January 5, 2009
Leader's Seven Essential Behaviors
According to Ram Charam and Larry Bossidy's book Execution, the leader's seven essential behaviors are:
Know your people and your business
Insist on realism
Set clear goals and priorities
Follow through
Reward the doers
Expand people's capabilities
Know yourself.
InBubbleWrap - A David Allen Twofer
We begin 2009 with a twofer over on InBubbleWrap. We continue in our Herculean effort to give away The 100 Best Business Books of All Time by offering up David Allen's Getting Things Done, and are supplementing that already substantial offer with Allen's new book, Making It All Work.
If you ask me, Getting Things Done and Making It All Work are two important goals to set for the remainder of the year, and you only have 360 days left to accomplish them. We have 20 copies of each book to help you get started.
Authentic Charisma. Charismatic Authenticity.
Communication is everything.
As Nick Morgan explains, every bit of communication consists of two conversations: verbal and non-verbal. Which has a greater impact? If you guessed the latter, you're right.
When Nick joined us for our Author Pow-wow, he illustrated this point with a story about the Dalai Lama:
He [the Dalai Lama] was over an hour late, but no one seemed to mind. The room was wildly overcrowded--it would have seated 50 comfortably, and there were at least 80 of jammed in, digging our elbows into each other's sides and apologizing as we did so. The vibe was very peaceful. And warm.Finally, the lights dimmed, and a bent, middle-aged man in saffron robes walked slowly out, and sat down on the floor in the middle of the stage. And said...nothing. For one minute, two minutes--three minutes. He just looked at us.
And then he laughed, a weird, other-worldly laugh. He said, "You all look so serious. I'd better say something really important." And laughed again. The audience was completely transfixed. He had won us over entirely without saying anything.
What a moment! Can you imagine a speaker being an hour late, entering without apologies and winning over the crowd? It's that ability that Nick talks about in his latest book Trust Me: Four Steps to Authenticity and Charisma.
Over on his blog, Nick's been posting a set of posts related to authenticity and charisma. You can find those here.
December 31, 2008
On this last day of 2008, here's the best of 2008.
With the end of the year comes reflection on the highs and lows. This week three more rankings of the best of business books were published. The lists of Gary H. Rawlins from USA Today, Richard Pachter from the Miami Herald, and the readers of ASTD.
From these three lists and the lists of days past (Todd's picks, our awards, Roxanne J. Coady's and Business Pundit's), these are the reigning and often appearing good reads of the business book section from 2008.
- The Game Changer by A. G. Lafley and Ram Charan
- A Sense of Urgency by John Kotter
- The Back of the Napkin by Dan Roam
- The Adventures of Johnny Bunko by Dan Pink, the first manga business book. You'll see more manga next year.
- Tribes by Seth Godin
- Art Kleiner's The Age of Heretics, a new edition and a complete history of business thinkers.
- Buying In by Rob Walker.
- Crowdsourcing (I interviewed Jeff earlier this year.)
- The Snowball on Warren Buffett's life.
Happy New Year. Goodbye 2008. Welcome 2009.
December 30, 2008
On the future of books
Hugh McGuire at The Huffington Post has written a fascinating essay on the state of book publishing and his hopes for its future. He asks, "What would happen if, tomorrow, every publisher, and every book store, went out of business? What would you do?" Rather than answering those questions for himself, he gives readers an overview of the rise of big box book retailers and their impact on the little guys--the independents that have been a cornerstone of many communities for decades.
Here is an extended excerpt from the article:
Soon these big book stores were everywhere: Barnes & Noble and Borders in the US, Chapters and Indigo in Canada (now merged, but with separate branding to create the fiction of competition), Waterstones in the UK, and others elsewhere. They invested massive amounts in real estate, getting huge commercial spaces in prime locations in major cities, and bigger spaces in the suburbs. They stocked their stores with a dizzying array of books.Boon or Bust?
But things started to go a little sour early on. The first indication that the new book behemoths might be bad for the long-term health of the book ecosystem came quickly, when the little guys started going out of business. Economies of scale and and pricing clout meant that the big stores could charge less than their smaller competitors; and because of their size, their selection was always bigger. Following their in-store caffeine partners, Starbucks, they liked to choose their locations near existing successful independents. The little guys couldn't compete, and went out of business, or got bought up, and absorbed into the book selling borg.
So now, there are precious few independent books stores left even in big cities.
The indie stores weren't the only ones complaining. Because of the volume that goes through these stores, they could squeeze the publishers, on cost of books and return policies. They could charge for prime shelf-space. Small publishers found it harder to get the attention of the readers. But even the big publishers complained about the policies of these stores - and a little later, the other behemoth on the scene, Amazon.
Then there's that odd feeling of being in a book store staffed by people who don't know much about books. Any inquiry about a more obscure title more often than not ended up in front of a terminal. It seemed as if book stores, if their hiring policies were any indication, no longer cared much about books.
More: as time went on, it turned out that book sales weren't really the most profitable kind of business these stores could do. Solution: reduce the shelf-space for books, increase the shelf-space for candles and trinkets. In Canada Chapters/Indigo has reduced book shelf-space from 75% to 60% (with Canadian fiction losing, and publishers cutting their lists in consequence). If the trend continues, books will be the minority in bookstores, and we might consider renaming them smelly candle stores that carry books.
The book business has stopped caring much about books.
This is a topic that has always been close to our hearts here at 800-CEO-READ and our sister company, Harry W. Schwartz Bookshops, which has served the Milwaukee community since 1927. We find ourselves in a constant state of conflict; we want to see our small businesses thrive and continue doing the good they do in our communities, but we see the industry failing and recognize the need to adapt to societal realities, the new Information Age that is clearly here to stay. We have to decide what we care most about--is it the continued importance and presence of books in peoples' lives? Is it the employment of smart and passionate people in our local businesses? Can it be both? Why or why not? If there's a crossroads, when will we meet it?
McGuire offers analysis of the motivations behind these bookselling behemoths and ends with a charge to "the rest of us, readers and writers and lovers of books, entrepreneurs and technologists, those of us really interested in the voracious appetite of the powerful and relatively affluent group": we are "going to have to come up with new and different ways to get books written, published and in the hands of readers."
Check out the article. It's great food for thought.
www.huffingtonpost.com/hugh-mcguire/what-if-the-book-business_b_153692.html
at 11:50 AM
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Categories: Big Ideas, Publishing Industry, Small Business, The Company
This week on inBubbleWrap: Beyond the Core
"It's tough to decide what to become if you don't know who you are."
*From a Q&A with Zook.
This week over at inBubbleWrap, we're giving away Chris Zook's Beyond the Core, one of the books featured in The 100 Best Business Books of All Time.
Enter your name for a chance to win a Zook book of your own.
Marshawn Evans offers advice for surviving tough economic times
During these tough economic times, Marshawn Evans, author of S.K.I.R.T.S. in the Boardroom: A Woman's Survival Guide to Success in Business & Life, offers these words of advice for making it through the uncertainty.
Making Certain Moves in An Uncertain Marketplace
By Marshawn Evans,
With the state of the economy and the bailout plan, everyone is concerned about the stability of jobs and 401Ks. As an entrepreneur, I understand and appreciate the concern over being able to maintain revenue. Regardless of whether you're a business owner, entrepreneur, or recent grad, the marketplace has everyone uncertain about what tomorrow will hold, but there are a few things that we as women (this applies for guys as well!) can keep in mind to be sure that we are equipped and protected in spite of these uncertain times:
Do Not Panic. A lot of times when we panic we make bad choices. One of the things that I talk about in SKIRTS in the Boardroom is the importance of emotional intelligence, which is separating emotion from your decision making process. The first thing that is very important is not to panic and to think through decisions and plan. There are many advantages right now -- it's a buyer's market. Real estate and stocks are cheap, plus you can negotiate deals of a lifetime. You need to make wise financial decisions and wise decisions about your career.
Keep Your Resume Up To Date. You never know who you may meet or who may have an opportunity for you, so having your resume up to date is a good way to be prepared for new opportunities that may come your way.
Research Opportunities. Continue to research other potential opportunities that may be out there. That might include other job opportunities. For entrepreneurs, that might mean seeking new client contacts to develop business. Don't be content where you are. Continue to expand your base, expand your network and keep your options open. Nothing is guaranteed, so you need options. Plus, it is taking 6 to 9 months right now to find a new job. It's important to constantly look and understand what other opportunities are available to you.
The misconception is because the economy is bad that there aren't jobs out there, that there aren't new business prospects, and that growth is not happening in other areas. However, that is not the case. There are a lot of companies that are very stable that are still showing record profits. It's important to invest in your career by having your net cast in multiple areas.
Network. Go to networking events, but don't be pushy. The worst thing that people can do at networking events is to immediately come out and say, "I am looking for a job doing x, y, and z," or to be really forceful. As discussed in SKIRTS, when you go to a networking event your goal should be to meet the right people, to make sure that people remember you, and that they want to talk to you more, not to ask anyone for anything.
On the contrary, you should be asking them how you can be of assistance to them. The more you take time to learn about other people and their businesses and what they have going on in their world, the more you can be focused on trying to develop synergy in what they have available and what you might be qualified for.
Believe in Yourself. You have unique talents, abilities, gifts, and skills (T.A.G.S.). Don't forget those things and that your strongest value asset is still in place . . .YOU. Push through frustration. Attitude can make or break you!
(c)2008 Marshawn Evans
Author Bio
Marshawn Evans is one of the nation's leading experts on the art of maximizing human potential. She is the founder of Marshawn Evans Unlimited, a corporate life-enrichment consulting firm, and President of EDGE 3M Sports & Entertainment, a full service brand management agency.
S.K.I.R.T.S. in the Boardroom: A Woman's Survival Guide to Success in Business & Life
For more information please visit http://www.skirtsintheboardroom.com.
at 9:33 AM
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Categories: Finance and Economics, General Business, Personal Development, Small Business
December 29, 2008
Jack and Todd in Inc.
Check out Jack and Todd's recommendations for 2008's "Best Books for Business Owners":
(Links to a slideshow on www.inc.com. Co-contributors are editor Leigh Buchanan and columnist Joel Spolsky.)
POW!!! Right Between the Eyes.
A rather large box arrived at the 8CR office last week. When I opened the box and discovered it's contents, I said a few words that I can't repeat in public, and was reminded why Andy Nulman is the king of surprise. A pinata?!?!?!? Thanks for bringing some holiday cheer to the office Andy! Stay tuned for pictures of the 8CR crew attempting to bust the gift to pieces.
Andy is the author of Pow! Right Between the Eyes, due to hit your local bookstores in February of this year.
How to Reduce Your Carbon Footprint - a great little book
One of my favorite stocking stuffers this holiday season was How to Reduce Your Carbon Footprint: 365 Simple Ways to Save Energy, Resources, and Money by Joanna Yarrow.
This colorful little book, made of recycled products and printed with vegetable oil ink, offers tips for making easy behavioral and purchasing changes to reduce your carbon footprint and save money and energy at the same time.
Here are the topics covered in the chapters:
- Heating and Cooling
- Electricity and Electronics
- Cooking
- Washing and Cleaning
- Gardening and D.I.Y.
- Shopping
- Children
- Work
- Leisure
- Transportation
- the bigger picture...
Yarrow covers the short-term and long-term benefits of implementing these changes, and shows both the cost savings and the environmental benefits.
Here are a few tips I found particularly useful:
- Under heating and cooling controls... use "a programmable, or setback, thermostat, which allows you to set different temperatures for different times (particularly useful if your home is usually unoccupied during the day) and turn your water heater on and off automatically"
- Under water use... "Harvest the rain - Capture some of the rain water that falls on your roof by connecting a water barrel to a downspout. This water can then be used in the garden."
- Under public transportation... "Adjust your working hours, if you can, so that you don't have to travel on public transportation at peak times. The journey will be quicker, and you'll be guaranteed a seat."
By following even a few of the tips in How to Reduce Your Carbon Footprint, you'll get back your $12.95 and more. And you'll start to see significant benefits. This little book has been a hit with my friends and family this year, and I plan to buy a few more to keep on hand for gifts or host presents.
at 8:50 AM
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Categories: Big Ideas, Current Events, Safety, Health, and Wellness, Social Responsibilty
December 28, 2008
Todd's Favorite Business Books of 2008
I get paid to read business books. Some would consider this a tortured existence, but I can't think of a better job in the world.
The job does have certain requirements. You have to love the pursuit of commerce. You have to believe that business is much more art than science. The job requires endless curiosity. And you need patience given the hundreds of books that arrive in our offices each year.
One of my favorite parts of my job is to go back each year and remind readers what stands above the rest. Here are my five selections of 2008, with a page number to get you started and show that each book is worth reading in its entirety.
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The Adventures of Johnny Bunko: The Last Career Guide You'll Ever Need by Daniel H. Pink
Start on page one. Dan Pink has written an unconventional career guide. The wildly popular Japanese manga comic format and the ass-kicking career genie named Diana are two great reasons to read Pink's guide. Audiences of all stripes will enjoy joining Johnny on this fast-paced quest to find a satisfying career and build a fulfilling life. -
The Back of The Napkin: Solving Problems and Selling Ideas With Pictures by Dan Roam
Visual thinking was an en vogue concept for 2008. A number of books described different ways to communicate complex ideas using pictures, drawings and charts. Dan Roam uniquely delivers on the how. The decoder ring on page 141 shows the answers to the six basic questions of who/what, how much, where, when, how and why. This alone is worth the price of two books (one for you, the other for a friend). -
The Breakthrough Imperative: How the Best Managers Get Outstanding Results by Mark Gottfredson and Steve Schaubert
I am a fan of the business thought of the management consulting group Bain & Company, with Chris Zook's "focus on the core" philosophy and Fred Reichheld's Net Promoter Score leading the parade. The Breakthrough Imperative builds and expands on the work of Zook and Reichheld. Mark Gottfredson and Steve Schaubert show that some strategy paths are better than others. On page 125, the authors elegantly simplify customer segmentation to three groups: those who buy on price, those who buy for quality and service, and those who buy for the prestige of owning the brand. In business, the path you choose always depends on where you are starting from.
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This I Believe II: More Personal Philosophies of Remarkable Men and Women Edited by Jay Allison and Dan Gediman
National Public Radio originally ran this series in the 1950s, and this is the second compilation of the renewed series. These seventy-five personal manifestos reveal deep motivations and their origins. Some individuals you'll recognize; all of them you will remember, whether it is banjoist Bela Fleck's obsession with perfection (page 79), comic book artist Frank Miller's love for the American Flag, or Amy Lyles Wilson writing about her mother pumping her first tank of gas after her husband passed away. -
Tribes: We Need You to Lead Us by Seth Godin
Tribes is Seth's best book since Purple Cow. In his world, leadership is about change, risk, hope, fear and faith. I could pick almost any page for a clever insight given his riff-based style of writing. My recommended riff on page 126 is a list because everyone likes lists—in this case, Seth's seven elements of leadership.
at 10:34 AM
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Categories: Book Awards, Book Reviews, Careers, Leadership, Strategy
December 24, 2008
WSJ to the Rescue
Laura Landro of the Wall Street Joural had a very interesting list published in today's paper. It is a look at some Health Books You'll Actually Want to Read. The five covered in depth are:
My Stroke of Insight: A Brain Scientist's Personal Journey by Jill Bolte Taylor, Viking
The Light Within: The Extraordinary Friendship of a Doctor and Patient Brought Together by Cancer by Lois M. Ramondetta and Deborah Rose Sills, William Morrow & Company
Hospital: Man, Woman, Birth, Death, Infinity, Plus Red Tape, Bad Behavior, Money, God and Diversity on Steroids by Julie Salamon, Penguin Press
Against Medical Advice by James Patterson & Hal Friedman, Little Brown & Company
The Way We Work: Getting to Know the Amazing Human Body by David Macaulay, Houghton Mifflin Company
Also recommended are:
It's Good to Know a Miracle: Dani's Story: One Family's Struggle With Leukemia," by Jay and Sue Shotel, Gordian Knot Books
A Life Worth Living: A Doctor's Reflections on Illness in a High-Tech Era by Robert Martensen, Farrar Straus & Giroux
Hippocrates' Shadow: Secrets From the House of Medicine by David H. Newman, Scribner
You: Being Beautiful by Michael F. Roizen & Mehmet C. Oz, Free Press
Critical: What We Can Do About the Health-Care Crisis by Tom Daschle, Thomas Dunne Books
You can find the original article here.
Reuters to the Rescue
Reuters reporter Lisa Von Ahn has some recommended "reading to brighten the holidays."
She starts with three classics being released the day after Christmas by Penguin imprint, Jeremy P. Tarcher.
A Message to Garcia: And Other Classic Success Writings by Elbert Hubbard, Tarcher
Acres of Diamonds by Russell H. Cornwell, Tarcher
The Law of Success by Napoleon Hill, Tarcher
She then moves on to some of this year's finest biographies and narratives.
The First Billion Is the Hardest by T. Boone Pickens, Crown
The Snowball by Alice Schroeder, Bantam
The Partnership: The Making of Goldman Sachs by Charles D. Ellis, Gotham
Good Guys and Bad Guys by Joe Nocera, Portfolio
Mr. Market Miscalculates: The Bubble Years and Beyond by James Grant, Axios Press
One of the books she recommends is both a company narrative and a classic, having been released in its 20th anniversary edition this year.
Barbarians at the Gate: The Fall of RJR Nabisco by John Helyar & Bryan Burrough, Collins
The authors of Barbarians at the Gatewere recently interviewed by CSPAN's Book TV. You can watch that interview here.
To read the Reuters article in its original from, head here.
December 23, 2008
First Alternate for Business Book of the Year
We have been a big fan of Dan Roam and his book The Back of The Napkin. We wrote the Jack Covert Selects review in March. That same month, we published the lost chapter on ChangeThis. Dan Roam spoke at our LeaveSmarter series in Milwaukee. We also published an excerpt from the book with pictures and all.
In announcing the winners of the 800-CEO-READ Business Book Awards last week, The Back of the Napkin was absent from any of the lists and this omission has been on my mind.
In looking back at all of the selections, was BotN a sales book? Did the title improve the abilities of a leader? Did the book help you look at the world differently? The answer to all of these questions is 'yes'. And that is the problem. Roam's book didn't fit squarely into any of our categories. I guess I am saying it was a victim of the system. We didn't know where to put it and The Back of The Napkin fell through the cracks.
I think that is pretty lame though, blaming a glaring, problematic oversight on a arbitrary set of rules.
This left me with the problem of what to do about it.
Since we are not a company or awards program built on formalities, I decided to make something up.
So, I hereby declare The Back of The Napkin by Dan Roam the First Alternate for Business Book of The Year.
This title carries with it certain (just created) honors and responsibilities:
- This is a very important book that should be read by everyone who participates in any form of commerce.
- This title shares a similar level of importance to the 13 other category winners.
- 800-CEO-READ reserves the right to name or not name a First Alternate in the following years of the Business Book Awards
- If at any point, should the Business Book of The Year not be able to perform its duties as titleholder, the First Alternate will take its place with all rights and responsibilities of the top title.
P.S. If you are wondering at all about the sincerity of this post, understand that we are poking fun at ourselves rather than the book and we totally want you to read The Back of the Napkin.
InBubbleWrap - To Engineer is Human
We're keeping it is real as we can over on InBubbleWrap, giving away books, sharing some stories, giving away books, trying to make you laugh and cry and fall in love with us... giving away books. This week we have 25 copies of To Engineer is Human: The Role of Failure in Successful Design.
Being an engineer, it is one of Todd's personal favorites from The 100 Best Business Books of All Time. And, although it's focus is on engineering, it's lessons are directly applicable to business. Todd explains how in the video below. After you watch the video, head on over to InBubbleWrap and win yourself a copy.