Great Insights Driven By Real World Examples
937224
What really separates Gene McNaughton's Sales E.D.G.E is his discussions and insights from talking what buyers about the sales process. It's much more than simply saying buyers like or don't like this, but he dives into the why and what you can do about it. Having been on both sides of the sale process myself, there are both great insights and great reminders to help you boost your sales. This is also a book that's pleasant to read, something that ironically can't be said for a lot of sales books. Whether you are working in a corporate sales job or are and entrepreneur looking to increase your effectiveness this should be one of the books you are reading.
159317
This is really a fantastic book with useful insights. Jim shows that the keys to success are not always what you'd expect, but not necessarily surprising either. What's so refreshing about this book is that it uses evidence to show that much of the conventional wisdom about what's important in business, like star CEOs and complex strategies, is often less successful than common sense, focus, and leadership guided by traditional virtues.
3827001
I would highly recommend this book for anyone who wants a real-world view into the world of consulting. The writing style was engaging and very inviting. As I read the book, it was as if I was pulling up a chair at my favorite Starbucks to learn from a distinguished leader and practitioner. I have never been an independent consultant, but did work for several years for two different consultancies. Much of what William wrote about applied to both camps - independents and consultant employees.

William did a great job of including examples of typical consulting scenarios, and then he walked you through the options - instead of providing a cookie-cutter response. He didn't approach it from: if A, then B. It was more about: if A, then you may do B (because of ...) or you may do C (because of ...). What was also beneficial was the Action Plan checklist at the end of each chapter. It summarized the key tasks discussed in the chapter, and at a glance, you can assess where you're at and what still needs to be done.
1580717
There's a good reason this book is endorsed by Dan Pink, Adam Grant, Arianna Huffington and other thought leaders.  Author Jennifer Kahnweiller is a respected global expert on this topic and it shows. Her relatable, real-life examples make this a fascinating page-turner, yet her insights are backed by research and are psychologically sound.  Highly recommended for anyone who wants to contribute at their highest level.
2047884
In the complex, interconnected, global environment that most organizations work in daily, it is no longer possible for a few people "at the top" of the organization to have all the knowledge, expertise, and perspective needed for its success. At NovaLearning, we have used large group methods with colleges and universities for about fifteen years. I have constantly seen how institutions become better -- more focused, more strategic, but also more humane -- as they incorporate ideas and insight from across the system into their operation. When Bunker and Alban's earlier book was published, I was delighted because it captured well the range of large group approaches that had developed by 1996. This new handbook goes much further.

These are substantive case studies exceptionally well framed by Bunker and Alban's insight and experience. The diverse case study authors are generous in sharing at a level of specificity that makes real learning from their experiences possible. Each chapter is organized around the presenting challenge, the context and methodology (and why chosen), a detailed description of what actually happened, and perhaps most importantly, a set of reflections and insights that give the reader the chance to share in the authors' learning. I also found valuable the examples of how the innovative use of communication technologies can provide new opportunities as well as sometimes create unexpected limitations. I strongly recommend The Handbook of Large Group Methods to consultants who use or want to use large group methods. Individual chapters will also be important and provocative for corporate, academic, social, and political leaders and change agents.
4610274
Roos and his team have succeeded in extracting the value of working with the IC framework in real life company examples. The book demonstrates how a structured and analytical approach to various managerial and strategic challenges can be the key to make considerable improvements both in financial and non-financial performance of the company. The theoretical foundings are solid and without match in the contemporary IC management literature, which will certainly satisfy even the most demanding reader. On the other hand, the basic IC concepts and their application give a compehensive picture even to the beginner and an incentive to apply them in real life.

The book demonstrates that the IC theory has moved to a new era: once strongly research driven, the IC framework has made a breakthough as a powerful management concept. Highly recommended to anybody who is interested in getting to the core of value creation and management!
2009557
Unlike many other business and PR books that simply give you unrealistic examples, "Tough Questions Good Answers" has practical advice and real-life insights that virtually anyone can use, not just the chairman of the board. Most importantly, Calcagni's insights can apply to the many tough questions we face along the road - whether those questions come from a public meeting, angry customer or constituent, frustrated board member, or difficult reporter. Smart, savvy and interesting: highly recommended.
72059
Tom Kelley has produced a wonderful guide to fostering innovation and overcoming naysayers in "The Ten Faces of Innovation."  Kelley balances ideas and theories evenly with results-oriented thinking in a manner that should appeal to a wide range of readers.

If you are searching for a book that covers both the day-to-day realities and the concepts underlying innovation, look no further -- and read this book.  Rarely does a book address such a big and amorphous topic as "innovation" in such a precise and actionable manner.

Using a wide array of real-world and relevant case studies, Kelley offers a framework for both fostering innovation and addressing devil's advocates.  The writing is crisp, engaging, and clear.

I particularly appreciated Kelley's ever-present thought stimulating questions at the end of each section of the book.  Not only did these questions help generate thoughts, but Kelley puts his own ideas into practice -- the questions provide tangible examples of how to "think" about innovation and innovating.

I highly recommend this book.
4921737
This is one of the best business books I have read in years. The authors don't just repeat data, they deliver true insights based on how the business world is working today. I am normally not a fan of the "parable" format but this book really had an impact on me.
4896554
This book addresses the phenomenon of exponential growth organizations, with great examples and models. It is carefully supported by references and bring fantastic insights to managers and entrepreneurs.
It integrates the concepts of business ecosystems, platforms, social networking, disruptive innovation and emerging technologies, in a very clear and direct way.
It is a great book!
398045
Dan has blended his experiences and knowledge gained from successfully starting several new companies, with the time-proven lessons learned from thriving in larger and more mature corporations.  His message to successful start-up Entrepreneurs is simple  to get to the second level of success, you need to understand, institute and implement new strategies to either Grow or Die  He succinctly outlines 10 core growth strategies utilized by successful Entrepreneurs, and contrasts these initial approaches with paradigm shifts required to get to the Second Level and achieve Aggressive Growth  Dan provides tangible, actionable, and pragmatic guidance, supported with numerous examples of real world companies that have embraced these strategies and launched their businesses to the next level of accomplishments. Definitely a great and thought provoking read, that I recommend to all entrepreneurs and business professionals!
1307580
This book contains many real life examples of where seemingly insignificant or unrelated actions or events can result in a massive impact - tipping the situation for the good or bad.  The overall idea is that one needs to change your thinking to look for the small things you can realistically change when confronted with a seemingly unmanageable big challenge.  Put differently, how to get a high impact with little effort.

The real-life examples given relate to social studies, marketing, criminology and health care.  The reader can easily extrapolate these to other areas of interest.  One distraction is the New York criminology example which is contradicted in&nbsp;<a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/Freakonomics-A-Rogue-Economist-Explores-the-Hidden-Side-of-Everything-P-S/dp/0060731338/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything (P.S.)</a>&nbsp;- i.e. the crime decrease in New York in the 1990's was not due to tipping-point efforts of the NY major and police chief in the 90's, but was due to relaxing US abortion legislation some 20 years earlier!

The writing style is formal and presented in a semi-academic format where all opinions of the author are immediately substantiated by independent research.  This format is an excellent match for the book's message as it gives the contents credibility and helps to provide a stimulating thought-provoking read.  A required read for anyone interested in making an impact in the world.
2690416
I have seen Ron in action over the years so it was a pleasant surprise to see his generous and insightful personality come through in "EPM Done Right."  It's well-written, accessible, and has plenty of examples & bullet lists to help you apply the material.  This book provides new insights for business, finance, and IT managers from Global 500 corporations through medium-sized organizations along with a road map for implementation.  The author's intention in writing this book was to help people take effective action toward optimal financial and operational performance and to apply those facts about their business to better decision-making. The more organizations that implement this approach, the more people will be doing satisfying and productive work, with less uncertainty and wasted effort. This book is a significant contribution toward my life's work fostering workplaces of humanity and prosperity.
1200216
Many valuable insights. Just wish the book could have included even more specific examples
3151754
Real situations that lead to great insights and advise.  Love the quick cheat codes. Goor reflections throughout the book!  I will buy copies for my team.
1796768
Although the second edition is a solid 400 pages, it is a fairly quick read with lots of great insights and tools.  The many case studies from different industries add clarity to the concepts and provoke considerable thought as to how to actually implement in your own organization.  This also gives the book a "real world" flavor and perspective - considerably different than most other books on the subject.
755377
Really enjoyed this book. It is great to get perspective on how (successful) investors walk through situations, how they work out, etc. and this was no exception. These were all real life case studies that were filled with useful detail to put the reader in the shoes of the author, in the moment. I could have kept reading many many more. I also found the detail about how he organizes his workday to shed valuable light into an area otherwise not covered in related literature. In the second edition, I hope to see some more insight into decisions on concentration / position sizing. Overall, a great read!