Table Of Content^
THE CONATIVE
CONNECTION
Uncovering the Link
between Who You Are
and How You Perform
KATHY KOLBE
A
Addison-Wesley Publishing Company, Inc.
Reading, Massachusetts Menlo Park, California New York
DonMills, Ontario Wokingham, England Amsterdam Bonn Sydney
Singapore Tokyo Madrid SanJuan
The terms Kolbe Conative Index"",Kolbe Concept™,
Niche forKnack™, Job-KCI™, Youth-KCI™, Thinkercise™,
and Action Mode™ are claimed as trademarks. Where
those terms appearin this book, they have been printed
in initial capital letters.
LibraryofCongress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Kolbe, Kathy.
Theconativeconnection: uncovering the linkbetween
whoyou areand how you perform /Kathy Kolbe.
p. cm.
ISBN0-201-51795-7
1. Creati—veability. 2. Will. 3. Self-actualization (Psychology)
4. Success Psychological aspects. I. Title.
BF411.K64 1990
153.8—dc20 89-18003
CIP
Copyright © 1990by Kathy Kolbe
KolbeConativeIndexcopyright © 1987byKathy Kolbe
All rights reserved. No part ofthis publication maybe
reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in
any form orbyany means, electronic, mechanical,
photocopying, recording, orotherwise, without the prior
written permission ofthe publisher. Printed in the United
StatesofAmerica. Published simultaneouslyin Canada.
Coverdesign by Hannus Design Associates
TextdesignbyJoyce C. Weston
Set in 11 point Palatine by Compset, Inc.,
MA
Beverly,
ABCDEFGHIJ-DO-89
Firstprinting, November 1989
To the memory of my father, E. F. Wonderlic,
who nurtured my creative instincts and taught
me to value the freedom to be myself.
Thanks, Dad, for egging me on.
CONTENTS
Acknowledgments ix
Preface xii
Chapter 1: Acting on Instinct 1
Chapter 2: Taking Initiative 22
Chapter 3: Targeting Mental Energy bl
Chapter 4: Creating Synergy 95
Chapter 5: Playing with Intensity 126
Chapter 6: Trusting Another's Instincts 145
Chapter 7: Nurturing the Will 169
Epilogue 193
Appendix: How to Get Your KCI Results 197
Glossary 210
Index 213
Vll
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Yo
.ou can search the early
evening sky a long time and find only one or two stars.
After a long wait, another appears, then the next, and
then a few more. Those you squint at to keep in sight are
finally joined by myriad stars that seem to appear all at
once.
And so it's been with the Kolbe Concept. I'm grateful
for the many who show their support now, but I am
especially appreciative of those few stars who shone
through during my lonely early efforts.
The first to share the responsibility and unrelenting
sense of mission in helping people build on their natural
talents was Paul Burgess, who became my partner. He has
put into action the words "commitment" and "purpose."
He has not only helped to clarify my abstract notions, he
also proved the essential point that the Kolbe Concept was
viable without Kathy.
Author, editor, and book reviewer Sheila Whalen was
the first literary mind to grasp the significance of putting
the Kolbe Concept into book form. Her practical and hu-
mor-filled perspective helped keep the project on course.
Her constructive criticisms and other contributions helped
immeasurably in bringing this book into being.
IX
THE CONATIVE CONNECTION
Sculptress Helen Blair Crosbie was the first person
whose work validated my own. In her definitions of artis-
tic talent 1 found another who recognized the universal
nature of creativity. That she chose to publish her work
with my company was an honor; that she is my good
friend is a special joy.
While others knew I would be able to recover from a
debilitating accident and write once again, Laurel Mc-
Kiernan was the only one who knew just how difficult it
would be to get to that point. She helped me return to
fighting form, all the while accepting me in the shape I
was in. Her special talent for nurturing those people oth-
ers consider handicapped is a burden few ofus could carry
and a gift she shares unselfishly.
My husband. Will Rapp, an international expert, not
only believed in the universal applications of the Kolbe
Concept, he introduced it into numerous countries. He
has been the ambassador who bridged cultural differences
and the diplomat who has broadened my world view. He
has also put into practice the very principles of humor,
trust, and respect on which the concept is based.
These five stars gave me hope and great help. My chil-
—
dren, Karen and David, gave me a hard time which was
often exactly what I needed in order to overcome the dif-
ficulties oftrying to write once again. By not letting me off
the hook for a commitment I made to complete this proj-
ect, they told me they believed in me and that they valued
what I had to say.
The synergy necessary to put this book into final form
has come with the help ofKolbe Concept, Inc., team mem-
bers, past and present. I owe a special debt to those whose
talents were not well utilized; it's from my many manage-
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
ment mistakes that I've gained the greatest understanding
of the need to find better solutions.
I also appreciate the efforts ofJane Isay, George Gibson,
and my agent, Gail Ross, who all trusted the scope of an
unwritten concept, and my editor, Nancy Miller, whose
cooperation and professionahsm helped bring 1,400 pages
down to those you'll read here.
Dozens of leaders in business, education, and govern-
ment were willing to cooperate in the research necessary
to validate the KCI. They were in the forefront, and there-
fore absorbed the brunt of nay-sayers' barrages. Their te-
nacity was proof of their dedication to the principles of
—
individual accomplishment and group synergy and their
willingness to help bring conation into the light of day.
XI
