Toto's Reflections

Running with the Big Dogs! In The Wizard of Oz, Dorothy’s Toto was clearly a dog of character. He knew when to sit still, when to bark, and when to make a fuss. He was simply a real dog with real observations about real situations. And the Oz experience reinforced what his parents taught him as a small pup: Care deeply. Bark only when necessary but then, forcefully. Be curious. Express yourself. Embrace the world and have no fears. The story of Dorothy’s journey to Oz has captivated generations of children and adults alike since it was first published by L. Frank Baum in 1900. Dorothy’s adventures have been analyzed from virtually every perspective-psychological, historical, economic, and the like-except from the perspective of the only other character that was with her every step of the way: Toto! Dorothy’s little dog wrote this book and buried his manuscript in a can with an old bone on the original Gale farmstead. Dr. Fickenscher came upon it quite accidently and was given the opportunity to edit Toto’s original thoughts on the Leadership Lessons from The Wizard of Oz, which he now shares with you. Of course, there are the usual thoughts on brainpower, heart, and courage, but in this book, there is much, much more. The many lessons of Oz will captivate your imagination and, no doubt, serve as a guide in your quest to become a better leader! Toto’s Reflections will help you contribute to making a difference in the world, and challenge you to consider what you can do, starting right now, to make the world a better place!

Author Biography

Kevin Fickenscher, MD is a dynamic, visionary healthcare leader with worldwide experience. He is consistently ranked among the Most Powerful Physician Executives in the US. As a leader of complex organizations, he brings his unique understanding of leadership through the voice of Toto, the only individual-aside from Dorothy-who experienced all of the events in Oz.