Zero-Time Selling by Andy Paul - Book review

Zero-Time Selling

10 Essential Steps To Accelerate Every Company's Sales

By: Andy Paul

Published: December 1, 2012
Paperback: 184 pages
ISBN-10: 1614480508
ISBN-13: 978-1614480501
Publisher: Morgan James Publishing










"For any business the speed of selling is inextricably linked to responsiveness", writes consultant, sales trainer, and founder of Zero-Time Selling, Andy Paul, in his straight talking and sales results oriented book Zero-Time Selling: 10 Essential Steps To Accelerate Every Company's Sales. The author describes how it's critical for a sales representative to provide a complete answer to a customer's question quickly, and provides the techniques to ensure that both elements of a successful sale are in place.

Andy Paul recognizes that that the zero-time selling concept is not a replacement for standard sales training; nor is it a reason to abandon proven sales strategies in which the organization has a major investment Zero-time selling, according to Andy Paul, is about what is missing from those basic sales strategies. Zero-Time Selling is about what a salesperson can do from the very beginning of the transaction, using existing resources, to create an increase in sales. Many sales techniques fail to understand the importance of responsiveness which is comprised of the elements of content and speed. One without the other will result in lost sales, as the lack of one or the other brings the sales presentation or sales cycle to an unsatisfactory dead end.



Andy Paul (photo left) provides the basis for combining the principles of content and speed to produce the necessary responsiveness that comprises Zero-Time Selling. The principle of responsiveness has always been a key to successful sales, but that need for speed is more crucial than ever in the contemporary marketplace. For customers, further information and a potentially more responsive competitor is only a click away on the internet. Customers are simply better informed than ever before. For Andy Paul, the ability to combine information with speed is essential to demonstrate total responsiveness.

Andy Paul understands that responsiveness is often difficult to measure, but the concept is well ingrained into the customer; if not for the salesperson. Zero-Time Selling overcomes the expectation on the part of the customer that sales representatives will not be responsive. This element of surprise creates a positive competitive sales advantage for the sales rep. In place of relative responsiveness, Andy Paul recommends the more valuable and value adding concept of absolute responsiveness. The author calls this idea one of Selling With MILT - Maximum Impact in the Least Time possible.The author then provides his ten solutions based on the MILT principle to achieve Zero-Time Selling responsiveness.

For me, the power of the book is how Andy Paul provides a very practical step by step process for putting the MILT principle to work to achieve Zero-Time Selling excellence. The author doesn't criticize standard sales techniques, as he acknowledges that they are very effective. The Zero-Selling concept addresses the area that is missing for so many sales people. That area is the combining of information with speed. Sales people very often are good at one or the other. This book offers the link that puts urgency and information together to achieve the necessary absolute responsiveness that is demanded by today's customer. Overall, this book is a fine and timely addition to any sales reference library.

I highly recommend the hands on and sales boosting book Zero-Time Selling: 10 Essential Steps To Accelerate Every Company's Sales by Andy Paul, to any sales managers and sales representatives who are seeking a guide to overcoming the unmet demand of absolute responsiveness in sales representatives. This book will transform an ordinary sales team into one geared for absolute responsiveness to the demands of all of their customers.

Tags: Zero-Time Selling: 10 Essential Steps To Accelerate Every Company's Sales, Andy Paul, advanced sales techniques, business book reviews.

Degrees of Strength by Craig W. Ross & Steven W. Vannoy - Book review

Degrees of Strength

The Innovative Technique to Accelerate Greatness

By: Craig W. Ross, Steven W. Vannoy

Published: January 23, 2012
Format: Hardcover, 126 pages
ISBN-10: 0979376823
ISBN-13: 978-0979376825
Publisher: Wister and Willows, Publishers Inc.







"Those who are most skillful at ensuring a vision becomes a reality know that everyone is capable of doing extraordinary acts. And, of this group, the most exceptional are developing this skill in others in every interaction of every day", write CEO of Versus Global, Craig W. Ross; and Founder of Versus Global, Steven W. Vannoy, in their innovative and transformational book Degrees of Strength: The Innovative Technique to Accelerate Greatness. The authors describe how leaders must inspire greatness in others, and create a world changing vision. They provide their revolutionary leadership building concept of Degrees of Strength as the strategy for achieving leadership goals.



Craig Ross (photo left) and Steven Vannoy understand that people within organizations have untapped potential for achieving extraordinary results. That potential, however, is not always fully realized, and the organization does not operate at peak performance. The employees also know that their potential is not being utilized to the fullest extent. They would welcome leadership that would help them develop their skills to achieve accelerated levels of improvement and unlimited results.

To achieve these outstanding performance results, the authors ask the candid and challenging question of how well would the team perform if it had no weaknesses. The result is what the authors describe a complete paradigm shift in the way that the entire organization approaches leadership and potential.



Steven Vannoy (photo left) and Craig Ross recognize that organizations already possess the talent for extraordinary performance. The authors provide evidence that the traditional methods of leadership and motivation no longer work. There is a need for a fresh approach to leading and inspiring employees to greatness. The author share their Degrees of Strength strategy of leadership based on transforming both the mindset and action. The concept considers that everyone has at least a baseline ability in any given skill.

What Degrees of Strength does is accelerate the development of that skill into one of excellence. The strategy also recognizes the importance of accepting the need for change, and for facilitating that change in an entirely new way. At the same time as the employees develop their new abilities, the leader must grow as a person as well. The leader must adapt and develop a fresh vision that works for the entire organization, and not just for the ego of the leader.

For the authors, that means that leaders must get over themselves, and transcend their personal ego for the benefit of all. The leader as accelerator is one who places development and change, for the achievement of peak performance, ahead of themselves. The result is a complete transformation in the organizational mindset and culture to one of excellence and achievement of never before imagined results.

For me, the power of the book is how Craig Ross and Steven Vannoy present the theory of the Degrees of Strength principles in a case study scenario. The narrative demonstrates the concepts in action, serving to better illustrate the techniques and change in mindset involved in the process. The authors present a compelling case for a complete transformation of the company culture, through a fresh approach to change. The authors don't simply put the onus for change on the employees either. They emphasize the necessity of the leader getting over themselves and their own ego for the good of the entire organization. Overall, this is an excellent book that can be read quickly, but can be reread over and over again for even more practical and transformational ideas.

I highly recommend the practical and engaging book Degrees of Strength: The Innovative Technique to Accelerate Greatness by Steven Vannoy and Craig Ross, to any business leaders seeking a book that will really accelerate change and growth of their organizations toward peak performance. This book will change the mindset and the actions of any company that puts the Degrees of Strength principles to work for their firm.

Tags: Degrees of Strength: The Innovative Technique to Accelerate Greatness, Steven Vannoy, Craig Ross, leadership for peak performance, business book reviews

Meg Cadoux Hirshberg: For Better Or For Work - Blog Business Success Radio

Listen to Wayne Hurlbert on Blog Talk Radio



Columnist for Inc. Magazine, co-founder of Stonyfield Yogurt, and author of the deeply personal and transformational book For Better or For Work: A Survival Guide for Entrepreneurs and Their Families, Meg Cadoux Hirshberg, describes how to cope in the areas where entrepreneurship and family collide. Meg shares insights into life in a start-up company looks like from the inside. She provides insider stories of how running a new company has a real impact on the entire family. She also offers advice on how to be best prepared for the inevitable rollercoaster ride of running a new business. Meg shares honestly about how entrepreneurship has a real effect on all members of the family. Discover as well the issues of borrowing money from relatives, how business power struggles can affect family harmony, and how painful inter-generational succession can be on both the family and for the company. Learn how maintaining a work-life balance can be especially challenging for entrepreneurs and their families.

Meg Cadoux Hirshberg is my internet radio show guest on Blog Business Success; hosted live on BlogTalkRadio.

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

Columnist for Inc. Magazine, co-founder of Stonyfield Yogurt, and author of the deeply personal and transformational book For Better or For Work: A Survival Guide for Entrepreneurs and Their Families, Meg Cadoux Hirshberg, describes how to cope in the areas where entrepreneurship and family collide. You will learn:

* Why families face so much stress in start-up companies

* How to keep marriages and families intact in start-ups

* How to pass the business along to the next generation

* How to cope with money and time demands on everyone



Meg Cadoux Hirshberg (photo left) grew up outside New York City and graduated from Brown University with a degree in Comparative Literature. After college she moved to California to work on an organic farm. For three years she ran a science education garden for elementary school children. Her interest in organic growing led her to get a Master’s degree from Cornell Agriculture School, after which she was hired to manage a large organic vegetable operation in New Jersey.

Eventually Meg moved to New Hampshire and married Gary Hirshberg, founder and current President and CEO of Stonyfield Yogurt, whom she’d met at an organic farming conference. Meg worked in the business for several years, in sales and yogurt production. Stonyfield Yogurt took nine painful years to reach profitability, and now, with about $350 million in sales, it is the largest organic yogurt company in the world.

After Meg stopped working in the business, she wrote two yogurt cookbooks, and launched a career in freelance nonfiction feature writing for magazines, including Yankee, New Hampshire Magazine, and The Boston Globe Magazine. Currently Meg is a regular columnist for Inc. Magazine. Her column, “Balancing Acts”, focuses on work/life balance issues in an entrepreneurial setting, a subject she also addresses in speaking appearances. Meg enjoys gardening, going for long walks and teaching nonfiction writing at a community college. Meg and Gary have three children.

My book review of For Better or For Work: A Survival Guide for Entrepreneurs and Their Families by Meg Cadoux Hirshberg.

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 columnist for Inc. Magazine, co-founder of Stonyfield Yogurt, and author of the deeply personal and transformational book For Better or For Work: A Survival Guide for Entrepreneurs and Their Families, Meg Cadoux Hirshberg, as she describes how to cope in the areas where entrepreneurship and family collide. Meg shares insights into life in a start-up company looks like from the inside. She provides insider stories of how running a new company has a real impact on the entire family. She also offers advice on how to be best prepared for the inevitable rollercoaster ride of running a new business.

Meg shares honestly about how entrepreneurship has a real effect on all members of the family. Discover as well the issues of borrowing money from relatives, how business power struggles can affect family harmony, and how painful inter-generational succession can be on both the family and for the company. Learn how maintaining a work-life balance can be especially challenging for entrepreneurs and their families on Blog Business Success Radio.

Tags: For Better or For Work: A Survival Guide for Entrepreneurs and Their Families, Meg Cadoux Hirshberg, challenges of entrepreneurship for families, Blog Business Success, Blog Talk Radio.

For Better Or For Work by Meg Cadoux Hirshberg - Book review

For Better or For Work

A Survival Guide for Entrepreneurs and Their Families

By: Meg Cadoux Hirshberg

Published: March 5, 2012
Format: Hardcover, 260 pages
ISBN-10: 0983934002
ISBN-13: 978-0983934004
Publisher: An Inc. Original













"When people start companies, they research the competition, market data, SBA loans, and the cost of office space. But they generally give little thought to how a business will affect their personal lives", writes spouse of the founder and current President and CEO of Stonyfield Yogurt, and Inc.com columnist Meg Cadoux Hirshberg, in her deeply personal and transformational book For Better or For Work: A Survival Guide for Entrepreneurs and Their Families. The author describes how her life, and that of her husband and family, were affected deeply when her husband Gary was drawn ever more heavily into business matters, and away from the family.

Meg Cadoux Hirshberg understands first hand about the constant business pressure that a start-up business venture has on both the entrepreneur and the family. Whether the business is conducted in the home, with its attendant loss of privacy, or in an office where the spouse is away from home, there is real stress on the entrepreneur's family relationships. Meg Cadoux Hirshberg delves into the murky waters of borrowing money from relatives, generational succession of the company management, and the possibility of marital breakdown. To address these, and other rarely discussed but very real entrepreneurial stress points, the author draws on her own personal experiences of living the start-up business life.



Meg Cadoux Hirshberg (photo left) presents an inside view of being part of an entrepreneurial family. The author shares her personal experiences, and fresh insights into the challenges that arise in a start-up company. She writes openly and frankly about the strains that the business demands placed on her marriage and on the family. The author provides an overview of the problems of company finances, and the stress created through the constant issues of cash flow, financing, and daily business operations. Writing from both the head and from the heart, Meg Cadoux Hirshberg shares an honest, and rare glimpse into the home life of an entrepreneurial family.

For me, the power of the book is how Meg Cadoux Hirshberg combines a powerful and moving personal story with real world tested advice for entrepreneurs and their spouses. The book is an intriguing blend of home and business life, and the stress placed on one by the other. The author's format reflects that constant pull in all directions that her life, as spouse and partner in Stonyfield Yogurt, made evident in her business life. The author demonstrates how she and her family triumphed in the end, and how life and business can mix; if blended in the proper proportions.

Meg Cadoux Hirshberg offers some very important, and rarely presented advice to entrepreneurs, spouses, and family members. For too long, these ideas and strategies for coping, have been taboo and off limits for discussion. Meg Cadoux Hirshberg pulls back the curtains, and writes frankly about what entrepreneurship is really like for families; from the inside. Each chapter addresses a crucial aspect of the start-up business life. Within each of these important sections, the author shares her hard learned lessons, with the goal of helping other families avoid the challenges and stress faced by her own family. The many photographs in the book provide an even more personal and human aspect to this fine book.

I highly recommend the insightful and inspirational book For Better or For Work: A Survival Guide for Entrepreneurs and Their Families by Meg Cadoux Hirshberg, to any families who are either involved in an entrepreneurial venture, or who are considering starting their own business. This book will help everyone involved, and it's indeed an entire family commitment, to overcome the challenges and obstacles that face marriages and families int he world of start-up businesses.

Tags: For Better or For Work: A Survival Guide for Entrepreneurs and Their Families, Meg Cadoux Hirshberg, challenges of entrepreneurship for families, business book reviews

Taming Your Alpha Bitch by Rebecca Grado & Christy Whitman - Book review

Taming Your Alpha Bitch

How to be Fierce and Feminine (and Get Everything You Want!)

By: Rebecca Grado, Christy Whitman

Published: January 31, 2012
Format: Paperback, 224 pages
ISBN-10: 1936661152
ISBN-13: 978-1936661152
Publisher: BenBella Books













"Now more than any moment in history, we as women are discovering and expressing the full magnitude of our authentic, unabashed power", write CEO and founder of the Quantum Success Coaching Academy™, Christy Whitman; and licensed spiritual psychotherapist, Rebecca Grado, in their inspirational and empowering book Taming Your Alpha Bitch: How to be Fierce and Feminine (and Get Everything You Want!). The authors describe how women have gained more power and influence than ever before, but all too often believe mistakenly that they must be dominate and forceful to achieve their goals. The authors replace that behavior with a more balanced approach that is assertive, and is neither domineering or weak.



Rebecca Grad0 (photo left) and Christy Whitman recognize that for women of previous decades, success in a male dominated world almost required that women put aside their femininity, and assume a more dominate and force oriented approach. The authors point out that the strategy worked to a degree, but not entirely. Women have achieved huge strides in all walks of life, and in society as a whole, but that success has all often been gained at a tremendous personal cost. Women have experienced higher stress levels, have been feeling unable to cope with the increased demands on their time and energy, and have have been on edge more than ever before. The authors provide evidence that the misguided alpha behavior, while making some important gains, is also a very limiting factor to the overall success and personal well being of those same women.



Christy Whitman (photo left) and Rebecca Grado point out that the alpha woman lives by the motto of "the greater the effort, the better the outcome". While that credo may achieve huge results for males, the authors offer evidence that it's a detrimental outlook for women. That viewpoint increases stress loads, confrontations, and adversely affects the health of the women. The authors propose an alternative view of the world, based on the Law of Attraction. When women acknowledge that they began acting in an aggressive and dominating manner for a reason, they are able to let go of that behavior. Instead, they are able to make the transition from Alpha Bitch to Femininely Empowered Woman. Through becoming the alpha, women learned how to succeed. By changing to the empowered style, women are able to thrive.

For me, the power of the book is how Rebecca Grado and Christy Whitman combine their analysis of what they call the Alpha Bitch, with a road map to become a Femininely Empowered Woman. The authors describe the four basic types of alpha women as forceful, controlling, competitive, and disruptive in their behavior. Through this identification of types, women are able to identify their own actions, and begin the journey toward empowerment.

With alpha behavior being understood by the authors to be a dead end, the road is opened to an entirely new form of woman as leader. The authors guide women through the process of change, resulting in a more balanced and fulfilling life and career. To add to the book, the authors provide valuable self assessment guides; and also handy tips at the end of each chapter to further illustrate the overall concepts.

I highly recommend the hands on and transformational book Taming Your Alpha Bitch: How to be Fierce and Feminine (and Get Everything You Want!) by Christy Whitman and Rebecca Grado, to any women who are seeking a less stressful and more richly rewarding guide to success at home and in a career. This book will guide women toward a leadership model that is effective, sustainable, and life fulfilling.

Tags: Taming Your Alpha Bitch: How to be Fierce and Feminine (and Get Everything You Want!), Christy Whitman, Rebecca Grado, women in leadership roles, business book reviews

Women Lead The Way by Linda Tarr- Whelan - Book review

Women Lead the Way

Your Guide to Stepping into Leadership-and Changing the World

By: Linda Tarr-Whelan

Published: February 14, 2011
Format: Paperback, 240 pages
ISBN-10: 1605098736
ISBN-13: 978-1605098739
Publisher: Berrett-Koehler Publishers











"To achieve sustainable long-term economic growth and well-being, leadership must become more balanced - and that means it must include more women", writes respected expert on women in leadership and Demos Distinguished Senior Fellow, Linda Tarr-Whelan, in her revolutionary and thought provoking book Women Lead the Way: Your Guide to Stepping into Leadership-and Changing the World. The author describes how leadership decision making would improve for organizations if they were to have thirty percent women in those leadership roles; and provides the road map for achieving what she terms The 30% Solution.

Linda Tarr-Whelan recognizes that there is crisis in leadership in both the corporate and public spheres. The author points out that women comprise only a small segment of the current leadership in organizations of all types. In order to build sustainable organizations and a workplace that is both balanced and productive, more women are needed in leadership roles. Linda Tarr-Whelan offers a solution to this current leadership malaise in the form of the 30% Percent Solution. The author provides solid evidence that when thirty percent of leaders are women, a tipping point is reached, and the organization undergoes a complete transformation in how it thinks and behaves.



Linda Tarr-Whelan (photo left) demonstrates that having more women in leadership positions, is not only the right thing to do, but is good business as well. Gender diversity brings fresh perspectives and new ideas to the boardroom, resulting in new and innovative ideas. Changing who makes the decisions, changes the decisions and the outcomes of those choices.

Woman also change the dynamic of how the workplace operates and functions on a daily basis. Linda Tarr-Whelan warns that having only token female representation in leadership has little effect on the overall decision making process, and on the workplace environment. As a result, the author emphasizes the importance of thirty percent women leaders as forming the essential critical mass for change.

Linda Tarr-Whelan understands that women bring different qualities, worldviews, and ways of doing things to the organization. As a result, women leaders are able to transform an organization through their values and vision. Some of the important and much needed qualities women bring to leadership roles include:

* Preference for collaboration
* Longer and winder time horizons
* Greater appreciation of the importance of relationships
* Focus on crisis prevention
* Fresh vision through more diverse points of view

For me, the power of the book is how Linda Tarr-Whelan presents a convincing case for the importance of The 30% Solution; and offering a practical blueprint for implementing that crucial proposal into any organization. With only 17% of Congressional seats and 14% of Fortune 500 board seats held by women, there is much work to be done. Indeed, the current level of women leaders must double to create the climate for real and sustainable change. When faced with the current and ongoing deadlock in Congress, and the failure of many of America's leading companies, the addition of women's vision and passion is vital for moving forward in both the public and private sectors.

The author provides strong evidence of the change potential that women leaders bring to the organizational decision making process. Linda Tarr-Whelan brings forward a combination of real world experience, her personal experience, and case studies to emphasize her main thesis of The 30% Solution as the road to a successful, more equitable, and more sustainable future. The author also provides a series of practical steps to guide women toward the role of transformational leader in any field of endeavor. Overall, this is a book that is destined to be a classic in the leadership literature.

I highly recommend the important and must read book Women Lead the Way: Your Guide to Stepping into Leadership-and Changing the World by Linda Tarr-Whelan, to anyone who is serious about making real change in all organizations, boosting performance, increasing collaboration levels, and improving the bottom line. Placing more women in leadership roles, with real decision making power, will transform even the most moribund company into a dynamic force for change and sustainable growth for the future.

Tags: Women Lead the Way: Your Guide to Stepping into Leadership-and Changing the World, Linda Tarr-Whelan, women in leadership roles, business book reviews

Environmental Hazards and Disasters by Bimal Kanti Paul - Book review

Environmental Hazards and Disasters

Contexts, Perspectives and Management

By: Bimal Kanti Paul, Ph.D.

Published: January 11, 2012
Format: Paperback, 334 pages
ISBN-10: 0470660015
ISBN-13: 978-0470660010
Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell











"Research pertaining to the understanding of the human-environment synergism is a major emphasis of contemporary social science and other disciplines, including geography. In particular, global inquiry into human behavior in stressful situations such as natural hazards, has constituted a considerable portion of this research by scholars across disciplines", writes Professor of Geography at Kansas State University, Bimal Kanti Paul, Ph.D., in his comprehensive and multi-disciplinary book Environmental Hazards and Disasters: Contexts, Perspectives and Management. The author describes the interaction of hazards and disasters, and the human impact on them; as well as the vulnerability of people and societies in the face of a wide variety of natural events.

Bimal Kanti Paul recognizes that natural disasters and hazards have an effect on humans, but that people and society have both positive and negative impacts on the events as well. As a result, the author takes an inter-disciplinary approach to the subject matter that explains the interconnectedness of human activity and natural hazards and disasters. Bimal Kanti Paul approaches the topics through a combination of science, technology, economic, political, and social factors. The author provides a complete study of the management of the risk factors involved, the potential for mitigating that risk, the need for acceptance some risk, and for responding to the effects of disasters after they strike and cause their varying levels of devastation.



Bimal Kanti Paul (photo left) provides the scientific background to natural hazards and disasters, and distinguishes between the two concepts to enhance clarification. Along with the scientific and quantitative measurement of events and their aftermath, the author also considers the human element that either contributes to the level of disaster, or faces the destruction and damage that results from them. Bimal Kanti Paul points out that political and economic imperatives, including industrialization and urbanization contribute not only to the intensity of the events, but also cause increased loss of life and damage to property.

Bimal Kanti Paul covers all aspects of the field, through his multi-disciplinary approach, including the following:

* History and development of hazard studies in Geography
* Vulnerability, resiliency, and risk
* Disaster cycles: Mitigation and preparedness
* Disaster cycles: Response and recovery
* Disaster relief
* Hazards and disaster special topics

For me, the power of the book is how Bimal Kanti Paul combines many fields of study into a complete textbook on the topic of environmental hazards and disasters. The author does a fine job of placing the various types of disasters into a human and societal context, and the effects that each has upon the other. Indeed, the author makes a point of examining the overall human aspects of the events, of their causes, possible prevention, and of the actions taken when disaster happens on any scope or scale.

Bimal Kanti Paul understands that human activities can both increase the potential for disasters, and also work to reduce their impact and overall effects. The author also considers the importance of responses to disasters, and of relief of those affected by the tumultuous events, including the social and psychological impact felt by the people involved during and after the events take place. The extensive bibliography at the end of each chapter provides a tremendous resource for further study into the topics examined in each chapter as well.

I highly recommend the landmark and essential book Environmental Hazards and Disasters: Contexts, Perspectives and Management by Bimal Kanti Paul, Ph.D., to any undergraduate or graduates students in any of the related disciplines, business leaders, executives in risk management fields, emergency measures personnel, disaster relief agencies, and public policy makers seeking an authoritative and understandable book on both the human and physical aspects of environmental hazards and disasters. This book is an ideal introduction to the subject matter.

Tags: Environmental Hazards and Disasters: Contexts, Perspectives and Management, Bimal Kanti Paul, Ph.D., natural hazards and disasters, science book reviews.

Shake The World by James Marshall Reilly - Book review

Shake the World

It's Not About Finding a Job, It's About Creating a Life

By: James Marshall Reilly

Published: December 29, 2011
Format: Hardcover, 288 pages
ISBN-10: 159184455X
ISBN-13: 978-1591844556
Publisher: Portfolio/Penguin












"It occurred to me that it would be quite valuable for someone to conduct empirical research by speaking directly with the young game changers of this generation, those who are at the absolute top of their respective fields, in order to find out how they found success", writes entrepreneur and founder of The GUILD Agency Speakers Bureau & Intellectual Talent Management, Inc., James Marshall Reilly in his inspirational and outlook transforming book Shake the World: It's Not About Finding a Job, It's About Creating a Life. The author describes how he sought to discover if there is a new blueprint for success that drives the young Millennial generation toward their goals, and how the current economic conditions are changing the way young people see the world.

James Marshall Reilly recognizes that a new form of success has emerged over the past few years. Young leaders are following their personal passion. This new success model is based on social justice and giving to others, creating not only work that holds real meaning, but also a meaningful personal life. For the young entrepreneurs profiled in the book, and for other members of the same generational cohort, the very definition of what constitutes success has changed completely. James Marshall Reilly presents a generation, coming of age in very troubled economic times, who are embracing a world view that values both work and personal success. Indeed, the two concepts of success are intertwined so tightly, as to be one and the same total success experience, for the young generation of leaders.



James Marshall Reilly (photo left) begins his mission to discover what traits and ideals that the new generation of leaders and entrepreneurs have in common. To make this discovery, the author interviewed some of the most important and diverse young leaders. The end result is an in depth examination of the worldview of Millennial leaders, and why they are so different in their vision than members of previous generations. That outlook includes not only building a better world, but also creating a better way to live and work within that new world.

The widely diverse group of young leaders, interviewed in the book, achieved the pinnacle of success within their own fields of endeavor. They created lives within their new world vision that created growth that was not only vertical, but horizontal in all directions as well. The author found the people he interviewed to have many traits in common. They all seemed to be humbled by their accomplishments, and achieved their goals by working very hard. The author also found the interviewees to be ordinary, everyday people who simply approached and engaged the world in new and interesting ways. In the end, James Marshall Reilly discovered that their blueprint for success was one that could be emulated by anyone.

For me, the power of the book is how James Marshall Reilly combines two important ideas in the book. The first concept is that a blueprint for success, from the Millennial generation perspective must contain three essential elements. One element is that a better world must be the outcome of any life. A second element is that work must be more than a job; as it must contain real meaning. The third element is how a person's life must also have meaning within the work selection and in the better new world.

The second important aspect of the book is the series of interviews, conducted by James Marshall Reilly, with successful young leaders in widely diverse walks of life. The author uncovered their common traits, the values, and their paths to success. The author found that the traits, shared by the interviewees, are readily applied to anyone's life. As a result, the book has much to teach, not only members of the Millennial generation, but of any other generation as well. As an added bonus, the book provides some valuable insights into the worldview of the Millennials, helping the reader gain a richer understanding of the views and values held by these amazing young people.

I highly recommend the idea filled and engaging book Shake the World: It's Not About Finding a Job, It's About Creating a Life by James Marshall Reilly, to anyone seeking a blueprint for success that goes beyond the standard success manuals. This book provides a foundation for building a wonderful new world, and for establishing a meaningful life of purpose within that new world as well.

Tags: Shake the World: It's Not About Finding a Job, It's About Creating a Life, James Marshall Reilly, blueprint for success, business book reviews

Quick Brainstorming Activities For Busy Managers by Brian Cole Miller - Book review

Quick Brainstorming Activities for Busy Managers

50 Exercises to Spark Your Team's Creativity and Get Results Fast

By: Brian Cole Miller

Published: January 18, 2012
Format: Paperback, 192 pages
ISBN-10: 0814417922
ISBN-13: 978-0814417928
Publisher: AMACOM











"This book is for the busy manager who uses brainstorming as a tool to gather input and ideas from his or her staff", writes management trainer, consultant, and principal of Working Solutions, Inc., Brian Cole Miller, in his very hands on and resource packed book Quick Brainstorming Activities for Busy Managers: 50 Exercises to Spark Your Team's Creativity and Get Results Fast. The author describes how to put the power of brainstorming to work for any manager, and how to achieve results that are both creative and effective for solving the organization's problems.

Brian Cole Miller recognizes that most managers are familiar with the concept and value of brainstorming as a problem solving tool. The author also points out that while the concepts of brainstorming activities are well known, very often those brainstorming techniques are not applied in the right way. Brian Cole Miller shares proven techniques that make brainstorming sessions not only more effective in resolving problems, but much more fun for the participants as well. The author points out that brainstorming isn't as simple as some mangers are led to believe. On the other hand, it's a tactic that is not difficult either, as long as the manager practices the methods for overcoming roadblocks that may arise, and keeps the ideas flowing smoothly.




Brian Cole Miller (photo left) understands the immense, and almost magical value of brainstorming as an idea generating method. The author provides evidence that since brainstorming activities involve everyone as participants, employee morale is boosted and commitment to the final solution is strong, as there is a renewed sense of clarity and common purpose. Brainstorming avoids hierarchical decision making, massive egos dominating the proceedings, and the eternal problem of group-think and their adherence to stale and outworn ideas. Perhaps, as the author points out, the most important aspect of brainstorming is that it is fun for the participants, creating a refreshing change to a more enjoyable overall company culture.

To achieve success with brainstorming as a problem solving technique, Brian Cole Miller provides the four basic rules of successful and effective brainstorming. Those four principles are as follows:

* Focus on quantity rather than quality, which leads to quality later
* Withhold judgement on the ideas as presented, and let all ideas flow freely
* Encourage the most wild and outrageous ideas as this generates even more ideas
* Combine and build on the ideas presented, creating even more great ideas

For me, the power of the book is how Brian Cole Miller provides a solid foundation for utilizing the proven techniques of brainstorming in any organization. The author guides brainstorming session leaders through the entire process from the important step of formulating clearly the right question to ask, and solving the right problem. With this often overlooked clarity of purpose in place, Brian Cole Miller takes the group leader through the rest of the process, until the final solution is discovered and put into practice.

The author shares many ideas and exercises for boosting the creativity level of the group, and for transforming the session into an upbeat and positive force for renewal of the organizational culture. Overall, this is an excellent book for both novice and seasoned brainstorming session leaders, and for decision makers who are considering adding brainstorming to the organizational creative tool box.

I highly recommend the practical and results oriented book Quick Brainstorming Activities for Busy Managers: 50 Exercises to Spark Your Team's Creativity and Get Results Fast by Brian Cole Miller, to any business leaders and creative teams who are seeking a very engaging and idea filled book for developing an effective culture of creativity and innovation. This book will transform the ordinary and often unproductive brainstorming sessions that yield so little for many firms.into vibrant and creative sessions that will discover effective and innovation solutions.

Tags: Quick Brainstorming Activities for Busy Managers: 50 Exercises to Spark Your Team's Creativity and Get Results Fast, Brian Cole Miller, innovative business models, business book reviews

Rich Horwath: Strategy For You - Blog Business Success Radio

Listen to Wayne Hurlbert on Blog Talk Radio



Strategist, speaker, CEO of the Strategic Thinking Institute and author of the inspirational and engaging book Strategy For You: Building a Bridge to the Life You Want, Rich Horwath, describes how over 80 percent of business executives have written strategy for their company, but only 20 percent have one for themselves. Rich Horwath points out that his extensive study demonstrated that executives understand the importance of strategy for reaching goals, but don't apply the same principles to themselves. Rich provides ideas for bringing strategy out of the C-level offices and into the individual's work and home life. Rich Horwath shows how to discover the purpose in your life, how to differentiate your unique strengths, how to decide how to best allocate your time and talent, how to design an action plan, and how to drive to ultimate success. Rich Horwath shares success stories of individuals as well, who utilized a personal strategy in their own lives.

Rich Horwath is my internet radio show guest on Blog Business Success; hosted live on BlogTalkRadio.

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

Strategist, speaker, CEO of the Strategic Thinking Institute and author of the inspirational and engaging book Strategy For You: Building a Bridge to the Life You Want to the Life You Really Want, Rich Horwath, describes how over 80 percent of business executives have written strategy for their company, but only 20 percent have one for themselves. You will learn:

* Why so many successful executives fail to have a strategic life plan

* Why a strategic life plan is essential to achieve personal success

* How to devise, develop, and implement a strategic personal life plan

* How to apply the five steps to building a successful plan to your life



Rich Horwath (photo left) helps people live strategically--to get more out of their business and more out of their life. He is a New York Times and Wall Street Journal best selling author on strategy. As the CEO of the Strategic Thinking Institute, he leads executive teams through the strategy process and has helped more than 50,000 managers around the world develop their strategic thinking skills.

As a former chief strategy officer and professor of strategy, he brings both real-world experience and practical expertise to help groups build their strategy skills.

Rich's work has been profiled on CNBC, Investor's Business Daily, CBS, NBC and FOX TV. His most recent books include Deep Dive: The Proven Method for Building Strategy, Focusing Your Resources, and Taking Smart Action and Strategy For You: Building a Bridge to the Life You Want.

My book review of Strategy For You: Building a Bridge to the Life You Want by Rich Horwath.

My book review of Deep Dive: The Proven Method for Building Strategy, Focusing Your Resources, and Taking Smart Action by Rich Horwath.

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 Strategist, speaker, CEO of the Strategic Thinking Institute and author of the inspirational and engaging book Strategy For You: Building a Bridge to the Life You Want, Rich Horwath, describes how over 80 percent of business executives have written strategy for their company, but only 20 percent have one for themselves. Rich Horwath points out that his extensive study demonstrated that executives understand the importance of strategy for reaching goals, but don't apply the same principles to themselves. Rich provides ideas for bringing strategy out of the C-level offices and into the individual's work and home life. Rich Horwath shows how to discover the purpose in your life, how to differentiate your unique strengths, how to decide how to best allocate your time and talent, how to design an action plan, and how to drive to ultimate success. Rich Horwath shares success stories of individuals as well, who utilized a personal strategy in their own lives on Blog Business Success Radio.

Tags: Strategy For You: Building a Bridge to the Life You Want, Rich Horwath, achieving personal goals, Blog Business Success, Blog Talk Radio.