Our book club journey started on 14th May 2007. We are really blessed by two inspiring and open-minded ladies; our CEO; Mrs. Manal Amin, and our Consultant; Ms. Lobna Zietoun. A year ago, in an attempt to enhance their employees' skills, they decided to form groups: A reading group, newsletter group, knowledge base group, mind mapping group…etc.
Actually, I’m a member of 3 groups now but the most successful group is the reading group. We started with 11 members including Mrs. Manal and Ms. Lobna. In one-year time, we became 25 members.
In the first month and as an encouragement, Mrs. Manal and Ms. Lobna bought all the members two books for the first month. Later, we made a schedule in which every two members suggest a book for the month. We are used to set a gathering date every month after working hours. We discuss the book/books of the month. In the course of action, we make mind maps for the book themes, comparisons with our daily lives or current events, comparisons with other books, and comparisons with movies or some extracts from them.
The selection of books was widely open. We read various books eastern and western, Arabic and English, novels, dramas, and soft skill books. Our list of books included the Alchemist for Paulo Coelho, The Beggar for the Egyptian Nobel prize winner Naguib Mahfouz, Men from Mars and Women from Venus for John Gray, Around the World in 200 Days for Anees Mansour…etc.
What is really exciting is that some of us who were reluctant readers became keen ones, others read in fields or kinds of books they haven’t heard or read about at all, others developed critique skills, and most of us found very inspiring thoughts in the books we read.
Starting from last February, we have had a sub-team from the reading group reading and analyzing Steven Covey’s 7 Habits. The team is divided into pairs. Every two members are responsible for a habit. They study and present it to team members. Each month we have a habit. What’s really amazing is that each month we put a habit into action and make our practical exercises to be able to continue with the following habit to become effective people. It is also so important here to highlight the team spirit we work with on the 7 habits. Regardless of who is responsible for presenting a certain habit, we help them by every means. Actually, each month presentation is an outcome of a team work rather than 2 persons. We are learning how to share a common goal and work for it with a team spirit.
In celebrating our year one anniversary, we had several ideas. First, Mrs. Manal and Ms. Lobna bought us remarkable books, a book for each. We decided to make a list of these books (25 books) and have them shared among us. Second, some of us re-read the first book we had (The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho) and made a storytelling meeting for the book club newcomers to tell them the story and reflect on how it affected each of us during the whole year. We also gave each of them The Alchemist book as a gift. Third, in appreciation to the first group members, Ms. Lobna gave everyone a book matching his/her interests.
It is not me only who is proud of this experience but all of us: people who encouraged us, our CEO and Consultant, and even ourselves for being persistent on keeping and developing our reading group.
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