Blog Archives
Take It To The House: Rebuilding Relationships with Clarity, Intention, & Consistency in Truth
Take It to the House, by Shae Pratcher, is a relationship-centered personal development book told through the story of Jordan and Marcus, a couple forced to face the truth after one message changes the shape of their future: “I didn’t know he was engaged. I’m so sorry.” From there, the book becomes more than a story about betrayal. It’s a guided look at what happens when two people stop reacting long enough to see what’s actually happening between them.
Pratcher uses Jordan and Marcus’s relationship as the emotional center of the book, but the structure is built around the C.L.A.R.I.F.Y. System. Each section moves the couple through a different part of rebuilding, from clarity and listening to boundaries, integrity, focus, and yielding control. The coaching scenes with Coach Avery give the book its practical backbone, while the “in motion” chapters show what those lessons look like in everyday conversations, tense moments, and small choices at home.
What makes the book easy to connect with is its directness. Pratcher doesn’t dress up the work of rebuilding as something soft or simple. She shows how messy it can feel to pause, listen, tell the truth, and choose differently when old patterns are right there waiting. The repeated idea to “Recognize. Regulate. Respond with intention” becomes more than a phrase. It becomes the rhythm of the book and the lens through which Jordan and Marcus begin to understand themselves and each other.
The conversational style gives the book a steady, reflective pace. It often reads like a story, a coaching session, and a journal prompt all working together. Readers who like relationship books with clear takeaways will likely appreciate how each chapter connects emotional moments to usable practices. The book isn’t just asking readers to watch Jordan and Marcus rebuild. It’s asking them to notice where they react, where they assume, where they avoid, and where they might choose something more intentional.
Take It to the House is ultimately a book about building a relationship with clarity, consistency, and truth. Its strength is in showing that repair doesn’t happen in one dramatic breakthrough. It happens in repeated choices, honest conversations, and the willingness to keep showing up with more awareness than before. Pratcher gives readers a story they can follow and a framework they can actually use, which makes the book feel personal, practical, and grounded in real relational work.
Pages: 190 | ASIN : B0GX2YNY5X
Life-Long Learning and Growth
Your book explores a critical yet often overlooked skill: the art of receiving feedback and teaches readers how to use feedback to grow and find success. What was the idea, or spark, that first set off the need to write Receptive and Ready?
We have been teaching managers and leaders for over a decade the right skills to deliver feedback but have rarely touched on the best ways to receive feedback. That’s primarily because most of our students are adult learners who already manage people. (We both teach at the Center for Professional and Executive Development, Wisconsin School of Business, University of Wisconsin-Madison). Over lunch, we wondered if we could augment our message about developmental input and what to do with it by focusing on receivers. And that’s how the book was born.
What were some ideas that were important for you to share in this book?
First, developmental input, when received and implemented, is a personal and career accelerator that should be embraced eagerly. Second, receivers of developmental input are not in control of “when” the feedback arrives and so must be continually prepared with the proper mindset when it does. Third, there are key skills that receivers should develop in order to absorb and practically use feedback, including self-regulation, emotional intelligence, and active listening.
What is one thing that people point out after reading your book that surprises you?
We have some readers comment they didn’t realize how much control they do (or could have) when receiving developmental feedback, and that they (not the feedback provider) had the greater accountability on what to do “next” with it.
What is one thing that you hope readers take away from Receptive and Ready?
We hope readers will understand that the principles and behaviors highlighted in Receptive and Ready are about life-long learning and growth.
Artell Smith Links: GoodReads | Facebook | Instagram | X (Twitter) | Website | Amazon
Betsy Hagan Links: GoodReads | Amazon
Authors Artell Smith and Betsy Hagan present Receptive and Ready, an empowering companion for transforming feedback into a catalyst for success.
The book is meticulously written and contains skills to help readers absorb feedback confidently and clearly. Amid the noise of distractions, the authors narrow the focus on what is important for your growth, showing you how to recognize and act on valuable input through practical insights and relatable scenarios. They gracefully guide readers on how to navigate less helpful or poorly delivered feedback, extracting key learnings that will help you flourish.
Most of us view feedback as a hurdle and are afraid to take criticism. With this book, you will discover how to see it as a powerful tool to enhance your self-improvement techniques, helping you move forward with your highest aspirations.
Receptive and Ready is an asset that will help you on your path of self-improvement, enabling you to achieve your highest aspirations. It shines a light on what truly matters, ensuring you maximize each interaction in both your professional and personal life. With the skills presented in this book, you’re bound to stay focused and resilient while being prepared to advance in your journey.
The book contains many concepts you can incorporate into your strategies for positive thinking, leadership development, and personal growth strategies. It will help you overcome the fear of failure and develop effective communication skills in the pursuit of career development.
So, what are you waiting for? Sow the seed for success with Receptive and Ready.
