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Encouraging our clients to read books has always been an integral part of our business. As a result, we’d like to periodically share 10 books that we feel should be included in your business and/or personal library. These books are not listed in order of sales, popularity, or recommendation. The numbers are used only for reference purposes.
The Art of War is a Chinese military dissertation written by Sun Tzu some 2,500 years ago. It contains 13 chapters, each of which is dedicated to one aspect of warfare. It has long been praised and studied as the definitive work on military strategies of its time. This work has had a large influence on both Eastern and Western military thinking, business tactics, and beyond. In fact, for years now, I've seen books using this approach to many non-military areas such as The Art of War for Gardeners, Golfers, Marketers and the list goes on. Obviously, many authors have seen this title as a marketing tool to attract the attention of readers who have seen it on the book shelves for years. This classic was first translated into a European language in 1782 and has been said to have possibly influenced Napoleon, General Douglas McArthur and even the planning of Operation Desert Storm. In recent years, much emphasis has been placed on applying the Art of War philosophy to business and managerial strategies. This is what I find so very interesting about this trend. Today's media talks much of the radical change we have experienced in recent years, and they warn us to expect more of the same in the future. To an extent that's very true. On the other hand, consider the things that remain the same after centuries of growth, education, progress, and technology enhancements. I find it fascinating that the problems that Sun Tzu wrote about 2,500 years ago are identical to those we face today! The solutions, to a great extent, are also the same. As you examine the 13 chapters, it's very easy to feel as though you're browsing a list of challenges which exist in today's workplace. In short, we are reminded that there is nothing new under the sun. Our pressing issues today were just as important 2,500 years ago—the common and critical factor in this equation is PEOPLE. Addressing this factor has contributed much to the success of this philosophy. Until now, Sun Tzu's strategies have been focused on tactics for men facing great battles in a male-dominated world ... as well it should have. However, in recent years, women have stepped up dramatically to gain center stage in many sectors of our culture. Note the fact that the U.S. is currently contemplating the election of our first female President. We're in the midst of a revolution where woman are educated, can vote, and have full and equal rights alongside men ... and women are capitalizing on this revolution more and more every day. Author Chin-Ning Chu, an accomplished female Chinese business strategist, author, and internationally renowned speaker is a descendant of the pauper (Chu uan-Zhang) who became the first emperor of the Ming Dynasty by defeating the descendant of Genghis Khan. She is the President of Asian Marketing Consultants, Inc., chairperson of the Strategic Learning Institute, and President of Neuroscience Industries, Inc. She was also a major contributor to the Great Books series segment on The Art of War, aired on The Learning Channel. In short, she's more than qualified to speak on this subject! Chin-Ning Chu has taken on the work of SunTzu in a fresh light. She took the strategies and tactics that had, until now, been fashioned for execution by men and translated them into a game plan that can easily and efficiently be understood and administered by women. She tells her readers that for perhaps the first time in history, women can no longer attribute the traditional glass ceiling, their upbringing, or the competitive pressures of the world for their success or failure. She shares a number of examples of women who claimed they were helpless, mistreated, and unfairly turned down for promotions and career advancement. After further investigation it was discovered that these women had actually sabotaged their own chances. The author uses a nice blend of humor and advice as she converts these ageless strategies to female-friendly applications. Here's just a peek at some of her chapter content:
Sun Tzu's The Art of War is the most influential book on strategy ever published, selling tens of millions of copies worldwide in several editions. This brilliant adaptation of the ancient masterpiece shows women how to use that ageless philosophy to win in every aspect of life. It's quite obvious that this book, The Art of War for Women, is certain to become a classic in its own right.
This is the first of two book reviews that deal with the works of a very unique author who deals with an extremely relevant subject. Today's worldwide environment is tremendously chaotic. Every newscast and/or newspaper presents us with a new challenge to add to a rapidly growing list of controversies we must deal with. Stress levels escalate as we contemplate the task of facing new decisions every day—many of which can be life-changing. If there was ever a time for positive thinking, this is it. However, none of us wants it shoved down our throats at a time when we have so many negatives to deal with. Enter Andy Andrews. He may have been a bit of a futurist in 2002 when he offered us a very unique blend of fiction, history, allegory, and inspiration in his wildly successful parable, The Traveler's Gift. It's as though he was predicting the chaotic decisions we'd be facing in 2008 while presenting a variety of tools which can be used to make those critical decisions. Rather than simply providing steps or another typical formula, Andy knows and respects the power of story-telling and therefore utilized that format by combining entertainment and education within the pages of what is destined to become a classic. If you enjoyed It's A Wonderful Life and A Christmas Carol, you'll want to add The Traveler's Gift to your library of favorites. Author and motivational speaker Andrews effectively combines self-help guidelines with fantasy fiction to catch your interest and sustain momentum while simultaneously passing on excellent information that can change how you view and deal with the world, and ultimately, how the world deals with you. Many will find it easy, indeed, to identify with the hero of this compelling story, the likable David Ponder. He's facing many of the trials and tribulations that have become commonplace in today's challenging society. David loses his confidence and his drive to survive as events beyond his control deprive him of money and his job ... so much like so many of today's citizens facing constant chaos. With a wife and daughter to support, he becomes seriously distraught and contemplates suicide. David is rendered unconscious after a car accident and experiences an imaginary (or is it real?) journey into seven key points in history that form the bulk of the book. At each stopping point, he is met by historical figures such as Abraham Lincoln, Anne Frank, King Solomon, Harry Truman and Christopher Columbus, each of whom imparts one of the seven key decisions that the author contends are essential for personal success. We're sometimes so overwhelmed by the volume of decisions we must face that we don't even consider the fact that decisions can be categorized for better clarification and understanding of the choices we face. I'll share those seven critical decisions in greater detail in the following review of the Mastering the Seven Decisions. After his travel through time, David regains consciousness in a hospital and discovers he is holding letters given to him by the various heroes. The letters offer familiar self-help counsel: accept that the buck stops with you, become a wisdom seeker and a person of action, determine to be happy, open the day with a forgiving spirit, and persist despite all odds. Although Andrews writes from a Christian perspective, his overall message (trust that God is sovereign, but do your part in making your future happen) will ring true with a broad spectrum of inspirational readers. Andrews does an exemplary job at providing positive suggestions for overcoming life's obstacles. Footnote: After conversations with a number of friends and associates, I found that few were familiar with this author's previous work even though his talent is known world-wide. Therefore, I feel compelled to share a bit of his background in the hopes that you'll want to learn even more about Andy and his influential offerings. Check out our blog for a captivating bio on this best-selling author as we have added him to our "Meet The Authors" feature.
Referred to as a companion volume or owner's manual to The Traveler's Gift, this book is a refresher course and excellent follow-up fortifying the original message with letters from established "successes" who share their enthusiasm for the author's revelations. Andrews provides stories, examples and revisions of the wording of his first book that helps extend the reader's ability to incorporate Andrews' ideas. Mastering the Seven Decisions guides readers to a profound understanding of how to fully integrate seven life-changing decisions into their daily lives. One way in which Andrews freshens his approach is to "rename" the seven decisions. In this book they become the following:
The author provides you with an in-depth understanding of The Seven Decisions, exercises on how to integrate each, and authentic messages from celebrities, business leaders and athletes. The celebrity profiles include: Jimmy Dean, Bob Hope, Stan Lee, General Norman Schwarzkopf, Amy Grant, Norman Vincent Peale, and Joan Rivers. You'll also appreciate the many thought-provoking exercises offered throughout the book such as:
I personally appreciate the presence of dozens of inspirational quotations sprinkled throughout the entire book. You'll find yourself often pausing to contemplate some pretty deep observations such as: "There are generations yet unborn who depend upon the choices you make, because everything you do matters—not just for you, not just for your family, not just for your hometown—everything you do matters to all of us—forever." The author certainly knows how to communicate his thoughts and ideas as he relates his information in a reader-friendly manner, allowing even the most doubting reader to grow from the experience. Motivational books, audio tapes, and seminars are obviously inspirational and simply make us feel good. However, reading, listening or attending doesn't necessarily insure a behavior change which is what we truly desire and often need. Andrews offers exercises, techniques and encouragement to master that challenge of actively changing attitudes and behaviors. This is a book you'll want to keep in a convenient location as you'll find yourself returning to it regularly for an additional dose of inspiration and guidance.  #4Jacked Up: The Inside Story of How Jack Welch Talked GE into Becoming the World's Greatest Company  by Bill Lane I must admit that I almost passed on this one. In a personal library I'm very proud of, you'll find every book that's ever been written by and/or about Jack Welch. My first thought upon seeing this new title was "What else is there to learn about this man and his legendary career?" My second thought led me to pick it up for a quick visual inspection, and my third thought cost me money and increased the size of my library. I was also quite surprised at how much new information I gleaned from this unusual collection of anecdotes, conversation and explicit details of GE's culture and the man who changed it so drastically. I believe this book was somewhat unique in its offering since this is the first book by a GE insider. It was written by Bill Lane who was Welch's speech-writer for 20 years. He joined GE in that position in 1980, after seven years at the Pentagon. From 1982 to 2001, he was also the Manager of Executive Communications for Welch at GE. Lane's first-hand, fly-on-the-wall, insider tone and great style provides reader's with a front row seat to Welch's 20-year campaign to transform GE. In addition to learning some interesting new tidbits about Jack Welch, probably the most renowned CEO of the 80s and 90s, and GE, one of the finest corporations in the world, I was also reminded of the many controversial concerns which have surrounded both the CEO and the corporate culture over the years. According to the author:
The author speaks bluntly about the challenges to minorities and women in this "corporate culture" during the 80s and 90s although this was obviously politically incorrect. I must admit that I was surprised he actually documented this fact although it was evident at the time all over corporate America. As you can plainly see, the author reveals the good, the bad, and the ugly when it comes to culture and leadership. The on-going love-hate relationship we share with General Electric and Jack Welch actually provides us with a tremendous learning opportunity. However, many people dislike this corporate giant and unique leader so much that they simply refuse to acknowledge them as a source of learning. The book is organized into 84 short, interesting chapters which include italicized advice tips that summarize communications strategies. I believe you'll enjoy reading about the inner workings of G.E., and you'll understand exactly how every leader can master the art of communication, to teach and inspire, shock and provoke, all at the same time. You'll witness laugh-out-loud-funny cameo appearances from boldface names like Southwest Airlines Herb Kelleher, Don Imus, Jack's ex-wife Jane Welch, Conan O'Brian, and "Triumph, the Insult Comic Dog." Whether you envy or pity those at GE, agree or disagree with Welch and his iconization as The Ultimate CEO, you'll find this book both educational and entertaining.  #5The Education of an Accidental CEO: Lessons Learned from the Trailer Park to the Corner Office  by David Novak and John Boswell I've often mentioned that I admire any author and/or publisher who can create a cover or title that can grab a potential reader in the fraction of a second those browsing eyes scan the shelves. In this case, the cover has it all. First of all, the title and subtitle tweaked my curiosity ... "Accidental CEO?" That's got to make you wonder. "Trailer Park to Corner Office?" Sounds like rags to riches and those stories are always inspiring. The big guy on the cover in the open-collared blue shirt grinning like he's heading into the weekend with a blank check looks friendly enough but certainly nothing like your typical CEO. Liner notes by the richest man in the world, Warren Buffet, obviously adds credibility. The finishing touch for me came when I recognized the author's name. David Novak is chairman and CEO of Yum! Brands, Inc., home to KFC, Pizza Hut, Taco Bell, Long John Silver's, and A&W All American Food. This was interesting to me because YUM! Brands was the first company we chose to kick off our blog feature "Who's Yer Daddy?" Check it out to learn more about this very unusual organization and the man behind it. True to the title, this book focuses not on the five familiar fast-food brand names we see regularly from coast to coast. It spotlights, instead, David Novak—one of the most engaging, unconventional, and successful business leaders in today's chaotic global marketplace. As indicated by the subtitle, Novak actually did live in 32 trailer parks in 23 states by the time he reached the seventh grade. He went on to sell encyclopedias door to door, worked as a hotel night clerk, and took a job as a $7,200-a-year advertising copywriter with the hopes of maybe one day becoming a creative director. Instead, he became head of the world's largest restaurant company at the ripe old age of 47. As a result of that track record, Novak truly believes that people from ordinary and modest beginnings can accomplish great success in the business world. He learned how to be successful in a fiercely competitive world through his life lessons, and in this book, he shares a great deal of the street-smart wisdom he accumulated on that journey. Several of his personal beliefs really jumped out at me as being very unpretentious but indeed lucrative and time-tested:
Oddly enough, this very successful CEO never attended business school. His journey, however, brings the skill of learning to life. He takes immense pride in the fact that he gained so much wisdom from the "school of hard knocks" and feels that experience is a magnificent teacher. He also credits some of his most impressive lessons to other very smart people:
Not a bad teaching staff if I say so myself. However, to avoid jealously disguised as excuses, understand that you too have access to that same cadre or the equivalent. Read, ask, listen, research. It's all available to anyone with a little initiative and discipline. David Novak has always been a firm believer in the possibility of building an entire culture around reward and recognition—getting everyone from division presidents to dishwashers to buy into recognizing the achievements of others. His creative strategies for doing so have been studied by many other companies and discussed in this book in great detail. Here's a short example of what to expect within these 303 pages. Novak believes that "all the answers are in the building." He says, "Every company is filled with experts. If you want to learn the company's history, have a meeting with a 25-year veteran. If you want to know what customers are thinking, talk to the people who answer the 800-number calls. If you want to know why the trucks aren't getting out on time, a route salesman who's been at the job for a while is likely to know the answer." Kind of an "Acres of Diamonds" concept, isn't it? It certainly is sad that more leaders don't capitalize on this basic concept. Novak's co-author, John Boswell, is a literary agent, a book packager, and the author or coauthor of 17 books, including the #1 New York Times bestseller What They Don't Teach You at Harvard Business School. He lives in New York City. These two literary specialists join forces to share with you what David has discovered about getting ahead and getting noticed; motivating people and turning businesses around; building winning teams and running a global company of nearly one million people; and always staying true to yourself. By the way, all of the proceeds from this book will be donated to the United Nations World Food Program in conjunction with Yum!'s global hunger relief efforts. David also serves as a director of the Friends of the World Food Program.
This book has received mixed reviews ... everything from "totally worthless" to "memorable business book full of wisdom delivered with a wink." Personally, I find any text generated on the subject of sacred cows is worth a glance, especially in today's chaotic business environment when so many of those sacred cows are being eliminated by technology, competition, government regulations, budget, and customer demands. A few years ago I wrote a review on another best seller, Sacred Cows Make the Best Burgers, which can be found on our website. Both books deal with a crucial subject we can no longer neglect and both publications used humor to drive home their messages. The authors of this book, however, may have gone a little overboard in their attempt to interject humor in every paragraph of every chapter introduction. However, I learned many years ago that it's near impossible to find an author who is capable of meeting your every need and requirement in their offering. Dealing with three authors makes it even more difficult. On the other hand, I will never pass up the opportunity to gain new knowledge simply because I'm not totally in agreement with something to do with the author ... political affiliations, religious beliefs, sense of humor, business coalitions, etc. I've learned to overlook what I'm not comfortable with as I search for what may be beneficial for me in the future. The three authors of this book, David Bernstein, Beau Fraser, and Bill Schwab, combine their talent and experience at their cutting-edge advertising agency, The Gate Worldwide, which has offices in New York, London, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Shanghai. They know of what they speak. Their book is based on the assumption that most middle managers today are intellectually lazy, making decisions based on the comfort of long-established rules, formulas, actions ... something they refer to as sacred cows. They go on to explain how to identify a sacred cow, why these plodding beasts hinder creativity and innovative thinking and ultimately the growth of your organization. While there are obviously many sacred cows, the authors identify 19 of the most obvious (and a number of lesser indiscretions which they humorously refer to as sacred veal) and in detail, explain how each may negatively impact the organization and needs to die. Here are just a few that you'll learn about:
If you take just a moment to focus on your own work environment, I'm sure you'll quickly acknowledge the existence of a good many sacred cows grazing lazily in the halls of corporate America. The authors will reveal how to not only identify sacred cows but how to kill them ... and they don't stop there. They'll also reveal brilliant alternatives that will help make your business more profitable, productive and innovative. This bovine-bashing book will put a smile on your face one minute and then cause you to pause to ponder the existence of sacred cows in your own herd the next minute. The key, of course, is your own decision to take action on what you learn.
This may take a bit of a stretch, but try to remember what your life looked like ten years ago. When you think about it, the last decade has produced a multitude of changes we never would have imagined. Ten years ago the cost of a gallon of gas was $1.15, the average cost of a new car was $17,200, a U.S. postage stamp was 32 cents, a movie ticket was $4.50, a loaf of bread was $1.26, and a dozen eggs was 88 cents. Prior to 1998 there was no FaceBook, no MySpace, no YouTube, no PayPal, no iPod, no Xbox, no Wii and no Google. In 1998, the Twin Towers were still standing in New York City, airport security was a breeze and there was no $9 trillion deficit. If you consider the enormous changes that have taken place in the past ten years, can you even begin to imagine what may occur in the next decade? If you had that ability, you'd be what is known as a trendspotter. In this book by Richard Laermer, the author reveals the most functional forecasting secrets of professional trendspotters. The book is divided into nine categories, with more than 72 "short-short" chapters with dozens of outrageous sidebars. Each of the chapters is only two to five pages long, and each starts out with a particular trend. This structure certainly contributes to a fast, comprehensive read that other authors should consider. Laermer, CEO of veteran trendspotting public relations firm RLM PR, foresees a fabulous future regardless of what today's headlines may indicate. However, he asserts that planning for that future must begin immediately, and he proceeds to share his knowledge of how to:
This book is packed with eye-popping predictions (and realities) on how you'll live, work, play, buy, sell, talk, text, laugh, and more. Learn how to participate in change instead of trailing it. Learn why GUMBY will be the mascot of 2011 and get familiar with the terminology that will one day be commonplace in our society, Terms such as TechnoStalgia, Caboodle, Disruptitude, Practactics, SpontaNoEity, Chapterization, Paper Battery, Footnotoooriety, Discordianism, and Prosumerism. If you're looking for surprising observations, shocking statistics, sublime insights, and wholesome food for thought, you'll find it all within these pages. But most importantly, the author will give you the tools, skills and techniques to not only see but profitably predict the future for yourself and your business.
If you've been following our book reviews over the years, you probably know how I feel about this particular author. Of his 42 best sellers, this is the sixth book that I've reviewed here. To me, reading one of his books provides me with the content of four books by any other author. It takes me two full liquid hi-liters to finish each of his books as he packs each with great applicable material from cover to cover. This internationally recognized leadership expert, speaker, and author has sold over 13-million books, and his organizations have trained more than two million leaders worldwide. He was named the World's Top Leadership Guru by Leadershipgurus.net. I don't share these facts to praise Maxwell ... he doesn't need my support. I do so in hopes you'll realize how valuable his books can be to your leadership growth potential! Let me explain why you may want to approach this book with an additional hi-liter:
This book is filled with stories of Maxwell's leadership failures and successes and the nuggets of wisdom he gained as a result of both. The author has compiled the hardest-won leadership lessons of his life into a book that can be used to mentor future leaders ... something that's seldom done in today's chaotic world. He's sifted through a lot of dirt in order to deliver the gold! More often than not, I learn more browsing the CONTENTS page of a Maxwell book than I do from reading the entire text of so many other authors. Let me show you what I mean. Consider these random chapter titles:
Now tell me you haven't been enticed to learn what may lie within each of those chapters. And if you don't think the author is on target with his content, pause a moment to visualize a CEO, president, vice president, manager, supervisor, or even a team leader you've worked with over the years. Don't you agree that this person would have benefited from a little more focus in some of the above areas? So will you! Do it now and prosper. Don't wait and wonder what might have been.  #9Know Can Do!: Put Your Know-How Into Action  by Ken Blanchard, Paul J. Meyer, and Dick Ruhe Here's another of the marvelous "mini-books" (112 pages) on the shelves today aimed at inspiring readers to greater achievement via a business fable offering wisdom, strategies, and tools. This one comes to us from a trio of well-known authors who have each made a name for himself in his own right ... Ken Blanchard (author or co-author of more than 40 books), Paul Meyer (founder of Success Motivation Institute), and Dick Ruhe (popular motivational speaker, consultant and trainer). This book addresses an issue that seems to be getting a lot of attention in this day of economic crisis, global competition, and the dire need for enhanced performance. We've focused on this very concern a great deal in our blog as well as our seminars and keynotes. The co-authors focus on the often obvious "knowing-doing gap" and how it can affect your staff and organization. The co-authors use the fable format to focus on the gap between what people know: all the good advice they've digested intellectually from books, seminars, and training courses and what they actually do. The story focuses on a well-known author who is troubled by this "knowing-doing gap" and searches for a solution to this growing challenge. During his journey he meets a legendary businessman who has discovered the secrets of putting knowledge into action. The businessman teaches the author the three reasons people don't make the leap from knowing to doing and the key to overcoming these roadblocks. You'll immediately recognize the roadblocks:
This book lays out a straightforward method for learning more, learning better, and making sure you actually use what you learn. As simplistic as that may sound, closing the "knowing-doing gap" is an endless source of frustration for individuals and organizations as well. At last, here's an answer to the question, "Why don't I do what I know I should do?" Know Can Do! teaches people at all levels how to apply life-changing techniques to reach their fullest potential. I'm giving serious consideration to making Know Can Do! required reading for all of our future seminars in the hope that we can close that challenging and ever-growing "knowing-doing gap."
We just added a new feature to our blog spotlighting distinguished authors. The first author I chose to introduce was Ken Blanchard. Before the ink was dry on that article, Blanchard placed another title on national bookstore shelves which is sure to be another best-seller. This time he joins Don Hutson and Ethan Willis to produce another quick-read business fable mixing practicality with entertainment. If you really need three creative minds to produce such a thin book, you can't go wrong with these three. Blanchard is an internationally best-selling author and motivational speaker whose books have sold more than 18 million copies in 30 languages. Hutson is the CEO of U.S. Learning, a training firm, an active speaker, and was on the founding board of the National Speakers Association and served as its third president. Willis is the CEO of Prosper Learning, Inc., a winner of Ernst & Young's Entrepreneur of the Year award and an entrepreneurial coach, with more than 150,000 students in 76 countries. Those who have read any number of the One Minute series seem to fall into one of two distinct groups. They devour, absorb and utilize every word from cover to cover, or they feel the content is basic, obvious and redundant. Both groups will feel the same about this new addition to the series. Here the authors share the inspiring story of one man's challenges in creating his own business. The hero of this tale has a dream and learns early on that the best source of information about success is given to us through quality relationships, which is so true in our daily reality. Jud and his wife Terri start their dream business and feel that all their dreams have come true. Then everything begins to fall apart, and they must rely on what they hope is good advice from a number of helpful mentors. The learning, of course, lies in this on-the-mark advice and our charming couple finally achieves success beyond their wildest dreams. You'll appreciate the invaluable advice delivered through One Minute Insights at the end of each chapter from such proven mentors as Sheldon Bowles, Peter Drucker, Michael Gerber, and Charlie "Tremendous" Jones. One observation that stuck with me was: "You are the average of the five people you most associate with." Look around and then pause to ponder that thought. While the message is not a new one, it's certainly one worth hearing again in a business-fable format that makes these winning principles come to life. Based on the fact that each year thousands of small businesses start up for the first time and most of them end in failure, I think it's safe to assume that many didn't listen the first time or simply were never exposed to these principles. For those this book will be invaluable. If you are looking for a quick and powerful set of standards for your career and your business, you'll find it here, written in such a way that both adults and teens will benefit greatly. |
Harry K. Jones is a professional speaker and consultant for AchieveMax®, Inc., a firm specializing in custom-designed keynote presentations, seminars, and consulting services. Harry has appeared all over North America addressing topics such as change, customer service, creativity, employee retention, goal setting, leadership, stress management, teamwork and time management for a number of industries, including education, financial, government, healthcare, hospitality, and manufacturing. He can be reached at 800-886-2MAX or by visiting http://www.AchieveMax.com.
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