Book Review: BEYOND SURVIVAL

BEYOND SURVIVAL

Book Review: BEYOND SURVIVAL

Author: Robert B. Blaha
ISBN-13:  978-1880156049
Topic:  Management
Format:  Hardcover
Language:  English
Publication Year:  1995


BUSINESS BOOKS

About the Book:
This guide to High Performance Work Systems (HPWS) details the steps involved in forming work groups, assessing needs, setting goals, implementing strategies, and measuring results. Written for those who want to maximize employee potential, the text uses histories and informative examples to describe the extraordinary impact of HPWS on earnings and customer satisfaction.

Review:
Very technical but ultimately very motivational.  In order to make the most of this system, a careful reading is required.  The major take-aways for me were, if systems are installed then they need to be followed or they won't be effective.  Also, that staff requires constant follow up or they will allow reports and other assignments to grow inaccurate and ineffective.

About the Author:
Robert B. Blaha has over twenty years of experience dealing with leadership, human resources, High Performance Work and change. He has held senior management positions with four major corporations: Ford, Monsanto, Engelhard and Asea Brown Boveri (ABB). Mr. Blaha has authored numerous articles and is an internationally sought speaker on leadership involvement and cultural change mechanisms.

In 1993 Robert founded Human Capital Associates (HCA) and serves as the company's president. HCA was created after thoroughly analyzing major initiative disconnects within organizations. He uses that knowledge to help organizational leaders create processes and programs to create competitive advantage through people.

Following the formation of Human Capital Associates, he moved the company to Colorado Springs, Colorado, where he resides with his wife, Susan, and their seven children on Seven Arrows Ranch.

Book Review: THE MANAGEMENT 500

THE MANAGEMENT 500

Book Review: THE MANAGEMENT 500
Author: Dan Coughlin
ISBN-13:  9780814414231
Topic:  Management
Format:  Hardcover
Language:  English
Publication Year:  2009


BUSINESS BOOKS


REVIEW:

One of the most important things a manager can do is to read about the science of management and contemplate different styles.  By encountering new information, a manager can improve.  I am not a big fan of auto racing, but I found the analogy and style of THE MANAGEMENT 500 to be useful. Especially the author's chapters on change. 

One take-away for me is to be both mentally and physically prepared for change.  I tend to be  desk jockey and need to be more physically fit.  As I prep my team for a change in procedure, I now take personal time to walk 3 miles (1 hour) in the early morning.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:
Superstar drivers like Dale Earnhardt, Sr., Richard Petty, Mario Andretti, Michael Schumacher, and others reigned supreme on the famous motor speedways of Daytona, Indianapolis, and Monza, Italy, at an incredible pace—always within inches of certain disaster. To excel in the world of auto racing, a driver needs passion, shrewdness, quick-thinking, strategy, teamwork, attention to detail, practice, and dedication. And what’s true in auto racing is true in the business world. In fact, many of the qualities possessed by successful race teams are also essential for building and sustaining successful, profitable businesses. Whether you run a multibillion-dollar corporation or a hundred-thousand-dollar profit center, you need to achieve results quickly and improve performance month after month if you want to capture the checkered flag.

The Management 500 provides high-octane management lessons drawn from the thrilling world of professional auto racing. With practical insights and stories from some of the most successful people in Formula 1, IndyCar Series, and NASCAR over the past 60 years—including Lee White, President of Toyota Racing Development, Geoff Smith, President of Roush Fenway Racing, and Ed Laukes, head of Toyota Motorsports—consultant Dan Coughlin shows you how to rev up your skills in areas like leadership, teamwork, strategy, branding, problem-solving, change management, and innovation, and get your company running in high gear. With keen observations from such racing stars as Michael Schumacher at Ferrari Racing Team, Jeff Gordon at Hendrick Motorsports, and Dale Earnhardt, Sr., at Richard Childress Racing, you’ll discover how to:

● Master the eight problem scenarios business managers routinely face.

● Use pit stops wisely.

● Develop a team of people who understand your goals.

● Design a strategy to win.

● Build brand equity in any industry.

● Manage your people through an under­standing of their strengths, passions,

and values.

● Successfully navigate turns in the track.

● Problem-solve on the go, even when things are intense.

From Enzo Ferrari to Kyle Busch, and from the Indianapolis 500 to the Daytona 500, this inspiring book will give you invaluable tips from the fast, furious world of racing, and show you how to combine passion with precision to beat your rivals in today’s high-stakes world of business management.


THE AUTHOR:
Dan Coughlin is a Fenton, Missouri–based management consultant and popular key­note speaker whose clients include Toyota, Shell, McDonald’s, Roush Fenway Racing, Prudential, Abbott, and more than 150 other organizations.

Dan can be reached through his website at The Coughlin Company

BUSINESS BOOKS

Book Review: THE ART OF STRATEGY - A New Translation of Sun Tzu's Classic The Art of War

Book Review: THE ART OF STRATEGY - A New Translation of Sun Tzu's Classic The Art of WarAuthor: R.L. Wing

ISBN-13:  9780385237840

THE ART OF STRATEGY

Topic:  Strategy
Format:  Paperback
Language:  English
Publication Year:  1988

SPONSOR:  BUSINESS BOOKS

REVIEW:

"The Art of Strategy" takes the classic Chinese strategy to a level that modern Americans can easily relate.  This is a good book to remind you that it is the goal that is important to achieve, not the emotional turmoil that your adversary may create within you.  The material is timeless.  Sun Tzu was a masterful observer of human nature, and what was true then is true now.  This book is excellent and took me out of my current troubles and gave me insight to victory.  You to will learn how to analyze a situation, plan actions, obtain an advantage, make use of information, and gain a favorable position.

INFORMATION FROM THE PUBLISHER: 
More than 2,500 years ago, Sun Tzu composed his masterpiece The Art of War which has been used by the world's greatest leaders including Napoleon. Here, Wing makes the influential philosophies of the Orient accessible to all seekers of professional achievement and personal excellence. 20 halftones, 35 illustrations.

Book Review: SILOS, POLITICS AND TURF WARS

Book Review: SILOS, POLITICS AND TURF WARS

SILOS, POLITICS AND TURF WARS

Author: Patrick Lencioni
ISBN-13:  0787976385
Topic:  Management
Format:  Hardcover
Language:  English
Publication Year:  2006

For Business Books

REVIEW:

The book touches on what many of us experience but are unable or unwilling to confront.  I think about the offices I worked in and how hard it was for some departments to work together and how that had a negative impact on not only the customer experience and profitability but on the quality of life of the employees.

The way the information in the book's layout is easy to read and the concepts are quickly grasped in the fable then helpful advice style that is typical of Patrick Lencioni and his management series.  SILOS, POLITICS AND TURF WARS is a relief for managers at any levels.  If you ever felt lost, thwarted or betrayed by your own organization, and can't quite identify the cause of your anxiety. If the issue causing you trouble is not readily identified, then its probably the structure of the organization.

There is a little too much time devoted to identifying the problem of Silos rather than solving.  This could be due to the fact that sometimes the silo can be hidden by other issues.


OUR SPONSOR: BUSINESS BOOKS

Openness is the solution to turf warfare in a company.  In an open environment, people work together towards a common goal.  Information is shared without reservation.  With openness,  hidden agendas dissolve and collaboration takes hold.  Overarching goals take the focus instead of political infighting.  By asking questions about the organization's goals, metrics, and strategies, it can know what it needs to mature into a cohesive unit.  People need to know their role and how they fit into the plan and the organization.  Leadership must be vigilant and active as turfs and silos flourish without strong top down leadership and communication of direction and philosophy.

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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: 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.

Book Review: BOLD LEADERSHIP

BOLD LEADERSHIP

Bold Leadership

Author: Jim Tompkins

ISBN-13: 9780965865999

Topic:  Business & Economics

Format:  Hardcover
Language:  English
Publication Year:  2007

BUY IT NOW

REVIEW:

Everyone suffers from extreme overload today. Fast-paced schedules, conflicting priorities and overburdened days can leave us feeling as if we are continually trying to fit 15 pounds of apples into a 5-pound bag. The remedy for extreme overload can be found in this book.

From personal experience, Tompkins knows what it means to be a bold leader and how to inspire others to reach new heights. He founded Tompkins Associates, a supply chain consulting and integration firm, more than 30 years ago with two staff members in a spare building in his back yard. Today, the company is one of the most respected consulting firms in the world.

From my experience, various tasks and initiatives come up during the course of business.  This book allows for their possibility and provides insight on how managers can lead during implementation and execution. 

This quote from the book makes you think about your own company’s business model:

The number of companies admitting that their business models do not work anymore is increasing. Recently, Ford and Viacom admitted that they need to change the way they do business or they will not make money, and even Dell and pharmaceutical giants Merck, Pfizer, and Bristol-Myers Squibb say that they must develop new ways of doing business. The pressure is on and company boards and other stakeholders are not patient -- if you do not fix things in a short period, you are toast. In some ways, it's almost better to be like the company that gives up, because they haven't expended all their energy trying to get ahead by doing the same things they've always done.

About the Author

Written by Jim Tompkins, CEO of Tompkins Associates and noted business expert, Bold Leadership holds the keys to simplifying and enhancing life—professionally and personally.

Tompkins maps out Bold Leadership with three essential themes: inspirational leadership, defining core competencies, and business resiliency. Each topic is illustrated with current case studies from well-known organizations such as Google, Wal-mart and IBM, along with his experience improving the supply chains of some of the world’s foremost companies.

Book Review: YOUR BUSINESS BRICKYARD

YOUR BUSINESS BRICKYARD

Your Business Brickyard

Author: Howard Mann

ISBN-13: 9780980154306

Topic:  Business & Economics

Format:  Hardcover
Language:  English
Publication Year:  2007

Rare Books

REVIEW:

The basics. That is what you lost when you went from feeling like, I am going to make my mark, to It is too hard to keep up so let us just try to survive. It is time to admit you re not having fun anymore. Only then can you find your way back to the beginning when your business was all promise and no misery. Only then can you build (and keep building on) the basics that will never let you down. This small book contains the secret basics to unlock the true power and potential of your business.

Strategist, speaker and consultant Howard Mann has collected twelve bricks essential to any business foundation. Mann shows you how to get back to basics, reconnect with your purpose, and grow your business, instead of getting stuck following the latest trend or innovation. Most important of all, Your Business Brickyard provides a game plan for how to make your business fun to run again. You will learn how to Reconnect to Your Purpose and keep your goals uppermost in your mind. You will say goodbye to worries over competition when you Lose Your Nemesis. You’ll appreciate the powerful simplicity of Pay Fast, Get Paid Even Faster. You will learn how to Goaljump and work backwards from your most ambitious goals to actionable tasks you can do today. Your Business Brickyard shows you how to eliminate whatever it is that hinders your ability as a business owner to enjoy your position properly. With practical, hands-on exercises and a fresh, concise format, The Brickyard will help you establish a brick solid foundation so your business can grow without limit while you enjoy the journey.

The book is short and respects your time at 64 pages.  Mann writes with a simple elegance and not a word is wasted.  Approximate reading time is 2 hours.  I took lots of notes while I read this and then went back for a second read.

The basic premise is that we can make running our businesses fun again if we simply go back to the basics - and that’s why it works so well. It’s the diary of things that made a lot of sense back then that we’ve sadly grown out of. When you read it, you might kick yourself, I did.

The “practice drills” the author provides will keep you in tune and focused after you put the book down.

Sample quote: 

The ideas behind your purpose transcend your company. The truths of your idea exist whether or not a company is there to put them into practice. The ideas are universal.

This is a book for business owners of any size, however I believe senior management will get a lot out of it too.

About the Author

Howard Mann is the president of Brickyard Partners, a leading strategy, marketing and communication consultancy based in New York, and a founder of Sideshow Digital, an award-winning interactive agency. Prior to founding The Business Brickyard in 2001, Mann was the President of a premier customs broker and international freight forwarder with six U.S. offices and a network of over 35 agents worldwide.

Mann currently works as an adviser to entrepreneurs and business owners. His highly focused workshops and year-long programs help executive teams dig down to unlock the power of the perfect execution of the basics of business. His clients learn how to build brick-solid foundations that sustain growth and make their businesses more fun to run. In addition to consulting, Mann speaks and writes frequently about the importance of the basics and reconnecting to the passion that too often gets lost as businesses mature.