"Monkey Business by Mick Hager, Sandy Wight, and Steve Tyink is a book that teaches everybody, from top "bananas" to junior level executives, to become better "sellers". It dishes out simple rules to providing better service, and how to become an important part of the organisation." Read the entire review...

 

"This mighty little book will keep you spellbound for at least an hour and a half.  It’s a masterpiece of business, marketing and management philosophy.  It’s impossible to put down."

 

Mr. Robert Klein
Trainer Talk, an SMT Newsletter
May 2007
See Mr. Kleins full review PDF

"Monkey Business is terrific! Its fundamentally sound business principles are wrapped in humor and clever language, which makes for a fun reading experience.  This could be a breakthrough book.".

 

Dr. Leonard Berry, Distinguished Professor of Marketing. Lowry Mays College of Business, Texas A&M University; author of the  business best-seller DISCOVERING THE SOUL OF SERVICE: The Nine Drivers of Sustainable Business Success; ON GREAT SERVICE: A Framework for Action; MARKETING SERVICES: Competing Through Quality; DELIVERING QUALITY SERVICE: Balancing Customer Perceptions and Expectations; SERVICE QUALITY: A Profit Strategy for Financial Institutions
College Station, TX

“I’ve never seen, read, or heard of a business series like Monkey Business. You’ll enjoy swinging with the monkeys through a canopy of great, new service ideas! Monkey Business is an enjoyable, easy read and a creative, useful tool for quality service delivery. This business series can make a difference in the world.”

Dr. Leland Nicholls,
Director, UW-Stout Center for Service Excellence
Menomonie, Wisconsin

“I found Monkey Business to be a refreshing approach to supporting an organization’s pursuit of reaching their strategic objectives, most importantly increased revenue through customer loyalty.  The story and supporting materials are written in a way that I find most effective in getting participants to engage; fun and simple. 

 

Leaders will value the opportunity to really apply the methods described.  Where previously written stories have fallen short in application specifics, the Monkey Business book series does an excellent job at providing leaders tools on how to work with their associates to provide their customer communities with superior service.  Employees will enjoy the messages and methods described, which will increase their intrinsic rewards going forward.

 

And for the executive leadership Team of an organization, this series will certainly satisfy their criteria of engaging in activities that provide a clear line of sight to the strategic objectives of their business, loyal and dedicated clients, with a strong ROI.”

 

Kurt Johnson
Vice President - Client Services Consultant
Right Management Consultants
Appleton, Wisconsin

"With so much focus today on process, Monkey Business is a breath of fresh air in helping employees to remember their customers!"

 

Eric Shawger, Customer Operations Manager - GE Healthcare;
VP Chicago Chapter - International Customer Service Association.

"A compelling blend of wisdom and creativity, Monkey Business is an expertly woven tale that teaches leaders how to build a business based on superior customer service. Filled with innovative tactics and practical guidance, this book is sure to help your company leap far above the jungle floor to become the best of the bunch."

 

Sheila L. Margolis, PhD and Ava S. Wilensky, PhD,
authors of THERE IS NO PLACE LIKE WORK
Atlanta, GA

"The first time through you’re struck by the many humorous analogous references to the animal “kinkdom”, and the second time you’re seriously impressed with truisms the authors portray. “The jungle of mediocrity eats superstars for breakfast”—“We judge ourselves on our intentions, others judge us on our words and our actions”—“If you love what you do, you’re living, not working”—“Unless you can tell the color of your customers’ eyes during a face to face service moment, you’re not fully engaged”

More from Curt Walker

 

Curtis M. Walker, Executive Director
Midwest Golf Course Owners Association
Bloomington, Minnesota

"I think that Monkey Business touched on more issues in the workplace than Who Move My Cheese? Monkey Business dealt with not only attitude but also diversity in the workplace, how to treat a customer, how to treat employees, and how to treat co-workers.  Monkey Business also presented many different personality types – not just the 4 presented in Who Moved My Cheese?

 

An organization that treats its customers like royalty but also respects that its employees have needs is the one that truly gets it.  I believe that an employee should give 100%, but if a company can show compassion and actually make the employee’s family part of the companies ‘family,’ it can’t go wrong."

 

Jenny Garrison
Director of Children’s Ministry
Springlake Church
Green Bay, Wisconsin

"Monkey Business was a very easy read and as the story described each type of jungle animal, I could relate that personality type to my work experiences.  I also enjoyed a lot of the play on words and the puns presented throughout the book.  Another thing that I enjoyed was the phrases put in the shapes throughout the story.  They were to-the-point and made some good points.

 

I find that many employees become whineoceri, slizards, cheetahs, chameleons etc.-because they have been robbed of creativity or are afraid to stand out.  It is possible to have a conversion experience for one of your critters to show that where there once was passion there is still hope—a sort of epiphany.

 

I like the 7 Laws of the Jungle—the emphasis on “fix” of employee—The need for simple profound change—getting the focus off “me” and on the ability of an organization to exist for the purpose of serving and maintaining relationships."

 

Jo Boss
Assistant Principal
Westwood Elementary School
De Pere, Wisconsin

"I would give this book to my employees.  I would also try to follow the recommendations in this book and expect my employees to jump ‘on-board’.  I’m sure that my employees would see their coworkers as the different types of jungle animals, although few would see themselves as anything but the Spider Monkeys or the Elephants."

Connie Hames
Resource Manager
ZyQuest, Inc.
Green Bay Wisconsin

"Monkey Business has a lot of great ideas.  I also like the idea of having the supplemental materials that go along with the story.  If I had to choose between Who Moved My Cheese? and Monkey Business , I would choose Monkey Business.  It touches on so much more than Who Moved My Cheese?"

 

Carolyn Brown
High School Teacher
Notre Dame Academy
Green Bay Wisconsin

"What I enjoyed relating to is your "fire in the belly" attitude, that is so contagious, that you communicate (verbally, body language, gestures, etc) daily about what it takes to take care of your family, customers, your people and your associates and you were able to transfer that zeal to the book. Well done!!!"

More from Mike Weller.

Mike Weller
President, Miller Electric Mfg.
Appleton, Wisconsin

"Monkey Business provides a great story that defines and exemplifies what anyone in a service related or retail business needs to do to achieve success. It was really interesting."

 

Howard Kramer, RPh
Sears Holdings Corporation
Hoffman Estates, IL

“I can’t wait to see this one on the bookshelves at my favorite book store. This is truly amazing. As I read it, I tried to picture which animal I was and ultimately decided I had a little bit of all of them in me. This appealed to me as an adult, and it awakened my inner child as well. It was ‘Monkey Magic’ for my mind.”

 

Dana Cable
Director–Standards for Excellence
Maritz, Inc.
Fenton, Missouri

"Business people have grown to understand that we need to be reminded more than we need to be instructed. Monkey Business is a good reminder for us as company leaders and those we lead."

Dave Skogan, President
Festival Foods
La Crosse, Wisconsin

"Monkey Business is a light-hearted approach to the serious business of engaging customers and employees in a mutually beneficial relationship. Enlightening, poignant, funny, insightful and motivational are just a few of the words that fit this message. Where can I find a full serving of Monkey Magic?

 

Margie Weiss, PhD, APNP
CEO/Community Health Advocate
Neuroscience Group of Northeast Wisconsin

“This book has the potential of being a ‘home run’ because it is simple, timely and powerful. Wonderful job!” Read Tom's Marketplace Magazine Review PDF

 

Tom Wiltzius
Senior Vice President – Organizational Consulting
Right Management Consultants
Appleton, Wisconsin

"Know your customers . . . know your star performers. That's the secret. And yet, it's just plain common sense. It’s also how to do business, and that's what Monkey Business is all about. If you’re looking for solid business principles, common sense, and more than a few good laughs along the way, read this little book. You’ll be glad you did!"

 

John Bykowski, President & CEO
SECURA Insurance Companies
Appleton, Wisconsin

"Before I started reading this book I thought to myself 'does the world really need another book about customer focus?'. Well, fortunately for me, I charged ahead and found I couldn't put the bloody book down!! An easy, fun read that is more than just about customer focus and is right on......I know because I've seen the concepts work in real life!!!"

 

William Raaths
Chief Executive Officer
Great Northern Corporation
Appleton, Wisconsin

"Monkey Business is not only accurate and to the point, it is fun, enjoyable to read and written in a way that hooks you different from other books. I loved it!"

 

Benj. A. Smith III, Chairman & CEO
Macatawa Bank Corporation
Holland, Michigan

"

Read this terrific little book and you’ll understand why service is the last true differentiator in the business world. In this interesting and humorous tale, we learn the importance of connecting with customers in meaningful ways and creating personal, emotional experiences just for them. As Leader believed back then, and as winning companies do today, “It isn’t about the one big thing you do for your guests. It’s about the 1000 little things that create delightful customer experiences.”  In other words, sweat the small stuff."

 

Dr. Edward B. Harris, Dean
Service Management Program Director
University of Wisconsin - Stout
Menomonie, Wisconsin
Malcolm Baldridge Award Winner

“Monkey Business was everything I expected, and more. It was delightful, insightful, refreshing, clever, and it makes perfect business sense. I loved the characters and their witty names. The play on words in some places was so funny I laughed out loud. It is fantastic and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Congratulations!”

 

Jean Ayotte
Executive Assistant to the President & CEO
SECURA Insurance Companies
Appleton, Wisconsin

"I predict that this little tale of a company that gets it will take the business book market by storm. Who Moved My Cheese? was great in its heyday, but it's high time for another creative, interesting, lesson-packed story for the business world to learn from. The good news is, Monkey Business is here for all of us to enjoy, learn from, laugh along with, and remember the lessons it teaches us in so many creative ways."

 

Mark Drach, President
Corporate Options, Inc.
Saint Paul, Minnesota

 

“Wonderful book! I really enjoyed reading Monkey Business After being in business for 20 years, it is easy to forget some of the most important things about running a business! I really love how this book focuses on “truly caring about your clients and learning to understand what they really want.” The Laws of the Jungle are so important to remember. This book also reminds managers just how important training, expectations, leading and mentoring can be for new and long-term employees! A manager’s role is essential in promoting an efficient, positive and energized work environment, and without this, a company can fail. The humorous examples and storyline really prove this point! I recommend this book for all managers, supervisors and owners! It is entertaining and inspiring for anyone!”

 

Lisa Powers, President
Career Options
Appleton, Wisconsin