Practical Field Ecology: A Project Guide by C. Philip Wheater, James R. Bell & Penny A. Cook - Book review

Practical Field Ecology

A Project Guide

By: C. Philip Wheater, James R. Bell, Penny A. Cook

Published: June 28, 2011
Format: Hardcover, 388 pages
ISBN-10: 0470694289
ISBN-13: 978-0470694282
Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell











"This handbook is designed as a guide to planning and executing an ecological research project and is intended as a companion to preparing a dissertation, report, thesis or research paper", write C. Philip Wheater of Manchester Metropolitan University, James R. Bell of Rothamsted Research, and Penny A. Cook of Liverpool John Moores University, in their comprehensive and very hands on book Practical Field Ecology: A Project Guide. The authors describe how to plan, prepare, monitor and sample, analyze, and present the results of a field study project in a range of ecological subject areas.



C. Philip Wheater (photo left), James R. Bell, and Penny A. Cook introduce the concepts of experimental design, and data analysis, and data interpretation for creating successful and meaningful research projects. The authors also provide the techniques required for field monitoring plants and animals.

The main focus of the book is to instruct researchers in the appropriate methods required to design a field based ecological survey and how to put into action an appropriate sampling system. The authors provide the research skills for any number of field studies in a wide range of organisms, various habitats, and both specialized and general ecological projects.



James R. Bell (photo left), Penny A. Cook, and C. Philip Wheater guide students and researchers through all stages of a complete field research project. The six chapters of the book provide a complete overview of planning, executing, analyzing, and reporting on the chosen topic of study.

The book's six chapters include:

* Preparation for the project including all internal and external factors
* Monitoring the site characteristics
* Sampling static organisms including the various measurement techniques
* Sampling mobile organisms including vertebrates and invertebrates
* Analyzing and interpreting data including mathematical techniques
* Presenting the information including report structure and writing style



Penny A. Cook (photo left), C. Philip Wheater, and James R. Bell offer a solid foundation for students and researchers to develop a sound research project. For me, the power of the book is how the authors combine the theoretical background to ecological research concepts with a complete series of practical steps for every aspect of the study. The book is divided logically in the order of the process, and each chapter is well defined. The authors offer many illustrative black and white photographs of the techniques in action, along with data graphs and charts that demonstrate how the information should be recorded and presented most effectively.

I highly recommend the very thorough and approachable book Practical Field Ecology: A Project Guide by C. Philip Wheater, James R. Bell, and Penny A. Cook, to any students, researchers, ecologists, business people, and policy makers who are seeking a very well grounded guide to planning, executing, measuring, and reporting on any ecological project. This book provides the tools necessary to provide scientifically sound information for informed decision making in any ecology related field.

Tags: Practical Field Ecology: A Project Guide, C. Philip Wheater, James R. Bell, Penny A. Cook, ecological research techniques, science book reviews.

Higher Ambition: How Great Leaders Create Economic & Social Value by M. Beer, F. Norrgren, N. Foote, R. Eisenstat, T. Fredberg - Book review

Higher Ambition

How Great Leaders Create Economic and Social Value

By: Michael Beer, Russell A. Eisenstat, Nathaniel Foote, Tobias Fredberg, Flemming Norrgren

Published: September 13, 2011
Format: Hardcover, 272 pages
ISBN-10: 1422159744
ISBN-13: 978-1422159743
Publisher: Harvard Business Press











"These leaders are working to fully realize the potential of their firms to create superior and lasting economic value. At the same time, they are putting their shoulder to the wheel to create superior social value. And they seek to accomplish both goals simultaneously. That is their higher ambition", write business thought leaders Michael Beer, Russell A. Eisenstat, Nathaniel Foote, Tobias Fredberg, and Flemming Norrgren, in their visionary and transformational book Higher Ambition: How Great Leaders Create Economic and Social Value. The authors describe how looking beyond the very narrow focus on shareholder value actually creates even more value for everyone including the company, the employees, the customers, society as a whole, as well as the shareholders.



Michael Beer (photo left), Russell A. Eisenstat, Nathaniel Foote, Tobias Fredberg, and Flemming Norrgren understand that there exists a tremendous crisis in corporate leadership today. The excessive and narrow focus, on the short term bottom line and share value, has failed to produce the intended goals of leadership, and has more often than not, been counterproductive in the end. The authors provide evidence that a new type of leader is delivering more than simply short term profits. The new CEO is not only generating higher numbers and happy shareholders, but is also creating value for employees, customers, and the wider community. Most importantly, the author offer proof that the two goals of economic and social benefits work together to enhance and strengthen each other.



Flemming Norrgren (photo left), Michael Beer, Russell A. Eisenstat, Nathaniel Foote, and Tobias Fredberg share compelling stories from leading CEOs, who shared a strong commitment to building the company as both profitable and of social benefit that included employees, customers, and of society as a whole. These forward thinking business leaders moved well past the selfish greed scenario that has proven a failure so many formerly leading corporations. While personally ambitious, these CEOs channeled that ambition into a larger purpose, described by the authors as being one of a higher ambition. Creating superior economic value, combined with superior social value, resulted in both a stronger corporation, but also provided additional benefits to everyone involved within and outside of the company itself.



Russell A. Eisenstat (photo left), Nathaniel Foote, Tobias Fredberg, Flemming Norrgren, and Michael Beer support increasing shareholder value and corporate profitability, but move beyond those narrow goals. The CEOs profiled in the book demonstrated clearly that moving beyond the fundamentalist shareholder focus resulted in ever greater success. The key additional ingredient was the addition of seeking a higher social purpose. Along the way, these innovative CEOs discovered that their higher ambition developed a fresh corporate vision that exceeded anything that had been accepted orthodoxy in the past. The CEOs recognized as well that selfish personal goals in their part, would fail to achieve their mission toward a higher ambition. At the same time, the leaders understood that focusing only on social value would fail to reach their goals. The two pronged approach was the winning formula.



Tobias Fredberg (photo left), Flemming Norrgren, Michael Beer, Russell A. Eisenstat, and Nathaniel Foote provide the concepts and practices followed by the interviewed CEOs. The visionary CEOs achieved their higher ambition based company success thorough a series of steps:

* Forge a new strategic identity

* Build a shared commitment to excellence

* Create community out of diversity

* Develop and personify "Sisu" persevering leadership

* Commit to collective leadership



Nathaniel Foote (photo left), Tobias Fredberg, Flemming Norrgren, Michael Beer, and Russell A. Eisenstat offer an insightful, research based book that presents a fresh vision for CEOs, and for companies willing to step into a new way of approaching business. For me, the power of the book is how the authors provide real world evidence that establishing a commitment to the dual and very intertwined goals of superior economic performance combined with superior social value. The recognition, on the part of the CEOs interviewed, that simply pursuing one goal or the other is not enough for overall company and societal success.

The higher ambition must combine economic leadership, with strong social values, that consider employees, customers, society, as well as shareholders to achieve success. The older paradigm of shareholder only consideration has proven much less effective, and in many cases, damaging to the company itself. The profiled CEOs also placed their personal ambition into the service of the higher ambition, and this visionary approach created even more success for the organization and all of the stakeholders. This new visionary paradigm is both sustainable and offers real value and benefits for everyone.

I highly recommend the important and landmark book Higher Ambition: How Great Leaders Create Economic and Social Value by Michael Beer, Russell A. Eisenstat, Nathaniel Foote, Tobias Fredberg, and Flemming Norrgren, to any business leaders who are seeking a vision of business and society that is profitable, sustainable, and benefits everyone within and outside of the company. This book demonstrates clearly why the old ways of doing business will no longer work in today's marketplace.

Tags: Higher Ambition: How Great Leaders Create Economic and Social Value, Michael Beer, Russell A. Eisenstat, Nathaniel Foote, Tobias Fredberg, Flemming Norrgren, visionary leadership strategies, business book reviews

The Changing Landscape Of Retirement by Mark Singer, CFP® - Book review

The Changing Landscape Of Retirement

What You Don't Know Could Hurt You

By: Mark Singer CFP®

Published: July 12, 2011
Format: Paperback, 136 pages
ISBN-10: 0983762007
ISBN-13: 978-0983762003
Publisher: ATA Press






"It is very important to recognize what you don't know because, without this information, you may make mistakes that will undermine your definition of a successful retirement", writes Certified Financial Planner® practitioner Mark Singer, in his eye opening and strategy filled book The Changing Landscape Of Retirement: What You Don't Know Could Hurt You. The author describes how profound changes in the economy have caused upheavals in the retirement plans of many Baby Boomers, and offers advice on how to ask the right questions to get that important retirement strategy back on track.

Mark Singer understands the frustration that Baby Boomers experience as they see their retirement plans not turn out as originally thought. For many Boomers, that derailment of their plans was due to not knowing the right questions to ask their investment advisers, writes Mark Singer. The retirement landscape has changed, according to the author, and with those changes new strategies must be put into action. Mark Singer provides an overview of the retirement situation facing Baby Boomers, and provides a method to transform a financially troubled retirement into a successful and opportunity filled transition in life's journey. Instead of a program, Mark Singer provides a strategy for creating a comfortable life for retirees.



Mark Singer (photo left) recognizes that many Baby Boomers made some serious mistakes in their retirement planning. Some of the mistakes were in failure to plan properly; while others mistakes were in not knowing the right questions to ask of financial advisers. Rather than bemoan those errors, the author provides an alternative and effective strategy to right the retirement ship. For the author, it's never too late to plan a retirement strategy that works for the individual needs and circumstances.

Mark Singer presents his Retirement Roadmap as a means of better planning for the transition to retirement. The author provides the tools necessary for transforming a potentially failed retirement plan into a successful one. Mark Singer breaks his book into the following sections to ensure that every aspect of retirement planning is given consideration. The sections include:

* Mistakes
* Fundamentals of planning
* What the future holds
* What about women
Deciding not to go it alone

For me, the power of the book is how Mark Singer outlines a process for creating a personalized financial plan for retirement. Instead of offering a standard plan for everyone, the author shares the techniques for creating a retirement plan that suits the individual. To achieve this personal touch, Mark Singer presents a series of planning tools, and provides the right questions to ask when choosing retirement planners and for selecting the right plan for the person's needs. The author also provides an important section that addresses the retirement issues faced by women as their lives transition into retirement.

I highly recommend the very practical and hands on book The Changing Landscape Of Retirement: What You Don't Know Could Hurt You by Mark Singer CFP® to anyone seeking an approachable and easy to understand guide to planning for retirement, that addresses the profound changes in today's retirement picture. This book could mean the difference between living a comfortable and enjoyable retirement, and one of constant need and worry. Mark Singer offers a means to plan effectively for the next stage in your life's journey.

Tags: The Changing Landscape Of Retirement: What You Don't Know Could Hurt You, Mark Singer, retirement planning strategies, business book reviews

Chip Bell & John Patterson: Wired & Dangerous - Blog Business Success Radio

Listen to Wayne Hurlbert on Blog Talk Radio



Founder of the Chip Bell Group, Chip R. Bell; and John R. Patterson, President of Progressive Insights, John Patterson; and co-authors of the insightful and and idea filled book Wired and Dangerous: How Your Customers Have Changed and What to Do About it, describe the dramatic changes in customer behavior. Customers have more choices, are better informed, have higher expectations, and voice their opinions more than ever before. If service is not up to expectations, the authors point out that customers will be heard through the many different social media platforms and groups. The authors provide insights into the new customer and why it's important to consider customers as real partners in the company and the brands. By rebuilding a relationship with customers, companies can enhance their customer service and become stronger brands that are more profitable as well.

Chip R. Bell and John R. Patterson are my internet radio show guests on Blog Business Success; hosted live on BlogTalkRadio.

The show airs live on Thursday, November 17, at 8:00 pm Eastern Time; 5:00 pm Pacific Time.

Founder of the Chip Bell Group, Chip R. Bell; and John R. Patterson, President of Progressive Insights, John Patterson; and co-authors of the insightful and and idea filled book Wired and Dangerous: How Your Customers Have Changed and What to Do About it, describe the dramatic changes in customer behavior. Customers have more choices, are better informed, have higher expectations, and voice their opinions more than ever before. You will learn:

* Why today's customers are different from customers of even a few years ago

* Why inferior customer service is part of the problem for today's edgy customers

* Why companies must build partnerships with customers to succeed

* How to build and develop partnerships with customers in this new paradigm



Chip Bell (photo left) is the founder of The Chip Bell Group and has offices in the Dallas and Atlanta areas. Chip’s newest book is Wired and Dangerous, co-authored by John Patterson.

Chip's consulting practice helps organizations build a culture that supports long-term customer loyalty. Prior to starting a consulting firm in the late 1970s, he was Vice President and Director of Management and Organization Development for NCNB, now Bank of America. Dr. Bell holds graduate degrees in organizational psychology and human resource development from Vanderbilt University and George Washington University. He was a highly decorated infantry unit commander in Vietnam with the elite 82nd Airborne Division.

Chip is the author or co-author of nineteen books.



John Patterson (photo left) is founder and President of Progressive Insights a member of the Chip Bell Group. He is the co-author (with Chip Bell) of Wired and Dangerous: How Your Customers Have Changed and What to Do About it

Read his blog about how customers have changed. John’s TwitterID is @johnrpatt. He can be found on Linkedin.com – www.linkedin.com/in/johnrpatterson.

John’s consulting practice helps organizations worldwide consistently deliver great customer service and employee experiences. His clients span a variety of industries including the financial services, insurance, healthcare, pharmaceutical, technology, cable TV, quick service restaurant, utility, assisted living, trade show management, wholesale auto auction, hospitality, commercial construction, real estate, education and business services industries.

John holds a graduate degree in business from the Darden School at the University of Virginia and a B.S. in Business Administration from The Citadel.

My book review of Wired and Dangerous: How Your Customers Have Changed and What to Do About It by Chip R. Bell and John R. Patterson.

Listen live on Thursday at 8:00 pm Eastern, 5:00 pm Pacific time.



If you miss this very informative show, it will be available for free download as a podcast for iPod, iTunes, and MP3 players; or play it right on your computer. To download this, or any other of my guest interviews, go to the Blog Business Success host page and click on Archived Segments. Once there, click on the podcast icon at the end of the episode description, to download the show free of charge for your listening enjoyment. You can also subscribe to the show feed.



To call in questions for my guest, the number is: (347) 996-5832

Let's talk with Founder of the Chip Bell Group, Chip R. Bell; and John R. Patterson, President of Progressive Insights, John Patterson; and co-authors of the insightful and and idea filled book Wired and Dangerous: How Your Customers Have Changed and What to Do About it, as they describe the dramatic changes in customer behavior. Customers have more choices, are better informed, have higher expectations, and voice their opinions more than ever before. If service is not up to expectations, the authors point out that customers will be heard through the many different social media platforms and groups. The authors provide insights into the new customer and why it's important to consider customers as real partners in the company and the brands. By rebuilding a relationship with customers, companies can enhance their customer service and become stronger brands that are more profitable as well on Blog Business Success Radio.

Tags: Wired and Dangerous: How Your Customers Have Changed and What to Do About it, Chip R. Bell, John R.Patterson, visionary customer partnerships, Blog Business Success, Blog Talk Radio.

Wired and Dangerous by Chip R. Bell & John R. Patterson - Book review

Wired and Dangerous

How Your Customers Have Changed and What to Do About it

By: Chip R. Bell, John R. Patterson

Published: June 6, 2011
Format: Paperback, 224 pages
ISBN-10: 1605099759
ISBN-13: 978-1605099750
Publisher: Berrett-Koehler Publishers






"Whether or not you accept the hyperbole of an emerging revolution, there is no doubt customers today are significantly different than those of just a few years ago", write senior partner with the Chip Bell Group, Chip R. Bell; and founder and president of Progressive Insights, John R. Patterson, in their insightful and and idea filled book Wired and Dangerous: How Your Customers Have Changed and What to Do About it. The authors describe how today's customer has changed from customers of the past, how and why that change took place, and offer solutions for companies to create a partnership with their customers.



Chip Bell (photo left) and John Patterson recognize the dramatic changes that have taken place both within customer thinking and with their overall behavior. Today's customers are more empowered than ever before, and as the authors demonstrate, those customers are not afraid to use their new found power to its fullest extent. The authors present a complete picture of today's new normal customer that offers both a challenge and an opportunity for companies. The authors point out that any businesses that fail to provide exceptional service, or don't deliver on their brand promises, will lose today's picky, fickle, vocal, and vain customers. In these turbulent times, customers will not only leave, but they will take their entire networks with them.



John Patterson (photo left) and Chip Bell understand that many business leaders either don't understand or are ignoring this new customer empowerment. Not only are customers who are active online and with mobile devices wired, but all customers are connected to other people through their various internet and offline social arrangements. Companies that provide bad service or an inferior product, to one customer, risk losing an entire circle of customers.

The authors make clear that for empowered customers, anything short of an exceptional service experience risks loss of an entire customer group. While this potential loss of customers, in an age of bad service, presents a challenge to many business leaders, the authors point out that there is an opportunity as well. For the authors, that opportunity is in form of an entirely new paradigm. The authors provide the tools for transforming customers into partners with the company and its brands. This empowering concept creates a winning solution for both the company and for today's edgy customers.

For me, the power of the book is how Chip Bell and John Patterson combine their insights and analysis of today's edgy customers, with practical and mutually beneficial strategies for establishing a partnership with those customers. The authors demonstrate clearly that attempting to maintain the older paradigms, of message control and of inferior customer service, will no longer work. In today's marketplace, businesses who fail to create partnership based relationships with customers risk becoming irrelevant and obsolete.

To create these critical partnerships, the authors share their real world proven strategies, backed by case studies of these partnership techniques in action. The book invites businesses to take the next step in relationships with customers, and present them with partnership status. The result is a positive outcome for both the company and its customer base.

I highly recommend the paradigm shifting and eye opening book Wired and Dangerous: How Your Customers Have Changed and What to Do About it by Chip R. Bell and John R.Patterson, to anyone seeking a fresh and empowering approach to building a new form of customer partnership. The book offers a step forward in customer relationships that satisfies even the edgiest of customers, and benefits even the most bottom line oriented companies.

Tags: Wired and Dangerous: How Your Customers Have Changed and What to Do About it, Chip R. Bell, John R.Patterson, visionary customer partnerships, business book reviews

Drinking From The Fire Hose by Christopher Frank & Paul Magnone - Book review

Drinking from the Fire Hose

Making Smarter Decisions Without Drowning in Information

By: Christopher J. Frank, Paul F. Magnone

Published: September 1, 2011
Format: Hardcover, 256 pages
ISBN-10: 1591844266
ISBN-13: 978-1591844266
Publisher: Portfolio/Penguin











"Whenever you feel like a data storm is about to block out the sun, we want you to turn to the straightforward questions that form the backbone of this book - questions that we still ask ourselves every day. In other words, don't ask us: ask yourself. But ask the right questions", write vice president at American Express, Christopher Frank; and vice president of business development and alliances at Openet, Frank Magnone, in their insightful and provocative book Drinking from the Fire Hose: Making Smarter Decisions Without Drowning in Information. the authors describe the critical importance of asking the deep and probing questions that divide data into groups that measure and groups that inform.



Christopher Frank (photo left) and Paul Magnone recognize the problems and challenges, presented to business leaders, by the huge amount of data generated in today's companies. as a result, the authors suggest that decision makers pose probing questions about the nature and value of that heavy data stream. Every piece of data tells a story, and the numbers only provide part of that narrative.

The authors advise leaders to look deeper into the numbers, and into the overall data, through questions that seek well researched answers. For the authors, data that offers real solutions to problems facing the organization will very often be overlooked due to the bias of supporting the existing strategic plan. Instead, the authors share the idea of asking where the surprises in the data were found, and to dig more deeply into the those surprising bits of information. The result may be a business transformational concept simply awaiting discovery.



Paul Magnone (photo left) and Christopher Frank understand the difficulty of sorting the useful and game changing information from the deluge of misleading or status quo supporting data. Their solution is to ask challenging questions. The the use of smarter questions, the difference making data, and especially the unexpected surprise data, will present itself to decision makers. Instead of offering prescriptive answers, the authors propose the asking of challenging and information seeking questions.

The authors offer seven specific questions to ask of the data:

* What is the essential business question?
* Where is your customer's North Star?
* Should you believe the squiggly line?
* What surprised you?
* What does the Lighthouse reveal?
* Who are your swing voters?
* The three W's: What? So What? Now what?

For me, the power of the book is how Christopher Frank and Paul Magnone turn traditional data concepts upside down. The authors start by dividing the data stream into data that measures, and data that informs. The ability to understand the differences between these two types of data is critical for developing breakthrough strategies. Unlike most business books, the authors decline the opportunity to offer advice and to provide answers to problems. Instead, they take the opposite approach of asking their seven fire hose questions.

Through this informed questioning process, the previous assumptions about the data, what it measures, and the level that informs decisions, comes into sharp focus. With each question, an entire chapter is devoted to understanding the reasoning behind the questions, and how to apply the question to extract the most meaningful and informed responses.

I highly recommend the thought provoking and profound book Drinking from the Fire Hose: Making Smarter Decisions Without Drowning in Information by Christopher Frank and Paul Magnone, to any business leaders who are seeking a fresh approach to understanding and utilizing the steady downpour of data that floods into their offices each day. Through the discerning questioning technique, the useful and informing data can be separated from the data that merely measures, and very often measures the wrong things. This book will change your organization from one that looks for easy answers, and instead asks the difficult and challenging questions.

Tags: Drinking from the Fire Hose: Making Smarter Decisions Without Drowning in Information, Christopher Frank, Paul Magnone, visionary leadership, business book reviews

Matthew David: HTML5 Mobile Websites - Blog Business Success Radio

Listen to Wayne Hurlbert on Blog Talk Radio



Specialist is developing rich technologies for websites and author of the very practical book HTML5 Mobile Websites, Matthew David describes the power of mobile sites for marketers and brands. Matthew provides insights into connecting with customers through mobile technology, and building relationships with today's untethered customer. Matthew points out that the technology is not complicated, and as a result, marketers should readily embrace the connective power of mobility. Matthew shares tips for creating websites that really, to avoid the cost of paid programmers, and to enrich the marketer's familiarity with the technology. Discover the power of mobile, and its future as a marketing and branding tool, that enriches and deepens relationships with customers. Today's customer is using mobile technology, and to find that customer, it's imperative for brands to be part of the mobile revolution as well.

Matthew David is my internet radio show guest on Blog Business Success; hosted live on BlogTalkRadio.

The show airs live on Tuesday, November 15, at 8:00 pm Eastern Time; 5:00 pm Pacific Time.

Specialist is developing rich technologies for websites and author of the very practical book HTML5 Mobile Websites, Matthew David describes the power of mobile sites for marketers and brands. You will learn:

* Why the untethered mobile customer is so important for business

* How to reach the mobile customer and build relationships

* How to create mobile applications effectively and with minimal programming

* Why the future of marketing demands a mobile marketing presence



Matthew David (photo left) is a specialist developing rich Web solutions using technologies like Flash and the latest Web design techniques. In addition, he works in online sales, marketing, and search engine optimization, with the aim of driving business to customer sites. Matthew partners with many companies as a business strategist, works closely with the World Wide Web Consortium Group (W3C), and is on Adobe's Advisory team.

Listen live on Tuesday at 8:00 pm Eastern, 5:00 pm Pacific time.



If you miss this very informative show, it will be available for free download as a podcast for iPod, iTunes, and MP3 players; or play it right on your computer. To download this, or any other of my guest interviews, go to the Blog Business Success host page and click on Archived Segments. Once there, click on the podcast icon at the end of the episode description, to download the show free of charge for your listening enjoyment. You can also subscribe to the show feed.



To call in questions for my guest, the number is: (347) 996-5832

Let's talk with specialist is developing rich technologies for websites and author of the very practical book HTML5 Mobile Websites, Matthew David, as he describes the power of mobile sites for marketers and brands. Matthew provides insights into connecting with customers through mobile technology, and building relationships with today's untethered customer. Matthew points out that the technology is not complicated, and as a result, marketers should readily embrace the connective power of mobility. Matthew shares tips for creating websites that really, to avoid the cost of paid programmers, and to enrich the marketer's familiarity with the technology. Discover the power of mobile, and its future as a marketing and branding tool, that enriches and deepens relationships with customers. Today's customer is using mobile technology, and to find that customer, it's imperative for brands to be part of the mobile revolution as well on Blog Business Success Radio.

Tags: HTML5 Mobile Websites, Matthew David, mobile customers, Blog Business Success, Blog Talk Radio.

The Transformational Entrepreneur by Terry Murray - Book review

The Transformational Entrepreneur

Igniting The Mind, Heart, & Spirit For Breakthrough Business Success

By: Terry Murray

Published: March 31, 2011
Format: Paperback, 253 pages
ISBN: 978-0-615-45462-7
Publisher: Performance Transformation, LLC







"This book is an attempt to share the real-world processes of grounded start-up business practice that actually work examined from the perspective of spiritual awareness", writes professional coach and business executive, and Managing Partner of Performance Transformation, LLC, Terry Murray in his insightful and results oriented book The Transformational Entrepreneur: Igniting The Mind, Heart, & Spirit For Breakthrough Business Success. The author describes practical business best practices enriched with an examination of the importance of the human element in achieving a thriving and sustainable business.

Terry Murray understands that business practices must be combined with the human spirit to achieve peak performance in any company. The author provides evidence that successful companies of the past combined sound business techniques with a deep recognition of the value of the human element in their organization. Terry Murray points out the crucial aspect of employee engagement within a company, and suggests that engagement is enriched with a a strong spiritual awareness. For the author, this spirituality is reflected in creative thinking, dedication, and the passion so essential in any start-up company. The author demonstrates that very often the missing factor for start-up ventures is spiritual awareness.



Terry Murray (photo left) recognizes that spiritual awareness is the missing, but very critical ingredient in success. The author shares his ideas and proven techniques, for reviving and unleashing the power of that essential spiritual purpose, within the enterprise. Terry Murray provides evidence that the spiritual aware employee is more engaged than other employees. This empowering sense of engagement is transferred the customer as well, creating a fully engaged customer base.

Terry Murray shares his methods for building a successful start-up, engaging employees, and developing engagement in customers through the lens of spiritual awareness. The author offers the following steps to achieve spiritual driven success by demonstrating:

* The power of vision and intention
* Self-awareness and self-assessment
* Intuition and market assessment
* Clarity and communication of mission and vision
* Articulation of goals,objectives, strategies, and tactics
* Creating and sustaining a conscious culture
* Structure and execution

For me, the power of the book is how Terry Murray combines effectively proven traditional business values and methods, with the power and vision of spiritual awareness. Through the addition of spirituality, and the power of the mind and spirit to business start-ups, the author adds a critical new human element to the overall equation. Terry Murray understands that simply following best business practices can't achieve start-up success on their own. The passion and inner conviction that are generated from deep spiritual awareness are the missing factors. The author guides entrepreneurs through the spiritual engagement process, with practical exercises and methods, that raise the intensity of engagement within employees and subsequently within the customers as well.

I highly recommend the visionary and company culture changing book The Transformational Entrepreneur: Igniting The Mind, Heart, & Spirit For Breakthrough Business Success by Terry Murray, to any entrepreneurs seeking that extra and often missing element in their business success. This book provides a complete guide to engaging employees and customers on an entirely different and sustainable level that creates a profitable and lasting company.

Tags: The Transformational Entrepreneur: Igniting The Mind, Heart, & Spirit For Breakthrough Business Success, Terry Murray, visionary entrepreneurship, business book reviews

Unleashing Genius: Leading Yourself, Teams and Corporations by Paul David Walker - Book review

Unleashing Genius

Leading Yourself, Teams and Corporations

By: Paul David Walker

Published: May 1, 2008
Format: Paperback, 197 pages
ISBN-10: 1600373410
ISBN-13: 978-1600373411
Publisher:Morgan James Publishing








"Those who choose to lead must find paths to success, and often have to lead reluctant, critical, and stubborn people on missions that can be elusive. They must turn visions that exist only in their minds into social and economic realities that enliven their companies and countries", writes CEO and executive leadership coach Paul David Walker in his inspirational and visionary book Unleashing Genius: Leading Yourself, Teams and Corporations. The author describes how leaders can maximize their success and develop greatness in their organizations, by recognizing the unlimited potential for achievement, through individual genius and the connection with teams.

Paul David Walker recognizes that the potential for genius resides in all leaders, and in everyone who aspires to leadership at any level. Instead of simply discussing the nature of genius, the author demonstrates how to develop and utilize that latent genius potential. Paul David Walker provides the tools and practices necessary to change the leader's focus from one of limitations and problems to one of abundance and creative vision. The author teaches leaders to find their own genius within themselves, and points out that genius is within everyone. The author effectively dispels the myth that genius and creative vision are rare, but are in fact already dwelling within everyone.



Paul David Walker (photo left) understands that what is needed is the inspiration to unleash that genius, as Paul David Walker calls it, along with the will to create an exciting new future. When this previously hidden genius is uncovered, fresh new ideas and insights are found. At the same time, the leader discovers the wisdom to recognize the difference between false ideals and true genius. What was once unimaginable, let alone achievable, becomes the new reality and transforms into the possible and obtainable.

The author provides the insights so that a leader can create exciting new realities through the following:

* Have a compelling purpose and mission
* Clear vision of the benefits of that mission
* The ability to communicate those benefits to others
* Have confidence tempered with humility
* Be open to creativity at all steps in the mission

For me, the power of the book is how Paul David Walker combines his philosophy of the visionary leader with the practices and exercises for uncovering and unleashing genius. The author provides a compelling case for leaders to discover their personal capacity for genius and to transform that genius into a powerful vision. The author also demonstrates how visionary leaders can encourage and support genius within their organizations, to complete a transition from the ordinary to a mission driven company. Instead of accepting the current situation, whether it's the economy or the market, Paul David Walker guides leaders toward creating a more abundant future with benefits for all.

I highly recommend the transformational and organization changing book Unleashing Genius: Leading Yourself, Teams and Corporations by Paul David Walker, to any leaders who seek an expanded and abundance filled vision for their organization, its people, and for themselves. This book will change a leader's thinking from one of limitation, to one where a vision of the future can be created and become a new and more beneficial reality.

Tags: Unleashing Genius: Leading Yourself, Teams and Corporations, Paul David Walker, visionary leadership, business book reviews

Jeff Dyer: The Innovator's DNA - Blog Business Success Radio

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Horace Beesley Professor of Strategy at the Marriott School, Brigham Young University, and co-author of the groundbreaking, research based book The Innovator's DNA: Mastering the Five Skills of Disruptive Innovators, Jeffrey H. Dyer describes how innovators are not born, but are made. Jeff Dyer provides evidence that if you change your behavior, you can become as innovative as the leaders in the industry. To become a successful innovator, Jeff Dyer shares the five essential behaviors that anyone can practice to become an effective innovator. These five behaviors form the innovator's DNA> They include associating, questioning, observing, networking, and experimenting. Discover how to learn and put these important behaviors into practice and become a leading innovator in your company.

Jeff Dyer is my internet radio show guest on Blog Business Success; hosted live on BlogTalkRadio.

The show airs live on Thursday, November 10, at 8:00 pm Eastern Time; 5:00 pm Pacific Time.

Horace Beesley Professor of Strategy at the Marriott School, Brigham Young University, and co-author of the groundbreaking, research based book The Innovator's DNA: Mastering the Five Skills of Disruptive Innovators, Jeffrey H. Dyer describes how innovators are not born, but are made. You will learn:

* Why innovation is a learned behavior and not just conducted in the mind

* How the five innovative discovery skills can be learned and practiced

* How to incorporate the five skills into a repeatable process

* How innovation benefits companies in the market and with their share price



Jeff Dyer (photo left) Ph.D., UCLA, 1993 is a Professor of Strategy at the Marriott School, Brigham Young University where he serves as Chair of the Department of Organizational Leadership and Strategy. Before joining BYU, Dr. Dyer was a professor at the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School where he maintains an adjunct professor position and continues to teach Executive MBAs and in Executive Programs. Dr. Dyer’s experience includes five years as a consultant and manager at Bain & Company, where he consulted with such clients as Baxter International, Kraft, Maryland National Bank, Kraft, and First National Stores.

Dr. Dyer’s research and consulting has focused on innovation, change, alliances, and effective collaboration, both within and across organizations. He is the only strategy scholar in the world to have published five times in Strategic Management Journal (the top academic journal in strategy) and Harvard Business Review (the top practitioner journal). His research has been very impactful, as evidenced by the fact that Dr. Dyer was recognized by Essential Science Indicators as the17th most cited scientist (1996-2006) in the combined fields of management, finance, marketing, operations, and economics. He was ranked as the 4th most cited management scholar. His research has won awards from the Academy of Management, Institute of Management Science, Strategic Management Society, and McKinsey & Company. His Oxford book, Collaborative Advantage, was awarded the Shingo Prize Research Award.

Dr. Dyer regularly consults and conducts training programs in the areas of innovation, change, and strategy. His past clients include Bang & Olufsen, Boeing, Ford, General Electric, Johnson & Johnson, Medtronic, and MEMC. He teaches in executive programs at the Wharton School, Northwestern University, and UCLA. He has won numerous teaching awards, including the University of Pennsylvania’s top award, the “Excellence in Teaching Award.”

My book review of The Innovator's DNA: Mastering the Five Skills of Disruptive Innovators by Jeffrey H. Dyer, Hal B. Gregersen, Clayton M. Christensen.

Listen live on Thursday at 8:00 pm Eastern, 5:00 pm Pacific time.



If you miss this very informative show, it will be available for free download as a podcast for iPod, iTunes, and MP3 players; or play it right on your computer. To download this, or any other of my guest interviews, go to the Blog Business Success host page and click on Archived Segments. Once there, click on the podcast icon at the end of the episode description, to download the show free of charge for your listening enjoyment. You can also subscribe to the show feed.



To call in questions for my guest, the number is: (347) 996-5832

Let's talk with Horace Beesley Professor of Strategy at the Marriott School, Brigham Young University, and co-author of the groundbreaking, research based book The Innovator's DNA: Mastering the Five Skills of Disruptive Innovators, Jeffrey H. Dyer as he describes how innovators are not born, but are made. Jeff Dyer provides evidence that if you change your behavior, you can become as innovative as the leaders in the industry. To become a successful innovator, Jeff Dyer shares the five essential behaviors that anyone can practice to become an effective innovator. These five behaviors form the innovator's DNA> They include associating, questioning, observing, networking, and experimenting. Discover how to learn and put these important behaviors into practice and become a leading innovator in your company on Blog Business Success Radio.

Tags: The Innovator's DNA: Mastering the Five Skills of Disruptive Innovators, Jeffrey H. Dyer, Hal B. Gregersen, and Clayton M. Christensen, innovation process and leadership,, Blog Business Success, Blog Talk Radio.