Grab More Market Share by Ross Shafer - Book review

Grab More Market Share

How to Wrangle Business Away from Lazy Competitors

By: Ross Shafer

Published: September 13, 2011
Format: Hardcover, 105 pages
ISBN-10: 1118130049
ISBN-13: 978-1118130049
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.












"Maybe you don't like the word steal and prefer to use win. Whatever term you use, know that your survival depends on wrestling business away from other companies that do what you do and provide what you provide", writes keynote speaker, seminar leader, former award winning television host and producer, and author of the irreverent and results oriented book Grab More Market Share: How to Wrangle Business Away from Lazy Competitors. The author describes how in an declining market, as companies are experiencing in today's down economy, is to win market share away from competitors.

Ross Shafer recognizes that the current economic climate is not only one of slow growth, but also one of ever evolving consumer buying habits and culture change. For many companies, the temptation is to go slowly, and focus on a modest one percent growth rate. For Ross Shafer, that settling for mediocrity is simply not acceptable in today's, or in any economy. With the complete understanding that customer tastes and cultural trends are in a constant state of flux, the timing is ideal of putting those societal changes to work for growing the company. Not only does the author recommend keeping a close eye on these customer shifts, but to utilize them to win customers away from competitors who are not able to grasp the societal transformation taking place in the marketplace.



Ross Shafer (photo left) understands that the cultural change frightens some business people. The author presents solid evidence that not only should societal trends be embraced, but they can also be forecasted before they happen. With this cultural insight firmly entrenched in the company's own DNA, there will be market gaining opportunities presenting themselves everywhere for the business. Not only are customer tastes changing and well worth watching, but also the way that competitors react to those differences can lead to fresh markets.

Ross Shafer points out that traditional customer service, already in decline for many competitors and itself an opportunity to gain their customers, is already being replaced by customer urgency. Customers themselves are the force behind many profit building concepts, and the usual trusted advisors are not always able to fully comprehend the latest trends either. The contrarian and culturally aware business leader will prosper through recognizing change as it happens, and before it happens, resulting in customers defecting from competitors.

For me, the power of the book is how Ross Shafer seeks to have successful and growing companies embrace changes in customer tastes and societal trends. Instead of fearing change, the author offers the alternative viewpoint that the ever evolving culture presents unlimited opportunities, often as he says hidden in plain sight, for companies ready and willing to act upon them. With a constant eye to discovering changes, customers will be attracted away from competitors who no longer listen to their needs and ignore their increased service demands.

Ross Shafer bolsters his concepts with real world case studies of companies who have taken change to heart, and incorporated the fresh trends profitably into their business strategies. The author also demonstrates, through case studies, how companies who were slow to respond to changing customer tastes, found their customers had moved to their competitors.

I highly recommend the market share boosting book Grab More Market Share: How to Wrangle Business Away from Lazy Competitors by Ross Shafer, to anyone seeking a no nonsense approach to capturing market share from competitors in any economy. The author shares strategies and techniques for spotting fresh trends in real time, and for incorporating them into your business and marketing planning.

Read the provocative and no punches pulled book Grab More Market Share: How to Wrangle Business Away from Lazy Competitors by Ross Shafer, and discover how the trend is your company's friend, in the race with competitors for customers. This timely and hands on book will guide you toward moving customers from your competitors to your own customer list.

Tags: Grab More Market Share: How to Wrangle Business Away from Lazy Competitors, Ross Shafer, customer trends, business book reviews.

Patricia Sigmon: Six Steps To Creating Profit - Blog Business Success Radio

Listen to Wayne Hurlbert on Blog Talk Radio




Founder of LPS Consulting, Inc., and Founder of David Advisory Group, as well as author of the very practical and user friendly book Six Steps to Creating Profit: A Guide for Small and Mid-Sized Service-Based Businesses, Patricia Sigmon, shares ideas for revamping, re-engineering, and resolving the aspects of your business that result in profit problems. For many businesses, creating profit is a real challenge. Patricia Sigmon helps you discover the weaknesses in your company, and how to confront those problems, to generate more profit. Patricia Sigmon shares ideas for removing weak areas, increasing visibility, minding your cash flow, and managing for profit. You will learn how move past your current roadblocks, and create more profit in any economy, through six easy to understand an implement steps to profit.

Patricia Sigmon is my internet radio show guest on Blog Business Success; hosted live on BlogTalkRadio.

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

Founder of LPS Consulting, Inc., and Founder of David Advisory Group, as well as author of the very practical and user friendly book Six Steps to Creating Profit: A Guide for Small and Mid-Sized Service-Based Businesses, Patricia Sigmon, shares ideas for revamping, re-engineering, and resolving the aspects of your business that result in profit problems. You will Learn:

* Why so many small to medium sized companies are unprofitable

* How to create and implement a renewal plan

* The six steps necessary to build profit

* How to improve company culture to ensure the changes are sustained




Patricia Sigmon (photo left) is a successful entrepreneur, a sought-after speaker, and one of our leading experts in the field of profit management. She is founder and president of David Advisory Group, a boutique firm that specializes in helping CEOs and small and midsized businesses reengineer their business practices to generate more profit, cut inefficiency, and optimize their earning potential.

Using the six-step model outlined in Six Steps to Creating Profit: A Guide for Small and Mid-Sized Service-Based Businesses, Sigmon coaches executives and business owners in the art and science of profit growing and sustainability.

She earned her business chops as CEO and founder of LPS Consulting, Inc., a computer consulting firm specializing in full-service business hardware and software solutions. While serving more than 1,000 business clients over the course of nearly three decades, Sigmon observed companies of all types making the same profit mistakes again and again. As a computer specialist, Sigmon worked hand-in-hand with selected clients, mentored new business owners, and served on Boards of Advisors to help owners reimagine their profit potential and then implement necessary changes. Her observations over the years, coupled with a natural problem-solving aptitude, evolved into the six step profit-creating steps that she now coaches, teaches, lectures on, and writes about.

A seasoned speaker, Sigmon has presented at numerous industry conferences and seminars, and has contributed expert advice for many magazine and newspaper articles. She is also known for the column she penned covering the New York Business beat for Examiner.com.

During her many years in business, she has won many awards, including vendor Presidents Club Awards, Fastest Growing NJ Women Business Awards, Accounting Technology Pacesetter awards, plus many other business accolades.

My book review of Six Steps to Creating Profit: A Guide for Small and Mid-Sized Service-Based Businesses by Patricia Sigmon.

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 LPS Consulting, Inc., and Founder of David Advisory Group, as well as author of the very practical and user friendly book Six Steps to Creating Profit: A Guide for Small and Mid-Sized Service-Based Businesses, Patricia Sigmon, as she shares ideas for revamping, re-engineering, and resolving the aspects of your business that result in profit problems. For many businesses, creating profit is a real challenge. Patricia Sigmon helps you discover the weaknesses in your company, and how to confront those problems, to generate more profit. Patricia Sigmon shares ideas for removing weak areas, increasing visibility, minding your cash flow, and managing for profit. You will learn how move past your current roadblocks, and create more profit in any economy, through six easy to understand an implement steps to profit on Blog Business Success Radio.

Tags: Six Steps to Creating Profit: A Guide for Small and Mid-Sized Service-Based Businesses, Patricia Sigmon, business management strategies, Blog Business Success, Blog Talk Radio.

Six Steps to Creating Profit by Patricia Sigmon - Book review

Six Steps to Creating Profit

A Guide for Small and Mid-Sized Service-Based Businesses

By: Patricia Sigmon

Published: April 26, 2010
Format: Hardcover, 208 pages
ISBN-10: 0470554258
ISBN-13: 978-0470554258
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.











"Unbelievably, many an entrepreneur will spend an entire business week working to "make payroll" without a single moment's thought about the bottom line", writes entrepreneur and business management expert Patricia Sigmon, in her very practical and user friendly book Six Steps to Creating Profit: A Guide for Small and Mid-Sized Service-Based Businesses. The author describes how many entrepreneurs and managers may be building a very strong company but the key ingredient of a very healthy profit may be missing from the overall picture.

Patricia Sigmon understands that many small and medium sized companies are managed by their owner or founder. The entrepreneur may have achieved phenomenal growth, and their previous success may be part of the very fabric of how the company conducts its business. Over time, however, the strategies that succeeded in the past may have lost their effectiveness, and the company's profits may have fallen, or even disappeared entirely. At the same time, advances in technology may have bypassed the company owner who has not kept pace with the many changes in the technology field. The company culture may have become complacent and unable to change, and the business owner may even refuse to change it, despite a decline in profit.



Patricia Sigmon (photo left) demonstrates that change can be made, and profits increased dramatically, through non-stressful and readily implemented changes, that will appeal to any entrepreneur. All too often, the entrepreneur doesn't know what to fix in the company, or even where to begin the profit repair process. Patricia Sigmon delves below the surface to examine the real causes of low profits, and prescribes some very workable and easy to apply strategies to return the company to profitability. The author helps the business owner to identify the problems that are causing the loss of profits, develop a series of processes to provide solutions, and ensure that the proposed changes take place on a schedule that works for everyone.

The author shares six proven strategies for increasing profit levels in any small of medium sized company. The techniques are as follows:

* Change how the business operates
* become more visible to your current and potential customers
* Improve your cash flow management
* Streamline management costs through automation
* Improve your marketing in a big way
* Transform everyone in the company to a salesperson

For me, the power of the book is how Patricia Sigmon provides a very strong framework for improving the profitability of any company. The author proves a comprehensive step by step program for identifying the money losing and poorly performing areas of the company. She then guides the business person through devising a spectrum of strategies for implementing real improvement. The author also shares techniques of checks and balances to ensure that the changes take place in a timely manner. Patricia Sigmon backs up her recommendations with real world examples of the principles in action. An additional benefit of this book is the use of appendixes at the back of the book to summarize the concepts and to provide working checklists for any owner to utilize effectively.

I highly recommend the business profit building book Six Steps to Creating Profit: A Guide for Small and Mid-Sized Service-Based Businesses by Patricia Sigmon, to any business owner, manager, or entrepreneur who is serious about increasing the profitability of their small or medium sized company. This unique book travels ground that is rarely covered in most business management books, making it a must read edition.

Read the company transformational book Six Steps to Creating Profit: A Guide for Small and Mid-Sized Service-Based Businesses by Patricia Sigmon, and develop or restore the profitability to your company, while also developing a more easily managed organization. This book will definitely put your business back in the black, and leave the red ink far behind.

Tags: Six Steps to Creating Profit: A Guide for Small and Mid-Sized Service-Based Businesses, Patricia Sigmon, business management strategies, business book reviews.

The Myths of Innovation by Scott Berkun - Book review

The Myths of Innovation

By: Scott Berkun

Published: August 30, 2010
Format: Paperback, 256 pages
ISBN-10: 1449389627
ISBN-13: 978-1449389628
Publisher: O'Reilly Media












"It is an achievement to find a great idea, but it is an even greater achievement to successfully use it to change the world", writes creative thinking and innovation writer and educator Scott Berkun, in his challenging and thought provoking book The Myths of Innovation. The author takes the reader on an entertaining journey through time and ideas, exposing both the myths and the realities of the often baffling but always fascinating world of innovation and ideas.

Scott Berkun understands that the past and present of innovation and creative thinking are littered with false stories and legends about the creative process and the resulting discoveries. The author points out that these creation myths of supposed epiphanies, leading to breakthrough concepts, may be useful in spreading the idea to a larger audience. At the same time, however, he warns against using these stories to guide one's thinking about how to build a better world. For Scott Berkun, these creation myths give the false impression that creativity and innovation are easy, and that fresh ideas simply appear out of thin air. Instead, the author dismantles the mythology, and shares the real process behind innovation, and how to really apply the creative process within an organization.



Scott Berkun (photo left) meets the most persistent misconceptions about innovation and idea generation head on, and dispels the often counterproductive views of the creative process. Through a tour of innovation through history, Scott Berkun demonstrates how unfounded myths of epiphanies and how ideas are formed, perpetuated, and held up as examples, despite a complete lack a basis in truth. The author recognizes that there is no such thing as objective history.

For the author, the stories of inventions, innovation, and creativity must be examined more closely. All too often, upon a closer look, the traditional story doesn't hold up as a factual one. While these myths of discovery might seem rooted in the past, Scott Berkun provides evidence that their continuing influence harms the innovative process to this day. As a result, the author shares the principle accepting both change and tradition, and avoid thinking in the absolutes so often presented as the only true innovative path and end point.

For me, the power of the book is how Scott Berkun turns the standard view of innovation upside down, and offers a fresh approach to thinking about idea creation. The author moves methodically, and in a highly entertaining and often humorous manner, through the dismantling of the various myths that have grown up around innovation. Whether deconstructing historical false stories, or disproving widely held myths about the contemporary creative process, the author maintains a logical and methodical approach to his subject matter. Through the unflinching and iconoclastic study of innovation misconceptions, Scott Berkun is able to share some important insights into how innovation really takes place. These lessons can be applied readily to any creative thinking process, in any company, and in any industry.

I highly recommend the engaging and must read book The Myths of Innovation by Scott Berkun, to anyone seeking an open eyed view of what really drives innovation, how there are no real short cuts, and how to jump start innovation in your own company. Instead of perpetuating stories of dubious credibility, you can devote your energy to creating real innovation, and then applying that fresh thinking toward changing the world.

Read the inspirational and very enjoyable book The Myths of Innovation by Scott Berkun, and put to rest the mythology that has grown up around the innovative process in your organization. This book will guide you in the right direction to create some unexpected and game changing breakthroughs in your industry.

Tags: The Myths of Innovation, Scott Berkun, creative thinking and ideas, business book reviews.

Finance Without Fear by William S. Hettinger & John Dolan-Heitlinger - Book review

Finance Without Fear

A Guide to Creating and Managing a Profitable Business

By: William S. Hettinger, Ph.D., John Dolan-Heitlinger, MBA

Published: December 1, 2010
Format: Paperback, 316 pages
ISBN-10: 0982891709
ISBN-13: 978-0982891704
Publisher: Institute for Finance and Entrepreneurship










"to many people, the world of finance is mysterious and intimidating. The simple mention of a profit and loss statement, balance sheet, or cash flow projection creates anxiety and a churning in the stomach", writes internationally recognized financial consultants William S. Hettinger, PhD., and John Dolan-Heitlinger, MBA, in their concise and very reader friendly book Finance Without Fear: A Guide to Creating and Managing a Profitable Business. The authors describe the important principles of finance in everyday language, and take the fear and intimidation out of the concepts, providing an engaging guide to small business finance.



William S. Hettinger (photo left) and John Dolan-Heitlinger recognize that operating a business, without a clear understanding of how money comes into the business and how money leaves the business, puts a company at a severe risk of financial disaster. While passion, creative and innovative thinking, and hard work are important for building a company, they are not enough to overcome a lack of the basic principles of finance.

The authors take the very direct approach that if a business person understands the numbers involved with the company and its operations, that person will have control of the business. Unfortunately, the authors realize that for many business owners and managers, the numbers are intimidating and often thought to be more complicated than they are in reality. This book brings the principles of finance to business people in language they understand, removes any unnecessary complexity, and helps take back the control of the business and its finances.



John Dolan-Heitlinger (photo left) and William Hettinger realize that one of the most intimidating factors in finance is understanding the often complex terminology. The authors simplify the language of finance, removing one of the sources of fear for many business people. With the jargon removed from the discussion, the authors then present each of the critical areas of finance with clarity and in a concise and approachable format. The authors stick to what is really important about finance for a business.

The authors describe how to understand how the company makes money, how the company spends its money, how to gain control of expenditures, working with cash flow, and understanding how the business makes its profits. Another area of finance, that is often overlooked, is in ensuring that current employees and employment applicants understand basic business finance. If the staff doesn't know how the company makes and spends money, and why that is important, they won't be able to address the serious money related decisions that are part of a manager's role.

For me, the power of the book is how William Hettinger and John Dolan-Heitlinger combine a direct and easily understood approach to finance with the tools necessary to put that information to work for the business. The objective of the book is two fold. The first goal is to remove the fear and intimidation that so often surrounds any discussion of business finance. The second goal is to teach the principles of business finance, in a clear and concise manner, to business owners and managers. The authors succeed very well in achieving both of those main objectives.

The authors bolster and supplement their financial principles through case studies that illustrate the concepts in action in real world companies. The book also contains some very easy to understand equations that simplify some seemingly overwhelming and complicated financial questions. These equations are found in every chapter, and they help to transform decision making from guesswork to sound money based results.

I highly recommend the excellent business finance teaching book Finance Without Fear: A Guide to Creating and Managing a Profitable Business by William S. Hettinger, PhD., and John Dolan-Heitlinger, MBA, to any business owner, manager, executive, or employment seeker, who is looking for a very good instruction guide to business finance. This book shares the basic principles of business finance in straightforward language that removes the intimidation factor from the subject material.

Read the finance mystery and fear removing book Finance Without Fear: A Guide to Creating and Managing a Profitable Business by William S. Hettinger, PhD., and John Dolan-Heitlinger, MBA, and discover the real value for any business in learning and understanding how and why finance principles are critical to company success. You will also feel empowered, rather than intimidated, as you gain control of the company through a deeper understanding of the numbers involved in operating the business.

Tags: Finance Without Fear: A Guide to Creating and Managing a Profitable Business, William S. Hettinger, John Dolan-Heitlinger, business financial principles, business book reviews.

Business Reports for Busy People by Greg Holden - Book review

Business Reports for Busy People

Timesaving, Ready-to-Use Reports for Any Occasion

By: Greg Holden

Published: February 15, 2011
Format: Paperback, 288 pages
ISBN-10: 1601630425
ISBN-13: 978-1601630421
Publisher: Career Press











"Business reports are challenging and frequently used tools for virtually any organization. Whether you work in the corporate world, in a nonprofit environment, or in education, you need to organize information and present it in a format that your colleagues and others find easy to understand and interpret", writes editor, communications teacher and entrepreneur, Greg Holden, in his very practical and hands on book Business Reports for Busy People: Timesaving, Ready-to-Use Reports for Any Occasion. The author describes how to focus and shape the information required by the target market, and provides the basic elements and structure for developing and presenting useful and easy to understand reports.

Greg Holden understands that the sharing of information, in an appropriate and ready to use format, is essential in every type of organization. The author recognizes that the ability to create and present a good business report is a highly recognized and valued skill for any executive. Greg Holden points out the reality for many executives is that their being considered for promotion within the organization very often depends on their report writing. As a result, the author shares a comprehensive guide to every aspect of the crucial business report writing skill. Since every organization faces difficult challenges and decisions, and the right information for making those choices, the difference between a good business report and a poor one can have a critical effect on the future of the organization.



Greg Holden (photo left) provides the various component parts that formulate a well written and easily understood business report in an easy to follow step by step format. The author shares the important insight that while the basic elements and structure that characterize a report may be standard, it's important to understand that the same style style should not be used for every report. Greg Holden begins his quest for the effective business report by guiding the executive to identify their real audience. Different executives and organizational leaders will want and expect different types of reports, but in every case, the writer should identify the key points needed for decision making. The author also points out that the report should be kept as brief as possible by highlighting the most critical information. Greg Holden then guides the reader thought steps necessary to write effective business reports that focus on the crucial message.

For me, the power of the book is how Greg Holden combines the overall framework, of what constitutes a well written and effective business report, with an in depth examination of the many different types of reports required by the many widely varied audiences. This comprehensive approach helps the reader to focus on exactly the type of report to consider for any purpose within any type of organization.

Greg Holden applies a very workbook oriented style to the book, designed to work along with the report writer from the initial consideration of the goals and audience for the report, to presenting an effective and results based final report. As an additional bonus, Greg Holden provides a CD-ROM with the hard copy edition, containing the book and its various report models as a user friendly guide for busy managers, executives, and business leaders.

I highly recommend the very user friendly and results oriented book Business Reports for Busy People: Timesaving, Ready-to-Use Reports for Any Occasion by Greg Holden, to any business person, manager, executive, organizational leader, or public servant seeking a clear, concise and all encompassing guide to writing and presenting great business reports. This book will transform anyone, regardless of their level of report writing experience, into a highly regarded and effective report writer.

Read the always useful and very handy book Business Reports for Busy People: Timesaving, Ready-to-Use Reports for Any Occasion by Greg Holden, and discover not only how to write more effective and widely read business reports, but also why these report writing skills and techniques are important. As a writer of great business reports, your skills will be highly sought after in any organization or industry.

Tags: Business Reports for Busy People: Timesaving, Ready-to-Use Reports for Any Occasion, Greg Holden, business report writing techniques, business book reviews.

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Answering The Central Question by Peter D. Demarest & Harvey J. Schoof - Book review

Answering The Central Question

How Science Reveals the Keys to Success in Life, Love, and Leadership

By: Peter D. Demarest, Harvey J. Schoof

Published: December 14, 2010
Format: Paperback, 248 pages
ISBN-10: 0982710216
ISBN-13: 978-0982710210
Publisher: Heartlead Publishing, LLC











"Life is about adding value. Whether you realize it or not, your entire life is about one thing: creating value", write co-founders of Axiogenics, LLC, Peter D. Demareat and Harvey J. Schoop, in their deeply profound and inspirational book Answering The Central Question: How Science Reveals the Keys to Success in Life, Love, and Leadership. The authors describe how true success in all areas of life requires making good value judgements, and that real personal power flows from knowing which choices and actions will result in the greatest value.



Peter D. Demarest (photo left) and Harvey J. Schoop present what they describe as The Central Question of life, love, and leadership as:

"What choice can I make and action can I take, in this moment, to create the greatest net value?"

For the authors, the better and more completely that this question can be answered, the more value a person can create. The result is more success and happiness. The authors emphasize that answering the question is a positive experience. It's not about doing things a person doesn't want to do, but discovering clarity in what an individual really wants. For the authors, creating value is about thinking in terms of what they call a "valuegenic" mindset, built on a deliberate intention to always create greater value.



Harvey J. schoop (photo left) and Peter D. Demarest understand that too many people consider their goal in life getting more of want instead of what they truly value. Instead of thinking in terms of getting, which the authors consider counterproductive, people should think in terms of creating greater value. The authors point out that the act of value creation works in conjunction with mind and brain connection. In other words, human brains work to create value.

The authors describe the science behind this value-based connection Axiogenics® and how it works as a natural part of the mind-brain value-driven connection operates within a person. The authors provide evidence that Axiogenics® is a science based change creating technology. The concept is based on four core principles:

* Value drives success in all aspects of life
* The human mind-brain connection is value-driven
* There is a universal hierarchy of value
* Answering The Central Question honestly is the success maximization key

For me, the power of the book is how Peter D. Demarest and Harvey J. Schoof present a deeply philosophical proposal they refer to as The Central Question, and how the accurate and honest answer to that question results in true value creation. The answering of the question is a positive one as well. It's not about sacrifice or inequality, or about getting what a person thinks they want, or a quick fix to a person's perceived weaknesses. Instead, the principle is based on making the right choices that create greater value. Instead of thinking only about getting, the concept is about thinking in terms of genuine creation.

The authors bolster their premise with the latest scientific brain research. The fresh paradigm of Axiogenics® offers a science based approach to the connection between creation of value and that of the brain and mind. The authors cite research that interconnects all of these aspects into a universal human trait for value creation. The authors also share information for how to train your brain-mind to always answer The Central Question in all things accurately to maximize success and happiness. For business leaders, answering The Central Question relating to the organization, its mission, its employees, its customers, its community, and its other stakeholders, creates greater value for all. The success of the organization depends on the relationship of creating value with overall success and well being.

I highly recommend the paradigm shifting and fresh thought filled book Answering The Central Question: How Science Reveals the Keys to Success in Life, Love, and Leadership by Peter D. Demarest and Harvey J. Schoof, to anyone seeking a unique and very positive approach to solving problems. The authors share the principle of creating value as the key to success and happiness, through an accurate answering of The Central Question in every decision.

Read the thought provoking and life changing book Answering The Central Question: How Science Reveals the Keys to Success in Life, Love, and Leadership by Peter D. Demarest and Harvey J. Schoof, and discover the science based true secret to achieving success and happiness. Thinking about creating values, as expected, results in ever greater value for all.

Tags: Answering The Central Question: How Science Reveals the Keys to Success in Life, Love, and Leadership, Peter D. Demarest, Harvey J. Schoof, personal development, business book reviews.

Finding Your New Owner: For Your Business, For Your Life by Jack Beauregard - Book review

Finding Your New Owner

For Your Business, for Your Life

By: Jack Beauregard

Published: June 2011
Format: Hardcover, 194 pages
ISBN-10: 0983631115
ISBN-13: 978-0983631118
Publisher: Stpi Press









"For many years you've been the successful CEO of your own company. Now you are facing a new challenge - a future in which you may have to make a major business and personal transition", writes successful entrepreneur, life transition expert, and CEO of the Successful Transition Planning Institute, Jack Beauregard in his answer filled and new life building book Finding Your New Owner: For Your Business, for Your Life. The author describes how retiring Baby Boomers can make a successful transition from being the CEO of their company to becoming the CEO of their new life.
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Jack Beauregard recognizes that moving on from a life as an active business owner, and into the next phase of life, presents a real challenge for most people. The author takes the proactive approach of building on the already well developed skills of the successful CEO. Jack Beauregard shares the principle of thinking about life transition strategically, and presents his concepts in a practical step by step format, that utilizes the strengths of the CEO. By guiding the CEO to develop a transitional strategy, the author demonstrates how to create a plan on one's own terms, and one that meets the individual's business, financial, and personal goals and objectives.



Instead of treating the change as one of leaving or letting go, Jack Beauregard (photo left) offers the tools for building an exciting new life worth being embraced with excitement. Through his understanding that transitioning from business ownership to the next stage of life, is simply another step forward in the journey, the author helps the individual approach change with a positive outlook. With this fresh view of the situation in place, the former CEO can apply the tools provided to develop a transition strategy that meets all of the personal goals of the person and their families. By focusing on discovering clarity in the change, the author helps dispel the many myths that have grown up around the different stages of life's journey.

The author breaks the transition down into three major categories, where a strategically oriented CEO can put their greatest strengths to work in a positive and personally fulfilling manner:

* Changing the way a person thinks about leaving the company for the next step
* How to create an exciting new future that the person can't wait to enter and live
* Creating a successful business plan to facilitate the transition effectively

For me, the power of the book is how Jack Beauregard combines a deep understanding for the emotional impact of transitioning from the role of successful CEO to the next phase in life, with a practical, business strategy approach to facilitating that change. The author demonstrates real respect for his target readership by not only valuing their strategic planning skills, but putting those same abilities to work to create a seamless and effective plan for the transition to the future. The application of the strongest CEO business skills empowers the individual to take the next turn in life's journey on one's own terms, and for achieving personal, financial, and family goals. The author sets out the book in a logical and straightforward manner, again showing respect for the CEO strategic thinking and planning approach.

I highly recommend the purpose driven book Finding Your New Owner: For Your Business, for Your Life by Jack Beauregard, to any business and professional people, nearing or past the age of fifty, who are seeking a no nonsense, yet sensitive approach to planning for building an exciting life after CEO. The author shows a strong concern for the emotions of his readers, and at the same time has a profound respect for their proven planning abilities.

Read the Baby Boomer life transition strategies filled book Finding Your New Owner: For Your Business, for Your Life by Jack Beauregard, and discover how to not only consider the next exciting stage of your life, but how to plan and implement a strategy to make it a success. This book will help you design a future for you and your family that you won't be able to wait to live and enjoy.

Tags: Finding Your New Owner: For Your Business, for Your Life, Jack Beauregard, Baby Boomer transition strategies, business book reviews.

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Rajeev Peshawaria: Too Many Bosses, Too Few Leaders - Blog Business Success Radio

Listen to Wayne Hurlbert on Blog Talk Radio



CEO of ICLIF Leadership & Governance Centre, and author of the very perceptive and thought provoking book Too Many Bosses, Too Few Leaders: The Three Essential Principles You Need to Become an Extraordinary Leader, Rajeev Peshawaria, describes the lack of great leaders in today's corporations. Despite the money spent, training conducted, and advice shared,m great leadership remains very rare. Rajeev points out that many programs and individuals focus on how managers can motivate employees. Instead, he makes the statement that employees can't be motivated by managers. They must be self-motivated. Rajeev Peshawaria shares ideas for how to develop the best leadership through an innate desire to create change, and not from the usual recommendations of best practices. Rajeev shares three essential leadership principles to energize yourself, craft your core team of co-leaders and energize them, and how to energize the entire organization.

Rajeev Peshawaria is my internet radio show guest on Blog Business Success; hosted live on BlogTalkRadio.

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

CEO of ICLIF Leadership & Governance Centre, and author of the very perceptive and thought provoking book Too Many Bosses, Too Few Leaders: The Three Essential Principles You Need to Become an Extraordinary Leader, Rajeev Peshawaria, describes the lack of great leaders in today's corporations. You will learn:

* Why there is a real difference between a boss and a leader

* Why leaders can't really motivate employees

* How to apply the three essential principles of extraordinary leadership

* How to transform your own emotional energy into real change leadership



Rajeev Peshawaria (photo left) is currently CEO of the ICLIF Leadership & Governance Centre based in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, which provides executive education, advisory services and executive coaching to professionals and board directors in Asia, Middle East and Africa. He has lived in thirteen cities in seven countries, and has provided learning, coaching and consulting services extensively across the globe.

Rajeev has extensive global experience in all aspects of Human Capital Management, with particular focus in the areas of Leadership Development, Organization Effectiveness, Performance Management, Succession Planning, and Learning & Development. He also specializes in coaching and facilitating senior management teams in their efforts to streamline Business Strategy, Organizational Architecture, and Culture.

Prior to joining ICLIF in April 2010, Rajeev spent twenty-two years at blue chip corporations: American Express, HSBC, Goldman Sachs, Coca-Cola, and Morgan Stanley. In his most recent corporate position as the Chief Learning Officer and Head of Talent Management at Morgan Stanley, he founded Morgan Stanley University, a globally integrated learning and consulting hub within the firm. Before joining Morgan Stanley, he was the Chief Learning Officer of The Coca-Cola Company, where he created and headed Coca-Cola University. At both companies, Rajeev worked closely with senior management teams to grow and/or streamline their businesses.

During his time at Goldman Sachs, Rajeev was one of the founding members of the Pine Street Group, Goldman’s famed leadership development program. He was head of Pine Street for Europe and Asia, and the global head of the Leadership Advisory Services practice.

At American Express, Rajeev held several positions over the span of twelve years, finally ending his tenure there as the global director of Leadership Development programs. Rajeev began his career as a currency trader at American Express and HSBC, before recognizing his talent for leadership education and coaching, a revelation he discusses in Too Many Bosses, Too Few Leaders: The Three Essential Principles You Need to Become an Extraordinary Leader (Free Press).

Rajeev earned an MBA from Webster University, Vienna, Austria, and a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Bombay, India, in Commerce & Economics.

My book review of Too Many Bosses, Too Few Leaders: The Three Essential Principles You Need to Become an Extraordinary Leader by Rajeev Peshawaria.

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



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

Let's talk with CEO of ICLIF Leadership & Governance Centre, and author of the very perceptive and thought provoking book Too Many Bosses, Too Few Leaders: The Three Essential Principles You Need to Become an Extraordinary Leader, Rajeev Peshawaria, as he describes the lack of great leaders in today's corporations. Despite the money spent, training conducted, and advice shared,m great leadership remains very rare. Rajeev points out that many programs and individuals focus on how managers can motivate employees. Instead, he makes the statement that employees can't be motivated by managers. They must be self-motivated. Rajeev Peshawaria shares ideas for how to develop the best leadership through an innate desire to create change, and not from the usual recommendations of best practices. Rajeev shares three essential leadership principles to energize yourself, craft your core team of co-leaders and energize them, and how to energize the entire organization on Blog Business Success Radio.

Tags: Too Many Bosses, Too Few Leaders: The Three Essential Principles You Need to Become an Extraordinary Leader, Rajeev Peshawaria, leadership, Blog Business Success, Blog Talk Radio.

Too Many Bosses, Too Few Leaders by Rajeev Peshawaria - Book review

Too Many Bosses, Too Few Leaders

The Three Essential Principles You Need to Become an Extraordinary Leader

By: Rajeev Peshawaria

Published: May 10, 2011
Format: Hardcover, 256 pages
ISBN-10: 1439197741
ISBN-13: 978-1439197745
Publisher: Free Press











"For executive who complain about the increasing complexity of corporate life today, here is a thought: Leaders achieve extraordinary results in spite of the environment, not because of it", writes CEO of the ICLIF Leadership & Governance Centre, Rajeev Peshawaria, in his very perceptive and thought provoking book Too Many Bosses, Too Few Leaders: The Three Essential Principles You Need to Become an Extraordinary Leader. The author describes how very few really great leaders can be found in any organization, despite the huge amounts of time and money spent on training and advice for leaders.

Rajeev Peshawaria proposes the idea that current thinking about leadership is fundamentally flawed and misguided. The author offers the analysis that training programs that focus on the motivation of employees a complete waste of time. For Rajeev Pehawaria, the problem is that managers simply cannot motivate their employees. External forms of motivation are not possible, as employees must motivate themselves. The author presents strong evidence that leadership can't be achieved through a laundry list of recommended best practices. Instead, leaders must be motivated to create real change within their organizations. The combination of this desire to effect change and the energizing of self-motivated employees is essential for moving from being a boss to becoming a leader.



Rajeev Peshawaria (photo left) understands that leadership development is difficult to achieve and to put into practice. For the author, the key to effective leadership involves an internal transformation. Leadership requires large amounts of emotional energy in the form of persevering and continuing on course regardless of the challenges and roadblocks in the way. Rajeev Peshawaria points out that this disconnect between the internal factors and the usual external prescriptions, is where leadership development breaks down. For the author, leadership is all about energy, and the putting of that energy into action to create a better future.

Leaders who are able to achieve breakthrough change know how to:

* Identify their sources of energy to motivate themselves
* Develop a core team of added leaders and align their energy to the goal
* Focus the energy of the entire organization to achieve sustainable success

For me, the power of the book is how Rajeev Peshawaria moves beyond the usual leadership concepts and delves into the internal energy and drive of the leader. This unique ability to harness internal energy is what separates true leaders from mere bosses. The author provides a strong theoretical base for his revolutionary concept of leadership development. Instead of thinking in terms simply producing results, the author shares the transcendent principle of creating energy harnessing conditions for other. Leadership is not simply a measurement of results, but a deeper and more sustainable transformation of internal energy within leaders and followers. The author bolsters his theoretical framework with real world examples of his leadership principles inaction.

I highly recommend the fresh approach to the entire concept of leadership, Too Many Bosses, Too Few Leaders: The Three Essential Principles You Need to Become an Extraordinary Leader by Rajeev Peshawaria, to anyone seeking an alternative but more richly nuanced study of leadership, harnessed internal energy, and what is really meant by the critical importance self-motivation. The author proposes an examinations of the role, environment, and development of each individual that leads to real leadership.

Read the important and idea changing book Too Many Bosses, Too Few Leaders: The Three Essential Principles You Need to Become an Extraordinary Leader by Rajeev Peshawaria, and discover an entirely new point of view regarding leadership, and what it can and cannot do for employees. This book will start that internal voyage to self discovery, that is essential for anyone to move past being simply a boss, and toward becoming a real leader of change.

Tags: Too Many Bosses, Too Few Leaders: The Three Essential Principles You Need to Become an Extraordinary Leader, Rajeev Peshawaria, leadership, business book reviews.