Martin O'Neill: The Power Of An Internal Franchise - Blog Business Success Radio

Listen to Wayne Hurlbert on Blog Talk Radio







Consultant, leadership and corporate culture expert, principal with Corsum Consulting, and author of the empowering and company transformational book The Power of an Internal Franchise: How Your Business Will Prosper When Employees Act Like Owners, Martin O'Neill, describes the leading edge of company cultural transformational concept of turning every employee into an internal franchisee. Marty O'Neill provides evidence of how when employees take personal ownership, and see the company's success as their own, engagement and productivity are increased dramatically. The internal franchise company has a strong and empowered culture where people act with the best interests of the organization in mind. Marty O'Neill ares three steps to put the internal franchise concept to work for your company.



Martin O'Neill is my internet radio show guest on Blog Business Success; hosted live on BlogTalkRadio.



The show airs live on Thursday, September 1, at 8:00 pm Eastern Time; 5:00 pm Pacific Time.



Consultant, leadership and corporate culture expert, principal with Corsum Consulting, and author of the empowering and company transformational book The Power of an Internal Franchise: How Your Business Will Prosper When Employees Act Like Owners, Martin O'Neill, describes the leading edge of company cultural transformational concept of turning every employee into an internal franchisee. You will learn:



* Why company cultures are so moribund today



* How an internal franchise empowers and engages employees



* How to put an internal franchise culture in place



* How to lead and reward an internal franchise company culture







Mertin O'Neill (photo left) has been an operator and consultant in the technology services and software industries for 25 years. He has started technology based services companies, led two IT Services firms through successful acquisitions and ran a business unit for a Fortune 50 company.



He was the Director of Maryland Operations for the Boeing Company’s Space and Intelligence Systems business unit. Marty joined Boeing while the COO for the acquisition target, Conquest, Inc.



Prior to this, he was CEO of Canal Bridge Consulting, a management consulting firm. Marty was also the President and CEO of CTX Corporation, an IT Service company in the Federal Intel market. He founded and was COO and Director of Rapid Systems Solutions, an IT services company. Marty started his career as a consultant with Booz, Allen and Hamilton and later moved to Oracle in a sales role.



Martin is now Principal with Corsum Consulting, a firm focused on building enterprise value for mid market companies. He has also served as the University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC) Entrepreneur-in-Residence and currently teaches classes on Entrepreneurship.



Marty has been leading change his entire career. He is well known in the Washington/Baltimore market and has a proven record of building dynamic, growth oriented organizations. Marty's co-authored book, Act Like an Owner: Building an Ownership Culture, was lauded by Ken Blanchard as "a must read for the 21st century."



Marty O'Neill's new book, The Power of an Internal Franchise: How Your Business Will Prosper When Employees Act Like Owners, was published in May 2011.



Marty lives on the Magothy River in Maryland with his wife, their three children, and their yellow lab Sunny.



My book review of The Power of an Internal Franchise: How Your Business Will Prosper When Employees Act Like Owners by Martin O'Neill.



My book review of Building Business Value: How to Command a Premium Price for Your Midsized Company by Martin O'Neill.



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 consultant, leadership and corporate culture expert, principal with Corsum Consulting, and author of the empowering and company transformational book The Power of an Internal Franchise: How Your Business Will Prosper When Employees Act Like Owners, Martin O'Neill, as he describes the leading edge of company cultural transformational concept of turning every employee into an internal franchisee. Marty O'Neill provides evidence of how when employees take personal ownership, and see the company's success as their own, engagement and productivity are increased dramatically. The internal franchise company has a strong and empowered culture where people act with the best interests of the organization in mind. Marty O'Neill ares three steps to put the internal franchise concept to work for your company on Blog Business Success Radio.

Tags: The Power of an Internal Franchise: How Your Business Will Prosper When Employees Act Like Owners, Martin O'Neill, employee empowerment strategies, Blog Business Success, Blog Talk Radio.

The Power of an Internal Franchise by Martin O'Neill - Book review

The Power of an Internal Franchise



How Your Business Will Prosper When Employees Act Like Owners



By: Martin O'Neill



Published: May 1, 2011

Format: Hardcover, 224 pages

ISBN-10: 0982056915

ISBN-13: 978-0982056912

Publisher: Third Bridge Press



















"When entrepreneurial spirit permeates every corner of an organization,the entrepreneur lurking in each of us awakens", writes leadership and company culture consultant, and principal of Corsum Consulting, Martin O'Neill in his empowering and company transformational book The Power of an Internal Franchise: How Your Business Will Prosper When Employees Act Like Owners. The author describes how empowering employees to think like owners, where each employee feels they own a franchise within the company, builds a strong company culture where people make decisions that benefit the company in both the short and long term.



Martin O'Neill recognizes that restructuring, layoffs, and the economy have many employees feeling demoralized, and many business leaders at a loss as to how to rebuild employee enthusiasm. Even with a bright outlook in many industries, employees feel disconnected from their workplace, and are not engaged completely with their employer or the company's goal. It has become clear the older concepts of management are failing to achieve the results sought by the company's leadership. For Martin O'Neill, it's time for organizations to consider an entirely different approach to developing employee engagement and for creating a high performing and sustainable company culture.







Mertin O'Neill (photo left) recommends the empowering approach, of enabling every employee to feel the pride and sense of ownership of the company, through the internal franchise. The author points out that morale in many companies has declined, and with employees less engaged than ever before, it's critical for business leaders to consider an alternative approach to building a strong company culture. The very idea that employees can consider themselves owners of the business is a radical approach whose time has arrived in today's economy. Martin O'Neill reminds business leaders that people are what propel the company forward. If the organization's employees are engaged and empowered, they will drive the company to new heights of success.



To create the internal franchise model, Martin O'Neill provides three critical elements that business leaders must consider. Those three elements are as follows:



* Define your operating model

* Find employees who will learn, execute, teach, challenge and improve that model

* Build a culture of ownership



For me, the power of the book is how martin O'Neill not only presents the theoretical framework for the importance of the internal franchise, but provides a road map for putting the concept to work in any organization. The author provides the reasons why companies are not performing as well as they anticipate in their forecasts. Foremost in that assessment is the lack of engagement on the part of employees. A person who doesn't feel empowered, and even suspects that they will be laid off at any time, will not perform to their maximum ability level. While many systems exist for reinvigorating those less engaged employees, they all have the limitation of being manager-employee driven.



Martin O'Neill goes beyond the usual engagement concepts and introduces the more vital element of the feeling of ownership. When an employee feels like they are owners of the business, and that they will be rewarded accordingly, they become very high level performers. Their empowered ownership culture will far out perform a culture based on employee relationships alone. The value and self worth felt by an employee, who is also empowered as an owner, was once a standard way of looking at the world. martin O'Neill has revived and strengthened the concept of personal ownership, as a technique for rebuilding and growing companies, through empowered employees.



I highly recommend the revolutionary and idea filled book The Power of an Internal Franchise: How Your Business Will Prosper When Employees Act Like Owners by Martin O'Neill, to any business leaders who are seeking a fresh and innovative approach to renewing their moribund company cultures. This book offers a guide to empowering employees and building a company culture where people are engaged and feel they are owners with a direct stake in the success of the company.



Read the innovative and company culture changing book book The Power of an Internal Franchise: How Your Business Will Prosper When Employees Act Like Owners by Martin O'Neill, and discover the hidden engine of growth that already lives within your company in the form of the internal franchise. Through developing this empowering principle within your company, the potential for rapid and sustainable growth can become a reality.

Tags: The Power of an Internal Franchise: How Your Business Will Prosper When Employees Act Like Owners, Martin O'Neill, employee empowerment strategies, business book reviews.

Paul Jankowski: How To Speak American - Blog Business Success Radio

Listen to Wayne Hurlbert on Blog Talk Radio



Leading brand strategist, owner of Nashville based Access Brand Strategies, and author of the very insightful and eye opening book How to Speak American: Building Brands in the New Heartland, Paul Jankowski, shares ideas for connecting with the consumer in America's New Heartland. He describes the values, rituals, and symbols that resonate with the heartland consumer. Comprised of the Midwest, the Southeast, and parts of the Southwest, the New Heartland offers unique challenges and opportunities for branding and products. Partly marketing guide, and part societal study, the book provides Paul Jankowski's unique insights into the consumer buying habits of this vast and important region. Discover the keys to branding in the New Heartland.

Paul Jankowski is my internet radio show guest on Blog Business Success; hosted live on BlogTalkRadio.

The show airs live on Tuesday, August 30, at 8:00 pm Eastern Time; 5:00 pm Pacific Time.

Leading brand strategist, owner of Nashville based Access Brand Strategies, and author of the very insightful and eye opening book How to Speak American: Building Brands in the New Heartland, Paul Jankowski, shares ideas for connecting with the consumer in America's New Heartland. You will learn:

* Why the New Heartland is an important region for marketers to understand

* Why the core values of faith, community, and family are so crucial

* How to connect with the consumers of the New Heartland of America

* How to avoid the mistakes that can lead to lost opportunities



Paul Jankowski (photo left) is the Chief Strategist at Nashville-based Access Brand Strategies (ABS). For over 20 years, he has provided branding services for some of the world’s largest advertisers including Pepsi, Anheuser-Busch and Ford. He writes a blog for Forbes called "Speak American".

ABS specializes in helping brands build relationships with consumers in the New Heartland.

Prior to the re-launching of his agency, Jankowski served as Chief Marketing Officer for Memphis-based Elvis Presley Enterprises, Inc. (EPE), a subsidiary of CKX, Inc. He oversaw all aspects of global brand development. In addition to Graceland and its related attractions, including the Heartbreak Hotel, EPE is aggressively involved in a worldwide licensing program, merchandising, music publishing, television, film, video and Internet projects.

He was instrumental in the development of the Muhammad Ali brand plan. Muhammad Ali, Inc. is also owned by CKX.

As Senior Vice President, Jankowski directed sales and marketing activity for HOST Communications' Affinity and Events Division. HOST was a top 5 sports marketing agency.

He served as Vice President of Media Marketing for SFX Entertainment. SFX/Live Nation is the largest producer of live entertainment in the world.

Before assuming his duties with SFX Entertainment, Jankowski was the Director of Marketing and Entertainment Relations/Worldwide for Gibson Guitar Corporation.

Prior to his tenure at Gibson, he served as regional pop/urban promotion manager for MCA Records and SBK Records.

He has created promotions for a variety of artists and athletes including: Beyonce, Evander Holyfield, Jo Dee Messina, Destiny's Child, Nelly, Reba McEntire, Vince Gill, Marty Stuart, Travis Tritt, Elton John, Tom Petty, B.B. King, Mary J. Blige, Bell Biv DeVoe and Meatloaf.

Jankowski helped establish, and served as Chairman of the TJ Martell Foundation/Nashville for 10 years as a volunteer.

He was a certified NFL agent from 2005 through 2007.

He received an Advertising/Communications degree from the University of Tennessee/Knoxville and he and his wife of 21 years have four children.

My book review of How to Speak American: Building Brands in the New Heartland by Paul Jankowski.

Listen live on Tuesday 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 leading brand strategist, owner of Nashville based Access Brand Strategies, and author of the very insightful and eye opening book How to Speak American: Building Brands in the New Heartland, Paul Jankowski, as he shares ideas for connecting with the consumer in America's New Heartland. He describes the values, rituals, and symbols that resonate with the heartland consumer. Comprised of the Midwest, the Southeast, and parts of the Southwest, the New Heartland offers unique challenges and opportunities for branding and products. Partly marketing guide, and part societal study, the book provides Paul Jankowski's unique insights into the consumer buying habits of this vast and important region. Discover the keys to branding in the New Heartland on Blog Business Success Radio.

Tags: How to Speak American: Building Brands in the New Heartland, Paul Jankowski, regional branding strategies, Blog Business Success, Blog Talk Radio.

How to Speak American: Building Brands in the New Heartland by Paul Jankowski - Book review

How to Speak American



Building Brands in the New Heartland



By: Paul Jankowski



Published: April 27, 2011

Format: Paperback, 192 pages

ISBN-10: 0615453910

ISBN-13: 978-0615453910

Publisher: ABS Publishing



























"From what I've seen,most marketers don't understand the Heartland. At all.The have wasted time and resources, and the results delivered, no matter how strong, are only a fraction of what they could have been", writes brand strategist and owner of Nashville based Access Brand Strategies, Paul Jankowski, in his very insightful and eye opening book How to Speak American: Building Brands in the New Heartland. The author describes how the New Heartland of America presents tremendous challenges and opportunities for marketers and brands, and shares the essential concepts to understand to succeed in this vast market.



Paul Jankowski understands that the consumer of the New Heartland is ever evolving, and must have ongoing attention from brands or face irrelevance. Long seen by marketers and brands as simply a subset of the coasts, and mistakenly viewed as similar to coastal consumers, the New Heartland consumers features very unique characteristics. In an vast region comprising the Midwest, Southeast, and part of the Southwest, the New Heartland is diverse in many ways, but also shares strong ideals and culture that transcend demographics. In the New Heartland, people live their values as a way of life. Paul Jankowski respects the people of the region, and advises than any would be successful New Heartland marketers and brands offer the same level of respect.







Paul Jankowski (photo left) recognizes the importance of maintaining acute cultural awareness while marketing in the New Heartland. The culture of the region forms the background to the choices made by the residents, in terms of the products they buy, and the brands they choose to support. The author emphasizes the critical importance of reaching out to the residents, and of respecting their values. All too often, writes Paul Jankowski, coastal based agencies, marketers, and brands condescend to New Heartland residents, and even display outright contempt for the values and ideals of the region.



Paul Jankowski underlines the three most important core values that permeate the entire New Heartland. Those ideals are:



* Faith

* Community

* Family



With these crucial values understood, and how they mesh together and underpin other regional ideals, a marketer and brand can achieve success in the region.



For me, the power of the book is how Paul Jankowski combines an in depth cultural and sociological study of the New Heartland, with practical advice for marketers and brands to develop markets in this vibrant region. The author presents both a panoramic and an in depth analysis of the three core ideals of the region. The relationship between the values of faith, community, and family is examined, along with how those three ideals relate to how New Heartlanders choose the products and brands they support.



The author shares valuable advice on how to interact with, and develop trusting relationships with the people of this constantly evolving region. While the core values remain constant in many ways, they are open to change in other ways. A marketer must recognize the subtle transformation taking place with the people and the values of the region, as well as recognizing which core ideals remain constant. Paul Jankowski, a born and bred resident of the region, is an excellent guide to this fascinating and potentially profitable region.



I highly recommend the definitive and thought provoking book How to Speak American: Building Brands in the New Heartland by Paul Jankowski, to any marketers, branders, and agencies seeking a deeper and sympathetic guide to understanding the vast and important New Heartland consumer. The author treats the people of the region, and their core values, with respect and honors their dignity. Those element of dignity and respect are crucial for any marketer to achieve success in the New Heartland marketplace.



Read the valuable and stereotype destroying book How to Speak American: Building Brands in the New Heartland by Paul Jankowski, and discover the enormous opportunity presented by the consumer in the New Heartland. This book is your road map for navigating through that vast and important region of America.

Tags: How to Speak American: Building Brands in the New Heartland, Paul Jankowski, regional branding strategies, business book reviews.

The 8 Dimensions of Leadership by Jeffrey Sugerman, Mark Scullard & Emma Wilhelm - Book review

The 8 Dimensions of Leadership



DiSC® Strategies for Becoming a Better Leader



By: Jeffrey Sugerman, Mark Scullard, Emma Wilhelm



Published: May 16, 2011

Format: Paperback, 288 pages

ISBN-10: 1605099554

ISBN-13: 978-1605099552

Publisher: Berrett-Koehler Publishers



























"As you strive to grow as a leader, you'll need to focus your leadership energy in new directions, and this will sometimes be a stretch for you", write leadership training executives from Inscape Publishing, Jeffrey Sugerman, Mark Scullard, and Emma Wilhelm in their insightful and leadershio skills developing book The 8 Dimensions of Leadership: DiSC® Strategies for Becoming a Better Leader. The authors describe how possessing a single leadership skill is insufficient to lead a team to success, and that a good leader requires a wide range of skills and perspectives.



Jeffrey Sugerman, Mark Scullard, and Emma Wilhelm recognize that leadership is a complex and challenging role for anyone. As a result of that complexity, many leaders rely on a single well developed trait and skill to guide their teams toward their goals. For the authors, the reliance on a single leadership skill may work effectively in certain circumstances, but fail badly in other situations. Leaders must be prepared to learn new leadership behaviors, to move beyond their automatic response, when faced with new or unexpected obstacles. For the authors, the development of the eight leadership behaviors is an internal journey to self discovery, of discovering how and why a leader behaves, and of learning the additional and necessary leadership skills.







Jeffrey Sugerman, Mark Scullard, and Emma Wilhelm (all in photo left) present the DiSC® personality assessment model of leadership behavior. The letters of the DiSC® acronym stand for Dominance, influence, Steadiness, and Conscientiousness. Utilizing these four poles, the leader is invited to self assess their current leadership behavior, and its location on the DiSC® compass points. The leader will identify their normal, and usually default behavior, and its inherent strengths and dangerous weaknesses. Through a deeper understanding of the leader's leadership dimension, the path is opened to learning and developing the other leadership behaviors.



The authors describe the eight leadership dimensions, each with its own specific strengths and weaknesses, as follows:



* The Pioneering leader

* The Energizing leader

* The Affirming leader

* The Inclusive leader

* The Humble leader

* The Deliberate leader

* The Resolute leader

* The Commanding leader



For me, the power of the book is how Jeffrey Sugerman, Mark Scullard, and Emma Wilhelm combine the methodology of the DiSC® self assessment model with practical advice for learning and developing the entire spectrum of eight leadership behaviors. Unlike most studies of leadership skills that focus on single behaviors, the authors consider that the full wide range of perspectives are essential for effective leadership. Indeed, the authors consider the default reliance on a single leadership style potentially disastrous. The eight leadership dimensions have their individual strong sides, but they also hold an equally powerful and disastrous down side that leads to leadership breakdown and failure.



To counter the one dimensional leadership prescriptions provided by many leadership experts, the authors share the tools for self assessing one's own personal leadership behavior. Once the individual's preferred behavior is well understood, the authors offer their research based strategies for learning, developing, and applying the other dimensions when and where they are needed in real world situations. The book is a hands on manual for beginning the quest to self awareness and improvement for leaders of all types.



I highly recommend the idea filled and results oriented book The 8 Dimensions of Leadership: DiSC® Strategies for Becoming a Better Leader by Jeffrey Sugerman, Mark Scullard, and Emma Wilhelm, to anyone seeking a fresh and self assessment approach to developing well rounded leadership skills. The strategies for improving one's inventory of leadership behaviors creates more flexibility to meet and succeed in any circumstances.



Read the leadership transformational book The 8 Dimensions of Leadership: DiSC® Strategies for Becoming a Better Leader by Jeffrey Sugerman, Mark Scullard, and Emma Wilhelm, and discover the tools and techniques for becoming a more effective leader. One leadership behavior won't get you to the finish line, but the skills described in this book will take you the rest of the way to achieving your team's goals.

Tags: The 8 Dimensions of Leadership: DiSC® Strategies for Becoming a Better Leader, Jeffrey Sugerman, Mark Scullard, Emma Wilhelm, innovative leadership strategies, business book reviews.

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Understanding Sponsored Search by Jim Jansen - Book review

Understanding Sponsored Search



Core Elements of Keyword Advertising



By: Jim Jansen



Published: July 25, 2011

Format: Paperback, 304 pages

ISBN-10: 1107628369

ISBN-13: 978-1107628366

Publisher: Cambridge University Press























"Sponsored search is the process in which advertisers pay to have their advertisements appear on a search engine results page in response to a query from a searcher. In sponsored search, advertisers pay search engines for traffic from the search engine to their Web site", writes Associate Professor at the College of Information Science and technology at The Pennsylvania State University, Jim Jansen, in his very approachable and insightful book Understanding Sponsored Search: Core Elements of Keyword Advertising. The author describes the fundamental basis of both the theoretical and methodological aspects of sponsored search in a business context.



Jim Jansen brings a strong analytical and research based study of the elements of keyword buying and impact to why certain keywords are effective, while others languish. The author focuses on the why questions of sponsored search, rather than on the mechanics of how to utilize sponsored search. Jim Jansen provides research into consumer behavior as they utilize the search engines for product information, pricing, and purchases. As a result, the author points out why some keywords work well, why certain ads achieve success, and why some keyword phrases are more expensive than others. Jim Jansen offers useful advice into why keyword measurement requires special attention to measure the correct analytics.







Jim Jansen (photo left) recognizes the critical importance of buying the right keywords and advertisements for business. For a small company, bidding on and winning the ideal keyword phrases can level the playing field against even the largest online competitors. Search engines have transformed online activity in the field of internet commerce creating the necessity of search engine visibility. For the author, the technique examined is sponsored search, through the bidding and purchasing of keywords. Since some keywords achieve much richer results than other seemingly similar keywords, Jim Jansen places his emphasis on why consumers behave as they do, and why they prefer certain keywords and phrases over others. Along with understanding which keywords produce superior outcomes, the author also shares concepts of why some measurements of success are superior to other metrics. At the same time, Jim Jansen demonstrates why some keyword bidding tactics are more effective than others in acquiring the most productive keywords.



For me, the power of the book is how Jim Jansen combines both the theoretical and practical elements of sponsored search into a unified whole. With the main emphasis on why consumers behave as they do, the author provides leading edge research that extends the sponsored search knowledge base considerably. Jim Jansen combines the search engine elements of keywords, ads, keyword pricing and bidding, with the business aspects of marketing, branding, advertising, and competition into a seamless holistic approach to the subject material. Readers seeking a more mathematical and theoretical methodology will find it here, along with a very accessible discussion of why that research is important to online advertising success. As an added bonus, the author provides an excellent glossary of search engine terms for the business person who is unfamiliar with the terminology.



I highly recommend the groundbreaking and boundary expanding book Understanding Sponsored Search: Core Elements of Keyword Advertising by Jim Jansen, to anyone seeking a well researched and reasoned study of the elements of why the right keywords and an understanding of consumer behavior are critical to successful sponsored search. The author also provides the basis for further research on the part of the business person to continue individual research into various keywords, and how to measure the results accurately.



Read the landmark book Understanding Sponsored Search: Core Elements of Keyword Advertising by Jim Jansen, and discover why your customers behave as they do in their search engine queries. This book will guide you in the right direction to understanding consumer actions to ensure you bid and on and gain the best possible keywords for your business.

Tags: Understanding Sponsored Search: Core Elements of Keyword Advertising, Jim Jansen, search engine strategies, business book reviews.

Built To Sell by John Warrillow - Book review

Built to Sell



Creating a Business That Can Thrive Without You



By: John Warrillow



Published: April 28, 29011

Format: Hardcover, 176 pages

ISBN-10: 1591843979

ISBN-13: 978-1591843979

Publisher: Portfolio/Penguin



















This book is about how to create4 a business that can thrive without you. Once your business can run without you, you'll have a valuable - sellable - asset", writes entrepreneur, keynote speaker, and angel investor John Warrillow, in the preface to his engaging and idea packed business parable Built to Sell: Creating a Business That Can Thrive Without You. The author shares the fictional account of business owner Alex Stapleton, who despite a loyal customer base, is unable to take the business to the next level of becoming a sellable company.



John Warrillow shares the concept of creating what he describes as a sellable company. To convey the principles that comprise a sellable company, the author offers a business fable to illustrate the ideas. The main character, Alex Stapleton is at a crossroads in his entrepreneurial career. While successful as a small business owner, he finds himself spread too thinly, as he is responsible for too many areas in managing the company. When he decides it's time to sell the company, he discovers that his presence is so integral to the overall business, that it has much less value without his management presence. He meets his old friend and successful entrepreneur Ted Gordon, who guides Tim toward transforming his company into a sellable business.







John Warrillow (photo left) offers a rare glimpse into the heart of a business through the eyes of an entrepreneur seeking to create a company that can be sold readily, at a premium price, and doesn't lose value with the removal of the previous owner. Since every business owner must eventually leave the business, an exit plan for the entrepreneur is essential for any company. The character of Ted Gordon helps troubled business owner Alex Stapleton navigate his way through the critical steps of preparing his company for sale.



The fictional Ted Gordon demonstrates to Alex that every aspect of the company's product or service must meet certain criteria to ensure that the company is built to sell:



* It is teachable. Products and services must be teachable to any employable or be automated to deliver results.



* It is valuable. The company doesn't compete on lower prices but on superiority in its products or services.



* It is repeatable. The company builds strong continual revenue streams through repeat customers.



For me, the power of the book is how John Warrillow presents his concepts for developing a business that is built to sell through the vehicle of a highly readable business story. The use of fictional people helps the author to illustrate how the sellable company is built through the use of a narrative fable. The principles offered in the book become readily understood, and the engaging storyline provides incentive for the reader to follow even the concepts that may be more complex through their steps toward their conclusion. The author also presents a nice summary of the tips presented in the book, as well as a very practical added chapter on implementing the nine principles effectively in any company.



I highly recommend the enjoyable and business transformational book Built to Sell: Creating a Business That Can Thrive Without You by John Warrillow, to anyone seeking an entertaining yet highly educational book on creating a business that is built to sell. With every entrepreneur eventually needing an exit plan, for any number of reasons, this book will serve as the road map for reaching the desired sale destination.



Read the valuable little gem of a book Built to Sell: Creating a Business That Can Thrive Without You by John Warrillow, and discover how to turn a business that would be very difficult to sell, into a company that will sell readily and command a premium price. This book provides the tool kit necessary for building a sellable company in any industry.

Tags: Built to Sell: Creating a Business That Can Thrive Without You, John Warrillow, innovative management strategies, business book reviews.

Connie Glaser: GenderTalk Works - Blog Business Success Radio

Listen to Wayne Hurlbert on Blog Talk Radio



Speaker, leading gender workplace communications expert, and author of the insightful and thought provoking book GenderTalk Works: 7 Steps for Cracking the Gender Code at Work, Connie Glaser, provides a fresh framework for understanding the subtle codes that can lead to misunderstandings in the workplace. Connie points out that gender differences are a fact of life, and a growing point of contention within the work environment. While companies are reporting that gender tensions are rising, there is an increased willingness by both men and women to understand these differences and to collaborate toward improving their organizational health and productivity. Connie Glaser shares the tool kit necessary to overcome gender issues at work. Learn the guidelines for more open communication, and how to leverage the strengths of both genders to everyone's benefit.

Connie Glaser is my internet radio show guest on Blog Business Success; hosted live on BlogTalkRadio.

The show airs live on Thursday, August 25, at 8:00 pm Eastern Time; 5:00 pm Pacific Time.

Speaker, leading gender workplace communications expert, and author of the insightful and thought provoking book GenderTalk Works: 7 Steps for Cracking the Gender Code at Work, Connie Glaser, provides a fresh framework for understanding the subtle codes that can lead to misunderstandings in the workplace. You will learn:

* How and why men and women have different communication styles

* Why misunderstanding gender communication can lead to workplace problems

* How to communicate better within a gender diverse work environment

* how to use seven steps to improve your gender communication skills



Connie Glaser (photo left) is a corporate speaker and consultant to Fortune 500 companies, Connie is recognized for her ability to address challenging workplace issues with humor and insight. Her client list includes FedEx, McKinsey & Co, ESPN, JPMorgan Chase, General Electric, Johnson & Johnson, Deloitte, AT&T, Time Warner, HP, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Forbes, and the U.S. Navy.

Connie's latest book, GenderTalk Works: 7 Steps for Cracking the Gender Code at Work recently debuted on FOX News Live. Praised by media and corporate executives, the book has been hailed as "an insightful step forward in the ongoing dialogue between men and women as colleagues."

Connie first gained international acclaim with her breakthrough best-seller, Swim with the Dolphins, which established "a new navigational map for women in business.” Offering an updated role model for women, Dolphins has been ranked among the Top Ten Books on Women in Business. A workplace classic around the world, it has been translated into German, Chinese, Korean, Bulgarian, Japanese, and Hebrew.

Recognized for having her finger on the pulse of today’s workplace, Connie has served as Chair of the Travel Advisory Council for Inter-Continental Hotels. She also serves on the Women's Advisory Board for Office Depot, and the Advisory Board for Emory University Graduate Women in Business.

Connie’s syndicated column, Winning at Work, appears in the Atlanta Business Chronicle and award-winning business journals around the country. She also is a nationally-featured columnist with bizwomen.com.

Connie was recently honored for her contributions to diversity and workplace excellence by being named Businesswoman of the Year by Office Depot. She has also been honored by being inaugurated into The World Who's Who of Women. http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif

Her books have been translated into over a dozen languages and are among the most widely-read and influential books on workplace diversity and women’s leadership.

A frequent media guest, Connie has appeared on The Today Show, FOX News, CNN, and NBC Nightly News. With a Master's Degree from the University of Michigan, she has also served as a faculty member for the American Institute of Banking and the International Management Council.

My book review of GenderTalk Works: 7 Steps for Cracking the Gender Code at Work by Connie Glaser.

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 keynote speaker, leading gender workplace communications expert, and author of the insightful and thought provoking book GenderTalk Works: 7 Steps for Cracking the Gender Code at Work, Connie Glaser, as she provides a fresh framework for understanding the subtle codes that can lead to misunderstandings in the workplace. Connie points out that gender differences are a fact of life, and a growing point of contention within the work environment. While companies are reporting that gender tensions are rising, there is an increased willingness by both men and women to understand these differences and to collaborate toward improving their organizational health and productivity. Connie Glaser shares the tool kit necessary to overcome gender issues at work. Learn the guidelines for more open communication, and how to leverage the strengths of both genders to everyone's benefit on Blog Business Success Radio.

Tags: GenderTalk Works: 7 Steps for Cracking the Gender Code at Work, Connie Glaser, workplace diversity strategies, Blog Business Success, Blog Talk Radio.

GenderTalk Works by Connie Glaser - Book review

GenderTalk Works



7 Steps for Cracking the Gender Code at Work



By: Connie Glaser



Published: January 18, 2007

Format: Hardcover, 154 pages

ISBN-10: 0961492783

ISBN-13: 978-0961492786

Publisher: Windsor Hall Press

























"Gender talk that works is critical in the workplace - today more than ever". writes leading expert on gender communications at work, Connie Glaser, in her insightful and thought provoking book GenderTalk Works: 7 Steps for Cracking the Gender Code at Work. The author describes how understanding gender differences, in the way people communicate, is critical for managerial success in today's diverse work environments.



Connie Glaser recognizes that there are very real differences in the way that men and women communicate, both in their speaking and their listening styles. The author provides both inborn and societal reasons for these contrasting abilities, while offering a sensitive and caring discussion of the role that gender plays in the interactions between people. Connie Glaser shares evidence that men and women display subtle codes in both their speaking and their listening styles. These styles are often subconscious, and the speaker and listener are unaware of them even taking place during the conversation. The author also presents a clear difference in the managerial, training, and motivational techniques employed by both genders.







Connie Glaser (photo left) describes how a deeper understanding of the role that gender plays, in the different managerial methods of men and women, will enhance performance and productivity in an increasingly diverse workplace. The author presents very practical and easy to apply techniques, for improving inter-gender dialogue, that can prevent costly misunderstandings between managers and staff members. Failing to address these communication differences causes tension and unnecessary conflict within the workplace, destroying morale and lowering productivity.



A more clear understanding of gender diversity in communication skills leads to more inclusive work environments, a more engaged workforce, and multiplies the strengths that both men and women bring to the organization. Connie Glaser shares the following seven strategies for building gender communication skills throughout the company:



* Dig the cultural roots

* Dig into those hard wired gender differences

* Don't take conversation literally

* Read my lips - and other clues

* Send the right message

* Lighten up

* GenderTalk Works if you do it right



For me, the power of the book is how Connie Glaser addresses the issue of gender communication differences openly, while respecting both men and women and their contributions to the organization. The author combines stories of real world experiences in gender diverse workplaces with leading edge brain research that points to actual gender brain differences. Connie Glaser not only demonstrates why recognizing the crucial importance of improving gender communication skills, but also shows why that transformation leads to improved organizational health and productivity. The author shares seven practical and readily applicable steps for achieving deeper gender understanding in any work environment to build that stronger, more inclusive, and diverse company.



I highly recommend the very practical and strategy packed book GenderTalk Works: 7 Steps for Cracking the Gender Code at Work by Connie Glaser, to anyone seeking to enhance workplace communication skills in an ever more gender diverse workforce. The companies that embrace and celebrate the differences in gender communication styles will be on the leading edge of performance increases now and in the future.



Read the engaging and informative book GenderTalk Works: 7 Steps for Cracking the Gender Code at Work by Connie Glaser, and discover how to improve your communication skills for working with both male and female bosses, peers, and staff members. Your organization will be healthier, more engaged, and more productive than ever before.

Tags: GenderTalk Works: 7 Steps for Cracking the Gender Code at Work, Connie Glaser, workplace diversity strategies, business book reviews.

Debby Dowling: Marketing & Time Management For Entrepreneurs - Blog Business Success Radio

Listen to Wayne Hurlbert on Blog Talk Radio







Marketing professional and the creator of Wedding Pro Newsletter, Debby Dowling, shares secrets to successful marketing for entrepreneurs who are short of both money and time. Debby describes how her 15 minute per month automatic newsletter for entrepreneurs saved them time and money. She offers ideas for how even the busiest entrepreneurs can enhance their marketing and maintain engaging communication with customers. Debby provides advice for improving communications both inside the company and with customers, and prospects, through delegation and improved time management. Learn how to improve your marketing, while saving your money and your time.



Debby Dowling is my internet radio show guest on Blog Business Success; hosted live on BlogTalkRadio.



The show airs live on Tuesday, August 23, at 8:00 pm Eastern Time; 5:00 pm Pacific Time.



Marketing professional and the creator of Wedding Pro Newsletter, Debby Dowling, shares secrets to successful marketing for entrepreneurs who are short of both money and time. You will learn:



* How to be a successful email newsletter marketer in a crowded inbox



* How to use delegation to improve time management



* How to keep in contact with customers with improved communications



* How to avid micro-managing your employees through better delegation







Debby Dowling (photo left) has worked with a broad spectrum of clients meeting a variety of marketing objectives. From boutique, niche focused products to giant, corporate brands such as Kraft and Oscar Meyer, she earned essential knowledge of the value in finely directed marketing. A graduate of Northwestern University’s prestigious Integrated Marketing MS program, Debby’s passion for marketing allowed her to gain valuable insight into the unique growth needs of brands large and small.



With her keen understanding of marketing best practices Debby is excited to share her passion and expertise with the wedding industry and help make marketing to brides easy through Effortless Bridal Marketing and Wedding Pro Newsletter.



While planning her own wedding Debby definitely learned first hand how passionate wedding professionals are about what they do! But she also saw some of the bridal marketing challenges they faced. A business owner herself, Debby fully understands the struggles facing individuals and businesses hoping to grow to the next level yet held back by limited experience or resources. In an effort to aid the professional wedding sector, Debby devised an effective and easy way to grow their bridal business and make their marketing easier and more effective. The result is Effortless Bridal Marketing and Wedding Pro Newsletterr.



Debby resides in Southern California with her husband Dave and her three rescue dogs Baxter, Toshi and LooLoo. She is also an instructor for Code Pink Boot Camp, teaches pilates and is active in Big Brothers Big Sisters of Orange County.



Listen live on Tuesday 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 marketing professional and the creator of Wedding Pro Newsletter, Debby Dowling, as she shares secrets to successful marketing for entrepreneurs who are short of both money and time. Debby describes how her 15 minute per month automatic newsletter for entrepreneurs saved them time and money. She offers ideas for how even the busiest entrepreneurs can enhance their marketing and maintain engaging communication with customers. Debby provides advice for improving communications both inside the company and with customers, and prospects, through delegation and improved time management. Learn how to improve your marketing, while saving your money and your time on Blog Business Success Radio.

Tags: Wedding Pro Newsletter, Debby Dowling, marketing and time management for entrepreneurs, Blog Business Success, Blog Talk Radio.

Collaborative Intelligence by J. Richard Hackman - Book review

Collaborative Intelligence



Using Teams to Solve Hard Problems



By: J. Richard Hackman



Published: May 12, 2011

Format: Hardcover, 240 pages

ISBN-10: 1605099902

ISBN-13: 978-1605099903

Publisher: Berrett-Koehler Publishers

























"Although there are many heroic individuals in the intelligence community, most intelligence work actually involves extensive and intensive collaboration with others - with colleagues in the intelligence community to be sure, but also with outsiders such as people from other government agencies, academic researchers, and employees of private-sector organizations", writes Edgar Pierce Professor of Social and Organizational Psychology at Harvard University, J. Richard Hackman, in his groundbreaking and insightful book Collaborative Intelligence: Using Teams to Solve Hard Problems. The author describes how to build teams in even the most difficult of organizations, where information may often be incomplete or unavailable, and why teamwork and collaboration are essential in all organizations.



J. Richard Hackman draws upon his experience with the intelligence community to demonstrate not only the critical importance of teams, but also to provide insights into why some teams are effective while others end in failure. The author points out that even in the secretive intelligence community, where information may be classified and inaccessible, the importance of teams is crucial for achieving the organizational goals. The concepts presented in the book are equally beneficial for law enforcement, defense agencies, crisis and disaster organizations, and governments. The ideas and strategies for building collaborative teams are also valuable for businesses and non-profit associations. For the author, well designed collaborative teams are essential for success in any organization or community.







J. Richard Hackman (photo left) understands that many organizations lack the skills necessary to build effective collaborative teams. The author recognizes that some teams work really together, and other groups people brought together are neither cooperative or useful in any way. J. Richard hackman provides the good news that all teams involve people assigned to achieve a specific goal. As a result, the same principles for establishing and mobilizing beneficial teams can be utilized in any situation or organization. The author presents the conditions that result in teams that don't work, and when using a team may not even be the best approach to addressing the problem.



To build strong and effective teams anywhere and at any time, the author shares the following guidelines:



* Create a real and stable team that works together

* Establish a clear purpose for the team

* Place the right people in the right team roles

* Establish clear rules of conduct for individuals and the group

* Provide the necessary support and resources to achieve the goal

* Provide team oriented coaching at the right times



For me, the power of the book is how J. Richard Hackman takes a results oriented approach to team building. The author describes why recruiting, establishing guidelines, and providing the proper resources and timely coaching are critical to team success. J. Richard Hackman provides a step by step process for establishing successful teams, as well as warning against the common mistakes that result in badly designed, under supported, or teams that work at cross purposes. The author stresses that teams must also be developed in context of the task, and of the organization itself, to achieve the desired outcomes.



The author shares his six steps to creating effective and collaborative teams, utilizing his team establishing experience developed in the intelligence community. One of the real strengths of the book is how the author uses plain language to describe his concepts and strategies. Even more importantly, J. Richard Hackamn avoids quick fixes and shortcuts. The author realizes, thanks to that vast experience, that teams are complex interactions between very different people, often with widely diverse personalities and skill sets, that require intensive and extensive selection and care.



I highly recommend the very hands on and research based book Collaborative Intelligence: Using Teams to Solve Hard Problems by J. Richard Hackman, to anyone in any government, quasi-governmental, non-profit, or business organization who is seeking a reliable guide to building strong and cohesive teams to complete tasks of any complexity level. This book is useful for the seasoned team development professional or for someone creating and managing a team for the very first time.



Read the pioneering and very real world based book Collaborative Intelligence: Using Teams to Solve Hard Problems by J. Richard Hackman, and discover how the use of collaborative teams can tackle and overcome the most difficult of problems. If you have ever had difficulties with creating and guiding effective teams toward their ultimate goal, this book is indeed an eye opening experience.

Tags: Collaborative Intelligence: Using Teams to Solve Hard Problems, J. Richard Hackman, team leadership strategies, business book reviews.

Growth or Bust! by Mark Faust - Book review

Growth or Bust!



Proven Turnaround Strategies to Grow Your Business



By: Mark Faust



Published: July 15, 2011

Format: Paperback, 224 pages

ISBN-10: 1601631626

ISBN-13: 978-1601631626

Publisher: Career Press



















"How much untapped potential lies within your business?" asks growth and turnaround consultant, speaker, executive coach to owners and CEOs at Echelon Management International, Mark Faust, in his provocative and highly practical book Growth or Bust! Proven Turnaround Strategies to Grow Your Business. The author describes how the vast majority of companies have the potential to dramatically accelerate growth, and how with aggressive innovation and effective strategic planning, through a holistic change in all aspects of the organization.



Mark Faust understands that a company turnaround must be focused throughout the entire organization. The author calls his holistic approach a turnaround manifesto for members of top management, and for sales and marketing management. Mark Faust doesn't just consider management as a source of innovative and growth ideas. He strongly recommends seeking fresh ideas from every member of the organization, along with sharing innovative concepts with all employees as well. Indeed, mark Faust considers this free flow of ideas and innovation critical to develop a strong company culture that values its employees and their input. For Mark Faust, a leader must be the facilitator of an innovation and growth revolution.







Mark Faust (photo left) takes the bold step of recommending the choice of a complete turnaround instead of the usual few cautious steps. The author points out that the revolutionary approach is much more effective in transforming a company. This holistic concept moves beyond the usual piecemeal tactics employed by most management initiated change. Instead of attempting to fix one area or department, Mark Faust takes the radical stance of improving every part of the of the company. To utilize this Revolution Solution, as Mark Faust calls it, a leader must believe in the possibilities within the organization. This technique is also conducive to building a strong company culture as it removes resentment and envy, as all aspects of the business become part of the transformation process.



Mark Faust shares the various elements of this holistic, or what he terms the Echeloned approach:



* Echeloned innovation process

* Echeloned strategy process

* Echeloned growth objectives

* Echeloned service impressions

* Echeloned depth interviews

* Echeloned sales groups



For me, the power of the book is how Mark Faust not only presents a holistic, company wide approach to a successful turnaround, but also provides the steps necessary to achieve that organizational change. The author offers nothing short of a revolutionary change manifesto challenges every manager and employee to be an integral part of the overall change planning and process. A critical element of the strategy is the inclusion of every employee an a source of potentially game changing ideas, and also of the clear communication of the process and goals to everyone within the company regardless of their role.



This crucial recognition of the dignity, importance, and innovative ideas of every member of the organization creates a more cohesive and engaged corporate culture, based on trust and mutual respect. With the consideration of the people within the company being accorded respect, the process of revolutionary change will be embraced and put into action to reach the goal of massive overall improvement.



I highly recommend the growth accelerating book Growth or Bust! Proven Turnaround Strategies to Grow Your Business by Mark Faust, to any business leaders who are serious about taking the revolutionary step toward creating real increases in their company growth. The author makes clear that tremendous growth and profit potential exists in every business, and through total employee inclusion, widely based innovation, and a bold strategic plan, a company can transform itself and its culture into a powerhouse.



Read the no nonsense and action oriented book Growth or Bust! Proven Turnaround Strategies to Grow Your Business by Mark Faust, and discover the hidden innovation ideas that exist within your own company. This book provides the step by step strategy for turning any company into an industry leader.

Tags: Growth or Bust! Proven Turnaround Strategies to Grow Your Business, Mark Faust, innovative growth strategies, business book reviews.

Cracking the New Job Market by R. William Holland - Book review

Cracking the New Job Market



The 7 Rules for Getting Hired in Any Economy



By: R. William Holland



August 17, 2011

Format: Paperback, 256 pages

ISBN-10: 0814417345

ISBN-13: 978-0814417348

Publisher: AMACOM



















"Those who understand how the job search has changed over the years have turned their career ship around so it's headed in the direction of creating value for others", writes founder of human resource and career management firm R. William Holland Consulting, LLC, R. William Holland, in his straight talking and results oriented book Cracking the New Job Market: The 7 Rules for Getting Hired in Any Economy. The author describes how the job finding techniques of the past are outdated and no longer work. Instead, he recommends a fundamental shift in thinking from what a person has done in the past to what value the employment seeker will create for the employer in the future.



Bill Holland understands that not only has the economy changed, but the very nature of employment has been transformed in deeply profound ways. No longer can a person expect to spend many years with the same employer, as many positions are terminated in a relatively short period of time. At the same time, educational attainment means much less to employers than it did in the past. The author emphasizes as well, that the advice given to job hunters is usually of little benefit in today's value oriented workplaces.



Instead of focusing on the traditional resume, job titles, employment responsibilities, and levels of education, R. William Holland proposes the fresh approach of demonstrating value to prospective employers. At the same time, the author stresses that the loss of a job in today's economy has little to do with a person's skills, abilities, or work habits and that is critical for job seekers to understand and internalize in their attitude and employment search efforts.







R. William Holland, Ph.D. (photo left) recognizes the vast and fundamental changes that have occurred in corporate America. These tumultuous times have altered many of the formerly accepted business practices, and the author shares his insights into how these new approaches have affected the hiring of new employees. For Bill Holland, the most critical element for being hired is the ability to demonstrate value to the prospective employer. This concept was not part of the traditional hiring process, but is now an extremely crucial skill for all job seekers. To guide employment seekers through the maze of new rules, and help turn them into an advantage for job hunters, R. William Holland shares seven value based strategies for landing a job in any economy:



* Always demonstrate your value

* Your resume is about the value you create

* Using social media and the internet to find job leads

* Interviews are about the value you demonstrate

* You get what you negotiate not what you deserve

* Career choice is more than following your passion

* Best way to reenter the job market is not leave it



For me, the power of the book is how R. William Holland combines a powerful strategy for gaining an employment advantage, with his real world experience with corporate America. The author presents a reality based approach that dispenses with the older, no longer effective methods, and concentrates on the critical component of creating and demonstrating value. The author provides practical and proven advice for networking the hidden job market, both online and through traditional networking. Bill Holland encourages job seekers to focus on taking action in their job search that combines their personal skills with the needs and requirements of the employment marketplace.



I highly recommend the very practical and real world focused book Cracking the New Job Market: The 7 Rules for Getting Hired in Any Economy by R. William Holland, Ph.D., to anyone seeking employment, whether a recent graduate, a woman reentering the workforce, someone looking for a career change, or anyone who has lost their job in today's economy. The author provides the straight answers to those difficult questions about finding a job. Bill Holland offers a road map to navigate through the new value centered rules of hiring people.



Read the modern and up to the minute book Cracking the New Job Market: The 7 Rules for Getting Hired in Any Economy by R. William Holland, Ph.D., and discover the importance of demonstrating and creating value in every aspect of your job search. With this book as your personal tutor, your journey toward a great new job will be more focused and ultimately much more successful.

Tags: Cracking the New Job Market: The 7 Rules for Getting Hired in Any Economy, R. William Holland, Ph.D., job finding guide, business book reviews.

Collective Visioning by Linda Stout - Book review

Collective Visioning



How Groups Can Work Together for a Just and Sustainable Future



By: Linda Stout



Published: May 16, 2011

Format: Paperback, 240 pages

ISBN-10: 1605098825

ISBN-13: 978-1605098821

Publisher: Berrett-Koehler Publishers

























"This book is for all of us looking for a different, more fulfilling, and sustainable way to work that creates real and lasting change for ourselves and future generations" writes activist, organizer, and founder and director of Spirit in Action, Linda Stout, in her inspirational and transformational book Collective Visioning: How Groups Can Work Together for a Just and Sustainable Future. The author describes how to create a positive vision for a better world and how to create a workable plan to put that vision into action.



Linda Stout understands, through her many years of experience as an organizer and activist, that people working together can build a brighter future for their communities. The author introduces the powerful concept of collective visioning as a positive, more exciting, and much more effective means of creating lasting change within a community. Through the power of collective visioning, people become more invested in creating their own future, and in inspiring others to share in and contribute to that dream. Collective visioning focuses on the positive side of action, on what can be done to make improvement, and empowers people to take ownership of their ideas and their own communities. Linda Stout offers the tools for relearning how to create a vision that brings people together, and creates connections that stress the collective benefits for everyone.







Linda Stout (photo left) recognizes that many groups working toward change become focused on problems rather than developing ideas for real solutions. A problem oriented approach locks people into patterns of criticism, negativity, and opposition to events. For Linda Stout, that approach is based on the negative emotions of fear and anger, resulting in a divided community and an unsustainable focus. Collective visioning, on the other hand, creates a big picture vision of what people really want, and a road map for reaching their desired future. Through this collaborative concept, that works through connection and personal ownership of the process and goal, people develop a strong sense of hope and an unshakable belief in the strength of the community.



Linda Stout shares:



* Stories of successful collective visioning in action

* Guidelines for developing a collective vision

* Ideas for building deep and collaborative connections

* Guidelines to build a stronger and more diverse community

* Empowering people to work form a place of inspiration and joy



For me, the power of the book is how Linda Stout combines a strong theoretical background for the power of collective visioning with a very practical guide for creating and implementing that vision. Linda Stout focuses on the positive aspect of creating sustainable and beneficial change, and empowers people to develop and act upon their dreams through cooperation and trust. The author presents a deeply personal approach, that combines individual heartfelt visions with storytelling, that resonate deeply within others and oneself. Through this personal ownership people gain hope and feel joy as they rebuild communities and peoples' lives. Linda Stout adds value to her concepts by sharing exercises in each chapter that build upon the concepts of vision, community, collaboration, trust, and joy.



I highly recommend the community changing and trust building book Collective Visioning: How Groups Can Work Together for a Just and Sustainable Future by Linda Stout, to anyone who seeks to make real and positive change within their communities and organizations. This empowering book acknowledges and celebrates the inner strength of people, and helps them to develop a strong vision of a better world for everyone.



Read the passionate and encouraging book Collective Visioning: How Groups Can Work Together for a Just and Sustainable Future by Linda Stout, and discover how to develop that commitment to making sustainable change, that leverages everyone's skills and abilities, and includes everyone within the overall vision. This book helps to create a vision, and then provides the tools necessary to transform that vision into a fresh and vibrant new community for all.

Tags: Collective Visioning: How Groups Can Work Together for a Just and Sustainable Future, Linda Stout, sustainable community change, business book reviews.