Book Review: FROM THE BUREAU TO THE BOARDROOM

FROM THE BUREAU TO THE BOARDROOM

FROM THE BUREAU TO THE BOARDROOM
Author: Dan Carrison
ISBN-13:  9780814410639
Topic:  Business Management
Format:  Hard Cover
Language:  English
Publication Year:  2009

REVIEW:


30 Management Lessons from the FBI - The analogy seems to work in this business management book by Dan Carrison.  As a manager, I am always reading to improve my skills.  While I may not be able to drastically alter my organization to mirror the Federal Bureau of Investigation, there are some insights.  The chapter regarding "infiltrate the customer" was humorous but also serious.  The FBI infiltrates criminal and terrorist organizations and the consequences are dire, but as a business, you MUST know what your customers think and want, the consequences are the life and death of your business.  Two of the best ideas for me are: not second-guessing my decisions and winning with the tools I have not the ones I wish I had

The other lessons are equally informative.  In the end, the book is a quick read and provides motivational insight into how a business can adapt and improve using the FBI as a model.


INFORMATION FROM THE PUBLISHER:
Managers will learn how to:
* Encourage and accept new roles
* Publish and maintain a ten most wanted customer list
* Infiltrate the customer all the way to the top
* Manager failure and success
* Cultivate a One for All, All for One Corporate Culture
* Win with the tools you have, not the tools you wish you had
* Leverage the employee and the customer base
* Integrate Fidelity, Bravery and Integrity in the workplace
* Institutionalize Best Practices
* Cultivate maturity and good judgment

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Dan Carrison who served in the US Marine Corps Reserve from 1965–1970 and is co-founder of Semper Fi Consulting, is a nationally recognized speaker, a writer and has been a sales executive for over 20 years. Dan has taken his & Rod Walsh's leadership message to countless audiences of business executives and government officials.  Dan received a BA in English Literature (cum laude) from the University of California.

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Book Review: RESUMES FOR DUMMIES

Resumes for Dummies

RESUMES FOR DUMMIES
Author: Joyce Lain Kennedy
ISBN-13: 9780470873618
Topic:  Business - Job Hunting
Format:  Paperback
Language:  English
Publication Year:  2011

Review:

The economy in 2011 is still in turmoil and job hunting has become an art as competition for good jobs increase.  Hiring managers are looking for that certain something and job seekers need to advertise that they got it. 

RESUMES FOR DUMMIES is good advice for an experienced worker who finds themselves looking for a new position.  Much of the advice may not apply to those seeking their first gig.  Like all "Dummies" books, this one is presented in a simple easy-to-read, well-organized format with large bullet headlines and plenty of graphics and examples.

The book has a wealth of resources in web sites available to assist those that are seeking a new position. The strategies are not advanced, but a good reminder to not overlook any potential job lead.  The section on www.linkedin.com  was basic but a good example of the benefits of staying professional and up to date with your network of contacts.

What I liked was the amount of ideas available.  You can take what you like and leave the rest.

Resumes For Dummies shows you the ropes and rules for a new era in recruiting and job searching.

• Instructions for writing an inclusive core resume
• Tips on targeting a known position, or tailoring a resume to specific industries
• Common resume-writing mistakes to avoid

Updated with the latest information on privacy issues in the electronic age, Resumes For Dummies is your go-to guide for getting your foot in the door.


About the Author
Joyce Lain Kennedy is the nation's first syndicated careers columnist. Her work, CAREERS NOW, is distributed by Tribune Media Services and appears in more than 100 newspapers and Web sites.

During her 40 years in syndication, Kennedy has received 3.9 million plus reader letters and e-mails. She has answered for publication in excess of 5,500 queries from readers.  Kennedy's counsel about jobs and career development addresses universal problems experienced by most working people--problems ranging from dealing with demotion to celebrating defining career moments. First to report on many new technologies and trends, Kennedy advises job seekers to relearn many strategies and tactics to prosper in a distinctly new job market.

She is the author or senior author of eight books, including Joyce Lain Kennedy's Career Book (VGM Career Horizons) and Electronic Job Search Revolution, Electronic Resume Revolution, and Hook Up, Get Hired! The Internet Job Search Revolution (the last three published by John Wiley and Sons). These books were the groundbreaking works for the new technology bringing people and jobs together.

Writing from Carlsbad, California, a San Diego suburb, the dean of careers columnist is a graduate of Washington University in St. Louis.

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Web Site Review: www.CEOexpress.com

Web Site Review: CEOExpress.com

According to their web site, CEOExpress.com is designed to be the executive’s interface to the Internet. The site’s peer editor recognizes that executives have precious little time to obtain all the information they require to conduct business. At the same time, much of the information that executives need is available on the Internet. CEOExpress takes all that information, and by employing expert human editors and "mind ergonomics," pares it down to the 20% that is most critical and useful. That information is delivered to the user’s desktop in a clear, easy-to-use format.

The site’s ultimate goal is to be the best executive assistant imaginable, providing a tool that users would have created themselves if they had the time and knowledge of the Internet. CEOExpress filters and organizes the content executives need on the Internet while adding features to the site to make their lives even more streamlined and efficient. Email, stock quotes, headline news and customization are all conveniences users appreciate.

I find the site to be a useful starting point for the day or when I need to do research.  The site routinely is named "Best of Web" by business publications.  Very Useful. 

Looking for Rare and Collectible Books?  Check this out

App Review: Bloomberg Business App

Bloomberg Mobile App

Summary
Bloomberg.com has a tremendous amount of financial information.  In order to help tame the wild waves of information, the Bloomberg app has some options that will allow you to get news and information on the topic you are interested in when you need it. 

User Interaction
Once you set your preferences, you are fully informed and prepared for business anywhere in the world.  You can choose from; stock quotes, general index announcements, currency exchange or news.  Financial information on the entire financial world is the specialty of Bloomberg.  Once you limit the view to your interests, you can access the vast database.  The main benefit from this App is that you can personalize it to serve your need for financial data.

User Interface
Set and forget.  If your needs change just re-configure what you want to see.

Utility and Productivity
Get financial news as it happens like up to date accurate stock quotes.  Bonus material is the supporting graphical information like price charts, trend graphics, analysis and more.

Follow your investments or set to track certain stocks ahead of time, let the app sift through and decipher what is or isn't important.

Rating
A great application to keep you plugged into financial data. Data is accurate, it's Bloomberg.  The app puts the filter on a fire hose and allows you to stay productive by filtering out irrelevant information.  10/10

Where to get:
i-Phone:
Bloomberg Anywhere for iPad gives Bloomberg Anywhere subscribers all of the news, data, analytics, and communication tools they need to stay connected to the world’s markets. This is not a limited-content version of the BLOOMBERG PROFESSIONAL® service, this is your Bloomberg desktop on iPad.

Android:
Get business news, market data and portfolio tracking tools from Bloomberg.  Get business/finance news, market data and stock tracking tools from the most trusted source financial professionals around the world rely upon. Get comprehensive news coverage along with easy-to-understand charts and graphs that illustrate the impact of important business trends and issues.

Blackberry: 
Bring the power of the most trusted source for financial information to your BlackBerry, along with tools to help you analyze the world's markets.  That source is now available to you on your BlackBerry. Bloomberg offers news, stock quotes, company descriptions, market leaders/laggers, price charts, market trends analysis, customized list of stocks, podcasts and more.