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Posted Dec. 7, 2005 3:12 a.m. by jack
It's the time of year for reflecting on 2005 while starting to create that list of new year's resolutions. This month for Jack Covert Selects, I looked over all of the reviews written during the year and chose my top six reviews. These are the best of the best books for 2005.
Check out the Top 6 Jack Covert Selects for 2005:
- Blue Ocean Strategy
- A Whole New Mind
- Radical Careering
- The World is Flat
- Rules of the Red Rubber Ball
- The Travels of a T-shirt in a Global Economy
Posted Nov. 8, 2005 4:45 a.m. by jack
How is a book picked to be considered to be a Jack Covert Selects? I have been asked that question many times. The answer "it varies." I read this book because it is a finalist for the FT/Goldman Sachs Business Book Award. When the list was posted, I agreed with every title being an important work. I had heard of this book but didn't know anything about it. So better late than never, I got a copy and loved it. I think this book gives Thomas Friedman's The World is Flat a run for its money as the best book written about the current globalization. (The Friedman book is also a finalist.)
The preface of the book explains where the book came from. In the 1999 the WTO demonstrations got the author thinking:
Back at Georgetown in 1999, I watched a young woman seize the microphone. 'Who made your T-shirt?' she asked the crowd. 'Was it a child in Vietnam, chained to a sewing machine without food or water? Or a young girl in India earning 18 cents per hour and allowed to visit the bathroom only twice per day? Did you know that she lives 12 to a room? That she shares her bed and has only gruel to eat? That she is forced to work 90 hours per week, without overtime pay? Did you know that she has no right to speak out, no right to unionize? That she lives not only in poverty, but also is filth and sickness, all in the name of Nike's profits?'I did not know all this. And I wondered about the young women at the microphone: How did she know?
During the next several years, I traveled the world to investigate. I not only found out who made my T-shirt, but I also followed its life over thousands of miles and across three continents. This book is the story of the people, politics, and markets that created my cotton T-shirt. It is a story of globalization.
Let me tell you folks, this professor is a great storyteller and this book taught me a ton about the power of the cotton farmers in West Texas, the "hukou" system in China, and the power of the apparel and textile industries in the US. She puts everything in perspective by giving the reader a very readable history lesson.
The sign for me of a really well written book is when I carry the book home and read it while I could be reading stuff I usually read at home. I am giving this book to some people who enjoyed books like this: Blink, Freakonomics and Friedman's. I hope the book wins the FT prize.
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Posted Nov. 8, 2005 4:42 a.m. by jack
Everyone wants resultsyour boss, your co-worker, and the company accountant. Everyone gets resultsgood or bad. How your company achieves these results is the focus of the book "Results".
"Results" presents and explains the idea of "Organizational DNA" which was created by the consulting firm Booz Allen Hamilton (BAH). Organizational DNA is similar to a human being's DNA. Each human and each organization can be defined (at least partially) by their DNA. To discover your organizations DNA, take the free quiz at www.OrgDNA.com. Just remember that "most large organizations are far too complex to fit squarely into only one type, but in any organization one type typically predominates."
What does Organizational DNA consist of? According to authors Gary Neilson, senior vice president at BAH, and Bruce Pasternack, former senior vice president at BAH, there are four building blocksdecision rights, information, motivators and structure. These building blocks should work in concert to create a DNA that will help the company succeed. To help you understand your company's building blocks, Neilson and Pasternack offer a few key questions for each building block. For example under the building block "decision rights", the authors suggest you ask, "How many people are involved in the decision-making process?"
After establishing an understanding of the building blocks of DNA, Neilson and Pasternack define the seven types of DNA. The types include: Passive-Aggressive, Fits-and-Starts, Outgrown, Overmanaged, Just-in-Time, Military Precision, and Resilient Organization. Each type is broken into traits and treatments with real-life examples. The final typethe Resilient Organizationis the ultimate goal for any company.
Neilson and Pasternack suggest reading about each type of organization. I suggest taking the quiz to discover your Organizational DNA and then reading about the types of your DNA. The first two chapters and the Resilient Organization chapter are also worthwhile.
Its interesting to understand and learn how to change the DNA of an organization. Learning more about your DNA may just be the golden key needed to produce better results. Find out by reading "Results".
If you would like to receive the monthly Jack Covert Selects Newsletter, please visit the Newsletters area of our website. Then, sign in and check the boxes of the newsletters that interest you.
Posted Nov. 8, 2005 4:37 a.m. by jack
DISCLAIMER: Todd Sattersten, ace, right hand and co-pilot here at 8cr, is the editor for this book and his company Astronaut Projects published this book. I read parts of the book before it was published and have continued to read the book after it was been published. You wont find this book in your local bookstore. It is only available at 8cr and Amazon.
"More Space" is a collection of nine essays by nine authors. The title comes from what makes the book so much fun. The nine authors of these essays are bloggers. Get it? "More Space" is the place where they can expound upon their ideas. The authors include: Jory Des Jardins, Lisa Haneberg, Rob May, Johnnie Moore, Marc Orchant, Robert Paterson, Evelyn Rodriguez, Curt Rosengren, and Jeremy Wright. The common subject of "More Space" is complacency in business.
The variety of both topics and writing styles provides for a great read. I read the book cover to cover and love many of the articles. I especially liked Rob May's take on Why Business Matters. He quotes Drucker on profit and business:
A business that does not show a profit at least equal to its cost of capital is irresponsible; it wastes society's resources. Economic profit performance is the base without which business cannot discharge and other responsibilities cannot be a good employer, a good citizen, a good neighbor.
I, also, really enjoyed Jory Des Jardins' piece and have reread Johnnie Moore's and Jeremy Wright's articles. Some of the pieces are very prescriptive and others like Jory's and Jeremy's are short stories.
This book shows that there are some excellent writers in the blogosphere (a great place to obtain free, well-written pieces). "More Space" allows them to stretch their collective wings and fly. It's the really good stuff.
If you would like to receive the monthly Jack Covert Selects Newsletter, please visit the Newsletters area of our website. Then, sign in and check the boxes of the newsletters that interest you.
Posted Nov. 8, 2005 4:36 a.m. by jack
I am always asking people what music they are listening to. I am a big music guy and am constantly looking for new stuff. I've found some of my favorite music through suggestions. That is a perfect example of the power of word-of-mouth.
"Grapevine" is a perfect example of a book about word-of-mouth marketing. The book is written by Dave Balter, the founder of BzzAgent. His company has a legion of volunteers who like getting cool stuff and then go out and tell others about it. His book shares his experiences and multiple case studies.
Here are a few of the points I took away. First is his chapter called The Myth of the Influentials where he lays out that it is not the buzzers or early adopters that make the difference. It is the folks who are slightly above average in their loyalty to a product or service. The other key point is the importance of embracing negativity. Some BzzAgent campaigns have found problems with quality and levels of service. Dave's point is that if you listen to what people are saying you can adjust and enjoy even more success.
I am going to engage in some word-of-mouth marketing now and recommend you pick up a copy of "Grapevine". Let's get the buzz started.
If you would like to receive the monthly Jack Covert Selects Newsletter, please visit the Newsletters area of our website. Then, sign in and check the boxes of the newsletters that interest you.
