ is that while one section of the book may not apply in the slightest to you the reader, the following chapter may be that pearl of wisdom you needed. The book is very easy to pick through and perfect for readers who don’t have a lot of time to devote to reading. The short essays lend themselves to the reader with the start and stop lifestyle. Another thing that I liked about this book was that he draws solely from his own stories and experiences. The honesty in his writing makes it approachable and gives reassurances that “this stuff really works.” He doesn’t harp on the cliché’s that litter most ‘self help’ books he just writes about where he’s been and how he’s made it through.

I enjoyed ‘Taming the Dragons of Change.’ The down to earth flow helps to keep things in perspective and allows this book to shine among the millions that have filled the genre. The biggest plus for me was that I could flip through and read what I thought looked interesting. Dick has a lot of insights from his past four decades of growing and changing and uses the pages of this book to express some of them in a very approachable manner. It isn’t the perfect book, as there were a few excerpts that didn’t connect with me but when it was all said and done I was glad that I read it. It provides fuel for introspection and will help equip the reader for the inevitable change that plagues us all

Ben Black
1340mag.com