Bart Wendell recognizes that meetings provide a public display of leadership abilities, both good and bad, that can make or destroy a leader’s career. The author considers the meeting to be a true test of a leader’s skills. As a result, Bart Wendell offers the insightful advice that conducting a successful meeting goes far toward the development of an outstanding leader. Because of the nature of meetings, and why they so often fail to produce positive results, alert leadership is a necessity. People drawn into meetings bring their silos, and not solutions, along with them. Meetings include diverse participants with a wide variety of abilities and agendas.

Bart R. Wendell (photo left) understands that leaders must be able to gauge how a meeting is progressing, and time when to look for a needed breakthrough, in order too achieve a positive outcome that benefits the organization. This skill requires practice and is as much an art as a science. The author points out that leaders very often demonstrate their lack of skills when they want and need to perform their best. What Bart Wendell calls Hot leaders overheat the meeting and cause impulsive and rash responses and decisions. The author describes Cool leaders as too calming resulting in a lack of action or decision making.

To counter these three observations, Bart Wendell proposes a framework built of five leadership principles. Those five principles are as follows:

* Meetings reflect leadership ability. Great leaders run great meetings
* A leader changes through the act of running a meeting, both good and bad
* Good leaders use Hot and Cold effectively to guide the meeting
* Great leaders understand themselves; their own strengths and weaknesses
* A great leader is not afraid of uncomfortable but right decisions

For me, the power of the book is how Bart Wendell combines a deep understanding of the subtle human characteristics of meetings, with a practical guide for developing leadership skills, through running effective meetings. The author considers meetings to be the crucible in which skilled leaders forge their best qualities. For the author, this testing of leadership is both an internal struggle with oneself and one’s fears, as it is an external discovery of effective leadership techniques. Bart Wendell devotes an entire chapter to each of the critical aspects of leadership in meetings, underlining both the inner journey to self realization, as well as the skills visible to those attending the meeting.

The idea that meetings, with the need to lead and guide others to a worthwhile result, forms the basis of great leadership is a good one. Understanding the many implications of this important leadership concept alone makes this book a very worthwhile read. The author’s experience as a business consultant, meeting leader and facilitator, as well as a psychologist bring a unique and valuable perspective to this book that is rarely found in leadership books.

I highly recommend the insightful and leadership building book Hot Leaders Cool Facilitators: Learning to Lead One Meeting at a Time by Bert R. Wendell, Ph.D., to anyone seeking to become a better leader and to conduct more effective meetings. The author demonstrates how intertwining the concept of great leadership with running great meetings is a powerful connection. This book will change the way that you view both leadership and meeting management.

William Luyben understands that the role of a chemical process is to take chemical discoveries and transform them efficiently and safely into a marketable product. The process involves scaling up small scale experiments and scaling them up into manufacturing sized quantities. William Luyben points out that how a chemist conducts small scale projects may be very different from the application of the concept in product development. The chemistry and physics of scaling up a small batch to a large scale often poses a problem for engineers. As a result, William Luyben provides the tools, formulas, and mathematics necessary for scaling a small experiment into a full manufacturing scale operation.

William L. Luyben (photo left) recognizes that scaling up a process from the laboratory to the large sale product building process is really a synthesis problem. The designer faces many challenges within the process, and some of those challenges are very often in direct conflict with one another. For the author, the chemical design process is a crucial area of chemical engineering. With concerns of energy and environmental issues and how they interact, reviving interest in energy efficient processes and plants, the author focuses on achieving the goals of developing process designs in a safe and environmentally sound manner.

William Buyden provides the principles of general design in a concise way to develop an effective and efficient flowsheet and control structure. The development of a chemical process requires consideration of both the steady state economic and controllability parts of the process. That is the simultaneous design concept that is addressed so effectively in this book.

For me, the power of the book is how William L. Luyben combines the theory of simultaneous design with the mathematical formulas and chemical engineering reactions to guide students, chemists, and engineers in developing a process. The author reinforces the principles outlined in each chapter with real world case studies of those same principles in action. William Luyben provides a service to industry as well, through the recognition of the need for developing new products, refining their processes, and for ensuring a safe and environmental quality control.

The author shares the crucial technical information that is understandable for the engineering student, practicing engineer, and for chemists and designers in the scaling up of small scale tests into large scale processes. Non-engineers and students are reminded that this book is very technical in nature and requires some understanding of mathematics and chemistry.

I highly recommend the important and all encompassing book Principles and Case Studies of Simultaneous Design by William L. Luyben, to any chemistry or engineering students, practicing chemical engineers, product designers in industry, and business leaders looking for a fresh approach to simultaneous design issues. This book will transform your company’s industrial processes and product design into one of a leader in process design.

Killing Giants

10 Strategies to Topple the Goliath in Your Industry

By: Stephen Denny

Published: March 31, 2011
Format: Hardcover, 256 pages
ISBN-10: 1591843839
ISBN-13: 978-1591843832
Publisher: Portfolio/Penguin

Stephen Denny takes the provocative position that the small competitor in an industry can out think and out compete the leader in that same field. The concept that a Goliath in the market can be felled by a little David is counter to conventional thought. When considered objectively, and without the fear of being trampled by the behemoth, the idea that the little guy can prevail takes on new meaning. The small less bureaucratic business, is much more nimble and able to respond to changes in the marketplace and the overall economy, than the much slower moving giant. This ability to act quickly decisively, serves to level the playing field on behalf of the giant slayer. What is critical for the small player is to think and act in new and exciting ways, and take advantage of smallness, to displace the established industry leader.

Stephen Denny (photo left) reminds the would be giant killer that the market conditions of today actually work in favor of the small player. The economy and the marketplace of the past, that worked to the benefit of the giants, no longer exists. Stephen Denny points out that the giants, being slow and resistant to change, have not yet grasped the evolution in the marketplace. As a result, customers can be taken right under the nose of the oblivious giant. Stephen Denny not only provides a detailed examination of both giants and giant topplers, but also offers ten very intriguing strategies for taking down the unwary colossus. The tactics are presented in the form of tales of giant killing successes, and what worked for the smaller competitor. The stories not only contain overt lessons, but on additional examination yield up also deeper philosophies of winning what is on the surface an unfair game. For the would be defeater of giants, the stories are more than just a collection of case studies, but are a series of stories of reinventing the marketplace to one that tilts the scales toward the small company.

For me, the power of the book is how Stephen Denny describes both the theory and the process for defeating the giant in any industry. The author presents a solid case on behalf of the smaller, more responsive competitor as holding much more power than they usually believe they possess. Stephen Denny points out that not all giants are identical, and this important factor also works to the advantage of the would be giant killer. The differences in the forms and sizes of the largest players offer different options and opportunities for the small company. The author illustrates each of the book’s ten strategies through intriguing stories, in a self contained chapter format. The tactics can be read sequentially, or as stand alone lessons from the real world.

To his credit, Stephen Denny resists the usual desire on the part of business book authors to offer standard advice and best practices. Instead of this usual technique, the author shares the stories of companies who overcame the challenges presented by facing an overpowering giant in their market. What the stories provide, that the simple reciting of advice does not, are the variety of giants and of the types of smaller companies that defeat them. A combination of the tactics employed by the successful giant slayers, or any one of their methods, might work for any small business. What is important is the understanding, as conveyed so well by Stephen Denny, is that small is a virtue and an advantage in today’s marketplace. The old rules no longer apply, leaving the giants more vulnerable to being overwhelmed than ever before.

I highly recommend the essential and must read book Killing Giants: 10 Strategies to Topple the Goliath in Your Industry by Stephen Denny, to anyone seeking to dislodge the seemingly invincible leader from their industry. This book will change forever the way that you view the large players in your market. Instead of being dazzled by their sheer size or market share, you will discover how to identify and exploit their structural weaknesses.

Read the industry transformational book Killing Giants: 10 Strategies to Topple the Goliath in Your Industry by Stephen Denny, and be prepared to challenge the leaders in your industry for market supremacy. You will soon learn that the bigger the giant, the harder they fall.

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You Can’t Fire Everyone

And Other Lessons from an Accidental Manager

By: Hank Gilman

Published: March 17,2011
Format: Hardcover, 224 pages
ISBN-10: 1591843782
ISBN-13: 978-1591843788
Publisher: Portfolio/Penguin

Hank Gilman recognizes that the same skills that made him a very successful journalist, failed to equip him to manage other journalists and support staff. The author provides in often hilarious detail how he received on the job training as a manager. In effect, Hank Gilman became a manager by accident and circumstance. The job was never his by design or desire. Hank Gilman points out that very qualities that make for a great journalist, are exactly the opposite of the skills essential to managing successfully. For the author, a good journalist is very often a loner. A manager must have strong interpersonal skills. This disconnect of skills and personality, with the requirements of the managerial role, are the source of many problems for the accidental manager.

Hank Gilman (photo left) understands the critical importance of providing training for new managers. For people in creative, artistic, or individualistic professions, the training is even more essential. All too often, people are simply promoted to managerial roles, without having sought them, or even having expressed an interest in the position. The results, as Hank Gilman’s humorous anecdotes illustrate, are not only ineffective managers, but tragically bad managers. Through his learning management skills by the seat of his pants, and through trial and error, Hank Gilman distills some valuable advice for any new manager, regardless of industry or profession:

* Moving from peer to boss is not an easy transition
* Firing a ill suited employee is often the best thing for the person
* How to manage the best employees successfully to keep them motivated
* Why it’s better to focus on employee strengths, and minimize their weaknesses
* Helping others succeed, helps the newly minted manager to succeed too

For me, the power of the book is how Hank Gilman pulls no delivers his hard earned wisdom in an engaging and memorable format. The information is packaged neatly into short chapters, with each story providing an important managerial lesson. The author admits that he was not an effective manager when he got the job, and his honesty is refreshing for a book on management. The fact that Hank Gilman never aspired to a managerial role gives him a unique perspective on a highly variable role. As the author points out so candidly, not all trained managers are effective with their staff either. By putting his employees first, and ensuring their success, Hank Gilman discovered one of the most timeless and important managerial lesson. People who are treated with respect and dignity will perform their jobs well and with engagement.

I highly recommend the delightful and wisdom filled book You Can’t Fire Everyone: And Other Lessons from an Accidental Manager by Hank Gilman, to any any first time or seasoned managers. The author’s straight talk on management skills can be read with profit by any business person. The author’s experiences strike a universal chord with all managers, and the ideas he shares are helpful to any supervisor, manager, or executive.

Read the engaging and hands on book You Can’t Fire Everyone: And Other Lessons from an Accidental Manager by Hank Gilman, and discover how to better work with employees, in any size organization. The advice offered is helpful to all managers at any stage of their careers. This is the ideal book for an accidental manager, who is given the sink or swim managerial training course. It can even be a real career saver for the inexperienced manager as well.

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You Already Know How to Be Great

A Simple Way to Remove Interference and Unlock Your Greatest Potential

By: Alan Fine

Published: October 14, 2010
Format: Hardcover, 256 pages
ISBN-10: 1591843553
ISBN-13: 978-1591843559
Publisher: Portfolio/Penguin

Alan Fine understands the desire to gain additional information and to acquire new knowledge. This is the usual approach that most people take to finding solutions to problems. The author points out, however, that this outside-in technique doesn’t work. Alan Fine writes that the problem isn’t about getting more information, but rather about executing already existing knowledge effectively. Alan Fine offers the encouraging idea that we already possess the ideas and knowledge needed for achieving a breakthrough improvement in our personal and business performance. For Alan Fine, the real issue is the internal barricade we create for ourselves. Only by overcoming these internal roadblocks, that sap our confidence and prevent us from using our existing knowledge effectively, can we really achieve that necessary boost in our performance levels.

Alan Fine (photo left) recognizes that most people, when faced with a problem, utilize the outer directed concept of seeking new information. In place of this method, the author proposes an effective and surprising alternative. Alan Fine writes that the true issue is internal to the person, and that adding more knowledge and information will not solve the problem. It may even make the problem an even more difficult challenge. In place of the inside-out technique, Alan Fine proposes his Outside-In approach based on the combining of knowledge with the three principles of Faith in our own ability, Fire and our own passion and commitment, and Focus of our concentration on the solution. The Outside-In approach is codified into the GROW process of Goal setting, Reality acknowledgment, Option identification, and Way Forward choices. While most people already utilize these concepts in their problem solving techniques, Alan Fine writes that they are not used effectively, undercutting the chances of an important performance breakthrough.

For me, the power of the book is how Alan Fine identifies the real internal barrier to achieving superior performance, and offers a practical and useful process for overcoming these self created roadblocks. The author provides an excellent theoretical framework for the concept that people create their own internal obstacles. To compensate, the usual strategy is to acquire more knowledge, but Alan Fine demonstrates clearly why this is a failed technique. The author offers an effective, and simply to apply practical alternative to the usual attempts at performance enhancement. He provides the useful and effective GROW process that transforms a person’s thinking from seeking external solutions, to overcoming internal barriers to improvement instead.

Alan Fine combines the theoretical with the practical effectively, and in a manner that encourages the actual application of the Outside-In approach. The author goes far beyond the usual platitudes usually offered up in personal development books, and provides real analysis of the problem. With the internal issues identified clearly, the person is then able to apply the GROW formula effectively to achieve a very noticeable and quantifiable boost in their performance. A book that is both strong on analysis and pragmatic advice is rare, but this book delivers on that promise very well.

I highly recommend the truly helpful and transformational book You Already Know How to Be Great: A Simple Way to Remove Interference and Unlock Your Greatest Potential by Alan Fine, to anyone who feels they have exhausted the usual, shop worn solutions to meeting the challenges of business, community, and of life. This book offers a powerful and practical alternative approach, that while being counter-intuitive, is easy to apply and is results oriented.

Read the idea changing and performance breakthrough building book You Already Know How to Be Great: A Simple Way to Remove Interference and Unlock Your Greatest Potential by Alan Fine, and discover the importance of seeking to better execute your existing knowledge, than to chase ever more outside information. Instead of looking externally for solutions, this book will guide you toward overcoming your more performance stifling inner obstacles.

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Army of Entrepreneurs

Create an Engaged and Empowered Workforce for Exceptional Business Growth

By: Jennifer Prosek

Pyblished: February 2, 2011
Format: Hardcover, 224 pages
ISBN-10: 081441673X
ISBN-13: 978-0814416730
Publisher: AMACOM

The author describes how she transformed her employees into an AOE, an internal force of highly committed employees, trough a rethinking of both the company’s structure, mindset, and culture to ensure continued sustainable growth and success.

Jennifer Prosek offers the business changing perspective, that if every employee is empowered to use all of his or her resources to help the company succeed, they will develop what she calls an “owner’s mindset”. As a result of this complete sea change in individual thinking and personal identification, from that of employee to that of an entrepreneur, a powerful force for growth is unleashed within the organization. The author calls this this powerful and unstoppable force an Army of Entrepreneurs™, or an AOE for short. Jennifer Prosek shares the ideas, tools, and techniques for revitalizing any company from the ordinary to the extraordinary through the creation of an AOE, unique to that organization.

Jennifer Prosek (photo left) understands that her revolutionary concept requires a complete change in the corporate culture of the business. She describes a recreation of the culture to emphasize authenticity, commitment to people, commitment to the business itself, and continuous effort to build the organization. She recommends building an incentive program that dovetails the personal goals and aspirations of the individual with the continued growth and success of the company. At the same time, she points to the need for a company boot camp to educate the employees in how the company operates, and why they their role in the organization is important.

The author points to changing the recruiting and hiring process to discover potential entrepreneurial talent, as well as becoming more creative with developing openings to add valuable people when they become available. As with any new initiative, Jennifer Prosek stresses the importance of enhancing internal communications, including more intensive use of technology, to help employees reach their fullest entrepreneurial potential. The author also suggests important ways to maintain the momentum through a blend of rewards, both tangible and personal, and through building a fun and engaging work environment.

For me, the power of the book, is how Jennifer Prosek combines both theory and practical advice into an overall organizational approach to tapping into the latent entrepreneurial drive among employees. This holistic concept engages the employee at the level of generating a sense of ownership of the company. As a result, Jennifer Prosek goes far beyond most books on employee engagement. Instead of motivating employees as staff, the author recommends enlisting them into the Army of Entrepreneurs™. The entire AOE idea transcends the usual employment contract and enters into the realm of shared responsibility from the ownership point of view. The process for the transition from an employee based firm to AOE style organization is well described, and the steps are clear and logical to follow.

Jennifer Prosek has broken into entirely new management territory regarding the role of employees within an organization. The process for the changeover is not expensive in either money or time, but the rewards are potentially unlimited. The incentive for employees to perform optimally is ensured by the array of rewards, and by the sense of taking ownership of the job, the customer base, and the of the company itself. For many owners and managers, the choice is usually to raise more capital through sale of part of the company. Instead of that option, Jennifer Prosek provides a much more creative, effective, and sustainable strategy for achieving more business growth. The AOE system works well, as made very clear by the author, for any size of company, regardless of industry or market.

I highly recommend the groundbreaking and organizational changing book Army of Entrepreneurs: Create an Engaged and Empowered Workforce for Exceptional Business Growth by Jennifer Prosek, to anyone serious about revitalizing their company through empowering their employees. Through the AOE process, employees become the driving force for growth and change within a dynamic and customer aware organization.

Read the brilliant and empowering guide book Army of Entrepreneurs: Create an Engaged and Empowered Workforce for Exceptional Business Growth by Jennifer Prosek, and change the way that you think about employees. Instead of considering them as only staff, transform them into entrepreneurs who will build the company through growth and innovation. Let an Army of Entrepreneurs™ turn your business into a winning organization.

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About Face

The Secrets of Emotionally Effective Advertising

By: Dan Hill

Published: October 28, 2010
Format: Hardcover, 212 pages
ISBN-10: 0749457570
ISBN-13: 978-0749457570
Publisher: Kogan Page

Dan Hill explodes the myth of the rational decision maker through the use of cutting edge science and research. Despite evidence to the contrary, however, the much of the advertising and marketing industries have continued to insist that customers don’t make their buying decisions based on emotional responses. Dan Hill demonstrates that emotions rule people’s buying decisions every day. The rational reasons are only applied after the fact to justify that choice. Leading edge advertising agencies are already discovering the power of the emotional response, however. Through the research conducted by Dan Hill, advertisers can see readily which components of their advertising message is working. Perhaps more importantly, they can gauge precisely why the message, or parts of the message work on a deeper emotional, unconscious level.

Dan Hill (photo left) Understands that when a person makes an emotional response to a message, that person is also motivated to take action. With this fundamental concept in mind, the author provides a formula that assists marketers and advertisers in crafting the ideal communication format. The effective, emotionally charged message can be formulated as follows:

* Keep it simple
* Make it relevant
* Be memorable
* Focus on faces
* Always sell hope
* Don’t lead with price

For me, the power of the book is how Dan Hill shows clearly the critical importance of understanding the role emotions play in the buying process. For advertisers who relied on traditional communications channels and staying on message, the book serves as a true wake up call. Instead of staying on message, as previously practiced, Dan Hill urges advertisers to remain on emotion instead. This fundamental change in perspective changes the entire advertising and marketing landscape, from a rational model, to one based on the overwhelming force of emotions on human thought and decision making. The book is especially useful for creating an emotionally charged brand image, that will not only be memorable, but effective in a deeper and more personal manner.

Marketing to women has long been understood to be emotionally charged, and Dan Hill points to the effectiveness of that approach. He also recommends extending and enhancing the emotional marketing and advertising message to everyone, including both men and women. The good news, according to Dan Hill, is that creating an emotionally charged message should come naturally to advertisers. People can feel the emotional power of the advertisement naturally, and and on an intimate and very personal level. By trusting in the emotional impact of the message, marketers can achieve a more intimate relationship with their customers and clients. For the twenty-first century, Dan Hill provides the road map to a more successful and personally connected advertising industry.

I highly recommend the important and paradigm altering book About Face: The Secrets of Emotionally Effective Advertising by Dan Hill, to anyone serious about understanding the crucial role made by the emotions in the buying process. This book provides the scientific background to support the premise, and the practical steps necessary to put the theory into practice. Dan Hill will change forever the way that you think about and approach marketing and advertising messages and communications channels.

Read the valuable and essential book About Face: The Secrets of Emotionally Effective Advertising by Dan Hill, and enter the twenty-first century realm of emotion based advertising. You will move far ahead of the competition, and they will never even understand what happened to them.

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Secrets of Profitable Freelance Writing

By: Nathan Segal

Published: August 30, 2010
Format: Paperback, 104 pages
ISBN-10: 0978491912
ISBN-13: 978-0978491918
Publisher: Nathan Segal

Nathan Segal recognizes that finding paying magazine writing jobs is a challenge for many freelance writers. The writers very often struggle with locating the right magazines and developing article ideas. Nathan Segal takes the guesswork out of researching magazines both on the internet and in the public library. The author shares his ideas for writing the query letters that get noticed and result in paying contracts with major magazines. The tactics for effective query letters include flexibility, scalability, and reliability in achieving the freelancer’s goals. For Nathan Segal, it’s important for a freelance writer to gain a steady stream of article assignments, be well paid for writing, and develop a successful freelance business.

Nathan Segal (photo left) understands that there is more to being a successful freelancer than simply writing articles. To enhance freelance income, the author provides information on adding editorial skills to the freelancer’s resume. Along with gaining skills, Nathan Segal shares the importance of partnering with editors to help them meet their goals and deadlines. A freelancer with a solid reputation for writing top quality articles, and delivered on time, will earn the trust of magazine editors. Experience acquired from partnerships with editors eases the transition from writer to editor for the freelancer as well. Editorial skills provide additional revenue streams for the freelancer in building a viable business. Nathan Segal doesn’t stop with editors as partners, but demonstrates the financial advantage added through leveraging joint ventures with other freelance business people.

For me, the power of the book is how Nathan Segal presents a comprehensive program for achieving freelance success and for building a profitable and sustainable freelance business. Nathan Segal not only provides the theory for achieving strong results as a freelancer but backs up his ideas with practical advice. The recommendations are based on Nathan Segal’s years of experience as a writer and editor, and are proven to work well in the real world. One of the additional features of the book is the lavish use of screen captures as illustrations for the author’s points. The utilization of screen captures helps teach the importance of understanding the use of various computer and internet tools to widen the freelancer’s skill base.

Unlike many other books on the topic of freelancing, this book includes an important section on adding multiple revenue streams through joint ventures. Usually not considered part of a freelance business toolbox, the joint venture is presented by Nathan Segal as a powerful money generator in its own right. A real strength of the book, in fact, is how the author suggests adding editorial skills and multiple income making concepts to that of article writing for online and offline magazines.

I highly recommend the useful and business building book Secrets of Profitable Freelance Writing by Nathan Segal, to anyone seeking a very handy guide to developing and growing a successful and money making freelance business. The proven concepts presented in the book worked for others in the industry, and they will benefit the reader as well.

Read the valuable and profitability boosting manual Secrets of Profitable Freelance Writing by Nathan Segal, and watch your freelance business grow in size and in scope. This book will teach you how to find those top paying magazines, write the ideal query letter, and land the choice assignments. At the same time, Nathan Segal shares his expertise for developing additional skills as an editor, and for securing cash generating joint ventures. This book is certain to transform any freelancer into a business success story.

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