Must-win Battles: Creating the Focus You Need to Achieve Your Key Business Goals (Financial Times) Review

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(More customer reviews)MWB stands for "Must Win Battles," which is the title and a common acronym throughout this this book. Authors Peter Killing, Thomas Malnight and Tracey Keys use "battle" to refer to competitors and "must-win" to mean these battles must be won. There are a lot of circumstances applicable to the concept of 'battle.' Examples and case studies cover management style, team work, planning, shortlisting, and executing, are noted. One example is Unilever in Africa, Nestle China, and a two-year case study of the CFF business groups from the words of an executive.
Three sections and nine chapters.
Section I: Preparing the Journey
Section II: Engaging the Team
Section III: Making it Happen
The different types of managers listed are the commander, diplomat, thinker, and motivator, who are defined and described. This is followed by the role of Emotional Intelligence in the workplace. EI is just as, and oft-times more vital than IQ. There are questions regarding this that the reader can answer for themselves so they can apply this concept to their own situations in life and in the work place. This book helps the manager and employees as individuals and allows them to reflect on others and themselves.
Different dynamics of MWB, which often may include change. While strategically planning and implementing Must-Win Battles there are Resisters, Bystanders, and Supporters. A time-line is almost always necessary and matrices and diagrams are presented, when planning and executing.
A good reality check is in chapter 4, which lists "Typical Company-Related Myths." Those who've worked in medium or large organizations can identity with the company values and slogans. But they're usually only slogans, because they aren't practiced. :)
At the end of the book there are:
A) The MWB Journey and Road map
B) The Denison Survey: Questions
C) Using the External Assistance
This is helpful for all people who manage and work in organizations of all types and sizes.

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Must-Win Battles shows in a step-by-step way, how to identify the key goals that need achieving and how to win emotional and intellectual buy-in from the employees who make it all happen. By focusing on the right key short-term efforts you attain the twin benefits of delivering in the here-and-now, and making progress toward larger strategic goals.Businesses around the world are struggling for growth and profitability in today's fast-changing world. Those that achieve standout success are characterized by clear vision, focused execution, and commitment by people to doing what counts. But for the 99% of businesses that lack many of these attributes, how do they go about getting them? Should they turn to another management fad? Probably not. Senior managers are now sceptical in the face of "initiative overload". Instead they are looking for inspiration among real-world companies and real leaders.Based on a successful executive programme at IMD, one of the world's foremost executive education institutions and has been tested at some of the world's best-known companies, with intimate and compelling case studies running throughout, Must Win-Battles offers the inspiration and advice that many are looking for. "Enlightening and thought provoking in an era of cluttered agendas. Must Win Battles sets a clear path for leaders to focus their team's head, heart, and hands. Michael D. White, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, PepsiCo InternationalNew York "Moving a company to the next level requires confronting the right challenges, and Peter Killing, Thomas Malnight, and Tracey Keys show how to pick your battles and then how to win them.Their Must-Win Battles provides a practical playbook for unleashing and aligning the intellectual and emotional energies essential for any business triumph." Michael Useem, Director-Center for Leadership and Change Management, The Wharton School and author of The Leadership Moment "In "Must Win Battles" Peter Killing and Thomas Malnight have distilled their richly varied experiences drawn from many organizations over many years.Together they have created a practical handbook for all managers who are interested in re-energizing and improving their business performance.Must Win Battles is easy to read and brimful with practical advise; well worth a few hours of your time".Iain Ferguson CBE , Chief Executive , Tate & Lyle PLC. Named European Businessman of the Year by Forbes Magazine, 2005 "Working with must-win battles has fundamentally changed our approach to where we seek growth in the market and the way we engage our people in realizing these goals. Must-win battles are the glue that ties the business together globally, that everyone understands and can contribute to.The process clarifies for everyone the long-term vision and business direction, where to allocate resources and why it is important to get aligned."Diego Bevilacqua, President, Global Business: Foodsolutions, Unilever"Every executive knows that there are certain battles that must be won for the business tobe successful.This great new book provides a real-world, step-by-step approach to choosing the right battles in a way that helps unleash the organizational will to achieve them.Must Win Battles is a wonderful contribution to the art and science of management!So much so that it's inspired me to launch my own MWB journey."Bob Rieder, President & CEO Cardiome Pharma Corp.

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Ready, Fire, Aim: Zero to $100 Million in No Time Flat (Agora Series) Review

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(More customer reviews)I enjoy the occasional book on marketing and how to acheive success. The cover blurbs for "Ready, Aim, Fire" seemed promising as did some of the Amazon reviews. So I figured why not.
I can now answer the question "why not" in detail and at length.
First, the good news. Michael Masterson does a reasonably good job of distilling the advice offered in dozens of other books on advertising and marketing, from Napoleon Hill to Rosse Reeve's "Reality In Advertising". However, the solid advice gleaned from those classics is diluted with Masterson's endless preening and outright bragging.
The overall experience is not necessarily enjoyable or instructive, unless you are inspired by someone telling you, over and over and over again, of how successful and great he is.
A careful reading led me to become very suspicious of Michael Masterson and to do some quick research. Masterson claims to have had titles on the New York Times, Wall St. Journal and Amazon best seller lists. Indeed, on two occasions - and that means two distinct dates - Masterson was on the Wall St. Journal best seller list. This is not like being on that list week after week: it was twice for one time each. As for the New York Times, a Nexis search shows Michael Masterson appearing in the Times just once, with a comment in an article. No appearances on their best seller list. Amazon's best seller lists are very different and appearing on them is on meaningless. It is said that having 30 friends order a book at the same time will put you on their best sellers list for a little while at least.
More disturbing are Masterson's associations, one of which is Agora International, which publishes a number of investment newsletters which seem to be of the "we have a tip for you" variety. Agora was sued for fraud by the SEC at one point. This does not reflect directly on Masterson since he claims a nebulous role of "consultant" with them. It does, however, reflect on the company he keeps.
The company he keeps also includes AWAI, American Artists & Writers, Inc. Masterson doesn't say that he authored a product for them, a course on copywriting. Both AWAI and Masterson are the subject of literally hundreds of online complaints.
As I said, much of this book is borrowed and adapted. I don't have a problem with that since solid knowledge is intended to be passed on, as long as it is not plagarized in violation of copyright laws. But even here, Masterson leaves himself open to question. He attributes the concept of the "unique selling proposition" to a 1980 book called "Positioning". In fact, Rosser Reeves first put forth the expression and the concept in his 1961 "Reality In Advertising".
Would I recommend that someone read this book? Sort of. It is an adequate distillation of marketing advice from many reputable sources. To his credit, Masterson doesn't claim to be the original thinking here. On the other hand, Masterson's personal credibility is questionable and you really have to take what he says of his own success with a very large grain of salt. Personally I think there are better books in this area to be found.
Jerry

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Whether you're thinking about starting a new business or growing an existing one, Ready, Fire, Aim has what you need to succeed in your entrepreneurial endeavors. In it, self-made multimillionaire and bestselling author Masterson shares the knowledge he has gained from creating and expanding numerous businesses and outlines a focused strategy for guiding a small business through the four stages of entrepreneurial growth. Along the way, Masterson teaches you the different skills needed in order to excel in this dynamic environment.

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It's About Time Review

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(More customer reviews)
The book has 12 chapters. I found them easy to read, and their titles clearly explain what is covered in the book. I recommend you examine the Search Inside feature Amazon provides for this book so you can get a better picture of what is actually included in the book by examining the Table of Contents.
Time is always being spent. You can spend it wisely. You can be frugal with it. Or you can simply waste it by throwing it away. The bottom line is that time is valuable and you should try to maximize the benefits you can get from it.
The author in this book seems to group the use of time as being either productive or unproductive. I got the feeling that he thinks that time used unproductively is wasted and that treating it as such should be avoided. And he has written this book to help people who have 5 hours a week of unproductive time to capture it and make it productive. However, what is so magical about 5 hours? I would have liked the book better if the author had just told us he was trying to help the reader convert unproductive time into productive time assuming the reader needs to be more productive.
About a month ago I was informed that my oldest nephew was not a particularly good manager of his time. He was a sophmore in high school and was forgetting to do homework that had to be handed in. He also was missing deadlines on a few other things, too. This was not because he was lazy; it was because he was incredibly busy and had too much on his plate so to speak. I did a search on Amazon to find a good book on time management, schedule planning, deadlines, and appointments. As an attorney a long time ago I had learned how to keep and maintain a schedule planner (calendar system) and tickler file to stay on top of my appointments and deadlines. I know how the system should work, but I was not able to find a good book regarding the subject on Amazon that I could buy and give to my nephew. However, I was able to find a few articles pursuant to a Google search.
When I picked up the instant book I was hoping it would be the book I had looked for a month ago. While I found the instant book to be really good at touching on the ins, outs, and how-to's with regard to time management, I found it lacking in specific guidance as to how to keep and maintain a Personal Information Management system (PIM). And since in my humble opinion the adoption of a PIM system (whether in paper format, digital format offline, or digital format online) is critical to good time management, I found this book to not be worthy of a 5-star rating. It would have gotten 5 stars if it had felt a little more like a book instead of a mere outline of material AND gone into some depth discussing PIM systems. All in all, I found the book to be just a little too generic on the topic of time management. Most of what was included herein was simply common sense. 4 stars!

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Effective Project Management: How to Plan, Manage, and Deliver Projects on Time and Within Budget- Includes CD Review

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(More customer reviews)This book has project management examples for use with MS Project 4.0 included. The macros don't work in the current version of MS Project. The macros are written in Visual Basic and I was able to debug through them, so I could at least install the material.
The book was not well written, the narrators came across too stuffy. There is good material here, but I am having a hard time forcing myself past the middle of the book.
I enjoyed the AMA Handbook of Project Management much better.

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This tutorial on the management of software projects includes an accompanying diskette which guides the user through the project management process. It provides a simulated environment that helps to teach management skills.

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The First-Time Manager: The First Steps to a Brilliant Management Career Review

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(More customer reviews)If you're about to become a manager for the first time and aren't really sure what you're getting into, author Michael Morris' book is required reading. It provides a wealth of information and insight into your new job. Likewise, if you are a first-time manager and you're floundering a bit, read this to see how to turn your new career around and become successful. We also recommend it to anyone who is considering an executive career. Here's a sneak peak into what you can expect as a member of management.

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"Practical and comprehensive, it will also be a valuable support to more experienced managers." -- Business Executive

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The Wall Street Journal Essential Guide to Management: Lasting Lessons from the Best Leadership Minds of Our Time Review

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(More customer reviews)Despite the 3-star rating, I recommend the book for those new to management and those who wish to read a cogent primer on Western management concepts: the book is well written, easy to understand, and provides a decent overview of management/leadership ideas. Those who have given the book 4- and 5-star ratings have highlighted the strengths of the book.
I found it to be just an average intro because
a) Mr. Murray can't seem to make up his mind whether this is a book for any "knowledge worker," mid-level managers, or CEOs. Various chapters appear to be targeted at different audiences.
b) The book appears to be a paean to the Wall Street Journal. Many of the stories and anecdotes shared by the author are based on WSJ articles. The author could have found better examples and stories in a myriad of other journals, magazines, and newspapers to make his points (e.g, Fast Company is an excellent resource for great management/leadership ideas).
c) Despite the chapter on Globalization, the book is entirely focused on Western management thinking. It would have been strengthened by adding management ideas from any of the rising economic powers. (e.g., Nilekani's Imagining India)
d) Mr. Murray largely omits the impact of technology and social media on management.
e) And finally, the book focuses on a rather narrow list of management classics. Mr. Murray had a difficult task of distilling 50 years of management thinking into a couple of hundred pages, but the book would have been better if he had mentioned or suggested reading a broader array of management classics (e.g., any book by Peter Block).
So if you need a primer on management or a quick review of standard topics, this is not a bad book. If you are looking to take your management skills to a new level, best to look elsewhere.

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Winning Review

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(More customer reviews)There are two ways to look at this book and at Jack's management philosophies. One can focus on Jack Welch the person, or Jack Welch the business leader. For those who choose to focus on Jack Welch as a person and how he lived his personal life, then I suggest he is not the man to follow. However, if you want some simple, powerful and proven management practices, then he is arguably one of the best ever.
I continue to be amazed at the simple clarity of his message: empower others, ask questions, tap into the potential of all of your associates, choose integrity and candor over charts, graphs, and politics, and spend more time in action instead of planning and posturing budgets. I cannot read his words, or hear him speak without feeling again as I did as a member of his team at GE. Without fail, I was inspired and honored to be at a company which really believed that bureaucracy was to be avoided, and those who could look at reality without the politics and act accordingly were highly regarded. The one aspect I did not count on was that after leaving GE due to geographical and travel demands, those simple truths which engage and inspire people to reach stretch goals would be so rare. In fact the most basic aspects of candor and open honest dialog about the business are punished in some organizations.
The book itself is written in a conversational tone. It is easy to read, and feels as though you are in a dialog with him over a cup of coffee. Several key themes emerge which may be surprising to others who know him by reputation only.
One, Jack holds no malice and actually celebrates those whose careers involved leaving GE for roles elsewhere. This is a rather unique view, as many organizations have a misguided loyalty requirement that actually stifles the very performance potential they seek. Second, Jack seems to be more reflective of how he missed the boat on the whole work/life balance concept. Third, his willingness to openly admit mistakes is refreshing and contrary to his criticisms by others of his ego.
I found the sections on developing people, and setting business strategy to be most helpful. He understands, where few others do, that huge PowerPoint decks and consultants will not meet the need of your clients, nor will the usual political tactics help your business move forward.
I recommend this book highly, it is much more real than anything he has written before, and his passion and energy jump off every page.


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Hard Goals : The Secret to Getting from Where You Are to Where You Want to Be Review

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(More customer reviews)Murphy first introduced the idea of HARD Goals in his last book, Hundred Percenters. I was sold when the material was covered there---in just a single chapter, and as one way to inspire better employee performance. But for the past year, I've wanted more... a deeper focus on the thinking behind HARD Goals. Greater exploration into how to better put HARD Goals into effect. With this new book, I got exactly what I wanted.
The thing I like most about Murphy (I'm on his organization's email list, so I follow him pretty closely), is that I never feel like he is trying to bluff me into buying his stuff. He either has hard facts to back up his ideas and methodologies, or you don't hear about it. And I consider myself a pretty savvy skeptic, so believe me; I'm always on the lookout for the smoke and mirrors. There're none here.
HARD Goals firmly supports itself with the backing of brain science. Murphy grabbed onto some of these key scientific findings, and used this new knowledge to come up with ways to what he calls "outflank" the brain. Outflank... kind of an unusual word, so I looked it up to make sure I knew what it really meant. `To gain a tactical advantage over (a competitor, for example)' is the definition I think best applies.
When it comes to goals, my competitor is procrastination. I don't even want to think about how often I have failed to even start my most heartfelt goals; even though I constantly dream about how great life would be if only I achieved them. I want it, but it's like there's a brick wall between me and making it happen. I finally know how to bust through that wall.
I've had really good success this past year applying what I learned about HARD Goals from the first book. I lost 20 lbs, and I no longer buy into the myth that it's `impossible' to lose weight as you get older (I'm 46). I also started a real exercise program 9 months ago, and I've stuck to it--- like glue. I don't have luxuries like fancy gyms or private chefs and trainers. I just switched the way my brain was approaching these goals, and suddenly I was able to do what for so long I could not. I've also been able to better get what I want professionally by applying HARD Goals. I can't wait to see what I can create with the wealth of information this new book dispenses.
SMART Goals are done. As Murphy says, think back to a time when you were so fired up to achieve success that nothing got in your way. Then ask yourself if that goal fit the SMART criteria, especially regarding realistic and achievable. If I had stopped to consider factors like those in the face of my great achievements, I would have quit before I got started. Because as far as I knew, at that moment, what I wanted to do was impossible, at least for me.
That's what HARD Goals are, the tough challenges that make us learn and stretch and grow to become what we didn't know we could be. The kinds of goals that make us say "I'm better than before." And you don't get that by sticking to the realistic and the achievable, you absolutely have to push for more. Again, as Murphy says, we've all done the impossible before, and we can do it again.
HARD Goals shows you how to generate that same kind of energy around all your goals. You don't just have to wait around until a goal finally sweeps you off your feet. You can outflank your brain and gain a tactical advantage over whatever it is that might hold you back from success. It's kind of fun to mess with the brain on this level...some days I swear I can hear the snap, crackle pop of my neurons firing off as I put my HARD Goals into action.
My vote is: buy the book. It's a great and informative read, and if you, or someone you know, is about to embark on a tough New Year's resolution, you can't afford to pass it by. Interestingly, this is Murphy's first book (that I've read) that boldly steps outside the workplace. There's still a ton of information and examples about HARD Goals at work, but just as many appear on a personal level--- like dieting, time management, health, exercise and finances. Oh, and wait til you see how Murphy turns a well-known standard of economic theory into a clever way to make your brain believe any goal, financial or otherwise, is so required that your world will end if you don't achieve it. That's when the motivational juices really get flowing.
It's really good stuff, and it's really different from anything you've read before about goal setting. If you've got goals you want to achieve, you want this book.


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SMART goals will get you only so far . . .If you're ready to take your life and career to the next level, you've got to do it the HARD Goals way.

"Ever felt like you weren't reaching your goals as fast as you would like? HARD GoalsK shows you how to change your thinking and get on the path to tremendous achievement!"Marshall Goldsmith, world-renowned executive coach and author of the New York Times bestsellers MOJO and What Got You Here Won't Get You There

"Hard Goals is full of fascinating insights regarding how to get yourself to achieve things you never thought possible, and Murphy's key ideas have strong research support. . . . If you want to achieve something great or important in your life, this is the book for you."—Edwin A. Locke, Ph.D., Professor Emeritus, University of Maryland

"If you want a mediocre life, set ho-hum goals. If you want a life filled with excellence and meaning, set HARD Goals. This book shows you how to set HARD Goals and love every minute of achieving them. The end result? Winning in life and unparalleled fulfillment."Lyle Nelson, four-time Olympian and author of Spirit of Champions

"Every company has goals these days. So why do most goals fall short? Why do leaders keep setting the same failed goals year after year? HARD Goals gives you the cutting-edge science to engage every employee in pursuing and achieving extraordinary goals. No more procrastination, foot-dragging, or giving up. With HARD Goals, your organization will achieve astonishing results. Every CEO, manager, and employee needs to read this book!"Kevin M. Andrews, President, SmartBen

About the Book:

Want to increase sales? Get promoted? Change the world? There's a goal for that . . .

Steve Jobs, Jeff Bezos, the school teacher next door who amassed a million-dollar fortune . . . Did these people succeed because they were more motivated or because they were more disciplined? The answer to both questions is yes—but not in the ways you might think. Anyone can achieve extraordinary things. The secret is setting goals that test the very limits of your abilities.

In Hard Goals, Mark Murphy, the acclaimed author of Hundred Percenters, explains the science behind getting from where you are to where you want to be in your career, business, and life.

Leadership IQ, Murphy's top-rated leadership training consultancy, studied nearly 5,000 workers from virtually every field and found that extraordinary goals—the kind that got America to the moon and back, developed the iPod, created nanotechnology, and helped individuals overcome tremendous personal adversity—stimulate and engage the brain in ways that are profoundly different from the goals most people set.

Research conducted for this book revealed that people who set Hard goals are up to 75 percent more fulfilled than people with easy goals. In these pages, Mark Murphy explains how success, and the satisfaction it brings, comes from knowing how to set goals that are:
Heartfelt—have an emotional attachment, "scratch an existential itch."
Animated—motivated by a vision, that movie that plays over and over in your mind.
Required—imbued with such a sense of urgency that you have no other choice but to start acting on them right here, right now.
Difficult—the greatest achievements come from the toughest challenges—but they also leave you feeling stronger, smarter, and more fulfilled.

People set goals all the time, but the majority end up unfulfilled or abandoned. With all the challenges facing us today, we could use a little more achievement.Hard Goals can help us get there by offering the hard science and practical techniques to conquer procrastination and unlock your brain's potential for realizing your goals.

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RFPs Suck How to Master the RFP System Once and for All to Win Big Business Review

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(More customer reviews)I have always detested RFPs. They are a big waste of time, talent and resources. But, unfortunately, they are a part of the business world we live in. Two things. First, if you are a responder to RFPs, this book will help you manage the game so that the rules are tipped in your favor. Second, if you create RFPs (you know who you are), then read this book and get a clue on how you can develop an RFP that is not an eternal pit of confusion.
Good book...well worth the time (unlike RFPs).
Joe Pulizzi
Co-author, Get Content Get Customers

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It used to be that you could ignore RFPs. Only a small portion of the market used them in their buying process and you could work around those companies. Today, governance rules dictated by boards and administered by finance have made RFPs and RFQs a dominating component of the large-deal world. Not only can you no longer ignore them, but you need to know that companies use RFPs-and increasingly purchasing and procurement-for many reasons that have little to do with the opportunity offered in the official document. The result? We all have no choice but to go through the expensive and time-consuming process. And though you might like to believe the system is fair, if your company is pitching a disproportionately larger client, you're at a disadvantage from the moment you begin the process.WHY?Because the RFP system is not built for you. It's built for big companies and government institutions that benefit from RFPs.But no matter how hard you try to avoid them, there will inevitably come a day when that irresistible RFP lands on your desk.It's almost like it was written for you. This book is your best guide on what to know, to question and to do when faced with that RFP. It will also help you develop the confidence and understanding to know when to quit the process before it even starts or when to stay in it and win big.

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Adventures of an Optimist: A Progress Report on the 400 Year Project to Help You Improve 20 Times Faster Review

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(More customer reviews)
Read Adventures of an Optimist, and you'll experience quite a fascinating adventure yourself. It's that provocative.
As you think about the title, you might wonder, "How could anyone be an optimist today?" Just view two or three TV newscasts daily, and you'll assume there's very little we can be upbeat about.
Yet with his customary conversational style--supported by solid research and data--Mitchell shifts our thoughts away from what's wrong with the world. He challenges us to see multitudes of possibilities, grasp them, then maximize them. He never doubts the validity of this formula.
A keen student of history, Mitchell uses the lessons of the past to offer guidelines for future progress.
I applaud Don Mitchell's imagination. He makes me wonder whether centuries from now he might be viewed as the Nostradamus of this era.
One more thought: This morning I seemed to accomplish four times as much as I am accustomed to accomplishing in a half day's work. I feel elated, but not boastful. Don Mitchell nudges me to accomplish twenty times as much. My life and career will be incredibly more exhilarating when I elevate to that level.
The Complete Communicator: Change Your Communication-change Your Life!

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In 1995, Donald Mitchell began an audacious task: Demonstrate ways for the whole world to make 400 years worth of normal improvements in the 20 years between 2015 and 2035, a task he calls the 400 Year Project. The results could be as dramatic for humanity as going from sending smoke signals to watching videos sent via cell phones and email had been for extending communications. With guidance from management guru Peter Drucker, direction from clients, and assistance from talented colleagues and students, the project has identified many breakthrough solutions which meet the project's goals.Mitchell describes the roots of his practical optimism, identifies how he organized the project, shares what he learned from pursuing this investigation into untapped breakthroughs, and spells out the focus needed to accelerate global improvements by 20 times from 2015 to 2035. Mitchell also summarizes the books he's coauthored on creating accelerated breakthroughs as part of the 400 Year Project.

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TIME 105 Ways to Get More Done Every Workday Review

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(More customer reviews)This is a decent book for somebody who is either really struggling to do everything they need to do, or for a manager who has had problems getting the most out of his employees.
As the introduction reads, the vast majority of the tips for better utilizing your time are common sense. They take minimal effort other than just doing it. Some of them are more about your work style, your work flow, and your attitude, and they will require a bit more sustained effort. That includes keeping notes, changing the way you file your paperwork, the way you organize your computer, and even the way you deal with your boss, coworkers and employees. I think there are a lot of good take-aways from these lists but it is up to the user to decide which ones to implement first. Like anything else, it's best to change one or two things at a time, get comfortable, and then work on something else. Trying to implement all 105 points of the book on Monday morning will leave you frustrated and in no better shape than on Friday afternoon.
Perhaps this is also a good book for parents, when their kids reach 3rd or 4th grade and start to bring home more serious homework, and are probably involved in sports, music, or some after school activity, and time management becomes something they need to learn and develop productive habits as well. Getting them into the mindset of grouping like tasks, keeping thoughts and notes organized, and thinking about what is productive and what isn't (shooting 50 extra foul shots after practice, or trying to beat Level Ten on that video game?).
As a final note, this is a quick read. Most people will be able to ingest it in 30-60 minutes, reading some sections and skimming others. While it's only [...], you might be better off just reading it at the bookstore over a cappuccino on Saturday morning. Then again, that cappuccino might run you [...] too so you'd only break even haha!

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Time is our greatest asset. Yet, many of us tend to waste it, kill it, lose track of it or spend it without ever considering the return on our investment.One of the greatest challenges today is improving productivity and morale at the same time. TIME! provides practical tips on how to do that. The tips shared in Time! can help every employee find 10, 20 or even 90 minutes a day to invest more wisely.One employee wasting one hour a day could cost your organization $6,000 in productivity this year. This book will provide them the tools they need to make better choices with their time.

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You Can't Predict a Hero: From War to Wall Street, Leading in Times of Crisis Review

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(More customer reviews)I have a large palette when it comes to what I read, and on first look, the story of a Wall Street broker is not something I would usually place high on my list as a "must read". At the urging of a family member whose advice when it comes to good books is top rate, I picked up this one. I absolutely loved it. It is one of the most compelling true stories I've read quite some time and it is wonderfully written. Getting to know Mr. Grano and his accomplishments in the face of diverse and sometimes harrowing challenges is one of the most compelling human stories I've read in some time. The book is both inspirational and educational, one I will keep in my library and refer to when needed. Thank you Mr. Grano.

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Many things set Joe Grano apart from the typical corporate leader: his decorated military career, his humble origins, his lack of a formal college education, his meteoric rise. But perhaps the most unique aspect of Grano's life and career is his ability to deal with crisis. When things are at their worst, Grano is at his best. From Vietnam to 9/11, from the market crash of '87 to today's financial crisis, Wall Street legend Joe Grano has been at the front lines of the most defining American crises of the last forty years. Whether leading draftees through combat as a Green Beret in Vietnam, regrouping a team of brokers during the market crash of 1987, or working tirelessly to reopen Wall Street after the attacks on 9/11, Joe has served at the forefront, leading and even inspiring others when things seem at their darkest. Structured around six specific crises he faced in his life and career, You Can't Predict a Hero tells the unique story of how Grano was able to triumph over challenges both personal and professional.

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The One Minute Entrepreneur: The Secret to Creating and Sustaining a Successful Business Review

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(More customer reviews)Compared to some of his previous books this one really disappoints. The story is told as a hokey narrative (as is Blanchard's style) of the hapless protagonist as he struggles to start his career in sales and then start his own business. It quickly dissolves into a shameless ad for a half dozen or so motivational speakers and fellow authors. Very little meat on the bone. Each chapter ends with a list of a few folksy hints and tips our hero learns, but they are often not well developed or supported in the story and add little to this boring shallow book. Pass on this one. For a good getting started in business story with better take-aways read Maverick: The Success Story Behind the World's Most Unusual Workplace by Ricardo Semler.

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Mega-bestselling author Ken Blanchard and celebrated business leaders Don Hutson and Ethan Willis present an inspiring story that reveals the secrets to becoming a successful entrepreneur.In THE ONE MINUTE ENTREPRENEUR, Ken Blanchard (coauthor of the #1 bestselling business classic The One Minute Manager),Don Hutson, CEO of U.S. Learning, and Ethan Willis, CEO of Prosper Learning, tell the inspiring story of one man's challenges in creating his own business. Through a powerful and engaging narrative, we confront many of the typical problems all entrepreneurs face in starting up their business, from finding new sources of revenue to securing the commitment of their people and the loyalty of their customers. More important, we learn the secrets to becoming a successful entrepreneur, including how to build a firm foundation, how to ensure a steady cash flow, and how to create legendary service. In addition, the book offers invaluable advice, delivered through One Minute Insights, from such entrepreneurs and thinkers as Sheldon Bowles, Peter Drucker, Michael Gerber, and Charlie "Tremendous" Jones. Today, in the midst of the largest entrepreneurial surge in U.S. history, four out of five small businesses continue to fail. THE ONE MINUTE ENTREPRENEUR offers businesspeople and would-be entrepreneurs a treasure trove of wisdom on how to think, act, and succeed in creating and sustaining a business, no matter what their industry.

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Survive Your Promotion The 90 Day Success Plan for New Managers Review

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(More customer reviews)If you've worked your way up through the ranks to your first management position, Katy Tynan's new book, "Survive your Promotion: The 90 Day Success Plan for New Managers," is for you. It's a clear no nonsense guide for success. You'll find the book is light on management theory and heavy on nuts and bolts. Additionally, if your company's culture includes promoting from within, put this book on your must read list.
Surviving your promotion is laid out in 5 parts: Motivation, Mindset, Method, Measurement, and Momentum. Don't you love alliteration?
The meat of the book is in Part 3 where Katy maps out monthly strategies for success. Month one is get to know your internal team. Month two focuses on success strategies with customers and vendors. And finally, month three explains vision and goal setting.

Parts 4 and 5 are a surprising value to the book. She covers things like conducting performance reviews, hiring, dealing with conflict and more.
Finally, the end of the book has several pages of print and internet resources for those needing more information.
Katy communicates ideas like:
* Management is about people.
* Building relationships with your team enhances your ability to retain high performers.
* Don't expect to succeed as a manager like you did as an individual.
* Use the IROD framework for meetings. (Issues, Results, Options, Decisions)
I read this book in three settings and I'm glad it's on my shelf. I give it two thumbs up as a practical roadmap to success for newly promoted managers.

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Remarkable Leadership: Unleashing Your Leadership Potential One Skill at a Time (J-B US non-Franchise Leadership) Review

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(More customer reviews)Kevin Eikenberry has experience in the real world. It makes this book better. He is an avid learner and experienced trainer. They make this book better. And he's worked with real people one-on-one to help them improve their leadership. That, too, makes this book better.
If you're looking for an informed, practical and effective way to accelerate your own leadership development, you should buy, read, and use Remarkable Leadership. This will also be a good book for you if you're responsible for the leadership development program in a company or for the development of a protégé.
Like the experienced trainer he is, Kevin states his goal at the beginning of the book. "This book is designed to help you identify the parts of your personal leadership package working in your favor and help you develop those parts, and any others you wish to work on, to become the leader you are capable of becoming."
He moves directly from that statement to setting up the material that will fill the rest of the book. He has you do an exercise I've done with groups in training for years: identify a great leader you know and define why you rate them as great or remarkable. Then he shares the core competencies as he sees them. Here's the list.
Remarkable leaders ...
Learn continually
Champion change
Communicate powerfully
Build relationships
Develop others
Focus on customers
Influence with impact
Think and act innovatively
Value collaboration and teamwork
Solve problems and make decisions
Take responsibility and have accountability
Manage projects and processes successfully
Set goals and support goal achievement.
After anchoring his thinking in the principle of building on strength, Eikenberry moves to the next chapter where he discusses leadership development in the real world. His model matches my Apprenticeship Model in all important respects.
The three most important are that most leadership development happens on the job, not in the classroom, good leadership development makes extensive use of feedback, and your boss and other more experienced leaders play a crucial role in your development.
Chapter 3 tells you how to get the most out of the book. Then comes the real meat of the book, a chapter on each of the competencies.
Each chapter includes examples and stories to help you get the concept. There are resources to help you develop. And there are two features that make this book stand out. "Now Steps" offer you suggestions for immediate ways to apply the principle of the chapter. And "Bonus Bytes" give you a link to a web site where more resources and ideas await.
This book is for you if you want a guided way to take charge of your own personal development. You'll get solid information and insight, coupled with learning tools and suggestions for action.
This is also a book for you if you're responsible for the development of leaders in a smaller company or for a protégé. The structure of the material and learning tools should make you more effective at that task.
If you support leadership development in a larger corporation you'll find many good ideas here that you'll be able to incorporate. You should also consider buying multiple copies to share with the working managers in your company to help them assume a mentor role.
Now, who should not buy the book? If you expect to learn leadership from simply reading this or any other book, save your money. Leadership is an apprentice trade and learning it takes work on the job. Remarkable Leadership can help you do it better.


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How To Say It for First-Time Managers: Winning Words and Strategies for Earning Your Team's Confidence Review

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(More customer reviews)Managers must be able to communicate with their employees. However, new supervisors generally do not get promoted on the basis of their communication skills. The executives who promote them assume, often mistakenly, that terrific salespeople or bookkeepers magically will become strong communicators. If newly appointed managers can't communicate their ideas, directions and instructions, the areas they supervise will fall apart. Jack Griffin's valuable book on communication for novice managers dictates what they need to say and how and when they need to say it. He suggests the best words to use and those to avoid, and even the body language inexperienced managers should adopt. getAbstract finds this book insightful, informative and comprehensive, filled with useful tips and techniques that will benefit anyone who wants to communicate.

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The Big Payback: The History of the Business of Hip-Hop Review

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(More customer reviews)This book is the most detailed and real to life accounting of the business of music ever written. Details are provided about the "behind the scenes" activity of how the hip-hop business grew into a billion dollar business. The book is vivid and informative to anyone aspiring to pursue a career in the music business. The author Dan Charnas' account is second to none and a must read for any fan of entertainment. Nothing like this exists to my knowledge. It provides the process of the development of an American art form that has transcended from the streets of the Bronx to the shores of Tivalu. Hip-hop music transformed life and culture in the 20th and 21st century and its fair to say it affected the election of an American president. I haven't put it down since I picked it up. Go grab this asap!!!

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