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Silent Alarm Overview

We have arrived at a new day . . . and Silent Alarm is our wake-up call. Its parable format shares a simple story with powerful insight. It brings your life, your plans and your sense of control to a sudden pause. And in these times of challenge and uncertainty it brings hope, inspiration and the courage to individually begin anew.

On the surface . . . Silent Alarm looks like a self-help book. But don’t be deceived. Silent Alarm’s powerful story is really a business book designed to create a wake-up call in corporate America . . . by igniting a turning point for the leaders and managers who run it. While a meaningful read for anyone in most any walk of life . . . the real purpose of Silent Alarm is to bring hope to busy professionals who have the courage to change the face of business in our challenging and uncertain world.

For Jack Turner, it was just another quiet winter morning. The dark stillness wasn’t what it appeared to be . . . and neither was the success Jack enjoyed. What appeared to be normal wasn’t real. But the sudden impact of reality was very real.

Jack would never have read this book. Why would he . . . when a tragedy could just as easily open his eyes.

Maybe you and Jack have something in common. But then again, maybe you don’t. You can always hit the snooze, go back to work and just wait and see.

Silent Alarm could be the most important book you have read in a long time . . . or the most important gift you could give to those you love the most.

From the Foreword of Silent Alarm

Many authors offer interesting but shallow ideas that numb us with Band-Aid solutions. Not John Blumberg. He is the real deal. He doesn’t have a superficial bone in his body. His genuine and sincere nature is uniquely interwoven with his bold plunge beneath the surface and into the depths of discovering the real issues among us.

Read Full Foreword

By Kevin Freiberg, Author of NUTS!: Southwest Airline’s Crazy Recipe for Business and Personal Success, GUTS!:Companies That Blow the Doors Off Business-as-Usual and BOOM! 7 Choices for Blowing the Doors Off Business as Usual.

Testimonials of Silent Alarm

We all have two selves: the task-oriented self that’s used to getting jobs done, and a thoughtful, reflective self. Which of these selves wakes up first in the morning? For all too many of us, it’s our task-oriented self. The alarm goes off (what an awful name—why isn’t the opportunity clock or the it’s-going-to-be-a-great-day clock?). We leap out of bed and jump into our task-oriented self. We eat while we’re trying to wash, we jump into our car and get right on the car phone. We run from this meeting to that meeting, including lunch and dinner, and then finally get back home after nine and fall into bed exhausted, not even having any energy to say ‘good-night’ to anyone who might be lying next to us. The next day the alarm goes off and we’re at it again. Pretty soon we’re caught up in a rat race. The problem with a rat race is, even if you win, you’re still a rat. If you want to get out of the rat race, read John Blumberg’s [silent alarm]. It might change your life.
- Ken Blanchard, co-author of The One Minute Manager® and Leading at a Higher Level

In this touching book, John shares a story about how our life is a journey back to the beginning. This fast read will imprint the following commandment in every reader’s mind: Reconnect or suffer. This story illustrates how desperately each person needs to find their way back to solid, simple and long lasting connections. If you’ve been wondering when the world will calm down, read this book. You’ll find that the world is as calm as your are connected.
- Tim Sanders, Author of “Saving the World at Work”, “The Likeability Factor: How to Boost Your L-Factor and Achieve Your Life’s Dreams” and “Love: The Killer App”

I loved this book! In its simplicity, it has had a profound impact on my life as I’m sure it will on yours. We are all so caught up in ‘busyness’ that we spend most of our lives skimming the surface — until a tragedy, like the one in the book, forces us to look within our hearts and souls to find what is truly important. John’s beautiful spirit, compassion and love for people permeate this powerful story, and we all will be better because of it. Thank you, John, for disarming our snooze buttons!
- Barbara Glanz, Inspiration behind Johnny the Bagger in “The Simple Truths of Service”, and author of “Handle with CARE”, “CARE Packages for the Workplace” and eight other books

Hope fuses into one's life through often curious pathways--including adversity as a springboard of such new hope. Silent Alarm is written to be a beacon of fresh hope in a time of swirling confusion and disappointment. The truth of each page can be a fresh springboard of silent hope for the reader. It is a book to be well worn!
- Bob Danzig, Former CEO of Hearst Newspapers, Author and Speaker

This powerful story reveals the genuine journey of meaningful success. From the very first chapter, it grabs your heart and soul. Every person who desires more meaning in their personal and professional life should pick up this wake-up call.
- Mac Anderson, Founder of Successories and Simple Truths

Silent Alarm is a page-turner with profound messages so applicable to leaders that struggle with busyness conflicting with eternal opportunities. We, as leaders, have such an opportunity to make a difference in the lives of others. This book is a vivid reminder of that responsibility.
- Joy Flora, President of Merry Maids

Silent Alarm is a most inspiring book to which I shall return again and again in my encouragement of living on purpose. I don't think a more wise wake-up call exists.
- Richard Leider, Author of the best-sellers “Repacking Your Bags” and “The Power of Purpose”

Silent Alarm is a rich story with heart and punch. It is easy to live life with more speed than direction. This book helps the reader find direction through the eyes of Jack, a man addicted to success but lacking in direction. Jack discovers twelve values for his life, but only after he is forced to slow down and ask the right questions!
- Jim Goetz, Senior VP and Chief Information Officer of The ServiceMaster Company

Here's your wakeup call! As a masterful storyteller, John has provided us with a way to get reconnected to what really matters and create a turning point in our lives and work!
- Mark LeBlanc, Past National President of the National Speakers’ Association and Author of “Growing Your Business!”

This refreshing story disarms the façade of what you do to reveal the essence of who you are. In today’s high-pressure, fast-paced business environment, Silent Alarm delivers a sabbatical that beckons the soul of every business professional. Taken to heart, this book has the potential to transform both your own personal journey, as well as the organization in which you live it.
- Richard Green, Retired President and COO of Blistex