Filed under: Uncategorized
I just got off the phone with our editorial contact who’s sitting in the offices of Zenger/Folkman.
We’re just a little over an hour away from our Soundview Live Webcast with John Zenger, Joseph Folkman and Scott Edinger, the authors of The Inspiring Leader.
If you’ve signed up, make sure you log in shortly before the Webcast starts at NOON Eastern. From what my colleague said, we’re expecting a large audience. This conference should definitely benefit leaders at any level of an organization.
I’ll be listening, and I certainly hope you will as well.
If you’re not currently a subscriber and you’d like the opportunity to attend future Soundview Live events for FREE, visit us at www.summary.com for more information on how to subscribe.
Filed under: Books in General, From the Editor, Marketing, Uncategorized | Tags: books, Business, business book, business books, Marketing, Publishing
The skill and labor involved in creating a business book is something which not everyone is able to comprehend. Maybe it’s just my personal (and professional) pride, but as far back as my college years, I used to bristle at the suggestion that because people are able to type, they are able to write. The process of researching and writing about a particular topic requires dedication and a copious amount of patience to ensure that the message is clear and accurate.
Not taking the proper amount of care can sometimes result in swift and direct criticism. For an example, take a look at this article from Business Week magazine. The writer of this piece makes some strong allegations against Michael J. Silverstein and his co-author Kate Sayre. While Silverstein and Sayre’s book isn’t creating furor on-par with author James Frey and his much disputed memoir A Million Little Pieces, the veracity of Women Want More is being questioned.
In our ever-vigilant need for full disclosure, I can tell you that we previously summarized one of Silverstein’s books. We chose Treasure Hunt as a January 2007 summary because of its strong study of the changing consumer market. While we never found any of his arguments to be lacking in factual accuracy, the issues raised by Business Week are troubling.
I will be interested to see if this current controversy brings any additional attention to Silverstein and Sayre’s book. I will, of course, keep you posted should anything arise. In the meantime, check out Treasure Hunt. It’s a great read for marketers as they deal with the crunch of the fourth quarter.
Filed under: Books in General, From the Editor, Green, Sustainability, Uncategorized | Tags: books, Business, business book, business books, Environment
Every so often, I read a review of a book that leaves me (temporarily, at least) at a loss for words. This is how I felt when I came across Timothy Gardner’s review of $20 per Gallon by Christopher Steiner, an engineer-turned-journalist. I have to compliment Steiner for having a better balance of optimism and pessimism than most writers who cover the energy crisis . On the one hand he acknowledges that the inevitable depletion of the Earth’s fossil fuel supply will allow only the elite to enjoy the luxury of certain types of travel. He also offers the view that electric or alternative fuel powered cars will not be able to provide the punch needed to get one safely from coast to coast, despite being adequate for city driving.
But as Gardner points out, Steiner’s book is largely positive in its vision of a future without cheap petroleum. The book seems to take on a modern, eco-inclined adaptation of John Lennon’s “Imagine.” Steiner pictures an America where people walk and bike everywhere, creating a healthier crop of Americans. He believes people will grow their own produce again and the government will reinvest in urban renewal and develop superior mass transit systems. Cleaner air? Fresh, chemical-free food? A nation that’s gone from fat to fit again?
With all due deference to the late former Beatle, you may say Steiner’s a dreamer but something tells me he’s not the only one. The fact that it may take gas prices reaching $20 for these changes to be set in motion is not easy to digest, but it is definitely a real possibility.
Filed under: Books in General, Conference/Event, Innovation, Politics, health care | Tags: books, Business, business book, business books, Conference/Event, health care, Innovation, Soundview Live
If we’re able to push aside the celebrity-related news for two seconds, what remains on the front page is an intense focus on the health care system here in the United States. Opposing sides are dissecting and scrutinizing every aspect of this hot-button issue. Today, with great interest, I checked out the story of Wal-Mart weighing in on the issue.
As the summer rolls on, this issue may generate the most heat of all. This is partly pleasing to me since we opted to select The Innovator’s Prescription as one of the 30 best books of 2009. I have to tell you, this was a book that generated some considerable debate amongst our selection committee. It had nothing to do with the quality of the content. We knew it was great material. We were somewhat concerned that our existing subscribers may feel the book didn’t have direct application to their own business. How times change, eh? With the prospect of major shake-ups in health care, there’s never been a better time to arm oneself with much-needed info about the health care industry and possible ways to improve it. This summary gives an in-depth look at a top-to-bottom overhaul of the health care industry via disruptive innovation.
And for you subscribers out there, you’ll be able to sign up for FREE for our Soundview Live event featuring Dr. Clayton M. Christensen, co-author of The Innovator’s Prescription. This live audio broadcast on the Web will give you the chance to send your questions in to Dr. Christensen. Who knows? By the end of the month, we could be looking at a whole new landscape in health care. I, for one, can’t wait to hear what Dr. Christensen has to say about it!
Filed under: Uncategorized
I just wanted to remind all Soundview subscribers that TODAY at 1:00 is our next Soundview Live event. Senior Editor Andrew B. Clancy will be interviewing Chris Warner and Don Schmincke, co-authors of High Altitude Leadership.
As a subscriber, you received an e-mail with the registration link. If you haven’t clicked on it yet, check it out! You’ll have the opportunity to get in touch with two terrific business authors, one of whom (Warner) has been to the top of Mt. Everest and K2.
This FREE online event is your exclusive link to today’s top business authors. It’s sure to be a great discussion. Make sure you’re logged in by 12:45 today! I’ll be listening, and I hope you will too.
For non-subscribers, there’s still time to get a Soundview subscription and attend today’s event. Visit www.summary.com for more information.
Filed under: Uncategorized
There are times when I read an article that contains so much technical complexity that I’m afraid to switch on my computer. Such was the case while doing some research on the Conficker worm that’s currently causing all sorts of cyberhell to break loose on Windows-driven computers. The fact that even the experts are somewhat puzzled by the nature of this virus makes me wonder how far this latest threat to online security will reach.
Every new virus that comes down the line seems to increase the chances of a cataclysmic event. This is largely due to the ever-increasing involvement of various aspects of business that previously were not Internet dominated. Take public relations, for example. Brian Solis and Deirdre Breakenridge are looking to help the PR industry vault squarely into the domain of Web 2.0 in their new release Putting the Public Back in Public Relations. Solis, principal of the FutureWorks PR agency, and Breakenridge, president of New Jersey-based marketing firm PFS Marketwyse, produced a book that should provide positive help to PR managers struggling with technology.
Everyone hears talk of Twitter, Facebook and other new media tools. In fact, in the publishing world, we’re rapidly approaching the point where people are fatigued with hearing about Web 2.0. What makes Putting the Public Back in Public Relations a treat to read is that the authors give a worthwhile crash-course specifically applied to their chosen area of expertise: public relations. For those in PR, it’s an effective, fast-track way to stay on the leading edge of the current curve. A definite must-read if you’re main method of getting in touch with your audience is via e-mail (or, dare I suggest, printed press releases). The world of PR is being reshaped and Web 2.0 is the road to success.
Just watch out for those worms along the way!
Former Gallup Organization member and widely-popular thought leader Marcus Buckingham has always pushed us to recognize our strengths and go put them to work. You really shouldn’t be bothered focusing on your weaknesses—expending extra energy just to claim the “most improved” prize. Instead, according to Buckingham, the goal is to channel your energy into your strengths, which can actually make work and home life more exciting. Unfortunately, I don’t think this argument will go over too well with your son’s math teacher when you mention he should spend more time focusing on his basketball game and less on his sub-par Trigonometry homework.
Another thought leader from the Gallup Organization is Tom Rath, international bestselling author of How Full Is Your Bucket and StrengthsFinder 2.0. In early January, Rath, accompanied by renowned leadership consultant Barry Conchie, published yet another title through Gallup Press: Strengths Based Leadership.
At 216 pages, Strengths Based Leadership concisely identifies the three keys to being a more effective leader. From the book’s Amazon.com page:
1. The most effective leaders are always investing in strengths. In the workplace, when an organization’s leadership fails to focus on individuals’ strengths, the odds of an employee being engaged are a dismal 1 in 11 (9%). But when an organization’s leadership focuses on the strengths of its employees, the odds soar to almost 3 in 4 (73%). When leaders focus on and invest in their employees’ strengths, the odds of each person being engaged goes up eightfold.
2. The most effective leaders surround themselves with the right people and then maximize their team. While the best leaders are not well-rounded, the best teams are. Strong, cohesive teams have a representation of strengths in each of these four domains: executing, influencing, relationship building, and strategic thinking.
3. The most effective leaders understand their followers’ needs. People follow leaders for very specific reasons. When we asked thousands of followers, they were able to describe exactly what they need from a leader with remarkable clarity: trust, compassion, stability, and hope.
Strengths Based Leadership has already begun to follow the pattern of Rath’s other books, residing on the New York Times’ bestsellers list for hardcover business books at spot No. 12 as of February 27. I’m sure Marcus Buckingham would agree that writing bestsellers is certainly one of Rath’s strengths.
For more resources from experts on leadership, check out Soundview’s 2009 Leadership Collection.
Filed under: Personal Development, Uncategorized | Tags: business books, career skills, Personal Development
Do you remember the movie Six Degrees of Separation, with Donald Sutherland, Stockard Channing, and a young, pre-Independence Day Will Smith? The concept of six degrees of separation is that “if a person is one step away from each person they know and two steps away from each person who is known by one of the people they know, then everyone is no more than six ‘steps’ away from each person on Earth.” Phew, that was a mouthful!
In January, Soundview offered The 29% Solution: 52 Weekly Networking Success Strategies by Ivan R. Misner, Ph.D. and Michelle R. Donovan as one of its 2009 Best Business Books of the Year.
Well, according to Misner and Donovan, the six degrees of separation isn’t actually applicable for everyone; however, according to the authors: “…with reading, training, and coaching, people can develop their networking skills, increase their connections, and become part of roughly 29 percent of people who are, in fact, separated from the rest of the world by just six degrees.”
We all know how important networking is to our personal success in the business world. We gain friendships, partnerships, and so much more. With The 29% Solution readers learn that in 52 weeks they can pace themselves to become solid, master networkers, ensuring success in their career and personal lives. If you’re looking for more resource tools to boost your success consider our Personal Success Collection.
Filed under: customer service
While perusing some customer relationship management (CRM) titles—because all companies must strive to strengthen relationships with their customers—I came across Abaetê de Azevedo and Ricardo Pomeranz’s Customer Obsession: How to Acquire, Retain, and Grow Customers in the New Age of Marketing, published in mid-October 2008 by McGraw-Hill.
Azevedo, the CEO of Rapp Collins Brazil and Latin America, and Pomeranz, the global chief digital officer of Rapp Collins Worldwide, are both experts on CRM. Rapp Collins is one of the premier worldwide direct marketing agencies, and an expert at relationship marketing. Customer Obsession is hailed as “invaluable hands-on guide to the next generation of customer relationship marketing,” and the book’s chapter nine is solely dedicated to case studies form a variety of product and service companies across the world—all clients of Rapp Collins. I find case studies to be highly useful, and Azevedo and Pomeranz provide some of the graphics and figures from the campaigns for the increased comprehension of the reader.
Though direct marketing may not be your company’s key marketing method, I feel Customer Obsession is still a worthwhile read. In the current economic times, customers want the companies they interact with to go the extra mile—otherwise, they can just take their money elsewhere. Not only do these consumers want lower prices, but also they want value and customer service. Anyone can be a discounter, so make yourself stand out.
According to a January 5 article in The New York Times titled “Puttin’ Off the Ritz: The New Austerity in Publishing” by Motoko Rich, it looks like the glam life of NYC publishers will have to face the hard reality of the current economic times. Gone will be the fancy lunches with authors and editors, the parties and the extravagant travel. And do you know what I think?
Good.
Publishing is about putting out quality publications for the public, not schmoozing it up with a big name acquisitions editor. Sure, everyone loves a party, but let’s get back to business folks—those books are not going to write, edit, design and print themselves.
To put it in some perspective, Rich quotes literary agent Amanda Urban: “This business [publishing] was never meant to sustain limousines. … It’s gotten out of scale, like a lot of businesses in this country.”
Book sales have dropped since October, magazines have been slashing their staff and individual titles like a b-side horror flick at the drive-in, and layoffs and salary freezes have hit the big publishing houses like HarperCollins, Random House, and Simon & Schuster. Is any of this great news? Of course not. However, I think we can all learn from this.
Publishing needs to get back to what it’s good at—producing noteworthy (and sometimes not-so-noteworthy) titles for our readers to read. In times like this, I predict that more Americans will turn to their local bookstore or library to pick up books to help them grow and succeed in their personal lives and careers, as well as the feel-good fiction titles for entertainment.
You know where you can find me: In the office surrounded by stacks of business titles, always in search of the great business books of the year.
