Happy New Year

Happy New Year 2013




Jimi Hendrix - Auld Lang Syne

Alfred, Lord Tennyson - Ulysses read by Jolyon Aires Forsythe

Alfred, Lord Tennyson - Ulysses read by Jolyon Aires Forsythe

Ulysses

By: Alfred, Lord Tennyson

It little profits that an idle king1,
By this still hearth, among these barren crags,
Matched with an agèd wife, I mete and dole
Unequal laws unto a savage race,
That hoard, and sleep, and feed, and know not me.

I cannot rest from travel: I will drink
Life to the lees: all times I have enjoyed
Greatly, have suffered greatly, both with those
That loved me, and alone; on shore, and when
Through scudding drifts the rainy Hyades2
Vexed the dim sea: I am become a name;
For always roaming with a hungry heart
Much have I seen and known; cities of men
And manners, climates, councils, governments,
Myself not least, but honoured of them all;
And drunk delight of battle with my peers,
Far on the ringing plains of windy Troy3.
I am a part of all that I have met;
Yet all experience is an arch wherethrough
Gleams that untravelled world, whose margin fades
For ever and for ever when I move.
How dull it is to pause, to make an end,
To rust unburnished, not to shine in use!
As though to breathe were life. Life piled on life
Were all too little, and of one to me
Little remains: but every hour is saved
From that eternal silence, something more,
A bringer of new things; and vile it were
For some three suns to store and hoard myself,
And this grey spirit yearning in desire
To follow knowledge like a sinking star,
Beyond the utmost bound of human thought.

This my son, mine own Telemachus,
To whom I leave the sceptre and the isle—
Well-loved of me, discerning to fulfil
This labour, by slow prudence to make mild
A rugged people, and through soft degrees
Subdue them to the useful and the good.
Most blameless is he, centred in the sphere
Of common duties, decent not to fail
In offices of tenderness, and pay
Meet adoration to my household gods,
When I am gone. He works his work, I mine.

There lies the port; the vessel puffs her sail:
There gloom the dark broad seas. My mariners,
Souls that have toiled, and wrought, and thought
with me—
That ever with a frolic welcome took
The thunder and the sunshine, and opposed
Free hearts, free foreheads—you and I are old;
Old age hath yet his honour and his toil;
Death closes all: but something ere the end,
Some work of noble note, may yet be done,
Not unbecoming men that strove with Gods.
The lights begin to twinkle from the rocks:
The long day wanes: the slow moon climbs: the deep
Moans round with many voices. Come, my friends,
'Tis not too late to seek a newer world.
Push off, and sitting well in order smite
The sounding furrows; for my purpose holds
To sail beyond the sunset, and the baths
Of all the western stars, until I die.
It may be that the gulfs will wash us down:
It may be we shall touch the Happy Isles4,
And see the great Achilles5, whom we knew
Though much is taken, much abides; and though
We are not now that strength which in old days
Moved earth and heaven; that which we are, we are;
One equal temper of heroic hearts,
Made weak by time and fate, but strong in will
To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield.


**************

Notes:

1 In this poem, Ulysses (the Roman for Odysseus and the hero of Homer's Iliad and the Odyssey), now an old man, having returned to Ithaca after twenty years absence and much adventure, has grown restless, and is now contemplating setting out with his crew again; 2 a constellation of stars associated with rain; 3 site of the Trojan wars of which Ulysses was a hero; 4 the Elysian Fields, believed by some to be the resting place of heroes after death; 5 Greek hero of the Trojan wars who suffered an early death

Going Social by Jeremy Goldman - Book review

Going Social

Excite Customers, Generate Buzz, and Energize Your Brand with the Power of Social Media

By: Jeremy Goldman

Published: November 1, 2012
Format: Paperback, 294 pages
ISBN-10: 0814432557
ISBN-13: 978-0814432556
Publisher: AMACOM









"True social marketing is about developing ongoing relationships with your customers, rather than optimizing around a small specific campaign> writes social media marketer, communications manager, and AVP of Interactive and Social Media for iluminage inc., Jeremy Goldman, in his holistic and idea filled book Going Social: Excite Customers, Generate Buzz, and Energize Your Brand with the Power of Social Media. The author describes the importance of engaging with customers, who now live online, and building long term relationships to ensure customer loyalty.

Jeremy Goldman understands the necessity to establish a strong social presence on the social media platforms frequented by the customers of your company. The author presents a strong case for business people, regardless of the size of their company, to take advantage of the competitive advantage provided by establishing and nurturing long term customer relationships. Jeremy Goldman shares how social media presence is now one of the basic requirements for any business, and in any industry. The author offers the ideas and strategies for developing and growing customer relationships through social media, that connect with those customers, and on the platforms where they prefer to engage.

Jeremy Goldman (photo left) recognizes that people are, by nature, very social. As a result, they seek out other people with whom to engage, talk, and share ideas. For companies, this social aspect of humans is an important source of connections, to engage in conversation, and to build lasting relationships. The author provides the ideas for engaging with customers in an online, social media based world. At the same time, Jeremy Goldman also understands very well that social media is still in its infancy, and continues to evolve, create new platforms for connections, and that strategies must change as well to maintain the customer relationship.

Jeremy Goldman offers ideas for developing a social media strategy by considering the following areas of engagement:

* Developing engagement building content
* Focusing on the customer
* Staffing your company social media team
* Identifying and engaging influencers
* Establishing relationships with bloggers
* Transforming employees into marketers
* Engaging with results and return on investment in mind

For me, the power of the book is how Jeremy Goldman develops a comprehensive social media engagement framework, and shares the real world tested ideas that turn that framework into an effective strategy. The author, to his credit, doesn't promote a single set of rules and laws to follow, but instead offers a set of general guidelines and suggestions for engaging customers. These guidelines recognize the fluid and rapidly evolving nature of the internet in general and social media in particular. To his credit, Jeremy Goldman describes his concepts as simply being suggestions, as change is so rapid in social media that hard and fast rules will be outdated very quickly.

The author presents examples of tactics that have worked for his company, and for other businesses, in the real world. This experience is utilized well in the holistic approach to social media, and to developing long term customer loyalty, as presented by the author. The emphasis is placed on customer focus, and that message is timeless.

I highly recommend the very comprehensive and customer oriented book Going Social: Excite Customers, Generate Buzz, and Energize Your Brand with the Power of Social Media by Jeremy Goldman, to any business leaders, brand managers, or entrepreneurs seeking a clear and all encompassing guide to building long term customer loyalty through social media engagement. This book will help you establish those all important customer relationships that provide that much sought after competitive advantage.

Matthew Arnold - Dover Beach

Matthew Arnold - Dover Beach

Dover Beach

By: Matthew Arnold

The sea is calm to-night.
The tide is full, the moon lies fair
Upon the straits; on the French coast the light
Gleams and is gone; the cliffs of England stand;
Glimmering and vast, out in the tranquil bay.
Come to the window, sweet is the night-air!
Only, from the long line of spray
Where the sea meets the moon-blanched land,
Listen! you hear the grating roar
Of pebbles which the waves draw back, and fling,
At their return, up the high strand,
Begin, and cease, and then again begin,
With tremulous cadence slow, and bring
The eternal note of sadness in.

Sophocles long ago
Heard it on the A gaean, and it brought
Into his mind the turbid ebb and flow
Of human misery; we
Find also in the sound a thought,
Hearing it by this distant northern sea.

The Sea of Faith
Was once, too, at the full, and round earth's shore
Lay like the folds of a bright girdle furled.
But now I only hear
Its melancholy, long, withdrawing roar,
Retreating, to the breath
Of the night-wind, down the vast edges drear
And naked shingles of the world.


Ah, love, let us be true
To one another! for the world, which seems
To lie before us like a land of dreams,
So various, so beautiful, so new,
Hath really neither joy, nor love, nor light,
Nor certitude, nor peace, nor help for pain;
And we are here as on a darkling plain
Swept with confused alarms of struggle and flight,
Where ignorant armies clash by night.

Vicky Oliver: The Millionaire's Handbook - Blog Business Success Radio

Listen to Wayne Hurlbert on Blog Talk Radio

Award winning writer, success coach, and author of transformational and very practical book The Millionaire's Handbook: How to Look and Act like a Millionaire, Even if You're Not, Vicky Oliver, describes how to look and behave like a millionaire even if your bank account says otherwise. Vicky Oliver shares the strategies and techniques for looking, thinking, and acting as a person of wealth regardless of your current income. Vicky Oliver demonstrates how adopting a millionaire attitude, and the look and behaviors associated with wealth will give a person a step up on the road to riches and success. From clothing to personal grooming to hobbies, Vicky presents the concepts that mark an individual as a member of the social elites regardless of their economic background. Vicky shows people how to overcome the accident of birth, and become the successful person you were born to be, and how to utilize the best real you to achieve it. Learn how to look and act successfully, and the wealth and position will soon follow.

Vicky Oliver is my internet radio show guest on Blog Business Success; hosted live on BlogTalkRadio.

The show airs live on Thursday, December 27, at 8:00 pm Eastern Time; 5:00 pm Pacific Time.

Award winning writer, success coach, and author of transformational and very practical book The Millionaire's Handbook: How to Look and Act like a Millionaire, Even if You're Not, Vicky Oliver, describes how to look and behave like a millionaire even if your bank account says otherwise. You will learn:

* Why clothing, personal grooming, and speech are critical to success

* How to look like part of the country club any time

* How to avoid the pitfalls that will mark you as an outsider

* How to always look your best at any time or anywhere

Vicky Oliver (photo left) writes books that give people the confidence they need to succeed on the job hunt as well as on the vital quest for prospects. She also gives seminars on job-hunting, networking, and the art of branding yourself. Today her first book, 301 Smart Answers to Tough Interview Questions, is available in the U.S., England, France, Australia, Canada, Japan, and Turkey. Her second book is called Power Sales Words, How to Write It, Say It, And Sell It with Sizzle.

Vicky has been featured on the front page of the New York Times 'Job Market' section and on over 100 local and national radio programs. She was designated in-house job-hunting expert at the Shomex Diversity Fair at Madison Square Garden. Her articles have appeared in Adweek magazine and on Crain's New York Business website; and she was interviewed for Esquire magazine's 'Answer Fella' column.

In 2007, Vicky hosted a Business Etiquette Dinner for 142 graduating seniors of Brown University. She also presented an Effective Interviewing seminar to 200 sophomores, juniors, and seniors up at the Brown campus during Career Week.

Vicky was recently elected President of the Brown University Club in New York. Vicky is also a newly minted Vice President of her class at Brown and a member of the Brown Alumni Association Board of Governors.

Vicky believes that job-hunting can be a lonely endeavor and encourages job seekers to contact her via email for advice on their searches. She is in constant touch with over 5,000 recent candidates in all different professions and in all different walks of life: the employed, the unemployed, entrepreneurs, freelancers, retirees, college graduates, and people returning to the job market.

A Brown University graduate with a degree in English Honors and a double major in Political Science, Vicky lives in Manhattan, where she has dedicated herself to helping others turn around their careers and their lives.

My book review of The Millionaire's Handbook: How to Look and Act like a Millionaire, Even if You're Not by Vicky Oliver.

My book review of Bad Bosses, Crazy Coworkers & Other Office Idiots: 201 Smart Ways to Handle the Toughest People Issues by Vicky Oliver.

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 award winning writer, success coach, and author of transformational and very practical book The Millionaire's Handbook: How to Look and Act like a Millionaire, Even if You're Not, Vicky Oliver, as she on Blog Business Success Radio. describes how to look and behave like a millionaire even if your bank account says otherwise. Vicky Oliver shares the strategies and techniques for looking, thinking, and acting as a person of wealth regardless of your current income. Vicky Oliver demonstrates how adopting a millionaire attitude, and the look and behaviors associated with wealth will give a person a step up on the road to riches and success. From clothing to personal grooming to hobbies, Vicky presents the concepts that mark an individual as a member of the social elites regardless of their economic background. Vicky shows people how to overcome the accident of birth, and become the successful person you were born to be, and how to utilize the best real you to achieve it. Learn how to look and act successfully, and the wealth and position will soon follow on Blog Business Success Radio.

The Millionaire's Handbook by Vicky Oliver - Book review

The Millionaire's Handbook

How to Look and Act like a Millionaire, Even if You're Not

By: Vicky Oliver

Published: November 1, 2012
Format: Paperback, 288 pages
ISBN-10: 1616084146
ISBN-13: 978-1616084141
Publisher: Skyhorse Publishing











"This book describes eighteen separate aspects of looking and acting like a millionaire even if you aren't one", writes success coach and award winning author Vicky Oliver, in her transformational and very practical book The Millionaire's Handbook: How to Look and Act like a Millionaire, Even if You're Not. The author describes how being a millionaire is very much more a way of thinking and behaving, more than it's a number in a bank account.

Vicky Oliver understands that not everyone is born wealthy, or provided with the initial advantages so often associated with wealth. To counter these oversights of birth, the author presents a complete course in looking like a millionaire, acting as a successful person, and being treated as an individual of importance by society. Vicky Oliver demonstrates that anyone can present themselves as a successful brand, regardless of their current financial or social circumstances. Through dressing for success, behaving in a manner suited to the manor born, and showing the confidence in that successful image, anyone can achieve success. With the look, actions, and attitude in hand, the rise in social status and increase in the bank account numbers will soon follow.

Vicky Oliver (photo left) recognizes that people make fast judgements of a person's wealth and status based on outward appearance. With that estimation in hand, a more comprehensive analysis will follow based on the person's speech, choice of words, tastes, knowledge, and other often obscure signs of success. The author shares time tested strategies for not only adding several zeroes to your perceived level of wealth, but many points of perception based IQ as well.

The author provides eighteen chapters of useful and wealth perception building advice. Those eighteen chapters include the following:

* The ten laws of material success
* Skimp on the items no one will notice
* Covet they neighbor's catalogs
* Amass a $64 million dollar vocabulary
* Everything you need to know to get on the A-list is in a proverb
* The body of a millionaire
* Hairography for heir and heiress wannabes
* Develop an obscure hobby
* Blend in to stand out
* Shake the accent, and other elocution tips
* Your personal brand
* Millionaire skin
* Never ask for recognition if you're on the board of a charity
* Show some class
* Name yourself if you have to
* Foster an eccentricity
* The miracle of dating up
* You, only richer

For me, the power of the book is how Vicky Oliver provides very practical and status elevating ideas in a clear and entertaining manner. Combining sound advice with good humor helps to remove the resistance that many readers may feel toward the concepts. The author offers real change in thinking, and along with that proposed transition to a different worldview, may come some opposition to applying the pointers to one's own life. Vicky Oliver presents a comprehensive course in moving on up, and sound advice on the reactions of those already in the upper echelons to an individual's arrival, appearance, and actions.

The author makes clear that in the wider world, people make decisions quickly, and that perception becomes their reality. By adopting the mind set of change, and of being a wealthy person despite the shortage of real cash, one becomes wealthy in the eyes of the world. Vicky Oliver offers an enjoyable route to the upper echelons of society, with a more full wallet to follow soon thereafter. At the same, a person still remains themselves, only that they always arrive in their very best personal version.

I highly recommend the rise to success oriented book The Millionaire's Handbook: How to Look and Act like a Millionaire, Even if You're Not by Vicky Oliver, to anyone seeking to break the code at the office or the country club, and become an accepted member of the elite circles. This book will get you in the door at the most exclusive places, and provide you with the hands on tools to be remain their successfully

Clement Moore - A Visit From St. Nicholas read by Lorne Greene

Clement Moore - A Visit From St. Nicholas (Twas The Night Before Christmas) read by Lorne Greene

Selling to the 7 Emotional Buying Styles by Greg Ferrett - Book review

Selling to the Seven Emotional Buying Styles

Make Every Sales Call Pay by Selling to Emotional Needs

By: Greg Ferrett

Published: August 27, 2012
Format: Paperback, 106 pages
ISBN-10: 0987372904
ISBN-13: 978-0987372901
Publisher: Exceptional Sales Performance










"Under the surface, behind all the research and facts, your client is still a human being and will be experiencing a range of emotions - many of which are out of their control", writes sales coach and trainer, and CEO of Exceptional Sales Performance (ESP), Greg Ferrett, in his clear and concise book Selling to the Seven Emotional Buying Styles: Make Every Sales Call Pay by Selling to Emotional Needs. The author describes how people buy based on en emotional triggers, and shares the seven basic emotional drivers that determine when if the the potential customer makes the decision to buy the product or service.

Greg Ferrett understands that business relationships are made between two people, and not between companies. With this fundamental insight in hand, the author provides an analysis of the emotional factors that have a critical impact on the client's buying decision. Greg Ferrett points out that there is a strong connection between emotion and behavior. That interaction is even more powerful with the added stress of deciding whether or not to buy or not to buy. The author presents the latest research into how the brain functions when under the emotional stress of a buying decision. Greg Ferrett provides the the triggers that create the buying decision, and how there are seven different emotional buying styles that possess their own unique characteristics and manifestations.

Greg Ferrett (photo left) recognizes that people don't buy because of rational or logical reasons, but instead out of emotional responses. The author offers powerful evidence that becoming a top performing sales representative requires an understanding of the emotional factors within the buying process. Greg Ferrett makes clear that any sales people who rely on logical and rational types of sales processes will be disappointed in their overall results.

To counter the failed logical approach to sales, Greg Ferret shares the seven emotional buying styles presented by prospective buyers. The author shows sales people how to identify, understand, and communicated effectively with each emotional personality. The seven emotional buying styles, as outlined by Greg Ferrett are as follows:

* The normal emotional style
* The hustler emotional style
* The mover emotional style
* The double checker emotional style
* The artist emotional style
* The politician emotional style
* The engineer emotional style

For me, the power of the book is how Greg Ferrett establishes a framework of the seven emotional buying styles, and provides the practical skills and techniques for connecting and building a relationship with each style of client. The author shares insights into the emotional styles of each personality type, aided by readily understood charts, and engaging cartoons. Each chapter contains a worksheet for notes and better understanding of each of the emotional buying types to guide the sales representative toward the best approach for each buying style.

Greg Garrett also assists with the identification of types by placing them in their most expected roles within an organization. Along with sharing a very hands on reference guide to each of the seven emotional buying styles, the author also provides a handy self assessment test for sales people to determine their own emotional style.

I highly recommend the the very practical and results oriented book Selling to the Seven Emotional Buying Styles: Make Every Sales Call Pay by Selling to Emotional Needs by Greg Ferrett, to any sales representative, sales managers, human resource professionals, or entrepreneurs seeking a clearer understanding of the seven emotional types, their buying styles, and their likely positions within any company. This book will change the way you think about sales, from one based on logical and rational decision making, to utilizing an approach where emotion is the dominant deciding factor.

Charity Case by Dan Pallotta - Book review

Charity Case

How the Nonprofit Community Can Stand Up For Itself and Really Change the World

By: Dan Pallotta

Published: September 4, 2012
Format: Hardcover, 256 pages
ISBN-10: 1118117522
ISBN-13: 978-1118117521
Publisher: Jossey-Bass










"We need a civil rights movement for charity - and this book is about how we start one", writes builder of social and charitable movements Dan Pallotta, in his visionary and action oriented book Charity Case: How the Nonprofit Community Can Stand Up For Itself and Really Change the World. The author describes how the public's misguided concerns with the management and funding of non-profit organizations has done them and their causes a disservice, and offers a powerful manifesto for transforming the humanitarian sector into a real force for changing the world.

Dan Pallotta recognizes that the crucial first step for charities is to change forever the way people view these beneficial organizations. Instead of being concerned about how charities spend their money, the author offers the alternative approach of thinking in terms of helping the organization achieve its goals. The public's well meaning but misguided concern over charitable overhead and staff salaries, writes Dan Pallotta, actually starves the charity from furthering its cause and creating real change in society.

The author presents the case that the general public must learn that low overhead is counterproductive to the charity, and that a focus on perceived costs results in less available executive talent, fewer resources to do the needed work, less time spent on meeting the goals of the cause, and less of an impact on alleviating the societal problem the organization was created to address.

Dan Pallotta (photo left) understands that the basic ideas held by most people regarding charities, which the author calls the humanitarian sector, is upside down in its perspective. This mistaken perception on the part of the general public, leads to dysfunctional behavior on the part of the charity, reducing its effectiveness in achieving its objectives. To counter this challenge, the author proposes that charities be encouraged to hire the best executive talent available, and to allocate resources to building the organization, to better change the world.

To change the public perception of the humanitarian sector, Dan Pallotta recommends forming an organization to defend and organize the nonprofit sector. This defense organization would be the Charity Defense Council. The strategies for this new organization would include:

* Building an anti-defamation league for charity
* Creating a positive advertising campaign for charity
* Building a legal defense fund for charity
* Enacting a National Civil Rights Act for charity and social enterprise
* Encouraging charities to organize themselves

For me, the power of the book is how Dan Pallotta identifies the challenge faced by the humanitarian sector in the existing public perception, and recommends a series of strategies to transform that public view into one focusing on creating real change in the world. The public fixation on where charities spend their money is demonstrated by the author as doing more harm than good. The organizations are starved for talent and resources, and very restrictive public definitions of where charitable funds should be spent.

The author provides the powerful image of the public supporting expenditure on the soup, but not on the spoon and bowl with which to eat the soup. This public concern is shown to be harming, not only the organization, but actually hindering it from achieving its goals. Dan Pallotta proposes changing that wrongheaded public perception, and actively combating it wherever it springs up in the media, government, or elsewhere. The bold approach presented in this book will change the very nature of the humanitarian sector, and transform the world through their new strength and vitality.

I highly recommend the important and thought provoking book Charity Case: How the Nonprofit Community Can Stand Up For Itself and Really Change the World by Dan Pallotta, to anyone within the humanitarian sector, the media, public policy making, elected officials, and business leaders who are seeking a revolutionary approach to strengthening the humanitarian sector and transforming it into a true force for real change in the world. This book will change forever the way you think about nonprofit organizations and their very essential and necessary expenditures.

Mean Girls At Work by Katherine Crowley & Kathi Elster - Book review

Mean Girls at Work

How to Stay Professional When Things Get Personal

By: Katherine Crowley, Kathi Elster

Published: October 9, 2012
Format: Hardcover, 256 pages
ISBN-10: 0071802045
ISBN-13: 978-0071802048
Publisher: McGraw-Hill












"The purpose of this book is to give women the knowledge and skills that they need in order to stay professional no matter how other women behave at work", write Harvard trained psychotherapist and co-founder of K Squared Enterprises, Katherine Crowley; and management consultant, executive coach, and co-founder of K Squared Enterprises, Kathi Elster, in their straight talking and professional skills building book Mean Girls at Work: How to Stay Professional When Things Get Personal. The authors describe how workplace relationships between women are not always smooth or pleasant, and share the strategies and techniques for successfully navigating those challenging relationships effectively and professionally.

Katherine Crowley (photo left) and Kathi Elster understand that work environment based relationships between women are unique and posses their own special dynamics. These often difficult personal interactions can occur between colleagues, with bosses, clients, or staff members. These relationships can be very toxic, and the authors share the knowledge to build new interactions that have benefits and supports for each of the women involved.

The authors take these interpersonal relationships between women very seriously as they can affect not only the careers and health of the women, but they can affect the overall performance of the workplace as well. The authors share strategies and ideas for women at all stages of their careers, from the first job to established employees, to transform those challenging relationships into ones that are mutually beneficial each woman.

Kathi Elster (photo left) and Katherine Crowley recognize the complexity of woman to woman relationships in the workplace. Because these interactions are so multifaceted, the authors offer guidance to women on how to stay professional, and to ensure that they don't contribute to the personality clashes as well. Instead, the authors recommend a professional approach to handling those difficult women in the work environment.

The authors share a hands on reference guide book to meeting the challenge, posed by the most toxic women in the workplace, in an assertive and professional manner. The authors outline the various personality types and behavior patterns displayed by the mean girls in the workplace. The various chapters that address these issues are as follows:

* The different faces of mean: what is a mean girl
* Meanest of the mean: Taking behavior less personally
* Very mean: When she can't admit to her bad behavior
* Passively mean: Gossip and exclusion
* Doesn't mean to be mean: Setting limits on her behavior
* Doesn't know she's mean: Watching her words
* She brings out your mean: Avoiding the traps
* Group mean: Addressing the cliques

For me, the power of the book is how Katherine Crowley and Kathi Elster outline and describe the many forms that mean behavior manifests itself in various women, and then provide the strategies and tactics for dealing with each type of behavior effectively. The authors divide the book into the various types of toxic personalities found among women in the workplace, and offer the most professional techniques for addressing their bad behavior. Indeed, the authors stress professionalism and ethical behavior in dealing with the problem women. This advice for women in the workplaces makes this book especially valuable, as it creates an atmosphere for mutually beneficial outcomes.

To their credit as well, the authors also recognize the potential for mean girls in the office to bring out the same traits in their targets. The authors share important advice to avoid falling into the the vengeance and retaliation traps. The authors believe intensely that women are valuable employees in the workplace, and their book goes far toward resolving personality and behavior clashes, and toward building a more collaborative and professional workplace.

I highly recommend the very results oriented and workplace transformational book Mean Girls at Work: How to Stay Professional When Things Get Personal by Katherine Crowley and Kathi Elster, to any women seeking a clear and concise guide to resolving workplace problems involving the bad behavior of other female employees. This book will turn formerly toxic behavior into mutually beneficial and collaborative outcomes.

T.S. Eliot - The Hollow Men read by the poet

T.S. Eliot - The Hollow Men read by the poet

The Hollow Men

By: T.S. Eliot

Mistah Kurtz-he dead
A penny for the Old Guy


I

We are the hollow men
We are the stuffed men
Leaning together
Headpiece filled with straw. Alas!
Our dried voices, when
We whisper together
Are quiet and meaningless
As wind in dry grass
Or rats' feet over broken glass
In our dry cellar

Shape without form, shade without colour,
Paralysed force, gesture without motion;

Those who have crossed
With direct eyes, to death's other Kingdom
Remember us-if at all-not as lost
Violent souls, but only
As the hollow men
The stuffed men.


II

Eyes I dare not meet in dreams
In death's dream kingdom
These do not appear:
There, the eyes are
Sunlight on a broken column
There, is a tree swinging
And voices are
In the wind's singing
More distant and more solemn
Than a fading star.

Let me be no nearer
In death's dream kingdom
Let me also wear
Such deliberate disguises
Rat's coat, crowskin, crossed staves
In a field
Behaving as the wind behaves
No nearer-

Not that final meeting
In the twilight kingdom


III

This is the dead land
This is cactus land
Here the stone images
Are raised, here they receive
The supplication of a dead man's hand
Under the twinkle of a fading star.

Is it like this
In death's other kingdom
Waking alone
At the hour when we are
Trembling with tenderness
Lips that would kiss
Form prayers to broken stone.


IV

The eyes are not here
There are no eyes here
In this valley of dying stars
In this hollow valley
This broken jaw of our lost kingdoms

In this last of meeting places
We grope together
And avoid speech
Gathered on this beach of the tumid river

Sightless, unless
The eyes reappear
As the perpetual star
Multifoliate rose
Of death's twilight kingdom
The hope only
Of empty men.


V

Here we go round the prickly pear
Prickly pear prickly pear
Here we go round the prickly pear
At five o'clock in the morning.

Between the idea
And the reality
Between the motion
And the act
Falls the Shadow
For Thine is the Kingdom

Between the conception
And the creation
Between the emotion
And the response
Falls the Shadow
Life is very long

Between the desire
And the spasm
Between the potency
And the existence
Between the essence
And the descent
Falls the Shadow
For Thine is the Kingdom

For Thine is
Life is
For Thine is the

This is the way the world ends
This is the way the world ends
This is the way the world ends
Not with a bang but a whimper.

Gary Schwartz: Fast Shopper, Slow Store - Blog Business Success Radio

Listen to Wayne Hurlbert on Blog Talk Radio

Global mobile commerce entrepreneur, and author of the clear and concise book Fast Shopper, Slow Store: A Guide to Courting and Capturing the Mobile Consumer, Gary Schwartz, describes retailers must embrace the new world of mobile shopping and reconnect with their customers in new and exciting ways. Gary Schwartz provides insights into how the growing transition to mobile devices as shopping tools, goes far beyond simply understanding the technology. Gary offers the strategies that win back those customers who have left the malls, big box, and other retail outlets for their mobile devices. Gary demonstrates how the behavior of mobile shoppers is different from both tethered online customers and from the traditional in store consumer. Gary Schwartz shares the techniques for winning back those customers, reconnecting with them, and regaining their long term loyalty. Learn how to embrace mobile technology as a competitive advantage for your business, and place yourself in the forefront of the mobile shopping revolution.

Gary Schwartz is my internet radio show guest on Blog Business Success; hosted live on BlogTalkRadio.

The show airs live on Thursday, December 20, at 8:00 pm Eastern Time; 5:00 pm Pacific Time.

Global mobile commerce entrepreneur, and author of the clear and concise book Fast Shopper, Slow Store: A Guide to Courting and Capturing the Mobile Consumer, Gary Schwartz, describes retailers must embrace the new world of mobile shopping and reconnect with their customers in new and exciting ways. You will learn:

* Why businesses are losing customers to mobile shopping

* How mobile shoppe differ in behavior from traditional customers

* How to reconnect with mobile shoppers in the fast paced mobile world

* How some leading retailers have met the challenge of mobile successfully

Gary Schwartz (photo left) began his career as a columnist in Japan and later became an anchor on Asahi Television. He ran number of technology startups before founding Impact Mobile, a mobile technology company specialized in retail and brand solutions, in 2002.

Gary Schwartz has played a leadership role in the mobile industry, founding the mobile committee for the Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB)

in 2005 and presently serving as North American chairman of the Mobile Entertainment Forum (MEF). In this capacity, Schwartz is developing a global mobile commerce practice to service brands, retailers, and content owners.

He lives with his family in Toronto.

My book review of Fast Shopper, Slow Store: A Guide to Courting and Capturing the Mobile Consumer by Gary Schwartz.

My book review of The Impulse Economy: Understanding Mobile Shoppers and What Makes Them Buy by Gary Schwartz.

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 global mobile commerce entrepreneur, and author of the clear and concise book Fast Shopper, Slow Store: A Guide to Courting and Capturing the Mobile Consumer, Gary Schwartz, as he describes retailers must embrace the new world of mobile shopping and reconnect with their customers in new and exciting ways. Gary Schwartz provides insights into how the growing transition to mobile devices as shopping tools, goes far beyond simply understanding the technology. Gary offers the strategies that win back those customers who have left the malls, big box, and other retail outlets for their mobile devices. Gary demonstrates how the behavior of mobile shoppers is different from both tethered online customers and from the traditional in store consumer. Gary Schwartz shares the techniques for winning back those customers, reconnecting with them, and regaining their long term loyalty. Learn how to embrace mobile technology as a competitive advantage for your business, and place yourself in the forefront of the mobile shopping revolution on Blog Business Success Radio.

Fast Shopper, Slow Store by Gary Schwartz - Book review

Fast Shopper, Slow Store

A Guide to Courting and Capturing the Mobile Consumer

By: Gary Schwartz

Published: September 29, 2012
Format: Trade Paperback, 80 pages
ISBN-10: 1476718709
ISBN-13: 978-1476718705
Publisher: Atria Books











"This book is about building the social tools necessary to reconnect with shoppers",writes global mobile commerce entrepreneur Gary Schwartz, in his clear and concise book Fast Shopper, Slow Store: A Guide to Courting and Capturing the Mobile Consumer. The author describes how the mobile shopper has disrupted the traditional business model, and shares the reasons for that market transformation, and how to rebuild those crucial relationships with customers.

Gary Schwartz understands that the sea change in consumer behavior is not simply about the rapid advancements in technology. Instead, the author points out that retailers have failed to pursue and reestablish long time relationships with customers. That important connection between retailer and shopper has been severed leaving marketers bewildered as to the causes and strategies to recreate those connections. Brick and mortar stores have been slow in adapting to the challenges posed by both technology and changing customer behavior. In a time of porous store walls and the rise of shopper marketing, the previous concept of customer loyalty has been turned completely upside down.

Gary Schwartz (photo left) recognizes how essential it is for retailers to rebuild their connections with customers. With the steady erosion of loyalty that accompanied the transition of business activity to mobile devices, retailers have failed to adapt to the new reality. Digital disruption is taking its toll on traditional retailers, marketers, and companies in every industry sector. Any companies that fail to meet the challenge of the untethered mobile customer will fall by the wayside.

To help companies meet the challenge of the new digital marketplace, Gary Schwartz offers a series of compelling and idea packed chapters. The author presents the social skills and tools to rebuild trusting relationships to reconnect with shoppers. In place of the traditional brick and mortar type of connection, the author shares strategies, techniques, and examples of building connections in an untethered world. The chapters include:

* Barnes and Noble: Cloud meets mall
* Amazon.com: Store as showroom
* Tesco: The paper store
* Google: The battle for George's wallet
* Hot topic: Sell, sell, sell
* Facebook, privacy, and big data

For me, the power of the book is how Gary Schwartz combines practical strategies for reconnecting with customers, with real world examples of how the online and offline markets are changing before our eyes. The author makes very clear the challenge facing brick and mortar, and even online companies, through the new medium of the mobile device. Even established online retailers are open to disruption should they fail to understand and embrace the new reality of the untethered, mobile shopper. Gary Schwartz presents proven strategies and techniques for rebuilding trust and relationships through mobile technology.

The author shares those best practices in an accessible way that emphasizes the importance of the relationship and connection with the consumer. Gary Schwartz demonstrates that the challenge is more than simply understanding the technology and the tools. That technological change is only part of the story. The real story is one as old as time, in the form of establishing connections with shoppers to build long term customer loyalty.

I highly recommend the very accessible and results oriented book Fast Shopper, Slow Store: A Guide to Courting and Capturing the Mobile Consumer by Gary Schwartz, to any business leaders, entrepreneurs, marketers and retailers in any sector who are seeking a straight talking guide to understanding the mobile shopper. This book will reestablish your connections and relationships with your customers, and place your business in the forefront of the mobile marketing frontier.

Common Sense Supply Management by Tom DePaoli - Book review

Common Sense Supply Management

Tales From The Supply Chain Trenches

By: Tom DePaoli

Published: September 9, 2012
Format: Paperback, 202 pages
ISBN-10: 1477686452
ISBN-13: 978-1477686454
Publisher: CreateSpace











"This book is a summary of many of the lessons that I learned in my supply management and management career", writes Management Program Director at Marian University, and Principal and CEO of Apollo Solutions, Tom DePaoli, in his engaging and practical lesson filled book Common Sense Supply Management: Tales From The Supply Chain Trenches. The author describes best practices, Lean Six Sigma, and information based negotiations through the medium of stories as superior teaching and idea retention vehicle.

Tom DePaoli recognizes that supply chain management remains the basic framework of most organizations. As a result, the author provides insights into how to transform that crucial element into a powerful competitive advantage. While the management of the supply chain is complex undertaking for most companies, Tom DePaoli shares his experience by way of readily understood and remembered stories. As with any other aspect of the overall business, supply chain management is fundamentally based in business and personal relationships. Because of the complexity nature of supply chains, the author presents the premise that a s successful supply chain manager is able to develop and maintain many simultaneous relationships across many organizations and different people.

Tom DePaoli (photo left) recognizes the primary importance of business relationships, and their critical role in navigating the complexities of supply management. The stories shared by the author present this concept very well. Indeed, the focus of the entire book is on the interaction and relationships between people. The concepts of best practices, Lean Six Sigma, and information based negotiations all share a common human relationship element. Tom DePaoli offers a proven multi-layered approach to finding, sourcing, and working effectively with suppliers.

Perhaps even more importantly, the author cautions business people about the problems that arise through international sourcing strategies. For negotiating better terms with suppliers, while developing strong personal relationships, the author shares his real world tested strategies and tactics. At the same time, Tom Depaoli provides an understandable and useful system of metrics for measuring the effectiveness of the entire supply management system.

For me, the power of the book is how Tom DePaoli combines the human aspects of supply management with a comprehensive strategic approach to developing an effective management system. The author shares his personal experience in the real world of supply management, and as a result, offers practical and readily applied knowledge and information. Tom DePaoli also shares his concepts of negotiation that apply lessons learned in actual negotiation situations.

Instead of automatically recommending a win-win negotiation strategy, the author presents an effective alternative in the form of an information-based technique. This contrast is one of the many valuable lessons offered in the book. Unlike many books on the topic, the author shares an accessible and readily applied approach to metrics and measurement. The chapters in the book are short and contain useful and relevant stories of the principles in action. The book is a handy reference that can be referred to as a guide to improving any supply management system.

I highly recommend the very accessible and hands on book Common Sense Supply Management: Tales From The Supply Chain Trenches by Dr. Tom DePaoli, to any business leaders, entrepreneurs, and negotiators seeking a practical and no nonsense guide to improving any supply management process. This book will transform your supply management system from the ordinary to the outstanding, while boosting your overall bottom line.

Jewel Fryer & BlogBloke: Twitter Chats For Fun & Connections - Blog Business Sucess Radio

Listen to Wayne Hurlbert on Blog Talk Radio

Community manager at Social Media Farm, Jewel Fryer and long time blogger BlogBloke describe the lighter side of participating in Twitter chats. Jewel Fryer and BlogBloke share he fun ways that Twitter chats can contribute to your overall social media presence. They point out that Twitter chats are more than simply meeting people on a business network, but also for connecting with them on a social level. They offer ideas for why some chats are fun for participants, including the addition of music, lively conversation, and personal connection.. They explain why chats are much more than meets the eye, and move far beyond the business sphere, to integrate personal aspects and fun into the sharing process. Learn why chats are fun and enjoyable, and why a musical soundtrack enhances the overall chat experience.

Jewel Fryer and BlogBloke are my internet radio show guests on Blog Business Success; hosted live on BlogTalkRadio.

The show airs live on Tuesday, October 16, at 8:00 pm Eastern Time; 5:00 pm Pacific Time.

Community manager at Social Media Farm, Jewel Fryer and long time blogger BlogBloke describe the lighter side of participating in Twitter chats. You will learn:

* Why Twitter chats create connections beyond business

* How to make a twitter chat more enjoyable for participants

* Why Twitter chats create business through networking

* Why a Twitter chat doesn't have to be all business all the time

Jewel Fryer (photo left) is the community manager or otherwise known as the Wizard of Oz to your social media presence at Social Media Farm.

Jewel doesn't buy likes. I build loyalty. Her goal is to help Individuals and business's market and communicate online. As a community manager her job is to improve your social media presence.

Jewel is a Wife, mother, organic farmer, community organizer and social media marketer. She is also a blogger and is active on Twitter and Facebook.






BlogBloke (avatar left) has worked in journalism and as a programmer in the computer industry before most had heard of Bill Gates or Steve Jobs. A crusader at heart, he switched to law and soon made a name for himself as a successful litigation expert and mediator, helping folks who under normal circumstances can't afford justice.

A geek in every sense of the term, he carried his passion for helping others and computers into blogging that he helped pioneer. In those days there was no such thing as Wordpress or RSS newsfeeds for blogs. Having created the "Blog Tips" niche, his blog is an outstanding resource for helpful blogging tips and how-to tutorials. He has a reputation for being a straight shooter, his sharp wit and an outspoken champion for online ethics. He is bullishly pro blogging, social media, an outspoken advocate for online rights, security and technology issues.

Tech Editor and Author, BLOGBloke has been quoted in the Washington Post, New York Times and CBS News. Here are just a few of the comments that his readers have made:

Listen live on Tuesday at 8:00 pm Eastern, 5:00 pm Pacific time.





To call in questions for my guest, the number is: (347) 996-5832

Let's talk with community manager at Social Media Farm, Jewel Fryer and long time blogger BlogBloke,asthey describe the lighter side of participating in Twitter chats. Jewel Fryer and BlogBloke share he fun ways that Twitter chats can contribute to your overall social media presence. They point out that Twitter chats are more than simply meeting people on a business network, but also for connecting with them on a social level. They offer ideas for why some chats are fun for participants, including the addition of music, lively conversation, and personal connection.. They explain why chats are much more than meets the eye, and move far beyond the business sphere, to integrate personal aspects and fun into the sharing process. Learn why chats are fun and enjoyable, and why a musical soundtrack enhances the overall chat experience on Blog Business Success Radio.

T.S. Eliot - The Waste Land read by Ted Hughes & Lia Williams

T.S. Eliot - The Waste Land read by Ted Hughes & Lia Williams

Robert Browning - My Last Duchess read by James Mason

Robert Browning - My Last Duchess read by James Mason

Lord Byron - She Walks In Beauty read by Eric Portman

Lord Byron - She Walks In Beauty read by Eric Portman

William Blake - Auguries Of Innocence read by Ted Hughes

William Blake - Auguries of Innocence read by Ted Hughes

Donna Ballman: Stand Up For Yourself Without Getting Fired - Blog Business Success Radio

Listen to Wayne Hurlbert on Blog Talk Radio

Practicing employment attorney, blogger, and author of the clear and concise book Stand Up For Yourself Without Getting Fired: Resolve Workplace Crises Before You Quit, Get Axed or Sue the Bastards, Donna Ballman describes how most employees need to know how to handle real workplace problems and issues. Donna Ballman points out that employees don't know their rights, and often believe they have rights that don't exist, Donna Ballman provides advice for recent graduates, current job seekers, newly hired employees, and long time workplace veterans. Donna offers information on topics ranging from wages to social media, and from discrimination to termination. Donna shares advice for employees thinking about quitting their job, and what to do and not do in that situation. Learn what it means to sign employment contracts, confidentiality agreements, and non-competes.

Donna Ballman is my internet radio show guest on Blog Business Success; hosted live on BlogTalkRadio.

The show airs live on Thursday, December 13, at 8:00 pm Eastern Time; 5:00 pm Pacific Time.

Practicing employment attorney, blogger, and author of the clear and concise book Stand Up For Yourself Without Getting Fired: Resolve Workplace Crises Before You Quit, Get Axed or Sue the Bastards, Donna Ballman describes how most employees need to know how to handle real workplace problems and issues. You will learn:

* Why employees have so much misinformation about their rights in workplaces

* How to get started understanding rights and responsibilities from day one

* How to handle discrimination, bullying, and harassment

* How to handle layoffs, termination, and quitting your job

Donna Ballman (photo left) is an employment attorney who represents employees. She hopes to provide information to employees that can inform you of your workplace rights and responsibilities.

Donna Ballman has been practicing employment law, including negotiating severance agreements and litigating discrimination, sexual harassment, non-compete agreements, and employment law issues, in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida since 1986. Her blog on employee-side employment law issues, employeeatty.blogspot.com, Screw You Guys, I'm Going Home, was named one of the 2011 ABA Blawg 100 and the 2011 Lexis/Nexis Top 25 Labor and Employment Law Blogs.

She has written for AOL Jobs, Monster.com, Ask A Manager, and the Huffington Post, and has more than 5,000 Twitter followers as @EmployeeAtty. Ballman has taught continuing legal education classes for lawyers and accountants through organizations such as the National Employment Lawyers Association, Sterling Education Services, and the Florida Association for Women Lawyers.

She's been interviewed by MSNBC, the Wall Street Journal, Lifetime Television Network, the Daily Business Review, and many other media outlets.

My book review of Stand Up For Yourself Without Getting Fired: Resolve Workplace Crises Before You Quit, Get Axed or Sue the Bastards by Donna Ballman.

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 practicing employment attorney, blogger, and author of the clear and concise book Stand Up For Yourself Without Getting Fired: Resolve Workplace Crises Before You Quit, Get Axed or Sue the Bastards, Donna Ballman describes how most employees need to know how to handle real workplace problems and issues. Donna Ballman points out that employees don't know their rights, and often believe they have rights that don't exist, Donna Ballman provides advice for recent graduates, current job seekers, newly hired employees, and long time workplace veterans. Donna offers information on topics ranging from wages to social media, and from discrimination to termination. Donna shares advice for employees thinking about quitting their job, and what to do and not do in that situation. Learn what it means to sign employment contracts, confidentiality agreements, and non-compete agreements on Blog Business Success Radio.

The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock by T.S. Eliot

The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock by T.S. Eliot, read by the author.

Mel Carson: Pioneers Of Digital - Blog Business Success Radio

Listen to Wayne Hurlbert on Blog Talk Radio

Internationally renowned expert on search marketing, social media, and online advertising, and founder of Delightful Communications, and co-author of the inspirational and lesson packed book Pioneers of Digital: Success Stories from Leaders in Advertising, Marketing, Search and Social Media, Mel Carson describes the stories behind the key visionaries who influenced how advertising, marketing, search and social media have evolved during the digital era. Mel Carson shares the insights and success stories of the thought leaders and visionaries who transformed how we work on the internet. Mel Carson presents the key ideas and lessons learned from the conversations with the pioneers, and how those same ideas can be applied to your own creative and innovative initiatives. Mel demonstrates how the advice and inspiration shared by the digital pioneers is a combination of timeless wisdom and innovative thinking that leads to unexpected outcomes. Learn how to think like and become a digital pioneer in your own online world.

Mel Carson is my internet radio show guest on Blog Business Success; hosted live on BlogTalkRadio.

The show airs live on Tuesday, December 11, at 8:00 pm Eastern Time; 5:00 pm Pacific Time.

Internationally renowned expert on search marketing, social media, and online advertising, and founder of Delightful Communications, and co-author of the inspirational and lesson packed book Pioneers of Digital: Success Stories from Leaders in Advertising, Marketing, Search and Social Media, Mel Carson describes the stories behind the key visionaries who influenced how advertising, marketing, search and social media have evolved during the digital era. You will learn:

* How the digital pioneers influenced the evolution of the internet

* How their success stories and experiences provide inspiration to others

* The lessons and traits the digital pioneers shared in common

* How to apply the digital pioneering lessons to your innvoations

Mel Carson (photo left) is a world-renowned expert on search marketing, social media and online advertising. An industry veteran, his most notable role has been a seven year stint as Microsoft Advertising's Digital Marketing Evangelist.

He's an accomplished industry blogger and speaks at conferences around the world such as SES in New York and the Interactive Advertising Bureau's Social Media Forum in London.

Based in Seattle, he's also lectured on MBA and MSc courses.

My book review of Pioneers of Digital: Success Stories from Leaders in Advertising, Marketing, Search and Social Media by Paul Springer and Mel Carson.

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 internationally renowned expert on search marketing, social media, and online advertising, and founder of Delightful Communications, and co-author of the inspirational and lesson packed book Pioneers of Digital: Success Stories from Leaders in Advertising, Marketing, Search and Social Media, Mel Carson, as he describes the stories behind the key visionaries who influenced how advertising, marketing, search and social media have evolved during the digital era. Mel Carson shares the insights and success stories of the thought leaders and visionaries who transformed how we work on the internet. Mel Carson presents the key ideas and lessons learned from the conversations with the pioneers, and how those same ideas can be applied to your own creative and innovative initiatives. Mel demonstrates how the advice and inspiration shared by the digital pioneers is a combination of timeless wisdom and innovative thinking that leads to unexpected outcomes. Learn how to think like and become a digital pioneer in your own online world on Blog Business Success Radio.

Pioneers of Digital by Paul Springer & Mel Carson - Book review

Pioneers of Digital

Success Stories from Leaders in Advertising, Marketing, Search and Social Media

By: Paul Springer, Mel Carson

Published: November 5, 2012
Format: Paperback, 232 pages
ISBN-10: 0749466049
ISBN-13: 978-0749466046
Publisher Kogan Page











"True pioneers of digital, these innovators have pushed the boundaries of what's possible through the internet and created compelling, entertaining and useful experiences that have touched millions around the world", write communications professor and head of research for Design, Media and Management at Buckinghamshire New University, Paul Springer; and internationally renowned expert on search marketing, social media, and online marketing, and founder of Delightful Communications, Mel Carson, in their inspirational and fascinating digital personality filled book Pioneers of Digital: Success Stories from Leaders in Advertising, Marketing, Search and Social Media. The authors share the their intriguing and revealing conversations with the leading discoverers and innovators in the various disciplines that encompass the entire sphere of digital media.

Paul Springer (photo left) and Mel Carson recognize the innovations and contributions made by the visionary individuals profiled in the book. The digital pioneers presented in the various chapters have careers that cross many different disciplines, various platforms, different campaigns, and many industries across the digital frontier. Intriguingly, the authors point out that the creative people profiled had little idea about how ubiquitous and crucial the internet would be in the lives of people around the world. The various profiles include the identification of expanding and innovative regions of the world, including China, India, and the Middle East, where digital communications are being created and where the lives of people are shaped by those same digital media.

Mel Carson (photo left and Paul Springer present unique insights into the thoughts and vision of the profiled digital pioneers. To provide the information in a consistent form, the authors utilize a format here the individuals explain their digital discipline, tell their story in their own words, analysis of the success of their work, and the main points learned for each of the profiled people.

The authors identified a common set of lessons learned from conversations with the various digital pioneers. Those lessons are as follows:

* Not being original
* Pioneering commercial models
* Repositioning creativity
* Skills convergence
* All platforms and no content
* Running in real time: Not being ahead of the game
* Create something useful and never assume
* Enjoy what you do
* Ten steps to becoming a digital pioneer,from the people who got there

For me, the power of the book is how Paul Springer and Mel Carson combine the insightful interviews and stories of the profiled digital pioneers, with the lessons gleaned from the conversations with the profiled individuals. The authors offer a wide range of profiles that include leading thinkers in an array of industries, platforms, technologies, and disciplines. Despite this wide spectrum approach, the authors provide a cohesive overview of commonalities between the various pioneers.

With this understanding of the traits and ideas shared by the thought leaders, the book becomes more than an anthology of profiles. Instead, it becomes a treasure trove of concepts that guide the reader into the direction of becoming a future pioneer. The various stories have both a standard framework, and a unique sense of the individuals and their vision. The opportunity to learn from the successes of the pioneers, and how to learn from their experiences, transforms the book into a powerful teaching and learning tool for the aspiring digital innovator.

I highly recommend the insightful and success oriented book Pioneers of Digital: Success Stories from Leaders in Advertising, Marketing, Search and Social Media by Paul Springer and Mel Carson, to anyone seeking an anthology of informative and idea filled profiles of successful pioneers in the digital world. This book will guide you on a digital voyage around the world, across platforms, and many disciplines as you learn from the successes of the true pioneers of digital.

Samuel Taylor Coleridge: The Rime Of The Ancient Mariner

James Mason reads The Rime Of The Ancient Mariner by Samuel Taylor Coleridge (1772-1834)

Leading Culture Change in Global Organizations by Daniel Denison, Robert Hooijberg, Nancy Lane & Colleen Lief - Book review

Leading Culture Change in Global Organizations

Aligning Culture and Strategy

By: Daniel Denison, Robert Hooijberg, Nancy Lane, Colleen Lief

Published: June 26, 2012
Format: Hardcover, 240 pages
ISBN-10: 047090884X
ISBN-13: 978-0470908846
Publisher: Jossey-Bass











"It can be easy to forget that the people make the place, because the structures that we create often outlive our memory of how and why we created them to begin with, leaving us feeling like we are the victims rather than the visionaries of the systems that we create", write professor or management and organization at the International Institute for Management Development (IMD), Daniel Denison; professor of organizational behavior at the International Institute for Management Development (IMD), Robert Hooijberg; research associate at the International Institute for Management Development (IMD), Nancy Lane; and project manager for the IMD-Lombard Odier Darier Hentsch Family Business Research Center, Colleen Lief, in their insightful and organization transforming book Leading Culture Change in Global Organizations: Aligning Culture and Strategy. The authors describe the importance of developing a unique company culture, and present the theory and practices to transform the organizational culture into one that aligns with the overall company strategy.

Daniel Denison (photo left), Robert Hooijberg, Nancy Lane, and Colleen Lief understand the importance of of company culture to the success of the organization. The authors also recognize the necessity of that culture being in alignment with the strategic planning of the organization. This alignment is especially critical in a global company, where adaptability and flexibility are crucial to success in diverse markets.

To achieve the needed level of alignment, and a successful company culture, the authors provide the best practices for developing and managing a strong company culture, aligned to the values and strategy of the organization, and how to measure its overall effectiveness. The authors share a number case studies of company cultural transformation, and analyze the successes and challenges experienced by those organizations

Robert Hooijberg (photo left), Nancy Lane, Colleen Lief, and Daniel Denison approach the issue of company culture from an alignment viewpoint. Within that assessment, the authors consider which paths toward cultural transformation have produced the most success. They also assess the role of the organizational leadership in creating a new culture, and what the results of those changes in culture are over time. The authors also consider the results of the various approaches to culture transformation to determine the most effective practices for a global company. To evaluate the myriad approaches taken by several organizations, the authors applied a survey of the companies involved in the changes.

Nancy Lane (photo left), Colleen Lief, Daniel Denison, and Robert Hooijberg present a comprehensive overview of the development of a unique company culture that is alignment withe organizational strategy. The authors tracked the companies included int their study and developed a series of strategies and lessons for leaders as follows:

* Building a high performance business culture
* Supporting the front line
* Creating strategic alignment
* Creating one culture out of many
* Exporting cultural change
* Building a global business in an emerging market
* Building a global business from an emerging market
* Building for the future: Trading old habits for new

For me, the power of the book is how Colleen Lief (photo left), Daniel Denison, Robert Hooijberg and Nancy Lane provide a powerful combination of theory and practical strategies for developing and managing an effective corporate culture. The authors present the practices for leaders to transform their existing organizational culture, including cultures that are dysfunctional, into unique and vibrant organizations, whose actions and engagement are aligned with the overall goals and strategies of the firm.

The authors move beyond the standard culture based books and offer a research based examination of cultures that have transformed themselves into completely different ones. The book contains the case studies of those companies, and how they met their cultural challenges, and became entirely unique enterprises. The book extends the cultural discussion as well to include the challenges and opportunities for an aligned culture to succeed in the global marketplace. The various chapters in the book contain a series of lessons for leaders, as well, that offer actionable ideas and tactics for creating a fresh and engaged organizational culture.

I highly recommend the research based and very practical strategy filled book Leading Culture Change in Global Organizations: Aligning Culture and Strategy by Daniel Denison, Robert Hooijberg, Nancy Lane, and Colleen Lief, to any organizational leaders seeking to transform their company culture to reengage employees to meet the many challenges presented through operating in the global economy. This book will change the way you think about the value of company culture, and its fundamental importance to organizational success.