5 comments about The Four Obsessions of an Extraordinary Executive: A Leadership Fable.

1. I have read or listened to a number of Patrick Lencioni's books. The fable format makes them entertaining, and the simple management principles ring true. I gave this four stars because it is eclipsed by another one of Pat's books that shares some of the principles and has a better story line to bring it home. The Five Dysfunctions of a Team: A Leadership Fable
   
   In the four obsessions book we learn that the secret of company success is
   1. Build and maintain a cohesive leadership team
   2. Be very clear about your message/mission/values
   3. Over communicate your message/mission/values thoughout the org.
   4. Set up systems that reinforce this organization clarity.
   
   Of course that are more details with the above (which I have paraphrased).
   
   Pat adds a helpful review of the model at the end of the fable. I really recommend this book!!



2. Although The Four Obsessions of an Extraordinary Executive: A Leadership Fable was published in 2000 it is still the very best companion to Jim Collins' Good to Great. Lencioni's parable illustrates better than any other book the simple but powerful principles of building and maintaining a cohesive leadership team, creating organizational clarity, the importance of over-communicating organizational clarity, and reinforcing that clarity through human systems. This is a book that I read every year. It is one of my most "marked-up" books (the front and back flyleaves are covered with notes and quotes). If you haven't picked this one up you've missed one of Lencioni's very best.



3. Obsessions of an Extraordinary Executive is Patrick Lencioni's second book written in 2000, again it is a fiction as well as a management book. The readers would be eager to know the obsessions of that very successful person. CEO is supposed to be rational and sensible. It is curious to note that such a person could be obsessed with anything. In fact, on very important issues, we had better be obsessed rather than let them off the hook lightly.
   
   The story looks like a novel involving commercial spies. It is a tale of two companies, similar in the industry they were in, their niche, their strength, their customers, their size, their strategy. It is a matter of management style which made differences in their culture and organization health. The story evolves around a virus which attacked a company. It set off suspicion and created a crisis. The story told the strength of a cohesive team of good organization health and how it fought off the virus. The virus revealed the secret of the obsessions to the CEO of the rival company who thought otherwise. You will guess the ending about the future of these two companies.
   
   The interesting part is the virus, who is the VP of HR, kind of like a very capable EO specializing in our professional area. The problem with him was that he did not participate actively in discussions, was not willing to share his views, and not wholeheartedly merged with the management team. He liked to hide himself and revealed his opinion last, and in a non-committal way. He appears to me as having the attributes of some civil servants. The virus was exposed as not being able to align with the culture of the company. I wonder if this is a sin for civil servant for not being able to align with the culture of the government, or the department, or the grade.
   
   The thrust of the story is the obsessions. They are actually very simple and concern the organization culture, its core values, its identity, direction, strategy and objectives. The obsessions are how the CEO took these in mind and action. He was obsessed with being cohesive, being clear, over-communicating and reinforcing. These are the four disciplines to be upheld.
   
   1st discipline: Build and maintain a cohesive leadership team - We all know that it is desirable to have team members working happily together. But the obsession went a step further of letting team members know one another's unique strength and weakness, openly engaging in constructive ideological conflict, holding one another accountable for behaviours and actions, and committing to group decisions. As a result, the cohesive and healthy team was able to fight off the virus which tried to contaminate the team spirit.
   
   2nd discipline: Create organizational clarity - Writing up vision and mission statements is a common practice in setting up the identity of the company and its long term goal. It was trendy a few years ago and everyone did it. The CEO of the rival company said it was mentioned in Build to Last which all management people knew well and could readily recite. But these statements are just empty slogans only fit for display as decoration on the wall. The obsession is to make these organizational identity, culture, strategy and responsibilities very clear, that action plans could be formed without confusion based on them.
   
   3rd discipline: Over-communicate organizational clarity - Over-doing anything is an obsession. But for issues as important as the organizational clarity, there is no thrift in over-communicating them. The obsessed CEO conveyed messages on organization clarity repeatedly on every occasion, using simple language to eliminate confusion and inconsistency, using multiple media to meet different level of reception, and cascading the messages down the ranks until the message was heard by all.
   
   4th discipline: Reinforce organizational clarity through human systems - At the end of the day, it is human that preserve or undermine culture. The CEO was obsessed with sustaining the health of the organization by making sure that the human systems were used to reinforce organizational clarity. All staff were tested and reinforced of their alignment with the organizational culture through the recruitment process, performance management, rewards and recognition, and dismissal.
   
   We all claim that culture is hard to change. But the reality is that culture is also hard to maintain. When the CEO found a culture that was good for the company, he was obsessed to preserving it, or seen the other way round, obsessed to changing the behaviour of the staff to align with the culture. Or you may say that he was changing other cultures or sub-cultures to align with his culture. This is very hard to do, and it really takes an obsessed CEO to keep the company on the track.



4. Patrick Lencioni, utilizing his engaging fable-as-lesson writing style, covers his view of the four "Disciplines" of a healthy organization in "The Four Obsessions of an Extraordinary Executive." The fable...and the "Model" underlying the fable...stresses the importance of clarity in a healthy organization.
   
   As in a number of Lencioni's other books, the simplicity of the framework covered in this book is stressed...as is the difficulty in actually implementing the framework.
   
   I found this book a worthwhile read due to its simplicity, its straightforward messages and its blending of a story with managerial ideas. Furthermore, I appreciated the fact that the principles espoused in the book are laid out in a manner that directly connects the managerial ideas to actions that can be taken within an organization.



5. I've previously read Death By Meeting by Patrick Lencioni. I really connect with his ability to tell an engaging story which communicates the point. He then spends the last third of this book describing the four principals and how to put them into practice within the organization.
   
   The four disciplines of a healthy organization are:
   
   1. Build and Maintain a Cohesive Leadership Team
   2. Create Organizational Clarity
   3. Over-Communicate Organizational Clarity
   4. Reinforce Organizational Clarity Through Human Systems
   
   While there is a very big focus on executive teams and high level managers, this book can be used for leaders who are putting together smaller teams. The truth is that at every level of the organization there need to be teams who understand the values and are comfortable with each-other.
   
   I especially appreciated Patrick's explanation of how to define clarity and communicating vision and mission. I also appreciated his focus on how important a healthy organization is, even more important than higher revenue and large clients.
   
   I also appreciated that there were a few concrete examples provides as well as questions to help us define our own answers and to model our organization.
   
   This is definitely a great read for anyone who manages teams of people or defines the direction of an organization.

5 comments about Shut Up, Stop Whining, and Get a Life: A Kick-Butt Approach to a Better Life.

1. I found the book to be just ok, and the reason I give it 3 stars is because I was expecting more from him than the typical stuff I've read else where. He had a lot of common sense stuff (Common sense is an oxymoron nowadays) that he ranted about, but he also had some very focused stuff that I felt would be very beneficial to people. I guess what I'm trying to say is give the book a chance you may enjoy it, but don't expect him to give you earth shattering advice...



2. Larry wastes the millions he gets from his books on tons of cowboy boots he doesn't need. Nice way to set an example. He sells useless things like bobblehead dolls of himself on his website. Ask yourself: would a guy who really cared about helping you out of finacial trouble sell you things you don't need? If he's so rich he can wsate tons on silly cowboy boots, he's the one laughing his way to the bank....with your hard earned money!
   
   I thought this was supposed to be a self help book. Instead it's a stand-up comedy piece with lots of in your face ranting and raving about experiences this guy had. He's no expert, just an overconfident entertainer that wears funny clothes. If that's why you buy his books, fine. Don't expect to get actual answers and helpful advice.



3. I really like this book.After reaching the age of 54 & having read & listned to my share of"Self-Help" stuff this is refreshingly different.Larry doesn't try to fill your head with sunshine & you can do anything or metaphysical nonsense so popular lately.He's like the Uncle who wasn't afraid to tell you how things are.It's an easy read,but requires you to think & fill out forms to distill your values.I have a problem with some over simplified things though, like"You should forget hope & doubt & instead have faith & certainty & then step out boldly". Not an easy thing to do however in these trying times.



4. The first part of the book was good and kept you interested, but the second half was a sleeper. I have read all of Mr. Winget's books and this one doesn't meet their standards.



5. I enjoyed this book. You must be really objective to appreciate this. If you are willing to make the suggesred efforts to change your life, it will truly pay off. I feel that this approach to life is better than whining, complaining and blaming others for what is wrong with your life. I'm sure we all know at least one person like this.
   
   I also enjoyed Larry Winget's other two books "You are Broke Because You Want to Be" and "It's Called Work For A Reason"
   
   I would recommend this book for those who really want to change their lives, but it is not for everyone.

3 comments about Economic Gangsters: Corruption, Violence, and the Poverty of Nations.

1. As Raymond Fisman and Edward Miguel explain at the beginning of their book, there are two main currents of thinking among those who opine on the wisdom of foreign aid: the "poverty trap" view, which holds that aid must be injected to end a vicious cycle in which inability to save leads to disaster in lean years, and the view that more such aid is simply sending good money after bad, straight into the hands of corrupt officials to be funneled away or otherwise wasted. Fisman and Miguel aim to look at corruption and violence in developing countries to determine how prevalent such evils are, how they are caused, and how they can be prevented--and, therefore, what the best way, non-ideologically-speaking, of raising up poor nations might be.
   
   The funny thing about corruption is that it tends to exist out of sight--at least, out of sight of official statistics and public measurements. No one reports the bribes he takes on his income tax returns. So Fisman and Miguel have to come up with creative means of measuring corruption of various types, and this is the most fun part of their book. Economic Gangsters is completely accessible to the general reader, with virtually no economic jargon or concepts more difficult than "incentives matter," but it perfectly captures the exciting, puzzle-solving nature of this kind of academic research.
   
   Fisman and Miguel's biggest, and most important, suggestion is the basic one that foreign aid and other solutions to developing-nation poverty be studied and implemented in an evidence-based manner. Without experimental data it's very difficult to determine whether a particular program is actually effective or not (or cost-effective or not). Randomized trials, like those carried out for developing medicines, are rare in the field of poverty reduction. But sometimes they are carried out. For example, local democratic control of public works projects is often touted as an antidote to corruption and skimming of funds. But in Indonesia a test was conducted to compare road building under local control, the thread of a federal audit, and no corruption prevention. Local control did little better than the control group, while those projects that were audited involved significantly less stolen money.
   
   The authors adhere to their intention to remain non-ideological, and their interest is clearly in going where the evidence leads them. Unfortunately, large-scale economic experiments are often impossible and unethical, so some things can never be tested. But those interested in solutions that actually work should use what information they can. Economic Gangsters provides some of that information, and an interesting look at how to find it. It also tells some great stories about the incentives economic gangsters respond to, the strange circumstances that sometimes create these incentives, and how governments and other groups can play with them to aim for better outcomes.



2. Eight years ago, as I crossed the Uganda-Kenya border, I was sequestered in a shack, interrogated, threatened with prison, and ultimately required to pay a bribe by border guards. After that harrowing experience, I returned to my hotel and recounted the story to the first friendly face I saw: my sympathetic colleague Ted Miguel. Ted and his colleague Ray spent the succeeding years studying violence and corruption in poor countries; and this sweet book is the latest fruit of those labors.
   
   What can economics tell us about corruption and violence around the world? More, perhaps, than you'd expect. Ray and Ted use surprise changes in a dictator's health to measure the value of political connections in Indonesia, rainfall to capture the effect of recessions on violence in Africa, and tricks in the trade data to reveal smuggling. (That's not to mention the parking tickets - Chapter Four.) They present their clever research in surprisingly clear English, and they draw on the related research of other economists as well. They really know how to tell a story: I was captivated by the opening recounting of Kenyan author Ngugi's woes and delighted by the creative policy making of Antanas Mockus, mayor of Bogota.
   
   It's hard not to compare popular economics books today to Freakonomics: Gangsters has the advantages of Ted and Ray's witty, pleasant voice, more of a thematic focus, and none of the self-adulation that took away some Freakonomics' shine.
   
   Despite the focus on corruption and violence, ultimately the book is presenting a miscellany of work that is related but isn't (and perhaps cannot be) circumscribed into a larger theory. Occasionally I found myself wishing a central theory like you find in Malcolm Gladwell's books. But then again, those theories usually aren't convincing for exactly the reason that Ted and Ray don't have one: they are careful and big, broad theories are not. I really enjoyed the clear policy recommendation of Rapid Conflict Prevention Support in Chapter 6, and I look forward to more clear recommendations in the next book. Again, Ted and Ray are careful and tend not to recommend policies that don't have clear evidence to stand on. Not all scholars are comfortable laying out strong recommendations on limited evidence; two books by scholars who are more comfortable are The Bottom Billion and The End of Poverty. (As I recall, that's also the self-definition given by an economic hit man!) The main policy recommendation, ultimately, is more evidence-based policy making, particularly randomized trials of development programs (but with a healthy view of the realistic scope for these kinds of trials).
   
   This book won't just show you that economists can be clever (although it will show you that): It shows that economics, cleverly applied, can illuminate some of the most intractable development problems of our time. I strongly recommend it. And if you don't trust me, Publishers Weekly said that in this "surprisingly spry" read, "fascinating insights abound" [1]. Take it from both of us and learn something.
   
   [1] Publishers Weekly, 6 October 2008.



3. A few years back, economists Ray Fisman (Columbia University) and Edward Miguel (University of California, Berkeley) caught the attention of the global media and the United Nations with their study of diplomats' unpaid parking tickets. At the time, diplomatic immunity allowed representatives to the international body to park in violation of city traffic codes, racking up fines. Fisman and Miguel looked at the list of traffic violations for UN plates over several years. They found that diplomats from some nations such as Canada and Ireland behaved themselves, parking lawfully and paying any tickets, while others such as Kuwait and Chad exploited their power, sometimes in ostentatious ways. Why? The ticket behavior, the economists suggested, is a proxy indicator for the intersection of culture and corruption.
   
   Now, in their recently published book, Economic Gangsters: Corruption, Violence, and the Poverty of Nations, Fisman and Miguel extend their corruption lens to the problems of conflict and development. They look for economic causes of conflict such as water scarcity or food crises to help explain everything from civil wars to witch trials. They ask whether more money or better governance is the key to economic growth for Africa, concluding that--although corruption and economic abuse is a key challenge to development--it won't really be possible to answer the big questions of the field until there is better quality, more scientific evaluation of the results of aid projects.
   
   Economic Gangsters is a pleasurable and fast read, written for a popular audience who may or may not know the context of the work. For development specialists familiar with the writings of Jeffrey Sachs, William Easterly, and Paul Collier, the broad contents of the book will be familiar. As other reviewers pointed out, there is also a certain sense in which discussions of warlords and blood diamonds brush up against diplomats' parking tickets or randomized sampling without connections between the topics ever being delineated. On the whole, however, Fisman and Miguel's presentation feels fresh and dynamic. Even seasoned development practitioners are likely finish with a few new ideas inspired by the book's creative approach to cross-pollinating approaches and examples.
   
   The book is available in print and in Amazon's Kindle e-reader format. The digital version suffers from occasional print type errors (for instance, writing budget as bud-get), but the charts and tables thankfully appear crisp and clear on the Kindle screen. I read in Kindle format and would be pleased to do so again.
   
   Economic Gangsters deserves to be widely read. The authors' tone is friendly and simple, approachable even. This is important, given the complexity and high stakes of the issues at hand. Indeed, the economics of conflict and corruption need to be more widely understood if donor countries' policy making is going to be improved. Yet, one finishes reading this book on the topics of war, poverty, suffering, crime, and interventionist failure feeling not overwhelmed, but rather empowered--equipped with intellectual tools for making the world better, little by little.

5 comments about Nice Girls Don't Get the Corner Office: 101 Unconscious Mistakes Women Make That Sabotage Their Careers.

1. Every woman should read this book. The assessment gives you a starting point and you won't need to read every page...just those that apply. Everything else is a bonus. I swear! The material will enlighten you and stick with you years after you've read it. Practice will make it stick. I've given this book as gifts. Even if you are not ready to apply yourself to practice, just recognizing how you are perceived is worth it. Buy this book and read it today! It's not about becoming an overachieving "B" and man hater; it's about learning to play the game.



2. I use this book all the time in my life leadership coaching with women whether they work in corporations or they're entrepreneurs because for women to succeed anywhere they have to grow to overcome their own self-limiting behaviors and beliefs.
   
   What I love about this book is how clearly the 101 mistakes are organized under 7 broad areas. I am not big on quizzes because they often stop at only giving information. That is not the case here. Instead the author has created a quiz that very easily identifies and ranks an individual woman's 7 areas from strong to weak. Then once a woman identifies the two or three areas she's weakest she can read the chapters and further focus in on which of the mistakes she makes. The coaching tips and simple exercises at the end of each mistake support practice and self-improvement.
   
   Every time I've used this quiz with clients they have benefited from the clarity and direction. This is one of the best thought out and useful books for self-employed women, managers and executives I have ever seen or used. To step up as leaders of their lives women must get to know and change self-defeating behaviors. Nice Girls can help get them started.
   
   [...]



3. As a father of two toddler daughters, I read Dr. Frankel's book to open my mind to ways I could avoid instilling in them unhelpful behaviors. I found a well thought out list of workable suggestions focussed mostly on a few central topics - better communication and ways to play "the game" without merely adopting behaviors typical to men. This book does not make judgments about how the business world operates mainly according to historically male behavior. Rather, it focuses on how to work within this world without changing who you are.
   
   Some of the suggestions were definitely simplistic ("have a firm handshake") while others were more involved (defining your "personal brand" and promoting it to others). Mostly they were common sense business tactics and strategies for self marketing that one could find in countless business self-help books. Indeed, I found several helpful suggestions that I felt were applicable to myself. Overall, much of the advice could have been pulled from a bigger picture course for men and women on how to interact more effectively in the workplace.
   
   In Dr. Frankel's book this information is obviously presented from a woman's perspective. She states in the first pages of the book that not all points will apply to any one person, that the way to use the book is to select those behaviors that are the biggest hindrances to the reader's advancement and then follow her advice to change those behaviors. She makes an attempt not to suggest women act like men, but rather "quit bein' a girl".
   
   The tone can sometimes feel condescending which will be off-putting to some readers, but if one looks past this there is a range of good advice covering many topics. Dr. Frankel's frequent use of anecdotes from her consulting career serves to make the book readable without feeling like a textbook or list of action items.
   
   I believe many women would find this book helpful in identifying and modifying behavior that is giving others the wrong impression of who they are or even masking their true capabilities. Men, too, can find new ways to understand women's behavior and hopefully achieve greater communication through that understanding. As a father I feel more aware of some things to focus on or avoid as I raise my daughters. This book will not feel useful to everyone, but for those who approach it with an open mind it can provide new insight into business relationships between the sexes.



4. I hadn't realized just how many things I was doing on a daily basis that were keeping me from acheiving my full potential at work. Some things in this book applied to me, others did not, but I have learned what I have been doing that is holding me back from moving forward at work and am working on changing those bad habits. A MUST READ for every professional woman.



5. Nice girls dont get the corner office is a big corner of negativity. If you want to feel aweful just give this CD a listen. Lois Frankel put me to sleep. She sounds like the the unseen teacher in the charlie brown series. "Mistake number 6854984742 dont pick your nose the board room...wah wah wah." Terrible. Dont waste your money. Try Tom Hopkins advanced sales survival training CD#2 hilarious, uplifting and helpful to all.

5 comments about Think and Grow Rich!: The Original Version, Restored and Revised.

1. great for idiots who think they are smart,
   
   a lot of scientific studies in this book have been proven false..
   
   
   you cant get rich with this stuff, go to college instead,
   
   also get books written by CEO's with years of experience
   
   instead of by some loser that was exploited by Dale Carnegie
   
   ... yeah it all makes sense now doesn't it



2. A classic. Principles of getting rich are mentioned. Even though I didn't get rich, it did help me achieve
   another goal.
   
   Topics like Desire, Faith, Autosuggestion and Specialized Knowledge
   are all essential to get rich. I do feel something is missing
   from this book. Great violinists and pianists can also be
   rich but I don't think they have to begin with the first chapter:
   Desire (for money). They simply have a temperament, gift,
   and passion for music. Because the perform well in their
   professions, the money comes in naturally.
   
   This book might have made some people rich but I don't
   think it's the only way. To be fair, no reading of any single
   book can make you rich. You need to have understanding,
   practice, and application of what you've read - together
   with other books.
   
   I am not rich yet so I give this classic 3 stars.
   
   Besides, "The mystery of sex transmutation" is no longer a
   mystery. The male reproductive system and the brain both
   compete for the same protein tyrosine (with B6, copper,
   iron etc). More tyrosine for one will deprive the other part
   of the body - naturally.



3. There is no such thing as a perfect book. People tend to see things in black and white, well there's nothing completely black or white; there's only shades of gray. You can get some good advice out of most books, even if a little. But there is no perfect book that presents you a complete and truthful view of the road to success.
   
   Many books appear to be unreasonable in some of its content; but lucky us we are born with a powerful tool that helps us discern between what we should take and leave from a book: common sense. I should use it, and you probably should too.
   
   This book is no exception. Personally, I would suggest that you read the first part of the book with a higher focus than the rest. It is very inspirational, and explain a success principle that, even though very common nowadays in other books, is still of major importance. For someone who hasn't read much of success books, these chapters are a good start.
   
   The metaphysics and new age theories that Napoleon Hill proposes should be taken with a measure of healthy skepticism. To believe in them is a personal choice, and you should use your common sense to decide.
   
   To people that has read many success books before, this book proposes nothing new. Though I should state this around, as this book came first than most of the others. It basically tells how you need to have a burning desire to achieve success, and have faith that you will succeed. Mostly, it presents this with an inspirational tone; so if you're looking to get your spirit up, try it.



4. The lessons I have learned in Napoleon Hill's Think and Grow Rich have changed my life forever. Once I learned how to change my thoughts and dreams into burning desires, it seemed there wasn't anything I couldn't achieve. Truly the best!
   
   Tommy Hilcken
   Life Success Workshops
   Ogdensburg, NJ



5. First off - I tell everyone who wants to make money with his
   or her own business online to read this book. The reason is
   because it's easy to find and contains solid principles
   which most business beginners and salespeople are ignorant
   of - or at least too intellectually lazy to remember and
   apply.
   
   Very few people actually bother to read the book. I
   actually use this book as a litmus test for people I coach.
   I tell them to read it before we do anything. Most of
   them just slink away - their desire to make money online
   is so feeble they cannot be bothered to spend a few
   hours reading a PDF.
   
   While the vast majority of people who actually read the
   book will apply it weakly if at all - at least readers
   have been exposed, many for the first time in their lives,
   to the principles which successful people practice,
   whether they have read the book or not.
   
   Read it a couple of times. You can download it easily
   enough. That's why I recommend it. Tell a fellow he
   must pay money for it or go somewhere to get it and
   he will do nothing - give it to him in a link and then
   he has it and can decide whether he will read it or not.
   Most folks are, in my experience, too lazy to bother.
   
   The book is written with hypnotic flair, though some of
   the early chapters are dull. It is populated by stories
   of successful industrialists, who I guess were the sorts
   of guys businesspeople admired in 1937. Today we'll find
   some of the values of Think and Grow Rich sort of old-
   fashioned.
   
   The book's major thrust is the principle of autosuggestion,
   which may have been a somewhat inventive idea in 1937.
   It's just a theroy, so try it out by all means but just
   understand that the book is 70 plus years old and we've
   learned a lot about how we learn and change since then.
   Personally I find the later stuff of Maxwell Maltz
   and guys like Tony Robbins more relevant to us today -
   but their books are under copyright and not to be shared
   freely as this one is.

4 comments about Philanthrocapitalism: How the Rich Can Save the World.

1. Authors Matthew Bishop and Michael Green have talked to some of the world's most fascinating - and wealthy - people about the innovations they've brought to tackling major humanitarian challenges such as malaria, HIV/AIDS, poverty and hunger. Individually, people like Bill Gates, Bono, Bill Clinton and others have had great impact, but the authors show how the collaborations they've created are producing even more powerful results and changing the way philanthropy works.



2. We may all be obsessed with our own financial issues in the current downturn but it is likely to make Warren Buffett even richer in the long term so don't let anyone tell you that philanthrocapitalism dies with the credit crunch.
   Bishop and Green make this argument powerfully in this impressive dissection of the origins, motivations and likely direction of corporate philanthropy. There are some great stories about the rich and famous - I particularly liked the expletive-ridden exchange between P Diddy and Bill Gates - but this is not an exercise in philanthro-puffery. The authors accept that the chief motivation of many such givers is a lower tax bill. This is a highly-readable, well-crafted exposition of why that shouldn't make a jot of difference.



3. This excellent book is the first in-depth account of the new generation of philanthropists who will write the next few chapters of philanthropy. Most of the major new players that are currently coming on stage are covered, with a journalistic ethic of balancing the boosters' claims with the points of the critics. But, the book *is* discussing the voluntary parting of cash from billionaires, so it might be understandable that much of the material is somewhat sympathetic. Enough of the history of philanthropy is woven in to provide the background of past "philanthrocapitalists" like Carnegie and Rockefeller, and demonstrate that financial booms often are followed by a blossoming of giving. Of course, the method of social entrepreneurship is prominently featured.
   
   The book concludes with a tongue-in-cheek imagining of a gathering of the senior philanthrocapitalists in 2025 on Richard Branson's mansion in space: the Gates, Jeff Skoll, Oprah Winfrey, Mo Ibrahim, Angelina Jolie and the new U.S. president, Larry Page.



4. Throughout most of human history the rich have used their money to make more money and, quite frankly, they have often done so at the expense of those without much. This has always been considered the way things are: the rich get richer and the poor get...well, you supply your own line. However in this, the age of the super rich, things are changing; and in this engagingly written book, Matthew Bishop, the New York bureau chief of the Economist, and Michael Green an economist on leave from the UK's Department for International Development, chronicle this change, and give us a look at what we can expect in the future.
   
   The authors begin with a little history of philanthropy as they focus on some of the giants of contemporary philanthropy, most notably Bill Gates and Warren Buffet. These are men who have acquired such a staggering amount of money that it would be irresponsible to leave it all to their relatives or friends. The understanding is that when you have as much money as these guys have--literally billions of dollars--you have an obligation to use that money and the power derived from it for the betterment of humanity. Or at least that is the new way of thinking as this book clearly shows. Even corporate giants like the much criticized Wal-Mart have gotten into what the authors call "The Spirit of Philanthrocapitalism." Consider these words from Lee Scott, Wal-Mart's chief executive:
   
   "What would it take for Wal-Mart to be...at our best all the time? What if we used our size and our resources to make this country and this earth an even better place for all of us: our customers, associates, our children, and generations unborn?...Is this consistent with our business model?" (p. 187)
   
   Considering that corporations in this age of globalization are thought by some to be very much the problem and not the solution to humankind's challenges--see, for example, The Corporation: The Pathological Pursuit of Profit and Power (2004) by Joel Bakan--this is a refreshing point of view. And it makes sense when you think about it. Bill Gates and Warren Buffet now spend most of their time redistributing their wealth. Such work is more than a full time job; it's a new career. What if the heads of corporations realized the social and moral responsibility they have incurred by their very success, not through the persons of their retired executives, but through their present day business models?
   
   Bishop and Green devote a chapter to the ideal of "The Good Company." It's obvious that they would like to see corporations do more, especially considering the great challenges that we currently face in terms of pollution, water depletion, global warming, food shortages, corrupt governments, etc. Google comes in for a bit of critical scrutiny from Bishop and Green who believe that the giant multinationals should go beyond the façade of good public relations to the wisdom of enlightened self-interest. They quote Klaus Schwab, founder of the World Economic Forum, as saying, "global corporate citizenship can be considered a long-term investment. Since companies depend on global development, which in turn relies on stability and increased prosperity, it is in their direct interest to help improve the state of the world." Unfortunately, Schwab further notes that "the pursuit of short-term profits at the expense of the long-term best interests of the firm may lead to 'corporate attention disorder,' whereby companies lose focus on the big picture." (p. 181)
   
   The big picture of course is sustainability of your advantageous position in the world economy. I see on television night after night examples of how some companies think they can manage that with slick advertizing. Oil companies present commercials in which they urge people to use less energy. You might ask why they do that until you realize that the commercials have nothing to do with cutting energy use, but everything to do with promoting a positive public image for their company. This is NOT the way to assume social and moral responsibility, especially by companies that are not paying the full environmental costs of doing business while they garner record company profits.
   
   I think in essence this is what this book is about on the deepest level: an attempt to demonstrate through the example of philanthrocapitalism a way for the corporation of the future to become a trusted and valuable member of the world society irrespective of whatever product or service they produce or perform. A corporation should be something more that an amoral entity blind to everything but its bottom line. What profits do the leaders of these giants have when they realize, soon or late, that they will leave this world, as everyone else does, the same way they came in?
   
   Citing examples set by the Gates Foundation, George Soros's Open Society Institute, the Carnegie Corporation and others, the authors are plainly urging those with the wherewithal to take a leadership role in shaping society by funding not just established charities but through the founding and funding other worthwhile projects including those dedicated to educational reforms, disease eradication, and scientific research. They also want the philanthropists of today to influence others not involved in charity to work for the common good. They quote Bill Gates as saying insightfully, "Go get 0.1 percent of the scientists working on erectile dysfunction to come and work on malaria and you will be making a huge contribution." (p. 51)
   
   So, perhaps more than anything, the authors are showing how today's great philanthropists are using their celebrity and their prestige as well as their cash to help make this a better world. Let's hope more of them get involved.

5 comments about The Truth About You: Your Secret to Success.

1. The Truth About You, the latest offering from author Marcus Buckingham, is chock-full of cheesy self-help jargon (I hate cheesy self-help jargon). The book also includes a number of self-awareness exercises (I don't do self-awareness exercises). As if that weren't enough it has more than its fair share of what I refer to as "Thank you, Captain Obvious" statements (I really dislike those types of statements). And to top it off, I was asked to watch an accompanying DVD before reading the book (I have enough trouble carving out time to read without also having to watch a video).
   
   So why did I love this book?
   
   It's quite simple, actually. Despite it's faults, The Truth About You ultimately forced me to rethink a number of what I had always believed to be basic truths. Truths about what it means to succeed and what it takes to succeed. Truths about the most effective methods for personal growth and fulfillment. Truths about strengths and weaknesses. It will have the same effect on anyone who has come to accept any of the following as inherently true:
   
   - Always treat people as you would like to be treated
   - There is no "I" in team
   - You should work on your weaknesses
   - Push yourself beyond your comfort zone
   - Your greatest strength is your greatest weakness
   
   By the time I had finished this relatively short book I understood not only that those statements are wrong but also (and more importantly) why they are wrong. And that is the ultimate value of this book. Any book that forces me to examine my beliefs and causes me to change some or all of those beliefs has earned a place on my bookshelf.
   
   And it deserves a place on yours as well.



2. If you acquire this work, you become a participant in the ideas, with an opportunity to be the author of your own journey through your career.
   
   It's not a "book" as much as it is an interactive multimedia kit, featuring a narrative, a DVD and short film, along with a customized notebook for participants - because if you properly use this material, you're much more than a "reader" - to apply Buckingham's principles.
   I'm in the midst of Section 2, which means I've actively read the introduction, viewed the 20 minute film, answered a series of questions & identified my interests. I've also grasped that a strength is an activity that makes me strong and a weakness is an activity that makes me weak - regardless of whether I'm particularly good or bad at that activity.
   
   Read about my journey as I apply the principles from The Truth About You at www.tracyplaces.net.



3. This book is short and to the point. It provides you with great guidance and discovering the truth about your strengths. It helps develop a path toward the best you that you can be with exercises that can be done one your own or with a coach.



4. This book affirms a couple of cliche's that I love to use: 1. Be a Jack of All trades but a Master of One. I believe we really can only do a couple of things well. 2. If you aim for nothing in particular that is probably what you will hit. I believe we do need to drill into our strengths and magnify them. Simply stated I love this book. (It has three very cool things: 1. an accompanying CD/DVD which provides rich multimedia content 2. It has a neat little memo pad (read the book to see what it is for) and 3. it is a short quick read!) I agree with what he says! Focus on your strength. Don't fall into the fallacy that you can build your weak areas into strength's. I have seen this in life. I knew someone who was great at pouring concrete and cutting down trees. But put him inside to put up trim or any detail work and it just wouldn't work. Learn what your strength's are and maximize your potential in that area.
   
   Take his challenge and start building your job (I agree with the author, there is no perfect job) into your strengths. I doubt that your boss will even notice until they figure out how indispensable you have become to them. Life is way too short to just endure.



5. An abbreviated version of many of his other works, Buckingham gives readers a fast, and inspiring overview of how to identify you strengths and choose fulfilling roles in The Truth About You.
   
   This book is actually a packet consisting of a twenty-minute DVD, a short 110-page book and a notepad to help a person identify his or hers strengths and weaknesses. The DVD is a summary of Buckingham's belief that people need to play to their strengths, interspersed with a narrative about trombone player who really wants to play drums. I've seen Buckingham's presentation several times before, but this DVD is particularly inspiring. After viewing it, my wife said, "It was the most inspiring thing I've ever seen."
   
   The actual book is short and to the point. Directed towards graduating high school students and younger adults, The Truth About You helps the reader explore his or her personal strengths, and offers practical advice on how to spend more time doing the things that energize you, and less time pursuing the things that drain you.
   
   While there is no spiritual reference in the book, The Truth About You is a good tool to help young people (and not-so-young people) realize who they are and how God has gifted them. While a person can certainly know him or herself apart from this resource, it is a helpful stepping stone to understanding self.
   
   Graduating seniors, and struggling professionals would make a great investment in their future to watch, read and participate in this book.

5 comments about The Dip: A Little Book That Teaches You When to Quit (and When to Stick).

1. ...Simply because the title should give anyone an idea of who the book was written for.
   
   If you already know when to quit or when to stick, then don't get this book.
   
   If you're already successful and are happy with your career path, then don't get this book.
   
   - - - - - -
   
   However, if you're like me who's faced with so many opportunities but have a tough time deciding which to pursue, or if you're stuck in a job and can't figure out if it's really good for you in the long-term, or if you find yourself constantly sacrificing the fulfillment of your Big Dream, then The Dip is a short wake-up call that packs a punch.
   
   - - - - - -
   
   Arguably, Seth Godin may have just rehashed what has been said before, but I've always believed that the joke is in the telling. There are many career development books out there that more or less say the same thing, but we go for that one author who uses the right words to make things sound fresh.
   
   And to me, Godin delivers.



2. I'm normally averse to those business advice books that state the obvious in far too many words. This isn't one of those books.
   
   True, Godin tackles some allegedly self-evident insights on quitting (or not). But they're only self-evident when you take the time to think about them. Which we don't.
   
   And only self-evident if you are "brave" enough to confront them and accept that just maybe you should be quitting more often. Most of us aren't that brave.
   
   Godin writes eloquently and inspirationally. Reading the book means you finally face up to the obvious. And his words have a magical way of encouraging practical action. I know I sat down the day after reading the Dip and took some necessary decisions I'd been pushing aside for years.



3. I'm not normally one for books of this nature: short, quirky books that have easy to understand steps to great success all wrapped in cute little analogies. Godin somehow does it right. Whether you are stuck in a rut or itching to start something new, this book provides advice that helps condition your mind so that you end up succeeding. Otherwise you might as well quit.
   Buy it, read it, and revisit it every year when you need a boost to your career or hobby.



4. The book is quick and easy read, but doesn't really say much. It is much more lucrative to be the "cream of the crop" than a middler, no matter which profession you pick. Seth argues for careful deliberation when seeking out opportunities, and a willingness to change course. Quitting should be a rational decision, even planned ahead of time if possible. Overall, he argues that to best utilize your potential, you should seek out a job you will be challenged on, can grow in, and can be the best in the world. Once you've done that, stick it out without being disheartened by the time it takes to become an expert a.k.a. "the dip", because that's just what it takes, and its worth it.
   
   I'm usually a big fan of Seth's work, and agree with the content of the book, it just wasn't very insightful or enlightening for me.



5. This review was written by my 7th-grade daughter:
   
   The Dip is a little book about when to quit and when to stick. It tells you how to persevere through obstacles in jobs, new things you want to try, or things you're trying like a band you want to start. The Dip is a temporary setback that you will have to wade through like thick syrup.
   
   People quit things they want they want to do because the cost may seem too high. People don't have a lot of time and don't want to take a lot of risks. In school teachers tell kids that once a problem gets too hard they should move on to the next one. The low handing fruit is there to be taken; no sense wasting time climbing the tree. The Dip is the long stretch between beginners luck and real accomplishment.
   
   I recommend The Dip to people that have lost faith and believe that what they are trying to do is too hard because either their boss, coach, or someone else is not the kindest person to them, or when their environment is not the nicest. I believe that this book will give you great advice on how to live through dips and any rough path you have to get to before achieving your goal.

5 comments about The Fred Factor: How passion in your work and life can turn the ordinary into the extraordinary.

1. In 2007, I had an organization that was struggling. As a HR professional, the company asked if I would conduct leadership training for the site. The class was small at only 4 participants so I was able to give them my full attention. As part of the curriculum, I included Mark Sanborn's book, The Fred Factor.
   
   One of the participants was really enthused about the book. Weeks and months after the class, he would approach me during my visits to point our "Fred" related things that he had accomplished. Indeed, he bought the book for all of his managers and they formed a loosely knit "Fred" club.
   
   My review and recommendations for this book boils down to this. Of the 4 participants, only one remains. That is the, as I call him, "Fred Head". Not only is he still gainfully employed, he was been promoted not once but twice!
   
   I highly recommend this book. Michael L. Gooch, SPHR Author of
   Wingtips with Spurs



2. The Fred Factor is an absolute read for anyone anywhere. It not only motivates you as a leader but changes the way you think about your job. I have given it to workers who complain a lot or who constantly want praise for what they do. Fred does his job because he views it as a leader servant seeking to make the world a better place. So refreshing. We have a UPS driver that is retiring after 30 years (22 with us) and we will be presenting him with a copy of this book. He is our Fred.



3. 'The Fred Factor' is a motivational book which uses many examples of outstanding customer service as well as outstanding generosity the author has experienced in everyday life to provide models of how we can change the world in small, simple ways. I enjoyed reading the book and it urged me to improve the way I interact with people I encounter every day. I especially recommend the book to anyone who has a job involving customer service in any way, as the book is highly focused on dealing with customers and coworkers. My only criticism is for the author to focus less on the customer service aspect of being 'Fred-like' and to be more in-depth on how 'Fredness' can be applied to living life. However, I would recommend this book to anyone, regardless of employment, and believe it can change the way people view their everyday life. It is a very motivational read it is easy to understand and apply the suggestions in the book to anyone's life.
   
   Another leadership fable that I love is Squawk!: How to Stop Making Noise and Start Getting Results
   
   Squawk!: How to Stop Making Noise and Start Getting Results



4. And after reading this book, who wouldn't want to be? Mark Sanborn writes that his postal carrier, by going above and beyond in Mark's eyes, truly inspired him. The book goes on to talk about how everyone can turn the ordinary into the extraordinary. Fred the mail carrier, achieves this without even knowing it! The book is well written and very thought provoking! I have also had the pleasure of hearing Mark speak in person. He sure has a WOW factor to his performance! Mark inspires an invitiation to greatness in work, home, and community. Making the world a better place.



5. In the spirit of Ken Blanchard ("One Minute Manager" series and others) and John G. Miller ("QBQ: The Question Behind the Question"), Mark Sanborn has written a great little book about the ordinary, everyday people who choose to do the little extra things for and in service of others. Sanborn calls these extraordinary ordinary people "Freds," in honor of the mailman who first inspired him to notice, respect, and share with the world how special these people are and how common-sense and important it can be for each of us to strive to be a Fred.
   
   The book is divided into four logical and sequential parts: What's a Fred?, Becoming a Fred, Developing Other Freds, and For the Love of Fred. In the first part, Sanborn introduced the four "Fred Principles," which were constantly reinforced throughout the rest of the book with quotes, real-life anecdotes, and thought-provoking insights and discussion. Sanborn, with his direct and easy-to-read writing style, clearly showed that the best thing about these principles - Everyone Makes a Difference; Success Is Built on Relationships; You Must Continually Create Value for Others, and It Doesn't Have to Cost A Penny; and You Can Reinvent Yourself Regularly - is that everybody is capable of living them with just a little focused effort and reflection. Another very powerful passage for me at the end of the book were Fred's answers to Sanborn's question, "Why do you do what you do?"
   
   I would easily place this book near the top of my list of "must read" service, leadership, and character-refinement books. I highly encourage everyone to invest time within the pages of this little gem, and get inspired and motivated to become more `Fred-like.'

5 comments about Tuned In: Uncover the Extraordinary Opportunities That Lead to Business Breakthroughs.

1. I've been through the seminars on Practical Product Management delivered through the authors' firm (Pragmatic Marketing). As a CTO it was an eye-opener to see an approach to Product Management that meshed with the concepts of Agile Development in the software field. The two disciplines work well together to create software products that resonate with customers.
   
   This book is not so much breaking new ground, but distilling years of learning into a simple introductory form for folks who might be interested in moving from an inside-out/command-and-control view of the market. It makes a strong empirical business case for doing things differently.
   
   Highly recommended if you're starting a business, launching a new business unit or product line, or simple want to spark growth in existing efforts. You might even learn which existing efforts are not tuned-in and pull back on their funding so you can invest in products and services that the market wants.



2. This straight-talking book is a great addition to any entrepreneur's bookshelf. When positioning a company or a product - or a candidate for public office, there are several rules to follow, among them: Who is your customer? What is important to your customer? And how does your service or product meet the "perceived" needs of your customer? The key words are "perceived needs." You must know what your customer is buying and why, and what they want to buy. You also need to know what they are not buying - and why. It's all about establishing authentic connections, or as Myers, Stull and Scott say, how we tell our buyer that we've solved their problems - so that they listen to what we have to say, buy our products or services, or vote for us. (The reviewer is author of two books:Personal Publicity Planner: A Guide to Marketing YOU and Top Cops: Profiles of Women in Command.)



3. This book is a must read for all entrepreneurs and their marketing department. If you're lucky enough to read this book before developing your business plan, you're going to benefit greatly. This book really helped our team dig at how we were developing and marketing our application and our business.
   
   The examples of the book are unique and interesting, supporting the entire premise. Perhaps the best feature of the book is that it can easily be used as a checklist for your company, your product or your service. This book must be purchased by you and must be read by your staff.



4. Great Book!! Your own personal opinion is irrelevant no matter what situation you are in. You can accomplish more than you've ever imagined in your personal and professional life by observing and listening to others and what they want. And whether it's right or wrong, let it go. Just give them what they want and the paybacks will come. This book is another great spin on the principles of Dale Carnegie.



5. I was lucky enough to be given a preview copy of a great new book by Craig Stull, Phil Myers, and David Meerman Scott called Tuned In. I got the preview, but it is being published today. It was a very interesting experience to read this book, because I feel as though I understand the authors' perspectives so well already. But even though I know where the authors are coming from, I was still riveted by this book. They tell so many great stories that illustrate their big point, which is that you need to be willing to listen to what's going on around you to really produce a business breakthrough. I found myself sorry when the book ended, because the stories are so helpful in driving the philosophy home, and each story is interesting on its own merits.
   
   I am a big fan of David's, and if you read his last book, you would be too. So, I recognized David's voice in places throughout the book, especially when it explains how to detect the difference between tuned-in and tuned-out marketing.
   
   But I also recognize the voices of Craig and Phil, because I am a certified product manager from their company, Pragmatic Marketing. So when the book differentiates between listening to your customers and listening to your overall market, I hear them. When they tell you that you need to get out and talk to people to identify the ideas that will resonate, I remember hearing in class: "Nothing good ever happens in the office."
   
   So, nothing this book said really surprised me. And that's the real genius of the book. So often, a really great book says something that seems completely obvious--right after you hear it. This book is one of those.
   
   Well of course you need to talk to your whole market and not just your existing customers. Well sure you'd rather have real information on which to base your decisions than "gut feel." Certainly innovation for innovation's sake is doomed to failure.
   
   There are these kind of "Well, duh!" ideas on every page. But they are obvious only in retrospect. Most companies don't act as if these ideas are obvious--just the opposite.
   
   In my last book, I tried to help people take these approaches in Internet marketing. This book has a bigger agenda, where the authors help you see how to succeed in all the parts of an offering, from product development to marketing. And they succeed, both because of these blowhard-skewering truths and because they have a rich set of stories that put these ideas in action.
   
   I was fascinated by the case study for Zipcar, a business I was aware of but had never tried. The way they first identified the needs of city dwellers who occasionally need a car, but don't need the hassles of owning one, was an eye-opener for me. But I was even more surprised to hear about how they've targeted other groups to help them, ranging from politicians interested in telling a green story to landlords looking to add Zipcars as a differentiator against other rental properties.
   
   Zipcar is just one of dozens of stories that bring the Tuned In principles to life. If you've ever wondered why your company is stultified in its strategy, and why it strangles every successful product idea before it ever sees the light of day, read this book. It will challenge you to transform your company or leave it.
   
   [...]