Legacy Bowes Group - Book Reviews
|
The Ring in the Rubble: Dig Through Change and Find Your Next Golden Opportunity |
 |
 |
|
Monday, 24 August 2009 08:14 |
Dr. Gary Bradt, Ph.D.
McGraw Hill, 2007
$19.95
 |
Using a “moral of the story” approach combined with the recollection of personal trauma, Dr. Bradt clearly lays out his recommended path to managing personal change and career transition. It is a clever approach that effectively brings home the message that if you’re not happy in your job, it’s your responsibility to lead yourself out of the situation. Peppered with famous quotations, personal experience and genuinely sound advice such as the importance of investing time in the people around you and on how to deal with fear and anxiety, the book would be of special interest to those individuals who are facing career change for the first time. For other readers, it is a good refresher on how to take control of your life and career.
|
|
|
|
Life’s a Pitch: How to Sell Yourself and Your Brilliant Ideas |
|
|
|
Monday, 20 July 2009 09:45 |
|
Stephen Bayley and Roger Mavity
Corgi Books (Random House)
$21.95
 |
The book is set up into two sections, each by a different author. Each topic is identified and then expanded upon in the chapter. The ideas presented are very practical with some special gold nuggets here and there. But, when the book starts to condemn the use of management consultants, my mind began to waiver. Many of the references are British and don’t have meaning for Canadians and Americans. But overall, for beginners, it is a basic 101 course in self marketing. Although there are some good ideas, thisbook is indeed a bit pricey.
|
|
|
It Starts with One: Changing Individuals Changes Organizations |
|
|
|
Monday, 06 July 2009 00:00 |
|
J. Stewart Black and Hal B.Gregersen
Wharton School Publishing
$26.99
 |
With change initiatives failing at a rate of 50-80%, the idea of changing individuals as the first step in organizational alignment seems to have a lot of validity. Black and Gregersen simplify the fundamentals of change and clearly describe the why and how of redrawing the mental map of employees and leaders alike. Accompanied by the firm belief that overcoming change barriers isn’t enough, the book is packed full of simple assessment and planning tools and strategies for experiential employee engagement.
|
|
|
Why Work Sucks and How to Fix It |
|
|
|
Friday, 17 October 2008 12:07 |
|
Cali Ressler and Jody Thompson
Penguin Group
$23.95
 Can you imagine a work world where every employee is self managed to such an extent that they control their own work hours and can attend whenever they want as long as they have their work done? Authors Cali Ressler and Jody Thompson believe that the old industrial model of 9-5 work hours is plainly outmoded and out to lunch. Instead, they want to revolutionize the work world with what they call a "Results Only Work Environment" (ROWE). In their view, the industrial model treats employees like children. They purport that a ROWE model where employees are paid for results and not their time or personal presence, can increase employee productivity by 35 per cent and reduce turnover by 90 per cent. This is certainly a controversial approach which if adopted would shake the business world to its very roots. An interesting theory but a devil to implement! Is the world ready for it?
|
|
Rules for Renegades |
|
|
|
Friday, 17 October 2008 12:05 |
|
How to make more money, rock your career and revel in your individuality
Christine Comaford-Lynch
McGraw Hill books
$24.95
 Christine Comaford-Lynch, now a successful millionaire and serial entrepreneur, writes a hard hitting story of her own "school of hard knocks" career. Armed only with guts and determination rather than an MBA, Christine persuaded Microsoft to hire her, thus launching her technology career. The author takes a no nonsense approach; she doesn't mince words and sometimes comes across as one "tough broad" as she tells her rags to riches story. Every chapter is full of stories and examples, many of which I could relate to as a woman who has faced many barriers in a man's business world. The book is well written and an easy read. Readers will appreciate the many useful tactics for success but the challenge will be whether or not they have the guts to implement them.
|
|
|
Audition, a Memoir |
|
|
|
Friday, 17 October 2008 12:04 |
|
Barbara Walters
Alfred A. Knopf
$29.95
 I have always been an admirer of Barbara Walters, but even more so once I learned about all the trials and tribulations of her life. While the book volume of 579 pages looks quite overwhelming, it is actually an easy read. In fact, you would think that Barbara Walters is sitting across the kitchen table and speaking to you personally. Barbara is surprisingly open with all aspects of her life, both personal and professional -- she opens herself up to the world, warts and all. The book title, Audition, is aptly named as Barbara always felt that no matter where she was or what she did, she was indeed doing an audition. A very enjoyable story about a remarkable career.
|
|
The Truth About Being a Leader |
|
|
|
Friday, 17 October 2008 12:03 |
|
Dr. Karen Otazo
FP Press, 2007
$18.99
 This 233-page book, while rather small in size, is chalk full of advice, one for each of the 52 weeks in our calendar. Written much like my own Free Press articles, the author first explains a leadership issue and then provides numerous solutions for the reader to consider. Topics range from assuming your first leadership role, hiring a good executive assistant to delegating and empowering employees. The solutions are practical and pragmatic. This is a quick read for busy leaders and a book that can be kept nearby as a reference, as each topic is handled totally separately.
|
|
Duct Tape Marketing |
|
|
|
Friday, 17 October 2008 12:02 |
|
The World's Most Practical Small Business Marketing Guide
John Jantsch
Thomas Nelson, Inc.
$14.99
 This is a whopping good bargain -- 277 pages of good advice for only $14.99! This is a great "marketing 101" guidebook that walks the reader through every step of developing a good marketing plan. Directed to small business owners, the author teaches owners to view marketing from the customer perspective. Readers begin with the challenging assignment of how to identify the target clients and continue to read topics such as developing your core marketing messages, producing marketing materials and how to generate leads. A very practical "how-to" manual that offers a take-away with every chapter. The advice is simple, practical and proven. Not only that, the author directs the reader to additional resources and focuses on developing an action plan for each idea.
|
|
Succession Planning Toolkit for Business Owners |
|
|
|
Friday, 17 October 2008 12:01 |
|
Leveraging Your Life's Work
By Luanna McGowan, Corina Weigl and David Wilton
Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants, 2006
$29.95
 For all those baby boomer entrepreneurs out there, this book is truly a valuable tooklit. Detailed, thorough and chalk full of helpful checklists and sample scenarios, the book systematically reviews what succession planning is all about and what options are available to transition a family business. To their credit, the authors balance both the cold hard financial issues related to selling a business with the critical human resource and emotional/soft side of change management and transition. This isn't a book you'll read just once; instead, it's a step by step guide that you'll keep at the side of the desk as you develop your succession plan.
|
|
|
|
