Book About How To Insure Your Business

HIDE HERE COMES THE INSURANCE GUY

Hide Here Comes The Insurance Guy

Author: Rick Vassar
ISBN-13:  978-1605280202
Topic:  Business & Economics – Business Insurance
Format:  Softcover
Language:  English
Publication Year:  2008


Review:
Well written book on a dry subject.  As the title indicates, often insurance is a topic that does not attract interest.  But the topic is very important and could be very costly if mismanaged.


The book has simple explanations and is a valuable resource for managers.  Great primer for a first read and then keep on your shelf for a reference.  Based on his experience Vassar lays out some cost saving strategies.  This is written for the small business.


About the Author
Rick Vassar, CPCU, ARM, AIS, ARM-P, has been a commercial risk manager for over twenty years and has published several articles on the risk-management process. He has managed risk in small, mid-size and Fortune 100 companies, primarily in the automotive industry. Vassar lives with his wife Carol and two children outside of Washington, DC.


Resources:

Insurance Planning

Book Review: YOU CAN'T WIN A FIGHT WITH YOUR CLIENT

YOU CANT WIN A FIGHT WITH YOUR CLIENT

Author: Tom Markert

You Can't Win A Fight With Your Client

ISBN-13:  9780061228551

Topic:  Business & Economics – Customer Service

Format:  Hardcover
Language:  English
Publication Year:  2007

 BUY IT - BRAND NEW

Review:

Well written with clever rules, 50 in all.  A great reminder that sales prowess, savvy marketing and social media eminence doesn’t matter if you can’t keep your customers happy.   And perfection is not required.  Humans make mistakes, how we deal with them sets great companies apart from the mediocre.

Rule 21 is: Call with No News.  Meaning to say, pick up the phone and say, I am calling to say that I have not forgotten your question or concern and we should have an answer soon.

This book does not break any new ground but puts it all into perspective.  Perfect gift for customer service teams and account managers.

About the Author

Tom Markert is CEO of Ipsos Loyalty Worldwide, a Market Research provider to many Fortune 500 companies and is currently a member of the Board of Directors of State Auto, a publicly traded property and casualty insurer based in Columbus, Ohio. He has held leadership positions at ACNielsen, Citicorp, and Procter & Gamble and has held positions on the board of directors of the Australian professional basketball team the Sydney Kings and the American Chamber of Commerce in New South Wales, Australia. He lives in Connecticut.

Book Review: RIGHT MAKES RIGHT

RIGHT MAKES MIGHT

Author: Dorothea E. Gaulden Ph.D. & Sharon Brown

Right Makes Right

ISBN-13: 9781933538860

Topic:  Business & Economics - Ethics

Format:  Hardcover
Language:  English
Publication Year:  2007

Buy It - Brand New

Review:

One of the many excellent points made in this book, is that there is no difference between the perceived ethical value of a company and their actual ethical value.  I have reviewed several books about branding, this book makes the point that without ethical practices as core company values, there can be no brand.

So much is done to achieve short term results, many times at the expense of long term.  The bottom line needs to be protected, and corporate officers have a fiduciary responsibility to protect the reputation of the company.   When unscrupulous business techniques are uncovered, the resulting loss of confidence in the company results in its often very rapid demise.

The book is well written and flows quickly.  61 pages of text can be read in one reading.  Should be required reading at Business Schools.

About the Author

Dorothea E. Gaulden is a former finance executive with over 25 years experience and an adjunct professor of business. Dorothea E. Gaulden teaches the importance of correcting the unethical behavior overtaking our business community at the corporate level and in university classrooms.

Dorothea attended Youngstown University in Ohio, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting. She earned an MBA in finance from the University of Saint Francis in Fort Wayne, and a Ph.D. in organization and management from Capella University in Minneapolis.

After 10 years with ITT Corporation, as assistant controller, Dorothea Gaulden was promoted to Director of Governmental Financial relations in Washington, D.C. where she worked with several government agencies on behalf of the company. Three years later she was promoted to vice president and controller and subsequently promoted to North America group controller responsible for financial performances of facilities in Mexico, Canada and the U.S.

Today, she serves as an adjunct business professor for undergraduate and graduate students at American InterContinental University, Indiana Wesleyan University and Argosy University.

Publisher's Note:

In this revealing book, the reader catches a timely glimpse of the pervasive, troubling environment overtaking the business community’s lack of common sense, respect for others, and the willingness of corporations and individuals to knowingly engage in practices such as embezzlement, fraudulent misrepresentations, and cheating. Unlike many published volumes that debate, admonish, or even disregard business ethics, Gaulden explores society's need to understand the impact unethical behavior has on the business community and the financial and moral burdens it entails. She then offers a workable remedy to combat the cancer tainting our business community. The question is, can America afford not to change?

Book Review: VIRTUAL TEAM SUCCESS

VIRTUAL TEAM SUCCESS

Author: Richard Lepsinger & Darleen DeRosa

Virtual Team Success

ISBN-13: 9780470532966

Topic:  Business & Economics - Management

Format:  Hardcover
Language:  English
Publication Year:  2010

For Quality Business Books Click Here

Review:

I have had to manage teams in USA, Philippines and India simultaneously.  Each was tasked with a component of a larger goal.  As I read this book, I was angry I had not found it sooner.      Virtual Team Success has concrete examples and explains how to meet various virtual challenges.

About the Authors

Darleen DeRosa, Ph.D., is a managing partner at OnPoint Consulting. She brings ten years of management consulting experience, with expertise in the areas of talent/succession management, executive assessment, virtual teams, and organizational assessment. Darleen has authored numerous articles on virtual teams.

Richard Lepsinger is president of OnPoint Consulting and has a twenty-year track record of success as a human resource consultant and executive. He is the coauthor of four books on leadership including Closing the Execution Gap: How Great Leaders and Their Companies Get Results, Flexible Leadership: Creating Value by Balancing Multiple Challenges and Choices, The Art and Science of 360? Feedback, and The Art and Science of Competency Models, all from Jossey-Bass/Pfeiffer.

Publisher's Note:

"Virtual teams are intended to make optimal use of expertise spread across the world, but performance excellence is the exception and mediocrity the rule. After extensive and careful study of real teams, DeRosa and Lepsinger have captured essential information, principles of operation, and tools in a highly readable volume that can help thoughtful readers elevate the performance of the teams significantly. The practical focus, collection of techniques and tools, and "how to" tips provide an essential foundation for anyone with virtual team responsibility. The organization of the book centered around challenges, differentiators, and lessons will facilitate finding answers to any problem the team faces. The RAMP model makes it easy to focus on what's important in enabling top performance."

—Mike Beyerlein, professor, Organizational Leadership, Purdue University

For rare and collectible books, click here

Book Review: THE CONNECTORS

THE CONNECTORS

The Connectors

Author: Maribeth Kuzmeski

ISBN-13: 9780470488188

Topic:  Business & Economics - Marketing

Format:  Hardcover
Language:  English
Publication Year:  2009

BUY IT NOW

Publisher's Note:

How the World's Most Successful Businesspeople Build Relationships and Win Clients for Life

Learn the relationship-building secrets that lead to lifelong clients, repeat customers, and endless referrals.  In today's commoditized marketplace, no matter what product or service you sell, there's probably someone somewhere able to offer it cheaper, faster, and maybe even better. So how do you differentiate yourself from your competitors? The Connectors shows that the only thing that truly sets you apart is the quality of your relationships with your clients and customers.

Everyone knows that relationships are important in business. Yet most people would admit that their relationships could be better—but don’t spend time working on the underlying skills. This book explains how to develop better, more profitable connections—as illustrated proven by some of the world’s most successful professionals. Even if you're not a “people person,” you can dramatically grow your business or your career through a few simple approaches to relationship-building.

The Connectors presents a five-step methodology that lead to lifelong clients, repeat customers, and endless referrals.

SKILLS YOU WILL LEARN:

* Stop networking and start truly connecting. 

* Create an avalanche of referrals and an army of happy customers.

* Become a "connector," even if you’ve never been a "people person"

* Find your social IQ—and improve it

* Put relationship-building principles to work daily

* Focus on others and reap the rewards yourself

*Ask the right questions—and sell without selling

* Differentiate yourself through the impact you have on others

In The Connectors, Maribeth Kuzmeski, founder of Red Zone Marketing, LLC, and consultant to Fortune 500 firms, shows you how to build profitable, long-lasting business relationships.

Review:

The author, Kuzmeski,  uses self-assessments throughout the book, some may leave the reader at a loss on how to grade them.  At the end of most of the chapters, the reader can assess themselves in such areas as social intelligence.  It is refreshing to put some of the information to direct use. 

Kuzmeski takes the reader through the concept of listening versus talking.  None of this is new, but is crucial to making her point on how to win clients over.  How many sales are blown by speaking over the client and not grasping their objections?

Kuzmeski does a good job of flowing from one topic to the next.  It would have been nice to read more about her professional experiences with the subject matter. 

The use of charts and graphs enhanced the reading experience.  For non-technically oriented managers looking to build their client base, The Connectors provides a great road map.  With this foundation, improving relationships with current clients and adding new clients to the business should be accelerated.

Good actionable advice includes a cycle of activity for client retention and recruitment:

-Schedule a phone appointment

-Make a proactive phone call

-E-mail a client whenever you come across anything that might be of interest to them

-Invite clients to educational workshops

-Invite clients to lunch or another social meeting

-Invite clients to a meeting in your office

-Mail a personal note

A review of other works by Maribeth Kuzmeski include AND THE CLIENTS WENT WILD

About the Authors

Maribeth Kuzmeski  is the founder of Red Zone Marketing, LLC, which consults to Fortune 500 firms on strategic marketing planning and business growth. A member of the National Speakers Association, she speaks worldwide on the topic of professional services marketing. For more information, visit http://www.redzonemarketing.com/.

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

PART I Winning Business with Relationships.

CHAPTER 1 The Common Denominator of Greatness and Success: It’s Not Money, It’s People!

CHAPTER 2 You Can Be a Connector Even If You're Not a Natural People Person: How Social Intelligence Makes a Major Difference in Business.

CHAPTER 3 The Connector IQ Assessment: Am I Socially Intelligent?

CHAPTER 4 The Red Zone Connectors Formula: The Principles for Building Valuable Relationships.

PART II How Do They Do It? The 5 Traits of Connectors.

CHAPTER 5 Develop a True "What's in It for Them" Mentality: Focusing on Others Brings More for You.

CHAPTER 6 Listen! Curiously Listen!

CHAPTER 7 Important Questions to Ask That Attract Connections.

CHAPTER 8 Getting the Sale to Close Itself: Using Creative Strategies to Sell Without Selling.

CHAPTER 9 Create a Memorable Experience: Differentiating Yourself by the Impact You Leave on Others.

PART III Applying the 5 Connector Traits.

CHAPTER 10 Gain a Stream of Profitable Referrals: The Litmus Test for Relationship Success.

CHAPTER 11 The Employee Connection: The Critical Factor in Creating Clients for Life.

CHAPTER 12 I Don’t Have Time to Connect! Finding the Time to Connect with an Already Busy Schedule.

CHAPTER 13 Find a Mentor: The Influence that Leads, Motivates and Holds You Accountable.

CHAPTER 14 Women's Organizations: Fulfilling a Unique Need for Women to Connect.

PART IV Power Tools for Relationship Building.

CHAPTER 15 How to Get the Most from Outlook, ACT, and Other CRM Software: Strategies for Organizing and Tracking Relationships.

CHAPTER 16 Christmas Cards Don’t Work: Meaningful Strategies for Keeping in Touch.

CHAPTER 17 Using Speaking Skills to Develop Relationships: Simple Strategies to Connect Powerfully When Speaking to Small and Large Groups.

CHAPTER 18 Connecting through Social Media Technology: How to Get the Most Out of Facebook, LinkedIn, and Other Social Networking Sites.

CHAPTER 19 The Contrarian Networking Strategy: Create Truly Effective Networking Not Focused on Networking.

CHAPTER 20 Coaching Your Way through to Better Relationships: A Self-Coaching Exercise for Improving Business Relationships.

CHAPTER 21 Financial Advisor Relationship Strategies: A Niche-Based Look at Connecting with Dramatic Sales Results.

Book Review: BRAND REWIRED

Brand Rewired

BRAND REWIRED





Author: Anne Chasser & Jennifer Wolfe

ISBN-13: 9780470575420

Topic:  Business & Economics - Marketing

Format:  Hardcover
Language:  English
Publication Year:  2010

BUY IT NOW

Publisher's Note:

Discover how the world's leading companies have added value to their company by rewiring the brand creation process

Brand Rewired showcases the world's leading companies in branding and how they have added value to their company by rewiring the brand creation process to intersect strategic thinking about intellectual property without stifling creativity.

•           Features interviews with executives from leading worldwide companies including: Kodak, Yahoo,   Kraft, J.Walter Thompson, Kimberly Clark, Scripps Networks Interactive, the Kroger Company, GE, Procter & Gamble, LPK, Northlich and more

•           Highlights how to maximize return on investment in creating a powerful brand and intellectual property portfolio that can be leveraged economically for many years to come

•           Reveals how to reduce costs in the brand creation and legal process

•           Illustrates how a brand strategy intersecting with an equally powerful intellectual property strategy produces a greater economic return and more rewards for the brand project leaders. 

Innovative in its approach, Brand Rewired shows you how leading companies are abandoning the old school research-and-development-driven innovation philosophy and evolving to a Brand Rewired approach of innovating at the consumer level, using multi-disciplinary teams to build a powerful brand and intellectual asset to maximize return on investment.

Review:

A striking cover got me into the mood for an analysis of marketing.  Brand Rewired does a good job of relating the importance of intellectual property, branding and creative strategy.  The interesting point made by Chasser and Wolfe was that some brands are more valuable than the actual products. 

Every nuance and aspect of the brand experience is an intellectual asset that must be protected.  Brand Rewired outlines several processes, collaborative in nature that need to be followed.  The teams that need to work together are the marketing and legal teams.  By doing so, the book puts forth, intellectual property garners protection brand value is maximized. This book provides the steps in clear terms and is relevant to what my company experienced recently.  I am confident other companies are dealing with similar issues.

The major lesson for me in this book was the advice for the marketing department to include the legal team early in strategy and planning. Also, the advice for the legal team to function as growth minded partners and not as if they are a regulatory commission with outside the company allegiance.  Intellectual property is a valuable asset to the company and should be safeguarded, recognized, understood and respected. This book is a good way to introduce a partnership between legal and marketing. 

It would make sense for law firms that present branded companies to read this book.

About the Authors

ANNE H. CHASSER was named one of the fifty most influential people in the intellectual property world by Managing Intellectual Property magazine and served as commissioner of trademarks for the United States Patent & Trademark Office and president of the International Trademark Association. As Associate Vice President for Intellectual Property at the University of Cincinnati and Director of Trademarks and Licensing at The Ohio State University, she has achieved top-level executive experience in both government and higher education administration. Chasser is widely recognized as a visionary thought leader in intellectual property.

JENNIFER C. WOLFE, Esq., APR, is the founder of Wolfe LPA, one of the fastest growing woman-owned intellectual property and corporate counsel law firms. Clients have included Kraft Foods, Scripps Networks Interactive, The Kroger Co., Luxottica Retail, and many emerging media and technology companies. One of the only attorneys also nationally accredited in public relations, Wolfe is widely known for her unique and outside-the-box thinking. She is certified as a Six Sigma Black Belt and has been a regular contributor to national legal and technology publications.

Chapter 1 The Billion-Dollar Question.

The Evolution of the Silo—Rewired.

What’s Ahead?

Chapter Highlights.

Chapter 2 Value Is in the Eye of the Beholder.

Driving Trends in Intellectual Asset Valuation—Why it Matters to You.

When and How Intellectual Assets are Valued.

Increasing the Return on Investment of Your Next Project.

Want Your Brand Listed as a Top 100 Brand?

Chapter Highlights.

Chapter 3 Designing in IP.

The Creative Process.

Product Packaging and Product Design.

Name and Logo Design.

Campaign and Connection to the Consumer.

Culture.

Chapter Highlights.

Chapter 4 The Influencers.

Consumer-Based Insights.

Content as Marketing.

Cost of Litigation, Risk, and Uncertainty.

The Dilution Dilemma.

Limited Budgets.

Chapter Highlights.

Chapter 5 The Black Box.

A Fictional Case Study—Emerson Jones.

Research and Development.

Marketing and Advertising Campaign.

Public Relations and Investor Relations.

Avoiding Costly Lawsuits.

Return on Investment.

Chapter Highlights.

Chapter 6 Integrating a Brand Rewired Process.

The Environment and Incentives.

The Innovation Process.

Implementation.

A Do-Over for Emerson Jones.

The Leadership.

Chapter Highlights.

Chapter 7 The Brand Maestro.

The Brand Maestro Job Description.

The Intellectual Asset Strategy.

How to Get Started in Your Organization.

Chapter Highlights.

Chapter 8 The Thought Leaders.

General Mills.

Procter & Gamble.

Kraft Foods.

Kimberly-Clark.

Kodak.

Harley-Davidson.

Yahoo!

Intel.

Scripps Networks Interactive.

Libby Persyk Kathman (LPK).

Northlich (Brand Engagement Agency).

Interbrand (Branding Consultancy).

The Entrepreneurial Journey.

Epilogue Brand Capitol and Brand Maestro.

Did You Know?

Appendix A Discussion Questions.

Appendix B About the People Interviewed in This Book.

Appendix C Mutual Nondisclosure Agreement.

Appendix D Sample Questionnaire for Planning Sessions.

Appendix E Team Meeting Agenda.

Appendix F Sample Intellectual Asset Strategy Document.

Appendix G List of Trademarks.

References.

About the Authors

Book Review: AND THE CLIENTS WENT WILD

AND THE CLIENTS WENT WILD

And the Clients went Wild

Author: Maribeth Kuzmeski

ISBN-13: 9780470601761

Topic:  Business & Economics - Marketing

Format:  Hardcover
Language:  English
Publication Year:  2010

BUY IT NOW

REVIEW:

Combine social media with traditional marketing techniques for breakthrough results!

While social media is doing much to change the marketing landscape, it doesn't mean you have to take an either/or approach between it and more traditional methods. ...And the Clients Went Wild! gives you the tools to take an eclectic approach and pick the best, most wildly successful marketing methods-traditional, online, or both-to win at a given marketing goal. And, whether by means of Facebook, Twitter, streaming video, or by old-fashioned word of mouth, public relations, or personal sales skill, the goal is to win, right?

·         Find real-life examples of success from some of today's best businesses

·         Shows how to integrate and benefit from both traditional and new marketing methods

·         Uses the proven business growth strategy Red Zone Marketing as a central concept

·         Author has proven the concepts successful in her work for numerous major clients

Don't throw out tried and true marketing techniques just for the sake of the new. Do what works!

 The style of the author tends to fall to cliché, but the book is motivating to help you improve the way you market.  The Marketing Plan template alone makes this book worth the cost of the book and the time to read it.  Also, the chapter on building a brand on a budget was also helpful. 

The advice about relying too much on social media was re-assuring.  Traditional marketing still works.

About the Authors

MARIBETH KUZMESKI and her firm, Red Zone Marketing, consult with businesses from entrepreneurial firms to Fortune 500 corporations on strategic marketing planning and business growth. She is a member of the Entrepreneurs' Organization (EO) and The National Speakers Association, a frequent national media contributor, an international speaker, and is the author of five books including The Connectors: How the World's Most Successful Businesspeople Build Relationships and Win Clients for Life (Wiley).

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

Chapter 1 Executive Summary: The 5 Core Principles for Turning Clients and Prospects Into Raving Fans.

PART I THE PRINCIPLES.

Chapter 2 1st Principle- What Are YOU Doing that No One Else is Doing? Build Client Delight Through Your Differentiation.

Chapter 3 2nd Principle- Focus Your Marketing on Benefits, Results and a Call to Action: What’s Really In It For Them.

Chapter 4 3rd Principle- Go Viral! Create Memorable Impactful Messaging Worthy of a Pass-Along.

Chapter 5 4th Principle- Leverage Your Business Network for Incremental Growth: Find and Cultivate Centers of Influence to Move Your Message Fast.

Chapter 6 5th Principle- The Critical Importance of Execution in Your Game Plan: Good Execution is Better than Good Strategy.

PART II THE PLAYBOOK: Online and Traditional Marketing Techniques.

Chapter 7 Create a Playbook That Fits Your Business and Your Personality: Design Your Own Marketing Action Plan.

Chapter 8 Build A Brand Identity On Shoestring Budget: Spending Time Effectively Can Be Worth More Than Money.

Chapter 9 Find Your Niche: Corner the Market One Segment at a Time!

Chapter 10 Techniques for Creating a Memorable Experience: Give ‘em Something to Talk About!

Chapter 11 Your Best Prospects Come From Referrals - Scripts and Strategies for Increasing Your Introductions to Others.

Chapter 12 My Website is WORKING! Turn a Bland Site and Your Internet Presence into a Money-Maker.

Chapter 13 Social Media: Effective Strategies that DON’T Consume all of Your Time.

Chapter 14 Permission Based Marketing: Strategies for Successful Email and E-Newsletters.

Chapter 15 Traditional Marketing Still Works: TV and Cable Advertising, Newspaper, and Other Mediums that Still Cause People to Buy.

Chapter 16 Direct Mail: Simple Principles for Gaining Sales from Good Old- Fashioned Mail.

Chapter 17 Events and Seminars: Creating Buzz and Sales through Group Presentations.

Chapter 18 Media Methods To Gain Celebrity Status: Take advantage of hot topics, timely events, and unique twists to attract attention.

Chapter 19 Special Tactics for Financial Advisors: 10 Specific Strategies Working Today.

Book Review: BUILDING PERSONAL LEADERSHIP

BUILDING PERSONAL LEADERSHIP



Building Personal Leadership



Authors: Joe Farcht 

ISBN-13: 9781600371653

Topic:  Business & Economics

Format:  Softcover
Language:  English
Publication Year:  2007

BUY IT NOW

REVIEW:

The book covers a wide range of topics including: time management, organization, developing the right attitude and effective communication. Farcht discusses success and shows the reader why continuing our personal development is essential to a successful life. He states, "Conscious personal development does not end with High School or with the first job you take. Mental toughness and agility come from being engaged in work and life and learning and developing more of your potential."

Farcht has developed a system that changes people's attitudes and behaviors, and helps them to achieve 30%-100% increase in their business productivity. His book, Building Personal Leadership, is a way for Farcht to share this knowledge with the world.

The section on Time Management was my favorite as that is one of my biggest challenges at work. For those of us that can do a better job at this, he already is ahead of us with a list of why our arguments about why it won't work are useless. I am really trying to use the skills from the section to better organize my time and work more effectively.

About the Authors

Joe Farcht is a highly sought after executive coach. His corporation, Leadership Advantage, Inc., has worked with clients such as Boeing, Discover Card and Wells Fargo.

JOE FARCHT:  To support the personal leadership development of the hundreds of people I have worked with. Now that includes about 1,500 people I serve with a written weekly article or monthly newsletter. It is a compendium of three or four years of writing and serves a niche of small and medium business supervisors, managers, and executives and includes any person wishing to grow their personal leadership skills and attitudes. It is uniquely focused in a progression of development from Personal Productivity, Personal Leadership, Business Leadership, and Barriers to Success building the skills and attitudes needed in today’s workplace and life to be successful.

Web Site Review: http://800ceoread.com/

Excellent site about business books.  Here is their top seller list:

 

 

1.

 

How Companies Win

by Rick Kash, David Calhoun; HarperBusiness

Shows how to identify and respond to untapped demand to win in today's demand-driven economy

2.

Relationship Economics

by David Nour; John Wiley & Sons

Relationship Economics takes a strategic view of business relationships as a platform for long-term business growth and success.

3.

Rich Dad's Conspiracy of the Rich

by Robert T Kiyosaki; Business Plus

A mix of comments from readers of Robert T. Kiyasaki's website combined with his insight and commentary.

4.

Employees First, Customers Second

by Vineet Nayar; Harvard Business School Press

Vineet Nayar, CEO of HCLT, recounts how he and his team implemented the employee first philosophy.

5.

Strengths Finder 2.0

by Tom Rath; Gallup Press

A guide for optimizing your talents, helping to find the right fit for the people in your organization or for yourself.

6.

Doing Both

by Inder Sidhu; FT Press

Inside the story of Cisco and how the company has delivered consistent innovation and strong business results.

7.

The CIO Edge

by Graham Waller, Karen Rubenstrunk, George Hallenbeck; Harvard Business School Press

Lays out the people-to-people leadership competencies that the highest-performing CIOs have in common.

8.

Switch

by Chip Heath, Dan Heath; Broadway Business

Stories of people and organizations who have successfully implemented significant changes.

9.

Empowered

by Josh Bernoff, Ted Schadler; Harvard Business School Press

Explains how to transform your company by unleashing the mighty force of highly empowered and resourceful operatives.

10.

Personality Poker

by Stephen M Shapiro; Portfolio

Use the included cards and Shapiro's techniques to identify your personality "hand," which reveals where you really belong in an organization.

Blog Review: www.startbreakingfree.com

Very cool blog that is motivating on starting new businesses.  Many links to resources.  Overall, a straight to the point blog and well written.  Here is an excerpt from a recent post on 10 ways to come up with a business idea:

1. Look at what frustrates you. Whats annoying. Whats hard to use. Imagine you go to a restaurant to meet a friend. But you get lost on the way, the waitress forgets your order, and the table you are sitting at wobbles. Three annoyances, and three businesses exist to solve those problems. They are all around you!
2. Lots of things probably frustrate you, but pay attention to what frustrates other people. Where you can solve someones pain, there is great money to be made. Keep a journal and write down any time you see someone get upset for a week.
3. Type into Google “entrepreneurs [your city name]” and join at least one club in your city. Most large cities have some sort of entrepreneurship organization that meets regularly (could also be indirectly related such as networking, marketing, etc). Some cost a little money, some are free. Whatever, join them. Getting around like-minded people is priceless, and will get your brain thinking in totally new ways. If you can’t find any club, join Toastmasters. In any given week, I attend at least three such clubs.
4. Go talk to the retired executives at SCORE (it’s free) and stay in touch with them by email.

For the rest go to:  http://www.startbreakingfree.com/146/10-ways-to-come-up-with-a-million-dollar-business-idea/