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When I read this book in 1994, I was on a freefall through space. Stress at the middle management level can hit you like a banshee's scream!

But Ruiz grounded me.

It had turned out to be a result of dangerously high blood pressure (like, going thru the roof). Oh, well. In the weird world of hypertension, I was ushered into the beginner's level of hypertension meds.

I stabilized quickly.

And this book made me stop and smell the roses (just like the beautiful book Awaken the Starlight Within, in the slot this weekend).

I had to stop. An early retirement beckoned.

It had all started with Fred, may he rest in peace...

Fred was a retired Sergeant-Major who liked to mentor his new bosses, but I let him down badly on that count.

Fred, like the rest of my workers, was a man of the world, and I wasn't. When Fred had a heart attack, it shook me up. I was suddenly mortal by proximity.

I could see Fred's family disdained me, visiting him in hospital. Did I deserve their disdain? Probably. My management style had specialized in tunnel vision!

Self-doubt pierced my rigid armour.

That was my free-fall that spring into hypertension and insecurity.

Given a regimen of working half days by my doc, I recuperated with books like The Four Agreements. It spoke to me. It showed me the Good Sense I sadly lacked!

When I went back to work weeks later, I had become - finally - a people person. I worked harder on getting results, less on number-crunching and I tried to befriend my colleagues.

Though still no man of the world, Ruiz taught me to keep my feet on the ground and be affable:

And not a Distant Manager!