Networking Insight

Book Review: The Facts of Business Life by Bill McBean

The Facts of Business Life was written by Bill McBean who has a 40 year career as a business owner in the automobile industry. During his successful career, he purchased several underperforming assets, turned them around, and sold them to the world's largest automotive retailer, AutoNation.

The book is comprised of the following chapters:

• The Facts of Business Life
• The Five Levels of Business Success
• Fact 1: If You Don't Lead, No One Will Follow
• Fact 2: If You Don't Control It, You Don't Own It
• Fact 3: Protecting Your Company's Assets Should Be Your First Priority
• Fact 4: Planning Is About Preparing for the Future, Not Predicting It
• Fact 5: If You Don't Market Your Business, You Won't Have One
• Fact 6: The Marketplace Is a War Zone
• Fact 7: You Don't Just Have to Know the Business You're In, You Have to Know Business

As a successful business man, Bill McBean has mastered many areas of business that has allowed him to achieve long-term success. His book shares the above seven facts of business life that every successful business owner should already know.

The author dedicates one chapter to each fact and explains its importance and how it can help entrepreneurs achieve success and avoid mistakes. In addition, he explains how each fact impacts a business as it passes through the below five levels of existence:

• Ownership and Opportunity
• Creating Your Company's DNA
• From Survival to Success
• Maintaining Success
• Moving On When It's Time to Go

The book will equip the business owner with the tools to better evaluate and prepare for each situation so he/she can make changes as the business evolves. Business owners need to know more than just the basics of business. 

The Facts of Business Life is a valuable resource for business owners no matter what stage a firm is in. By reading this book, you will learn how to ensure that you are able to run a sustainable business.

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Book Review: Rapid Realignment by George Labovitz & Victor Rosansky

Rapid Realignment was written by George Labovitz and Victor Rosanky who are best selling authors of The Power of Alignment. George Labovitz is the founder and CEO of ODI, an international management training and consulting firm, and professor of management and organizational behavior at the Boston University Gradate School of Management. Victor Rosansky is co-founder and President of LHR International and has more than 25 years experience working with Fortune 500 clients as a consultant.

The book in comprised of the following chapters:

• The Big Picture The Alignment Framework
• From Strategic Intent to Tactical Action: Vertical Alignment
• Energing People: Employee Engagement
• Getting to "Wow!": Horizontal Alignment
• Better and Better: Continuous Process Improvement
• Social Media as an Alignment Tool
• Culture: The Secret Sauce
• Rapid Realignment: Methods and Tools
• The Enterprise Effect: The Ultimate Expression of Alignment

The book provides the insights and tools that you need to make sure that your strategy, customers, processes, and people work seamlessly together to serve customers. It is mportant that you are able to realign when change happens. 

Rapid Realignment is a follow-up to the authors successful book, The Power of Alignment, which was written in 1997.  As required reading for the U.S. Navy in 2001, it underwent one of the greatest organizational transformations under leadership of Vern Clark.

With an evolving business world today,firms needs to adapt to the pace of technological. competitve, and social change. A firm that fails to adapt will mostly like loss in the marketplace.

The authors provide information on the following:

• Engaging employees at evey level with the "Main Thing" of  your business
• Linking strategy and organizationa processes
• Brinng the customer voice inside your comapny through scola media
• Using social media and ditgital technology to quickl indentify points of mialignment at any lvel
• Creating the "Enterprise Effect".

Throughout the book, the authors share case studies from firms such as FedEx, the U.S. Navy, and Quest Diagnostics that demonstrate the author's methods. Rapid Realignment provides a roadmap on how to reach peak organizational performance.

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Book Review: Strategic Intuition by William Duggan

Strategic Intuition was written by William Duggan who is an associate professor of management at Columbia University Business School. He teaches strategic intuition in graduate and executive courses. In addtion, he has 20 years of experience as a strategy advisor and consultant and is the author of The Art of What Works.

The book is comprised of the following chapters:

• Flash versus Blink
• Revolution on Earth
• Two Halves of a Brain
• Lieutenant M Saves Your Life
• The Corsican Conquers Europe
• Warriror Buddha
• Gates and the Google Guys Go for It
• Mouse, Minister, and Moneylender
• Picasso Dines with an African Sculpture
• Do We Do Dewey?
• Kennedy Shoots for the Moon

The book explores strategic intuition, which is when we have flashes of insight that give us an idea for action. Many of our best ideas come to us in the shower, at night, or when we least expect it.  When this happens, we are able to connect the dots.

Over the past 10 years, the author has performed research on strategic intuition. In this book, he shares with the reader how strategic intuition has been a part of great achievements throughout our history. To illustrate his research, he explores historic moments such the scientific and computer revolutions, woman's suffrage, the civil rights movement, modern art, and microfinance in poor countries.  

To put strategic intuition into perspective, brain science shows us that we have three kinds of intuition. Ordinary intuition is just a gut instict. Expert intuition is when you make quick judgments because you recognize something familiar. Strategic intuition is a flash of insight that may help you solve a probem that you have been thinking about for some time.

Flashes of insight can help you in any situation when you need to be innovative, entrepreneurial, or creative. The author helps you to better understand when flashes of insight can occur so you can make better decisions.

To become a stronger leader, it is important to harness what the author discusses in the book. At the same time, you learn about human history from a unique perspective. So, it is an interesting read.

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Book Review: The Collaboration Imperative by Ron Ricci and Carl Wiese

The Collaboration Imperative: Executive Strategies for Unlocking Your Organization's True Potential was written by Ron Ricci and Carl Wiese who are both executives at Cisco. As the Vice President of Corporate Positioning, Ron has helped Cisco develop a culture of sharing and collaborative processes. In addition, he is the co-authoer of Momenutm: How Companies Become Unstoppable Market Forces.  Carl is the Vice President of Cisco's collaboration sales and has presented the importance of collaboration to business audiences around the world. 

The book is comprised of the following chapters:

• Collaboration Matters
• A Collaborative Culture Starts at the Top
• Get Real About Communication
• Creating Commitment to Common Goals
• Build Team Trust Fast
• Stop Wasting Time
• Unlocking the Collaboration Toolbox
• Eight High-Impace Collaboration Opportunities
• What is the True Payback of Collaboration?
• The Time is Now

The authors have dedicated much of their professional careers to understanding the impact of collaboration within organizations. Collaboration is not only just about technology, but also about a company's culture and processes.

In order for businesses to suceed today, collaboration across an organization is imperative.  It should start at the top by setting the culture, sharing knowlege, being transparent, and holding everyone accountabie. Once the leader believes in collaboration, it will affect all of the employees. Technology tools can help to bridge the gap across teams so they can connect and work together.

Successful collaboration needs to embraced by every person in the organization. Putting a strategy together is critical for collaborative success. 

The book is an enjoyable read in which the authors explore the various aspects of collaboration with examples from Cisco and other organizations. Throughout the book, the authors interview executives to get their perpspective on collaboration.

The book is divided in the main sections: culture, process, and technology. It is interesting to read how these concepts fit together for the collaborative process.

Each chapter starts with a concept drawing and Executive Summary and then ends with a 60 second wrap. If you want to learn how collaboration can help excel your organization, then this book may be worth reading.

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Book Review: The Art of Being Unreasonable by Eli Broad

The Art of Being Unreasonable was written by Eli Broad who is an entrepreneur, philanthropist, and the founder of two Fortune 500 companies. KB Home and SunAmerica. In addition, he is an internationally known art collector and has been profiled on 60 Minutes, in Vanity Fair, and the New York Times. 

Below are some of the chapters of the book:

• The Art of Being Unreasonable
• Forget Conventional Wisdom
• The Value of Being Second
• Risk
• How to Get Results
• Leverage
• Negoatiation
• Competition
• Giving Back

Eli has led an amazing career in accounting, real estate, financial services, and philanthrophy. He wrote this book to share with you his unconventional thinking, which has allowed him to excel in just about every endeavor.

While he has had some failures and setbacks, he has learned and moved on. Successful entrepreneurs learn from their mistakes and become stronger.  With so much success in his life, he has given back countless times with his involvement in art, education, and medicine. Truly, he has made a difference in many lives.

In his book, he shares with you his thought process and his unreasonable principles from negotiating to risk-taking to investing to hiring. By sharing his insight, you understand how his practices have taken him to the top of his industries. 

The book explains some of the following:

• How to ask unreasonable questions
• How to pursue the untried
• How to relentlessly revise expectations upward
• How to be restless
• How to seek out the best in everything

By reading this book, you will get motivated to try something new to get ahead. It is not everyday that you get to read about the extraordinary success of one individual. Learn what you can from the widson of Eli Broad.

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Book Review: Earn What You're Really Worth by Brian Tracy

Earn What You're Really Worth was written by Brian Tracy who is also the bestselling author of Eat that Frong! and No Excuses! He is a well traveled professional who has visited eighty countries across six continents. Before he became a consultant, trainer, and personal development professional, he ran a $256 milliion company. Currently, he is the President of three companies with worldwide operations.

The book is broken up into the following chapters:

• The New Normal
• Your Personal Service Corporation
• Increase Your Earning Potential
• Capitalize on Your Strengths
• Get the Right Job
• The Future Belongs to the Competent
• Double Your Productivity
• Practical Project Management
• Put People First
• Powerful Problem Solving and Decision-Making
• Get Paid More and Promoted Faster
• Perception is Everything

The book explores on of your most important assets, "your earning ability", which is how you make a living. For some people, their earning aiblity increases each year and for others, it remains flat.

To a large extent, you can control what you should earn. However, it may not happen unless you organize your time and work hard so you can earn the most possible throughout your life.

The author shares proven strategies that will help you maximize your earning potential. You can start implementing his techniques immediately, which should help you to earn more and feel that you are paid what you are worth.

Throughout the book, the author brings in real world examples to illustrate points. The author is a very seasoned professional who speaks from experience.

The book caters to any professional such as an executive in a competitive industry, a person in a job transition, a student entering the workforce, or an unemployed person. To advance in your career, Earn What You're Really Worth may be worth a read.

Other Brian Tracy book reviews: Kiss that Frog! and No Excuses!

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Book Review: Kiss That Frog! by Brian Tracy and Christina Tracy Stein

Kiss That Frog! was written by Brian Tracy and Christina Tracy Stein. Brian is the Chairman and CEO of Brian Tracy International. He is a sought after speaker who addresses more than 250,000 per year. In addition, he is the bestselling author of more than fifty books. Christina is a psychotherapist who helps her clients to create more fulfilling relationships, develop ways to handle stress and anxiety, and find greater enjoyment and satisfaction in life.

The book is broken up into the following chapters:

• Seven Truths About You
• Imagine Your Handsome Prince
• Look Your Frog in the Face
• Clear the Pond of Ugly Frog
• Drain the Swamp
• Change the Water in Your Pond
• Look for Beauty in Frogs
• Leap Forward Confidently
• Kiss Your Ugly Frogs Good-bye
• Expect the Best of  Your Frog
• Let Go of Those Painful Frogs
• Seven Keys to a Positive Personality

Just like the fairy tale with the lonely princess and the frog, many of us have obstacles that stop us from realizing our dreams. The book discusses how our negative thoughts, emotions, and attitudes can hinder us from achieving our dreams. 

The authors provide practical and proven strategies to help you turn your negative frogs into positive princes. They do a great job explaining the core concepts with the frog analogy.

In this book, you will be able to:

• Find the root causes of negativity
• Discover mental obstacles
• Transform mental obstacles into stepping-stones to achieve greater potential
• Change your mindset to find something good in everyone and every experience

If you want to learn about a new way of thinking about life, then this book may be a worthwhile read. Many of the principles taught in this book can be used immediately to change your life. 

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Book Review: Great Leaders Grow by Ken Blanchard & Mark Miller

Great Leaders Grow was written by Ken Blanchard and Mark Miller. Ken is the co-founder and chief spiritual officer of The Ken Blanchard Companies and is the author or co-author of 50 books, which have sold more than 20 million copies. Mark is the Vice President of Training and Development at Chick-fil-A and co-authored with Ken Blanchard the international bestseller, The Secret.

The book is broken up into the following chapters:

• An Unexpected Loss
• Moving Forward
• Learning to Serve
• Landing the Job
• Gaining Knowledge
• A Rocky Start
• Reaching Out to Others
• Teaming Up
• Opening Your World
• A Plan of Action
• Walking toward Wisdom
• The Presentation
• Room to Grow

The book follows the fictional journey of a young man who loses his father at the beginning of his career. He learns that his father was respected and a great leader.  In this enlightening story, the son learns what it takes to be a leader and must choose his own path.

Mentoring is an important aspect of becoming an effective leader.  Throughout the story, he is mentored from a woman who his father mentored.  Her guidance is critical to his understanding and development as a young professional and aspiring leader.

The authors do an excellent job discussing leadership in a clever way, which keeps the reader engaged. In this book, you will learn that successful leaders don’t rest on their titles but rather realize that it is a work in progress.  Leaders are constantly learning and growing both personally and professionally.

In the book, you will learn which areas to focus on so you can remain an effective leader throughout your life.  The young man and mentor explore the GROW model, which is below:

G – Gain Knowledge

R – Reach Out to Others

O – Open Your World

W – Walk toward Wisdom

With this model, the son learns that leaders need to challenge themselves both on and off the job so they can reach their highest potential as a leader. Whether you are already a leader or an aspiring leader, this book will motive and inspire you to strive to become a great leader.

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Book Review: Recommended by Andy Lopata

Recommended was written by Andy Lopata who is one of Europe’s leading business networking strategists.  He writes for several business magazines and is frequently quoted in the national press in the UK.  Previously, he was managing director of the UK network Business Referral Exchange. He is also the author of ...and Death Came Third! The Definitive Guide to Networking and Speaking in Public.

The book is broken up into the following sections:

• Why You Need to Get Recommended
• The Foundation of the Ultimate Referrals Strategy
• How Your Network Can Help You Generate Referrals
• How To Get Your Network To Refer You• Tools You Can Use

The author is a world renown networking authority who shares some techniques on how to close more sales by generating referrals through your network.  Building relationships is a key business technique to build trust and credibility. People buy from those who they trust and know.  Andy shows you how to build a network of “champions” who will often refer you business.

Recommended will show you how to maximize the potential of your network. The author lays out a plan to put together a referral strategy, which can produce longer term clients who will have a higher lifetime sales value to your organization. Learn how to spend more time cultivating your network to generate business rather than having to cold call or continuously meet new people.

Andy practices what he preaches so this book teaches you the successful techniques that he has used to grow his companies. Throughout the book, he shares some stories to illustrate his points.

Whether you are an expert networker or a novice, the book is a practical guide that will reinforce that you need to build strong relationships to generate quality referrals.  Learn from a seasoned and recognized networking expert.

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Book Review: The Joe Dial by Joe Scott

The Joe Dial was written by Joe Scott who is a contractor and real estate developer who built a thriving business from a truck and a toolbox. During his career, he has negotiated thousands of business deals with a variety of people.  By working on these deals, he has learned that almost all people fall into three types.  A major factor to his success is knowing how to deal with each type of person.

Below is a sample of the chapters in the book:

• Givers and Takers
• Emotions
• The Role of “Nature”
• Striking the Right Balance
• Guidelines for True Giving
• The Business of Give and Take

Based on his experience, the author shares some basic truths about human nature through the book. While dealing with thousands of people over the years, he came to the conclusion that three types of people exist:

• A Taker
• A Giver
• A Take-and-Giver

According to the author, the most important thing you need to know about someone is which category this person falls into so you better build a relationship.  Humans are easier to understand, manage, and to do business with if you view them through this lens.

The author wrote this book for the following reasons:

• To give you a tool for assessing the relationships in your life.
• To give you a simple tool to self-analyze.
• To encourage you to change.

Throughout the book, the author references a tool that he calls “The Joe Dial”. He developed it as a simple visual model to assess people as to where they fall on the Taker, Giver, and Take-and-Giver spectrum.

The author shares a variety of stories and insights about how people act so you can better understand how to analyze others. By reading this book, you will gain a better appreciation about human nature and how to better interact with others in both professional and personal situations.

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