Letters to Garrett

When Robert Quinn's son Garrett went away to college, he was frustrated and wondered how he could shake off his feelings of depression and anxiety. It was a transition that was difficult for both father and son. Bob finally realized that Garrett didn't need to be fixed; he needed his father's love and support. Bob invited Garrett to exchange letters, and together they embarked on an extraordinary journey. Their letters explore myriad topics-- how to find purpose, live with increased meaning and power, and how we can clarify our core values. But the most important lesson learned is that human progress begins when individuals choose to transform themselves. Preface.

Letter 1 Introduction: Seek to Make a Difference.

Letter 2 Focus on Being Change.

Letter 3 Make the Choice to Be Extraordinary.

Letter 4 Pursue Your Best Self.

Letter 5 Maintain Profound Contact.

Letter 6 Avoid the Negative Zone.

Letter 7 Practice Responsible Freedom.

Letter 8 Use the Wholonics Constructs.

Letter 9 Ascend the Upward Spiral.

Appendix: Life Statement of Robert E. Quinn.

References.

Acknowledgments.

The Authors. "The Quinn's, father and son, have favored us with a 'coming ofage' story, how they each, in their own way, helped the other tobring out their best selves. It's an epistolary guidebook tolearning and loving and leading." --Warren Bennis, DistinguishedProfessor of Business, USC and author of Geeks and Geezers:Crucibles of Leading and Learning

"When you look into your child's eyes you look into one of themost powerful and bright mirrors of your own strengths and foiblesavailable. Quinn's Letters tells the story of a long hard look intothat mirror as part of a process he used to help his son through aperiod of adversity. Quinn successfully translates his expertise asa professional organizational change agent into a win in the mostchallenging of all change environments-loving and helping yourchild in distress. The book educates, instructs, nudges, previewsand provides very impactful personal examples and experiences thatilluminate the journey of nurturing and growing your children,yourself, and other individuals whose leadership development youhave a stake in. As a father, a son, and a professional in themanagement and leadership development arena, Letters?is one of themost moving, enlightening and heartening books I've read in awhile." --Michael McGrath, Vice President, Executive Planning andDevelopment, Charles Schwab

"Have you ever lost your way? Do you know someone who has losttheir way? If you are a parent, son, daughter, spouse, grandparent,teacher, or friend then at some point in your life you, too, mayhave questioned your path. Robert and Garrett Quinn have written awonderfully poignant account of their journey together as a fatherattempts to connect with his son to help him to find his way. TheQuinns' journey is a deeply moving and personal account of personaltransformation and profound contact. In the process of reaching outto his son, Quinn's deeply autobiographical letters contain awealth of ideas for helping you, the reader, find and live yourbest self." --Stuart A. Youngblood, Professor of Management, NeeleySchool of Business, Texas Christian University, Fort Worth

"Letters to Garrett is a masterfully written collectionof stories in which Robert Quinn (together with his son, Garrett)provide a touching dialogue of how to establish and sustain humanrelationships.... whether it is with a son or daughter, spouse,colleagues, peers and/or senior management within yourorganization....this book transcends the norm to help each one ofus create a more fulfilling life." --Roger S. Newton, Ph.D.,President/CEO, Esperion Therapeutics, Inc

"Bob Quinn and his son, Garrett, have given us a gem. In sharingtheir struggle to refine and enhance their troubled relationship,father and son elevate each other, and invite and inspire us tolead more extraordinary lives. Their book is full of light, truth,honesty, courage, and love-the elements of mighty change."--Douglas D. Anderson is founder and managing partner of the Centerfor Executive Development, Boston, Massachusetts

In the traditions of Covey and Fitz, Quinn puts timeless wisdominto a timely container of loving letters to his college freshmanson. As I read it, I found myself often agreeing, sometimespondering, occasionally quarreling, but always knowing that this isgood stuff. It's now in my eldest daughter's hands. It should be inyours.
Put away the chicken soup, Letters to Garret is a hearty stew....--Philip H. Mirvis, Author and Board Co-Chair, The Foundation forCommunity Encouragement

Robert E. Quinn is a student of the business world and a giftedwriter and storyteller. He is the author of numerous books, including Deep Change (Jossey-Bass, 1996) and Change the World (Jossey-Bass, 2000).

Garrett T. Quinn is working in Ann Arbor and getting ready to return to college.

"I have a son who recently graduated from high school. In high school he had life all figured out. He was a big man on campus. Suddenly he was leaving the world in which he so successfully operated.... He was caught in a vicious cycle in which his world just kept getting darker." —Robert E. Quinn (from the Preface)

"I used to like roller coasters. I've ridden some of the biggest. But none of them provided a ride like the one I've been on in the past three years. I have been to the greatest heights and the worst of depths. In the past year, as I approached those depths, I felt lost. I had no constant in my life, save the unconditional love and prayers of those closest to me. For all I know, these people saved my life. "—Garrett T. Quinn (from the Preface)

When Robert Quinn's son Garrett went away to college, he was frustrated and wondered how he could shake off his feelings of depression and anxiety. It was a transition that was difficult for both father and son. Bob finally realized that Garrett didn't need to be fixed; he needed his father's love and support. Bob invited Garrett to exchange letters, and together they embarked on an extraordinary journey.

Their letters explore myriad topics— how to find purpose, live with increased meaning and power, and how we can clarify our core values. But the most important lesson learned is that human progress begins when individuals choose to transform themselves.

"This book is for people like my son, those who are facing a first great transition. It is for those trying to help a loved one through a transition. It is for people like me, adults in the real world who want to contribute but find that life is not such an easy puzzle." —Robert E. Quinn (from the Preface)

"The Quinns father and son, have favored us with a 'coming of age' story, how each, in his own way, helped the other to bring out his best self. It's an epistolary guidebook to learning and loving and leading." —Warren Bennis, Distinguished Professor of Business, USC, and author of Geeks and Geezers: Crucibles of Leading and Learning

"Letters to Garrett is a masterfully written collection of stories in which Robert Quinn, together with his son Garrett, provide a touching dialogue of how to establish and sustain human relationships. Whether it is with a son or daughter, spouse, colleagues, peers, or senior management within your organization, this book transcends the norm to help each one of us create a more fulfilling life." —Roger S. Newton, president and CEO, Esperion Therapeutics, Inc.

"Bob Quinn and his son Garrett have given us a gem. In sharing their struggle to refine and enhance their troubled relationship, father and son elevate each other, and invite and inspire us to lead more extraordinary lives. Their book is full of light, truth, honesty, courage, and love-the elements of mighty change." — Douglas D. Anderson, founder and managing partner, Center for Executive Development

"In the traditions of Covey and Fitz, Quinn puts timeless wisdom into a timely container of loving letters to his college freshman son. As I read it, I found myself often agreeing, sometimes pondering, occasionally quarreling, but always knowing that this is good stuff.
It's now in my eldest daughter's hands. It should be in yours.
Put away the chicken soup: Letters to Garrett is a hearty stew."
— Philip H. Mirvis, author and board cochair, Foundation for Community Encouragement

"As a father, a son, and a professional in the management and leadership development arena, I've found Letters to Garrett to be one of the most moving, enlightening and heartening books I've read in a while." —Michael McGrath, vice president, executive planning and development, Charles Schwab

"The Quinn's, father and son, have favored us with a 'coming of age' story, how they each, in their own way, helped the other to bring out their best selves. It's an epistolary guidebook to learning and loving and leading." --Warren Bennis, Distinguished Professor of Business, USC and author of Geeks and Geezers: Crucibles of Leading and Learning

"When you look into your child's eyes you look into one of the most powerful and bright mirrors of your own strengths and foibles available. Quinn's Letters tells the story of a long hard look into that mirror as part of a process he used to help his son through a period of adversity. Quinn successfully translates his expertise as a professional organizational change agent into a win in the most challenging of all change environments-loving and helping your child in distress. The book educates, instructs, nudges, previews and provides very impactful personal examples and experiences that illuminate the journey of nurturing and growing your children, yourself, and other individuals whose leadership development you have a stake in. As a father, a son, and a professional in the management and leadership development arena, Letters?is one of the most moving, enlightening and heartening books I've read in a while." --Michael McGrath, Vice President, Executive Planning and Development, Charles Schwab

"Have you ever lost your way? Do you know someone who has lost their way? If you are a parent, son, daughter, spouse, grandparent, teacher, or friend then at some point in your life you, too, may have questioned your path. Robert and Garrett Quinn have written a wonderfully poignant account of their journey together as a father attempts to connect with his son to help him to find his way. The Quinns' journey is a deeply moving and personal account of personal transformation and profound contact. In the process of reaching out to his son, Quinn's deeply autobiographical letters contain a wealth of ideas for helping you, the reader, find and live your best self." --Stuart A. Youngblood, Professor of Management, Neeley School of Business, Texas Christian University, Fort Worth

"Letters to Garrett is a masterfully written collection of stories in which Robert Quinn (together with his son, Garrett) provide a touching dialogue of how to establish and sustain human relationships.... whether it is with a son or daughter, spouse, colleagues, peers and/or senior management within your organization....this book transcends the norm to help each one of us create a more fulfilling life." --Roger S. Newton, Ph.D., President/CEO, Esperion Therapeutics, Inc

"Bob Quinn and his son, Garrett, have given us a gem. In sharing their struggle to refine and enhance their troubled relationship, father and son elevate each other, and invite and inspire us to lead more extraordinary lives. Their book is full of light, truth, honesty, courage, and love-the elements of mighty change." --Douglas D. Anderson is founder and managing partner of the Center for Executive Development, Boston, Massachusetts

In the traditions of Covey and Fitz, Quinn puts timeless wisdom into a timely container of loving letters to his college freshman son. As I read it, I found myself often agreeing, sometimes pondering, occasionally quarreling, but always knowing that this is good stuff. It's now in my eldest daughter's hands. It should be in yours.
Put away the chicken soup, Letters to Garret is a hearty stew.... --Philip H. Mirvis, Author and Board Co-Chair, The Foundation for Community Encouragement