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In the News—Alan Fine
Amy Gage, Staff Columnist An investment banker and lecturer at the Carlson School of Management, Fine seems an unlikely author on this topic. Staying young at heart, controlling your temper, exercising and other soft stuff usually is relegated to women's magazines. But Fine takes the topic of self empowerment a step further. He lays out six dimensions of success: health, money, companionship, respect, purpose and time. Then he applies them to work life, too. Messages about values and self-improvement are important for business people, he contends. "A lot of us never learn how to be kind to ourselves. When you have 300 things to do, you have to prioritize. You can't do it all and maintain your strength, health and emotional well-being." Dubbed a local Stephen Covey by those who've heard his speeches, Fine has produced a workbook that invites repeated use rather than a one-time reading. The explosion of personal coaching during the past few years only proves that people are hungry for information about how to juggle all their roles and find meaning in life, he says. Students in his entrepreneurship class have to write a personal plan before they craft a business plan. "Most people don't think about what they really want from life," Fine says. If you know that and can communicate it to your employer—you'll be happier and your organization will be more productive. Amy Gage is a staff columnist. Printed by the St. Paul Pioneer Press, St. Paul, Minnesota, January 16, 2000 |