Soundview Executive Book Summaries


These Messages Do NOT Self-Destruct

How many times have you composed an e-mail in anger or frustration, sat back to review it, and then hit the Delete button? I expect that the delete feature has saved many a career. In fact, it’s good to be able to delete and forget many haunting, spontaneous actions we may have done. And maybe we’ve gotten a little obsessed in our digital record saving. We probably should be doing a little more deleting when you think about it.

This notion has the support of Viktor Mayer-Schonberger author of Delete: The Virtue of Forgetting in the Digital Age. He believes that in our saving frenzy we are not losing enough of our digital data and are guilty of “failing to forget.” He also points to examples of stalled careers and lost jobs through events captured on Facebook and YouTube, among other things, to prove his point.

In the Wall St Journal review of this book, the writer points out that perhaps it isn’t all bad that the digital world has such a long memory. It may just cause us to be more careful about what we post in the public realm.

Certainly, the recent surge of digital-themed books would lead one to believe that perhaps caution is the better solution than deletion. Here are just a few of the titles that we have been checking out recently: Behind the Cloud – about salesforce.com’s development of cloud computing, Viral Loop – how to grow a business from scratch through the use of social media, Twitterville – using Twitter to help a business thrive, and The Laws of Disruption – disruption technologies in the digital age.

Since the digital realm shows no signs of slowing down, or moving with caution, perhaps we as individuals should make more of an effort.



A Decade of Insight at Your Fingertips

I tend to be one of those people who gets caught up in the moment. Much of my time is spent looking ahead to upcoming business titles and working with our editorial team to chart out the trends in business publishing. The downside is there’s often little time left for looking back.

What tends to spark those rare moments of reflection is when I read something online or am doing a bit of research on a past event, such as this list of world headlines from 1999. In those moments I tend to shudder and think to myself, “Wow, that was 10 years ago … already!” While this statement is generally followed by a lament about my age, sometimes it causes me to look back at the titles that we’ve covered.

I’m always grateful for these moments because it’s in them that I see the continued relevance of many of our summaries. There’s a reason that James Collins and Jerry Porras’ Built to Last is still among our top sellers five years after its release. The business book world is one in which a high percentage of titles released in a given year are deemed out-of-date within a year of their debut. Fortunately, part of our selection process is to give subscribers summaries of books that we know will be around for some time.

The culmination of our efforts is now available for your benefit. Soundview is now offering a Premium Online Subscription. This subscription gives you full access to our entire online library. That’s 10 years of summaries! The library is completely searchable by title, author and subject.

Visit us at Summary.com for more information. Sometimes the best way to look ahead is to look back first.



The Buck Stops Where?

It’s amazing how far 0ne can travel from one’s original intent while clicking away on the Internet. All I really intended to do was read a few headlines about the weekend’s news. That simple goal led me to clicking on an op-ed piece in the New York Times. Of course, much like with any blog (mine included, I hope) the lure of clicking an embedded link was too much to resist. So that led me to Gene Healy and the public policy group the CATO institute. The CATO folks published an essay excerpted from Healy’s book The Cult of the Presidency. It makes for quite interesting reading.

As I often mention in this forum, I avoid anything political because it inevitably leads readers of otherwise sound minds into a tizzy as they attempt to decipher my personal opinions. I first delved into Healy’s essay because of the quote featured in the Times article that Americans have come to view the president as a “living American talisman” against all sorts of problems, even natural disasters. The notion of culpability for the nation’s highest office is echoed in miniature at virtually every corporation. We’ve covered the topic ourselves on many occasions, recently with our summary of Brian Dive’s The Accountable Leader.

Accountability is the “high price” one has to pay for a position of notoriety within a company. However, there are many individuals who thrive on such conditions. The subject of individual accountability continues to rank as one of the most discussed in any company. It’s important to point out that accountability isn’t designed as a system where someone takes the fall for any mistakes that occur. In fact, that’s the opposite of good accountability practices. The key point made in many books that discuss this topic is the need for accountability to be proactive rather than reactive. If job roles are clearly defined and expectations are simply stated at the outset of any project, it becomes easier to track the project’s progress and clear up any mistakes along the way.

Stay tuned to Summary.com to learn more about the subject of accountability. We are currently looking at additional accountability titles for upcoming editions of Soundview Executive Book Summaries. In fact, I’ve got one here on my desk right now. I’d better stop my clicking and start my reading for the day!



Is Your Business Going in Circles?

When was the last time you were lost? Take a minute and think about it. When was the last time that you were unable to find your way from point A to point B? Now that we live under the constant glare of the electric eye known as GPS, we don’t spend too much time worrying about where we’re going. The wilderness (what little of it remains) is probably the last place where there are no guarantees that if we veer off the clearly marked path, we’ll find our way home again.

The fear generated by being lost is something both films and novels have used to great effect over the years. One way to up the tension level is to have the character make what seems to be a life-saving turn only to discover that he or she has been walking in a complete circle. According to a recent study on a German TV show, discussed in this Science magazine blog , walking in circles may not be a plot-device invented by writers.

The fear of getting lost evaporates when we take the time to prepare the course we plan to travel. The same rule applies in business as it does in exploration. A well-planned strategy is a business’s map to its eventual destination. When we don’t take the time to look ahead to the potential barriers that may stand in our way, we inevitably seem to go around in circles attempting to solve these issues.

If you’re preparing to set your course for success, Soundview has something that may help you with your plotting. The brand new Soundview Strategy in Business Collection presents summaries from 25 books that cover every angle of designing and executing a successful strategy. Order your copy by clicking on this link. Consider it a GPS for CEOs.



This Network is Our Big News

Wouldn’t it be nice to attend a presentation without having to hear a lot of shouting? Bet you thought that wasn’t possible anymore.

Well, I’ve got good news for everyone today. Soundview isn’t in the business of resolving the country’s health care debate. (Although, if you caught our recent Soundview Live event with Harvard professor and author Clayton M. Christensen, we hope you learned as much as we did!) What we can offer you is the knowledge and experience of some of the top speakers in the areas of leadership, management and success.

How do we manage this feat? The Soundview Author Network!

One aspect of our business of which I’m most proud is the time and effort we put into developing good working relationships with the authors whose books we summarize. Like the authors themselves, we know that the book is only part of the author’s overall message. Our author network keeps you posted on an ever-evolving calendar of events featuring some of our favorite authors. The calendar includes a list of speaking engagements for authors in our network. These are the “shouting free” events I referred to earlier.

But that’s just the beginning! Click on each author in the Soundview Author Network to view the author’s bio, featured Soundview products and multimedia relating to some of the author’s major topics. I spent some time yesterday watching author Patrick Lencioni discuss why teams fail and was very surprised by what he had to say.

The Soundview Author Network is growing all the time and that, I think, is some good news. Who doesn’t enjoy a bit of good news now and again?



Alerting You to The Shift

I’ve received a few questions recently about our FREE e-newsletter Soundview Executive Book Alert. Actually, one of them made me chuckle because it said, “Are these books we should avoid? Is that why it’s called an alert?” This poor reader must perpetually see the glass as half empty, but I hope I can make him feel better with a proper explanation.

In point of fact, Soundview Executive Book Alert is intended to give anyone who signs up a quick look at a book that is either about to break through on the business publishing horizon or one that may have escaped a less discerning editorial staff. I’m fortunate that our editorial team keeps a very watchful eye on the happenings in the business book arena. We’ve uncovered a few gems during the past six years of writing Soundview Executive Book Alert.

This month, Soundview Executive Book Alert gives you a closer look at Scott M. Davis’ new release The Shift. We covered this book because we count a good number of Chief Marketing Officers among our subscriber base. If you’re in marketing, The Shift is a book that deserves your attention. Davis describes five shifts that need to occur to help a marketing department become part of the movement for pervasive innovation. When one considers that marketing sits in the enviable position of having access to both the people producing the product and the people buying the product, Davis’ ideas could help CMOs propel their careers to a new high point.

If you’re interested in receiving Soundview Executive Book Alert, visit us online at Summary.com and click on the tab for “Free E-Newsletters” on our front page. Join the thousands of monthly readers who enjoy that extra bit of insider knowledge. And best of all, it’s FREE!



Is This YOU? (Or just someone you know?)

You may or may not know, but we offer a free e-newsletter entitled Soundview Executive Book Alert. The writer of this monthly look into the hot and the hidden in the world of books is a good colleague of mine. When he reviewed Grown Up Digital, by Wikinomics author Don Tapscott, my friend wrote, “What else are you doing while reading this review?” The implication is that no one can simply sit and read anything anymore. Looking at one screen isn’t enough, so the average reader is probably texting or checking e-mail while reading any article or blog post (this one included, I’m sure).

Apparently, this prevailing trend is starting to irk more than a few people, particularly in today’s sensitive business environment. Here’s one story that gives a perspective on this new era of digital rudeness. In the first five to seven years after e-mail became the standard of communication for the modern office, we were treated to dozens of business books that included a chapter on “e-mail etiquette.” In fact, it became so prevalent that my editorial colleagues and I would groan if we saw a top-ten list that started with “Don’t use all caps. This gives the appearance of shouting.” WE KNOW!

In contrast to e-mail etiquette, the digital distraction debate brings up some questions of genuine merit. Is there such a thing as being too plugged-in? As noted in the article above, the inability to focus on one task for a concentrated period of time may lead to more careless errors. Additionally, the evaporation of our attention spans creates changes in how we present and receive content. It’s possible that we’re reaching a point where even the shortest message isn’t safe from being knocked aside by distraction. How do we differentiate in a world where everything is labeled “urgent?” How people answer this last question, combined with the evolving world of PDA etiquette will make for interesting analysis over the next few years.

If you can look away from your iPhone long enough, catch Soundview at the annual conference of the Special Libraries Association. The show takes place from Sunday, June 14 through Wednesday, June 17 in the Walter E. Washington Convention Center. Soundview will be located in BOOTH #1142. Stop by and inquire about our corporate site license program. We’re looking forward to seeing you!



Climbing the Sales Mountain

If there’s one position that’s not exactly enviable during difficult economic times, it’s that of the salesperson. Sales professionals are often the first casualties in any layoff plan, and those that are lucky enough to remain behind are given elevated sales goals (often accompanied by decreased commission rates).

Still, I’ve got a lot of admiration for anyone who makes their living by persuading others. I don’t know if I’ve got the fortitude for it, particularly depending on the industry. Take a look at what’s going on in the auto industry right now, and it’s easy to see that the sales waters have never been more choppy.

Fortunately, we’ve taken note of the struggles in sales and have put together the Art of Selling Collection. It’s currently available at Soundview’s Web site. This collection of 15 titles covers a wide range of essential topics. It’s intended to give sales professionals the boost they need to power through the current economic situation. It takes a special person to be a salesperson, and it takes an even more rare breed to deliver consistent results quarter after quarter. We’re hoping these sales summaries will help you be among the best of the best.



Never Stop Learning

Here’s a surprising little statistic that I discovered while doing some research: A poll on the Web site of the American Society for Training and Development (ASTD) asked the following question, “How much has the learning budget in your organization changed in the past 6 months?” While 33 percent noted no change,  65 percent of respondents said that their training budget has decreased. Oh, by the way, zero percent said their budget had increased.

I was talking with one of our editors the other day, and he mentioned that he had just finished interviewing J. Barry Griswell and Bob Jennings, authors of The Adversity Paradox. In their book, the authors explore the idea of “human capital”: investments in oneself that lead to personal development. One of the components of human capital is to cultivate and continually refine a lifelong thirst for knowledge. This is an essential trait for leaders at every level of an organization because a thirst for knowledge ensures that we’re constantly evolving.

It’s sad to think that this is one of the first areas of a budget to face the axe when companies are looking to trim expenses. I have a feeling the folks at ASTD will not stand for this action. And Soundview will be standing right alongside them. Continued training and education are hugely important in the development and success of an organization. Join us from May 31 to June 3 in Washington D.C. at the ASTD’s 2009 International Conference and Exposition.

We’ll be located in BOOTH #2017. While I personally won’t be there (someone has to keep writing this blog!), you’ll have the chance to meet our Corporate Learning team. What’s more, you’ll get the opportunity to check out the Expo Hall for FREE** if you come to see us. Check out this link for more information.

** Please note: the Free Expo-Only Pass permits access to the Exposition Hall only. If you are interested in attending any general session keynotes or conference learning sessions, please complete a full registration at this link. Note: This link is for online registration only. To attend the actual event, you must register in-person in Washington D.C. beginning May 28.



Welcome to the Real World

Despite the calendar telling us otherwise, the month of May signals the start of summer for people in many parts of the U.S. It also marks the start of a different season, one that involves caps, gowns and the emptying of dormitories and apartments everywhere. For students, this is a time of farewells coupled with new beginnings. For parents, it can be a time of new anxieties as children enter another new phase of their lives. This year, though, don’t be surprised if you find claw marks on the walls of the dorms as students try to avoid marching headlong into a less-than-friendly job market.

The amazing thing is that this group of future leaders and executives are probably more prepared, at least, from a technological standpoint, for working than any previous generation. They’ve been plugged in and over-scheduled since birth. What’s amusing are the things they don’t know. Every year since 1997, Beloit College in Wisconsin produces its “Mindset List.” This list helps to remind college professors that their incoming students may be unaware of facts that our generation (and previous ones) takes for granted.  Here are a few of my favorites for the Class of 2009 (born, on average, in 1987):

  • Voice mail has always been available.
  • Bill Gates has always been worth at least $1 billion.
  • Halogen lights have always been available (with a warning)

The complete list is located here. There are a few other items that I felt should have been included in the list. For example,  the Class of 2009  has virtually no memory of a Soviet Union or a divided Germany. The Macintosh computer is older than this group. To these folks, a bank teller is the person they are forced to speak with if the ATM is broken.

After reading this list, I sincerely hope I haven’t depressed anyone with these revelations. But then again, you and I aren’t the ones staring down the most cutthroat job market in decades, are we? To help them along, why not give your graduates a gift subscription to Soundview Executive Book Summaries? At a price of only $79, you can save 34%!  This offer is for the online subscription, something this green-conscious and tech-savvy generation will appreciate.

Plus, as a special bonus gift, they’ll receive the Cutter &  Buck American classic leather coffee tumbler for their morning coffee. Considering that a certain coffee retailer began overrunning cities with its green awnings the year they were born, these kids have grown up caffeinated. Your graduates will receive an email announcing your gift along with your personal message, and the coffee mug will be sent to them by mail.

Click here to give your grad an extra boost of concentrated knowledge!