MEMEnomics: The Next Generation Economic System by Said E. Dawlabani - Book review

MEMEnomics

The Next Generation Economic System

By: Said Elias Dawlabani

Published: September 17, 2013
Format: Hardcover, 320 pages
ISBN-10: 1590799968
ISBN-13: 978-1590799963
Publisher: SelectBooks










"Memenomics is based on the natural evolutionary concepts that define individuals, institutions, and cultures as value systems memes or vMEMES and offers economic solutions that are congruent with these memetic codes",writes entrepreneur and the leading expert in the value-systems approach to economics, Said Elias Dawlabani, in his brilliant and revolutionary book MEMEnomics: The Next Generation Economic System. The author describes the principles of memenomics as an alternative economic approach to the rigid and very artificial ideologies that dominate and stifle economic and leadership change to meet the challenges posed by modern capitalism.

Said Dawlabani recognizes that the problems facing leaders today cannot be solved with the methods of the old paradigm. The author points out that existing economic and political ideologies are insufficient to meet the challenges of the twenty-first century. Said Dawlabani proposes utilizing the concept of value systems as a guide to the historical ebb and flow of values within capitalism. With this understanding in place, the author provides his blueprint for transforming the existing economic system. That fresh approach is in the form of memenomics, framed on the natural evolution of economic systems, to create the next phase of capitalism.

Said Dawlabani (photo left) understands that economic systems theory and analysis has moved away from the necessary holistic and societal level of thought. The author presents the idea of value systems as memes, and their evolution and organic growth, to form the overarching basis of a culture. While other economic theories tend toward rigidity and an inability to forecast the future reliably, memenomic principles are designed to predict the evolution of human thought and activity, environmental changes of all types, and human value transition.

Said Dawlabani offers an open values systems approach that considers the entirety of the system of leadership. The historical analysis provide for an examination of previous approaches including the failure of trickle down economic theory. The authors presents the importance of integrating human culture and values to meet the challenges of the modern capitalist system. The author divides the book into three major sections to provide a framework for study of the cultural values systems theory as follows:

* A whole systems view on the evolution of economies
* History of the value of a subsistence economy
* The platform for functional capitalism

For me, the power of the book is how Said Dawlabani combines a comprehensive examination and framework for his cultural values systems economics, with the prescriptive approach necessary for leaders to make the transition to the new economic paradigm. The author considers the societal culture and human values to form integral parts of the economic system. This inclusive approach to economic theory is lacking in the mainstream economic thought that has become conventional wisdom. The author demonstrates the historic and current failure of those isolated theories.

Said Dawlabani shows clearly how a cultural values systems theory is essential for navigating the current economic crisis, and to break the deadlock that has stifled the capitalist system. The author understands that economists must remove the rigidity of their theories, and consider societal and cultural evolution as an integral part to a holistic understanding of the economic system. With the road map offered by Said Dawlabani, the opportunity arises to establish a new form of leadership in both government and the private sector. The author also provides examples of where that transition is already taking place, and that existing economic theory is unable to cope with or describe the transformation.

I highly recommend the groundbreaking and very important book MEMEnomics: The Next Generation Economic System by Said Elias Dawlabani, to any business leaders, political leaders, public policy makers, economists, economics students, and anyone serious about establishing a more realistic economic system based on the ever evolving human culture, society, and environments. This book takes a whole systems approach to the challenges posed by the rapid changes taking place within government and the capitalist system.

Creative You by David B. Goldstein & Otto Kroeger - Book review

Creative You

Using Your Personality Type to Thrive

By: David B. Goldstein, Otto Kroeger

Published: July 2, 2013
Format: Paperback, 320 pages
ISBN-10: 1582703655
ISBN-13: 978-1582703657
Publisher: Beyond Words








"In this book, you will happily discover it wasn't your fault if you've not yet learned how to fully utilize your creativity, because we're all naturally creative",write internationally known artist and entrepreneur, David B. Goldstein; and pioneer in practical applications of psychological type, Otto Kroeger, in their personality based and empowering book Creative You: Using Your Personality Type to Thrive. The authors describe how everyone is creative, but that their creativity is related to their personality type, and with that match in place, individual creativity is unleashed.

David Goldstein (photo left) and Otto Kroeger understand that people who believe they have no creativity lacked the tools to develop their skills. If they had the tools for creativity, they were all too often not taught how to use them, or discouraged from creative thinking entirely. The authors provide the good news that everyone is capable of creativity, and that the techniques for creativity are learned skills.

The authors go even farther, and demonstrate how different personality types are creative in very different and exciting ways. The learned skills of creativity, according to the authors, can be even more finely tuned and individualized as a result of matching personality type with the appropriate creative tools and techniques.

Otto Kroeger (photo left) and David Goldstein present an important series of new ideas that rebuttal the most common misconceptions about the nature of creativity and creative people. The authors stress that everyone has the capability of being creative, and the book contains the personality type matched skills to achieve unlimited levels of creation. The authors offer the concept that people can not only learn from the arts, but go well beyond the in all areas of life and work.

The authors utilize the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) as the basis for recognizing and understanding the personality types of each individual. The MBTI system emphasizes that there are no bad personality types, but simply locates the differences to ensure that the appropriate creativity tools and skills development is matched to each personality type. The authors cover the following overarching areas in the book's three parts as follows:

* Meeting your creative self
* The sixteen creative types
* Cultivating courageous creativity

For me, the power of the book is how David Goldstein and Otto Kroeger combine a comprehensive personality based framework for establishing creativity, and provide the practical tools and techniques appropriate for each of the personality types. The authors provide an empowering alternative, not only to the misconceptions about creativity as being confined to a select few, but to the idea that one method of creative thinking will work for everyone. The authors offer a fascinating and well considered use of the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) for facilitating different creative styles and techniques for different people.

The authors identify, through application of the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI), of how individuals prefer to think and act creatively. Through recognition of the different personality styles, strengths and weaknesses in team members can be identified to maximize the team skills. The authors go far beyond the usual concept of one creative technique for everyone, and tailor the skills to the individual. At the same time, the book contains an important section of developing personal creativity, for finding the ideal personal creative outlets, and for encouraging creativity in children.

I highly recommend the very comprehensive and hands on book Creative You: Using Your Personality Type to Thrive by David B. Goldstein and Otto Kroeger, to any business leaders, managers, entrepreneurs, artists, writers, educators, students, parents, and anyone who is interested in enhancing and developing their creativity skills. This book will help you match your personality type to the right skills and techniques for you.

Cue Cards for Life by Christina Steinorth - Book review

Cue Cards for Life: Thoughtful Tips for Better Relationships

By: Christina Steinorth, MA, MFT

Published: January 8, 2013
Format: Paperback, 168 pages
ISBN-10: 0897936167
ISBN-13: 978-0897936163
Publisher: Hunter House Publishers












"Even though life can be complicated, there really isn't any reason for your relationships to be", writes licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and Board Certified Diplomate in Professional Counseling, Christina Steinorth in her engaging and positive outcomes oriented book Cue Cards for Life: Thoughtful Tips for Better Relationships. The author describes to utilize her Cue Cards regularly to improve and change your relationships for the benefit and consideration of everyone.

Christina Steinorth understands that the simple, seemingly small things make an enormous difference in any relationship. The author reminds us that everyone has the skills to develop and nurture their relationships with others, but that all too often time and distractions cause us to not pay attention to others. Instead of operating on autopilot, as Christina Steinorth calls it, she offers a series of quick and actionable ideas she calls Cue Cards. These reminders, shared by the author throughout the entire book, provide a constant reminder to think of relationship building and to reduce conflicts and misunderstandings.

Christina Steinorth (photo left) recognizes that life may be complicated and that people face constant challenges and demands on their time and attention. The author presents an alternative viewpoint that paying attention to our many interpersonal relationships takes little time and a bit of attention to others. This caring and interest goes a long way to preventing problems before they ever arise between people. The Cue Cards offer wisdom and advice for developing good relationships and for repairing connections that may have gone awry for any reason.

Christina Steinorth presents a series of ideas for building relationships so a person has the skills to develop or repair relationships. The author makes clear that relationship nurturing and mending is a skill that can be practiced and learned like any other skill. Christina Steinorth offers Cue Cards in the following interpersonal relationship areas:

* The basics
* Love relationships
* Marriages, babies, in-laws, and all things family
* Parents with teens
* Interacting with aging parents
* The workplace
* Friendships, parties, and social events
* Effective apologies

For me, the power of the book is how Christina Steinorth combines a powerful framework for developing and rebuilding relationships, with a practical set of ideas for making those transformations a reality. The author offers the simple to understand and use Cue Cards for guiding daily interactions with other people. The cards include people within the family including being a care giver to aging parents, people in your social circle including their social events, and people at the workplace. The author's comprehensive approach to relationships in life makes the book especially valuable.

Christina Steinorth takes the position that relationship building and repairing are learned skills like any other ability in our personal toolkit. This is a very important aspect of the book, as many people believe mistakenly, that developing relationships is an inborn talent possessed only by the rare few. With the premise of a learned skill understood, the author presents the Cue Cards that offer guidance in handling the various exchanges and conflicts that may arise in everyday life at home and work. The principles contained on the Cue cards soon become learned behaviors, replacing the previous ineffective and even destructive behaviors.

I highly recommend the very practical and transformational book Cue Cards for Life: Thoughtful Tips for Better Relationships by Christina Steinorth to anyone seeking a clear and concise set of guiding principles for developing, nurturing, and rebuilding any relationships in a person's life. This book offers the skills needed for conflict resolution, effective leadership, and bringing happiness and consideration for others back into our lives.

The Lifestyle Business Rockstar by Rasmus Lindgren - Book review

The Lifestyle Business Rockstar!

Quit your 9 -5, kick ass, work less, and live more

By: Rasmus Lindgren

Published: February 4, 2013
Format: Paperback, 196 pages
ISBN-10: 1482366045
ISBN-13: 978-1482366044
Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform











"It's about freedom. As I travel the world living my own rockstar lifestyle, I discover that freedom is in very short supply for most people. Maybe it is for you too - you can change that though",writes music producer, IT consultant, and entrepreneur Rasmus Lindgren in his very hands on and positive results oriented book The Lifestyle Business Rockstar!: Quit your 9 -5, kick ass, work less, and live more. The author describes how how to establish a successful business that offers freedom to live the life you choose, and shares the practical steps to make a rockstar lifestyle a reality.

Rasmus Lindgren understands that that starting a lifestyle business doesn't also mean becoming a millionaire. For the author, the freedom provided by the lifestyle is more important than money. Rasmus Lindgren offers the premise that the book is about the freedom for a person's lifestyle to take priority over work in the nine to five world. The author shares his proven tools including the Rockstar Trifecta and Designing Your Lifestyle Business. Rasmus Lindgren presents the concept as a realistic one, where a person doesn't have to mortgage their future, but they won't get rich immediately either.

Rasmus Lindgren (photo left) recognizes that some people prefer the traditional nine to five workplace. This book is written for those individuals who are seeking freedom from what the author considers a lie. He points out that the traditional lifelong employment dream no longer exists, and is even less financially secure and less safe than starting a lifestyle oriented business. Because the entrepreneur, who places their lifestyle and freedom first, there is less need to make huge amounts of money.The lifestyle balances that seeming necessity with the benefits of freedom.

Rasmus Lindgren guides the would be lifestyle entrepreneur through the essential steps needed to achieve both freedom and prosperity. The author provides the following overarching concepts for the lifestyle rockstar:

* The Lifestyle Lie
* The Rockstar Trifecta
* The 4S Model of Lifestyle Business Design
* Lifestyle Business Modeling
* The Next Step: Passion and Action

For me, the power of the book is how Rasmus Lindgren combines a complete overview of the rockstar lifestyle business concept, with the practical strategies and tools to makes that lifestyle a reality. The author presents his ideas in a straightforward manner that removes the guesswork. A real feature of the book is the author's honesty regarding how to start and operate the business; and what to actually expect from the business. The author is very clear that this not an overnight wealth format, but one designed to accentuate the lifestyle aspect of the business, while generating a good income.

The 4S Model is an example of that simplicity and realistic outlook. Rasmus Lindgren suggests a simple setup, starting small, scaling built in for organic growth, and secondary to the desired lifestyle. Rasmus Lindgren recommends an online business as being lifestyle friendly and one that can be developed and scaled larger over time. The goal, after all, is to achieve freedom from being tied to a clock based job, and the author offers a solid plan for doing precisely that.

I highly recommend the very practical and liberating book The Lifestyle Business Rockstar!: Quit your 9 -5, kick ass, work less, and live more by Rasmus Lindgren to any would be entrepreneurs and lifestyle rockstars who are seeking real freedom from the standard nine to five workplace. This book offers a real world proven blueprint for leaving that job behind and living a life of freedom of your own choosing.

The Truth about Lies in the Workplace by Carol Kinsey Goman - Book review

The Truth About Lies in the Workplace

How to Spot Liars and What to Do About Them

By: Carol Kinsey Goman, Ph.D.

Published: June 3, 2013
Format: Paperback, 144 pages
ISBN-10: 1609948378
ISBN-13: 978-1609948375
Publisher: Berrett-Koehler Publishers








"But if the truth is that we're all liars - if the line between 'us' and 'them' is not as definitive as we'd like to think - how in the world do we deal with lies in the workplace?" writes President of Kinsey Consulting Services, Carol Kinsey Goman, Ph.D., in her insightful and straight talking book The Truth About Lies in the Workplace: How to Spot Liars and What to Do About Them. The author describes the challenging reality that all people lie and use deception, but for different reasons and at different levels of destructiveness, and provides the tools and techniques for identifying liars and how to handle their deception.

Carol Kinsey Goman recognizes that not all lies and deception, terms that the author uses interchangeably, are destructive. The author also points out that since everyone lies to some degree, it is essential to determine who the workplace liars are, whether their small lies are forgivable, and which dangerous lies can do severe harm to others and to the organization.

Carol Kinsey Goman points out that lying is a learned skill that offers an advantage to the undetected liar; encouraging the continuation of deceptions to maintain that edge. Deceptions are usually self serving, but they can also be intended to help others, and some lies are a mixture of both benefits.

Carol Kinsey Goman (photo left) understands that different types of people are more skilled at lying than other people. Indeed, the author presents lying as a learned skill, as a counter measure, detecting a liar is an ability that can be learned and mastered as well.

Carol Kinsey Goman writes that there are four types of liars including the occasional liar, frequent liars, habitual liars, and pathological liars. These liars can be senior leaders in the organization, managers,colleagues, and their actions all have consequences of varying degree for the entire organization.

Carol Kinsey Goman not only offers the tools and techniques for determining who may be lying and what that lie entails, but she also shares the strategies for dealing with liars. The author presents a complete guide to detecting and handling liars in the workplace. The areas covered are as follows:

* Liars at work
* Deception detection: 50 ways to spot a liar
* Why we believe liars and play into their hands
* How to deal with liars
* Do you look like a liar
* Reducing lies in the workplace

For me, the power of the book is how Carol Kinsey Goman combines an overview of liars and their motives, with a comprehensive examination of how to detect and overcome the problems posed by liars and their deceptions. The author provides a direct approach to recognizing the liars in the workplace, whether managers, colleagues, or staff, in a a readily understood format. The entire book is written in a hands on and usability format to provide the skills needed to discover and deal with those often challenging workplace liars.

Carol Kinsey Goman also presents the provocative concept that all of us are guilty of lying, and that the work environment may contribute to the phenomenon of lying. While liars may abound in any workplace, the author offers concrete and actionable strategies for reducing the level of lies encountered at work. Instead of encouraging and aiding liars in their deceptions, the author demonstrates how to identify and reduce the effectiveness of the liar. She also provides methods for creating a less lie friendly workplace, to create a company culture that rewards honesty.

I highly recommend the very hands on and positive outcomes based book The Truth About Lies in the Workplace: How to Spot Liars and What to Do About Them by Carol Kinsey Goman, to any business and nonprofit leaders, managers and executives, entrepreneurs, and anyone interested in recognizing liars, uncovering their deceptions, and creating a more honesty based workplace, home, and society. This book will not only reduce the number of deceptions in your life, but also help overcome your own urge to create a self serving deception of your own.

Youtility by Jay Baer - Book review

Youtility

Why Smart Marketing Is about Help Not Hype

By: Jay Baer

Published: June 27, 2013
Format: Hardcover, 240 pages
ISBN-10: 1591846668
ISBN-13: 978-1591846666
Publisher: Portfolio/Penguin












"The way consumers gather information about companies and make purchase decisions has changed. Consumers' time and attention has never been more scarce, and their suspicion of lazy interruption has never been more acute", writes hype-free marketing strategist, speaker, and President of Convince & Convert, Jay Baer in his revolutionary and marketing transformational book Youtility: Why Smart Marketing Is about Help Not Hype. The author describes the changing landscape for marketers, where consumers no longer believe or act upon traditional marketing techniques, and offers an alternative in the form of what he calls Youtility.

Jay Baer understands that in the modern online world, consumers have altered the balance of information, rendering the older opaque marketing models much less effective. Indeed, the author considers the entire concept of marketing to having been overturned, and the old rules and strategies are now treated with suspicion. In a marketplace where time and attention are in short supply, and tolerance of interruption by marketers is at an all time low, Jay Baer offers the concept of Youtility as an alternative. In today's free information saturated world, the author presents Youtility as essential to marketing success.

Jay Baer (photo left) recognizes that the focus of many companies today is to be amazing to their customers. The author offers the more modest, but potentially more valuable premise, of being useful to customers. In this way, the company is helping the customer solve a need or problem.

The basis of Youtility is to be helpful to consumers, and create a bond with the customer for life. The idea of Youtility is marketing that is wanted, and not simply needed, as the information offered is free, helpful, and establishes a long term relationship with clients.

Jay Baer provides the guiding principles of Youtility, and being helpful and useful, in three overarching sections. Those three main areas of Youtility are as follows:

* Turning marketing upside down
* The three facets of Youtility
* Six blueprints to create Youtility

For me, the power of the book is how Jay Baer combines an overall theoretical framework of the principles of Youtility, with the practical strategies and techniques to put the concepts into practice. The author changes the traditional method of top of mind awareness marketing into one that adds frame of mine and friend of mine to the equation. This widening out of awareness, from its previously narrow focus, ensures that marketing moves out of the now outmoded traditional methodology mindset. In its place, Jay Baer presents the more comprehensive and useful premise of Youtility.

With its foundations of self serve information, radical transparency, and real time relevance, Youtility moves marketing far beyond the intrusive top of mind awareness approach. The basic pillars of helping, usefulness, and trust are a powerful combination for marketers, transforming the process into one focused on the needs of the customer. Jay Baer provides numerous examples of companies who implement the principles of Youtility, to illustrate the concepts in action in the real world. At the end of the book, the author also adds a quick glance at Youtility to ensure the principles are always remembered and fresh.

OI highly recommend the very clear and fascinating idea packed book Youtility: Why Smart Marketing Is about Help Not Hype by Jay Baer, to any marketers, entrepreneurs, and business leaders who are seeking a more effective, and more human needs based approach to marketing. This book will change your mode of thought and action to being helpful, useful, and trustworthy.

The Alchemy of Authentic Leadership by Steven Mundahl & Sharon Massoth - Book review

The Alchemy of Authentic Leadership

By: Steven Mundahl, Sharon Massoth

Published: July 8,2013
Paperback: 208 pages
ISBN-10: 1452576319
ISBN-13: 978-1452576312
Publisher: Balboa Press










"Leadership is less about leading others and more about the journey of how we lead ourselves", write president and CEO of Goodwill Industries in western Massachusetts, Steven Mundahl; and psychotherapist and business coach Sharon Massoth, in their insightful and transformational book The Alchemy of Authentic Leadership. The authors describe how leaders learn lessons at the time they are most appropriate for the leader's life journey, and share the principles to guide leaders to take the ethical and values based personal development path.

Steve Mundahl (photo left) and Sharon Massoth understand that life, and the path of leadership is a lifelong journey, and not a specific destination with a discernible endpoint. Instead, the authors share a vision of leadership as voyage of self discovery, of finding personal truths, passion, and an authentic voice. With these critical explorations within, the leader can then align their outward life and behavior with them. For the authors, leadership discovers the person when they discover the leader within themselves.

Sharon Massoth (photo left) and Steven Mundahl recognize that even the most effective leaders can stumble and fall on their inner journey. The authors provide the neurological and behavioral reasons why leaders take foolish risks, causing self destructive outcomes. The authors share practices and tools for self governance, to avoid those dangerous and career destroying actions. These tools and exercises guide the leader toward self healing on the the personal journey.

The authors present a comprehensive examination of the leadership journey within. Through self assessment, the authors guide leaders toward understanding their values, personal attitudes, and actions. With the factors that lead to self destructive behavior understood, the potential for real growth as a leader will emerge. The authors consider the following aspects of the the authentic and internal leadership journey:

* The personal journey of leadership
* Leadership begins at home
* The path to healing
* Meeting your leader on the road
* Healing into wholeness
* Leadership visualization tools
* The alchemy of pure intuition
* Changing negative corporate culture
* The tenets of authentic leadership

For me, the power of the book is how Steve Mundahl and Sharon Massoth combine a complete evaluation of the internal factors of the leadership journey, with the practical techniques and strategies to achieve alignment with those inner values. The authors present an internal journey to self discovery as critical for a leader's success. Leaders become leaders at a time that aligns with their personal development. To support their principles, the authors offer the latest developments in neuroscience and behavioral science.

In a time when otherwise effective leaders seemingly destroy their own careers through foolish and unnecessary risks and actions, this book is am important contribution to leadership thought. The authors describe the elements that go into the process of developing into an ethical and principled leader. They also point out the failure of alignment in the personal values of the dangerous risk taking leader. The book also contains an important and essential section on rebuilding an organization culture from one of negative thought and action to one of positivity and authentic behavior and engagement.

I highly recommend the must read leadership development book The Alchemy of Authentic Leadership by Steven Mundahl and Sharon Massoth, to any current or potential leaders who are seeking an effective guide to navigating the personal inward journey to self understanding. This book offers the strategies and practices for developing as an effective and principled leader.

The Reality-Based Rules of the Workplace by Cy Wakeman - Book review

The Reality-Based Rules of the Workplace

Know What Boosts Your Value, Kills Your Chances, and Will Make You Happier

By: Cy Wakeman

Published: April 30, 2013
Format: Hardcover, 208 pages
ISBN-10: 1118413687
ISBN-13: 978-1118413685
Publisher: Jossey-Bass










"Happiness is at your fingertips, yours for the taking. All jobs can be great jobs. All bosses can be exactly what you need. You can have success any time, anywhere", writes keynote speaker, executive coach, entrepreneur and leadership thought leader, Cy Wakeman, in her empowering and career transformational book The Reality-Based Rules of the Workplace: Know What Boosts Your Value, Kills Your Chances, and Will Make You Happier. The author describes how employees hold the key to their workplace engagement and happiness in their own hands, and provides the rules for making the work environment a great experience.

Cy Wakeman recognizes that more workers than ever are feeling unappreciated and disengaged at work. The author presents a compelling case that work doesn't have to be an unpleasant place by offering an empowering alternative mindset for employees. Cy Wakeman points out that internally generated fears and disenchantment create a more adverse workplace that doesn't really exist. Instead of helping the employee achieve peak performance and a successful career, the false fears and disengagement hold them back. Cy Wakeman shares the good news that top performance and career advancement are possible through an understanding of the true workplace reality.

Cy Wakeman (photo left) understands that employees want to be happy and successful at work. Faced with challenging bosses, difficult coworkers, and a shortage of resources to complete their projects, many employees face frustration at work. Cy Wakeman provides real help for these employees through a revealing formula that evaluates the worker's value to the organization. With the resulting score in hand, the individual has a baseline from which to improve the overall score, becoming a more valued member of the team. With stronger performance, an employee finds work more enjoyable and a truly positive experience.

Cy Wakeman offers an alternative worldview in the form of her reality-based rules of the workplace. The key is that the rules consider the reality of the workplace insred of its imagined problems, impossible to work for and unappreciative bosses, and difficult coworkers. Cy Wakeman replaces imagined challenges with real world based solutions. The five reality-based rules are as follows:

* Your level of accountability determines your level of happiness
* Suffering is optional
* Buy-in is not optional
* Say yes to what's next
* You will always have extenuating circumstances

For me, the power of the book is how Cy Wakeman combines an overall framework for improving your career prospects, your engagement level, and your personal happiness with the practical rules for making them a reality. The author bolsters her premise with extensive research interviews that illustrate the concepts as they happen in the real world. Cy Wakeman takes an empowering and personal responsibility based approach to career success. By taking the position that the individual is accountable and able to create their own happiness, the author demonstrates that a person's career rests in their own hands.

Cy Wakeman doesn't gloss over the fact that today's workplace and economy present real and very tangible challenges. She takes the bold step that this upheaval and change also presents real opportunity for employee initiative and advancement. The author offers the personal choice to take ownership of your own career, and your personal success and happiness.In a time of constant change, both within and outside the workplace, and with so many coworkers disengaged from their employment, opportunity for providing peak performance, innovation, and leadership has never been greater than at present.

I highly recommend the career building and personal accountability based book The Reality-Based Rules of the Workplace: Know What Boosts Your Value, Kills Your Chances, and Will Make You Happier by Cy Wakeman, to any employees, executives, new graduates, and potential leaders who are seeking an alternative approach to success based on personal empowerment. This book offers a road map to finding opportunity and achieving top performance in any work environment.

The Necessity of Strangers by Alan Gregerman - Book review

The Necessity of Strangers

The Intriguing Truth About Insight, Innovation, and Success

By: Alan Gregerman

Published: September 10, 2013
Format: Hardcover, 240 pages
ISBN-10: 1118461304
ISBN-13: 978-1118461303
Publisher: Jossey-Bass










"In an important way,practically all of my best ideas are built on the ideas and insights of others who were at one time strangers", writes consultant, keynote speaker, and President and Chief Innovation Officer of VENTURE WORKS Inc., Alan Gregerman in his refreshing and insightful book The Necessity of Strangers: The Intriguing Truth About Insight, Innovation, and Success. The author describes how the impact of strangers on people's life is essential for success, are even more important than friends, and how to find and engage those necessary strangers.

Alan Gregerman recognizes that concept of strangers being necessary for creative thinking, innovation, and new perspectives is counter to the conventional wisdom of companies. Considering strangers as essential also goes against what people are taught and to think for their entire lives. In organizations strangers are people who bring different ideas, and what is considered possibly dangerous change to the culture.

As a result, strangers are thought to be a problem to be avoided or prevented from entry to the company. Instead of thinking in this standard mode, Alan Gregerman demonstrates that rather than being a problem, strangers are in fact a powerful solution.

Alan Gregerman (photo left) recognizes the fears and anxiety that surrounds the concept of seeking out and engaging strangers. The author presents a compelling case that strangers are in fact more crucial to success than friends. Alan Gregerman recommends taking the bold step of reexamining one's preconceived ideas about strangers, and embracing them for the objectivity and honesty. To underline the importance of strangers, the author offers the following shorthand as explore, connect, innovate, grow.

Alan Gregerman provides a complete reconsideration of the entire concepts of strangers in our personal and working lives. The author points out how people are passing up a tremendous and transformational opportunity by not seeking out, engaging, and embracing the potential of strangers. Indeed, Alan Gregerman considers strangers are so important to success that we can't achieve our fullest potential without them. The author examines the following aspects f strangers and their necessity:

* Necessity
* Aversion
* Mindset
* Innovation
* People
* Collaboration
* Customers
* Leadership
* Taking the first step

For me, the power of the book is how Alan Gregerman combines a comprehensive framework for understanding the importance of strangers, with the practical steps to meeting, engaging, and embracing the necessity of strangers. The author goes beyond the usual discussion about strangers beyond friends, widening the conversation to include people of other cultures, backgrounds, and worldviews. At a time when company leaders are searching desperately for creativity and innovation, to solve their most confounding problems, the concept of seeking out and engaging strangers is a powerful solution.

Along with the importance of strangers for innovation, Alan Gregerman makes a strong case for adding diversity to the workplace. The value of different perspectives, provided by diverse strangers, brings creativity and innovation to the organization. At the same time, strangers can transform a moribund company culture into one of engaged employees. Seeking out the right strangers, and developing a connection with them, leads to success for all.

I highly recommend the transformational and success building book The Necessity of Strangers: The Intriguing Truth About Insight, Innovation, and Success by Alan Gregerman, to any business leaders at any level, nonprofit executives, community leaders, and anyone seeking fresh perspectives and innovative solutions to their personal and workplace challenges and obstacles. This book will change the way you think about strangers, and consider them truly necessary for your success,

The Office Politics Handbook by Jack Godwin - Book review

The Office Politics Handbook

Winning the Game of Power and Politics at Work

By: Jack Godwin, Ph.D.

Published: September 23, 2013
Format: Paperback, 256 pages
ISBN-10: 1601632797
ISBN-13: 978-1601632791
Publisher: Career Press









"This book is for people who dislike power games, but who also recognize that politics takes place wherever there are people: between supervisors and employees,teachers and students, parent and children, and among friends, partners, and spouses", writes political scientist Jack Goodwin, Ph.D., in his insightful and very practical book The Office Politics Handbook: Winning the Game of Power and Politics at Work. The author describes the nature of politics and their ubiquitous nature in all human activities, and provides his political insider experience for understanding power and politics as essential tools of leadership.

Jack Goodwin recognizes that many people dislike the very idea that office politics exists in organizations. Instead of utilizing the concept of politics, power and influence in terms of manipulation and force, the author presents political as necessary for authentic leadership. This approach to the principles and concepts of politics and influencing decisions and actions goes beyond the narrow seeking of power.

The skills are also critical for achieving the goals of departments and their staff, including ensuring that scarce resources are allocated appropriately for project completion. The author shares strategies for repelling attacks by other less ethical people, and understanding how to approach those challenges effectively as an authentic leader.

Jack Godwin, Ph.D. (photo left) understands that leaders must develop their political skills to lead effectively. Disregarding politics and seekers of power will not make them go away, and may even provide the less scrupulous with the opportunity to do harm to the organization for their personal gain. Through an inward journey of self awareness, to understand the individual's own personal nature through a series of archetypes, the road to authentic leadership can be developed effectively.

The political archetypes, shared by Jack Godwin, are as follows:

* The servant leader
* The rebel
* The mentor
* The recluse
* The judo master
* The resistor
* The opportunist
* The survivor

For me, the power of the book is how Jack Godwin combines a comprehensive frameword of the nature of the art of politics with the archetype concepts that provide practical insights into authentic leadership. The author presents politics as part of the overall human experience, and with the potential for influencing both good or bad decisions and actions. Jack Godwin prefers to take the positive approach of political savvy as a crucial and authentic leadership skill.

Jack Godwin encourages leaders to look within themselves, and to take a personal inner journey of self discovery and self awareness. The author provides an archetype based analysis of the political nature of the individual leader. The author also examines the role of the followers and their behavior and actions.

Leadership is based on the principle of consent. Instead of force, the author demonstrates how authentic leader achieves consent, even from those officially higher than the leader on the organizational chart. Indeed, the author considers force to be a vastly inferior method than influence, strategy, and shared consent.

I highly recommend the must read and success building book The Office Politics Handbook: Winning the Game of Power and Politics at Work by Jack Godwin, Ph.D., to any current and future leaders who are seeking a clear, concise and skills based approach to developing authentic leadership. This book offers an alternative to the less effective and often counterproductive force based models of leadership.

Modelling and Managing Airport Performance edited by Konstaninos Zografos, Giovanni Andreatta & Amedeo Odoni - Book review

Modelling and Managing Airport Performance

Edited by: Konstantinos G. Zografos, Ph.D., Giovanni Andreatta, Ph.D., Amedeo R. Odoni, Ph.D.

Published: August 26, 2013
Format: Hardcover, 314 pages
ISBN-10: 0470974184
ISBN-13: 978-0470974186
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.








"The objective of this book is to provide an integrated view of state-of-the-art research on the performance of airport systems", write Chair Professor at the Department of Management Science, The Management School, Lancaster University, UK, Konstantinos G. Zografos, Ph.D.; Professor of Operations Research in the Department of Pure and Applied Mathematics, University of Padova, Italy, Giovanni Andreatta, Ph.D.; and Professor of Aeronautics and Astronautics and of Civil and Environmental Engineering, MIT, Amedeo R. Odoni, Ph.D., editors of the multi-faceted and state-of-the-art modelling oriented book Modelling and Managing Airport Performance. The editors provide contributions from globally recognized experts in improving airport systems, including performance, measurement, operations, and management.

Konstantinos G. Zografos (photo left), Giovanni Andreatta, and Amadeo R. Odoni present a collection of essays that offer insights into the latest research on airport systems improvement and measurement. The editors include a wide range of contributions that cover every aspect of airport performance ranging from capacity and delays, to economic costs, safety, and environmental issues.

The editors provide articles that exhibit a world wide perspective, as the contributors include authors from Europe, North America, and South America. Their expertise and background are gleaned from academic and research institutions, government, and the private sector.

Giovanni Andreatta (photo left), Amadeo R. Ordoni, and Konstantinos G. Zografos recognize the complexity of airport performance. While considering the many themes surrounding airport operations, the essays focus on the modelling, quantification, and overall management and efficiency of an airport. Within that framework, the various contributors offer their perspective on different aspects of that modelling process. The guest authors provide strategies and concepts for overcoming the challenges posed in the managing of airport performance.

The editors divide the book and its contributed essays into three overarching sections. These sections consider the various aspects of the main themes and principles of modelling and managing airports. The three parts are as follows:

* Modelling and assessment of airport performance
* Quantification, measurement, and forecast of operational performance
* Management of airport congestion and efficiency of scheduling and allocation

Amadeo R. Odoni (photo left), Konstantinos G. Zografos, and Giovanni Andreatta offer what for me is the power of the book, in the form of the wide range of perspectives on the topics of modelling and management for both the present and the future. The contributors consider problems related to both the landside and airside of airport management, and offer strategies for both aspects of performance. The book offers a strong series of articles that use well researched quantification, and are well illustrated with graphics.

Each contributing author provides a large series of references for their essay as well to facilitate further in depth research on each of the topics. The articles provide a multidimensional approach to the challenges faced by airport managers, and present valid and proven solutions and strategies. Especially valuable is the global perspective provided by contributors from three continents and several countries. This world wide experience offers strategies that have been tested and proven in a wide range of airport environments.

I highly recommend the comprehensive and holistic approach book
Modelling and Managing Airport Performance edited by Konstantinos G. Zografos, Ph.D., Giovanni Andreatta, Ph.D., Amedeo R. Odoni, Ph.D., to any airport managers and executives, industry leaders, practicing engineers, academics, public policy makers, and elected officials at all levels, who are seeking a practical and strategy filled guide to modelling and managing performance at airports. This book offers a wide range of viewpoints, concepts, and strategies that provide guidance to overcoming difficult airport management challenges.

Business Models For Dummies by Jim Muehlhausen - Book review

Business Models For Dummies

By: Jim Muehlhausen

Published: June 10, 2013
Format: Paperback, 384 pages
ISBN-10: 1118547616
ISBN-13: 978-1118547618
Publisher: For Dummies











"Simply put, a business model is your profit formula. It's the method you use to acquire customers, service them, and make money doing so", writes entrepreneur, business coach, and founder of The Business Model Institute, Jim Muehlhausen, CPA, JD, in his idea packed and very hands on book Business Models For Dummies. The author describes the importance of a business model, how to design an effective structured business model, and how to know hen the model needs updating, and provides the practices for that change.

Jim Muehlhausen understands that a great business model is essential for company success. The author places the business model at the very heart of the business, and as a result, the business model must be a strong and viable one. Jim Muehlhausen demonstrates the value of the business model, and points out that no amount of intelligence, skill or resources is sufficient to overcome a weak and flawed business model.

The author presents a complete examination of the concept of the business model, dispelling the misconceptions, and providing the strategies and techniques for designing, upgrading, and even rebuilding a strong business model.

Jim Muehlhausen (photo left) recognizes that the concept of the business model is not well known among entrepreneurs and business leaders. The author points out this lack of understanding is due to a low level of discussion of the principles and practices of the business model. With the premise that a great business model is critical for success, Jim Muehlhausen offers a comprehensive analysis of the principles and practices surrounding this key business success ingredient.

Jim Muehlhausen shares the idea of a business model as comprised of mission, objectives, strategy, and tactics. This all encompassing set of principles forms both a firm direction for the business, as well as establishing the rules and methodology by which the company operates on both a short and long term basis. A strong business model defines the business and establishes the foundation from which to establish and build a top performing company.

Jim Muehlhausen divides the book into five overarching sections that describe the various aspects of the business model as follows:

* Getting started with business models
* Creating a winning business model
* Dealing with change
* Business model innovation
* The part of tens

For me, the power of the book is how Jim Muehlhausen combines a comprehensive overview of the concept of the business model, with the practical strategies and techniques for putting the business model into action. The author moves far beyond the standard discussion of business plans, explains the differences between a business model and a business plan, and brings the powerful concept of the business model into the conversation.

Jim Muehlhausen presents the business model as a proactive and holistic approach to operating a business, that not only provides strategies and tactic, but encompasses the business mission, moral compass, and overall direction. Jim Muehlhausen guides the entrepreneur through all of the important steps to both understanding the concept of the business model, to its creation, and its eventual changes and revisions. One of the powers of the business model, as outlined by the author, is its strength and adaptability for innovation within the business.

Unlike the business plan, and its more static and reactive nature, the business model sets the framework that not only enables innovation but has all types of innovation as an integral part of the model. Jim Muehlhausen also includes numerous case studies and examples to further illustrate the principles in action in the real world.

I highly recommend the transformational and competitive advantage building book Business Models For Dummies by Jim Muehlhausen, to any entrepreneurs, start up venture leaders,and innovators seeking a clear and concise guide to the purpose, principles, and practices of the business model. This book will change forever your perception of the limited business plan; and help you make the transition to thinking and operating your business based on the more robust business model foundation.

Advertising and Society: An Introduction, 2nd Edition Edited by Carol J. Pardun - Book review

Advertising and Society

An Introduction, 2nd Edition

Edited by: Carol J. Pardun, Ph.D.

Published: September 23, 2013
Format: Paperback, 312 pages
ISBN-10: 0470673095
ISBN-13: 978-0470673096
Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell













"The pros and cons of advertising have been debated ever since advertising emerged as the means to support our growing mass media consumption habits", writes Director and Professor of the School of Journalism and Mass Communications, University of South Carolina, Carol J. Pardun, Ph.D., editor of the revised and updated edition of her idea filled and very balanced viewpoint based book Advertising and Society: An Introduction, 2nd Edition. The editor offers a series of essays, written by internationally recognized experts in the fields of advertising and marketing, communications, and media, that discuss the leading controversies about the role of advertising in society.

Carol Pardun recognizes that advertising has existed for centuries, and also paralleled the rise of business and industry in the United States. The editor points out that at its most basic level, advertising provides product information. The contributors ask the questions as to what takes place when the advertising moves past the information stage.

As Carol Pardun suggests, it is the advertiser's viewpoint being expressed, and that is where the controversy begins about the role and power of advertising. Advertising, writes the editor, is both a mirror of society and an agent of change, and all that implies for society as a whole. The editor challenges the student to take one of those sides.

Carol J. Pardun, Ph.D. (photo left) understands that students must examine the controversies surrounding the role of advertising, and then consider the consequences and impact of those perspectives. The editor invites students to take a stance on one side of the controversy or the other. The essays presented in the book provide the arguments for both sides of the discussion, and for getting fully acquainted with the complexities of the arguments.

Carol J. Pardun presents a group of essays that challenge the student to think critically about their own perspective about advertising in society. That critical thinking process is stimulated by the fascinating articles, regardless of the student's personal worldview regarding advertising. The book is divided into seventeen chapters that offer both an argument and a counterargument on the issue under debate. The essays are found under the two main groupings of enduring issues in advertising and emerging issues in advertising.

For me, the power of the book is how Carol J. Pardun presents the major issues surrounding the role of advertising in a clear and balanced format. The technique of matching a pro and con essay together, with each taking an opposite side of the question, is an excellent teaching tool. For students developing critical thinking about the role and power of advertising, regardless of their personal viewpoint, this format challenges those perspectives.

These provocative and well written essays, presented by recognized experts, offer the insights and concepts that demonstrate how complex the ideas and scope of advertising are in modern society. As expected, the contributions all contain extensive notes and references for students to further examine each of the issues, whether based on the argument or the counterargument on the topic. The paired pro and con essays can be read in any order depending on the emphasis of the class and the students.

I highly recommend the excellent and engaging book Advertising and Society: An Introduction, 2nd Edition edited by Carol J. Pardun, Ph.D., to any academics and undergraduate students in business, advertising, marketing, media, communications, journalism, the social sciences or any other related field where the impact of advertising is felt in society. This book is a challenging guide for reconsidering the student's own viewpoints about advertising, and enhancing their ability to think critically about the issues surrounding this controversial topic.

Untapped Talent by Dani Monroe - Book review

Untapped Talent

Unleashing the Power of the Hidden Workforce

By: Dani Monroe

Published: April 30, 2013
Format: Hardcover, 192 pages
ISBN-10: 1137282223
ISBN-13: 978-1137282224
Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan












"I believe this book will help you find and grow the talent throughout your organization that's been undervalued and underdeveloped - the talent that's been untapped. Tapping into it will change you, your organization, and the world', writes leadership, diversity, and performance optimization guide, and President and Fonder of Center Focus International, Inc., Dani Monroe in her transformational and positive results oriented book Untapped Talent: Unleashing the Power of the Hidden Workforce. The author describes how people with talent that can benefit the entire organization, are often undiscovered and not able to develop their fullest potential; and offers practices and exercises to uncover and utilize that hidden talent to create a positive impact.

Dani Monroe understands that every organization contains within it a hidden and overlooked pool of talent. The author provides an overview of this untapped talent base and why it exists in so many otherwise astute companies. Dani Monroe demonstrates how the potential of this hidden workforce can be identified, brought to the forefront, and transformed into a high performance force that will boost overall company productivity. Dani Monroe provides the strategies and tools for leaders within the organization to take the initiative and utilize this already existing talent pool.

Dani Monroe (photo left) recognizes that that leaders and managers don't always possess the skills to identify the hidden talent within overlooked employees. As a result, these untapped individuals are never trained, developed or refined ino the powerful force that is needed by the organization. For various reasons, people are neglected and their latent abilities are not utilized to their fullest potential. Dani Monroe presents the methodology for transforming these hidden employees into top performing individuals.

Dani Monroe points out that the identification of untapped talent within the organization benefits the careers of its workforce. The cultural change resulting from more engaged employees, who are being deployed to their fullest potential improves people's lives, for the organization and and the employees' personal career satisfaction. Dani Monroe shares three overarching steps to finding and tapping the hidden workforce:

* Defining the hidden workforce
* Mining and refining the untapped workforce
* Exemplifying and the role of leadership

For me, the power of the book is how Dani Monroe combines a comprehensive description of the nature of the hidden workforce, with the strategies and tactics for identifying, developing, and utilizing these employees in their new roles. The author offers the wisdom of developing people, who are already part of the organization, to their fullest potential. Dani Monroe illustrates the principles of tapping underutilized talent through the inclusion of research studies, case studies, and anecdotal evidence.

With the high cost to every company of recruiting, training, and retaining top performing personnel, the concept of discovering and refining overlooked talent is cost effective, profitable, and the right thing to do for people. The author shows how tapping underused employees creates a more engaged workforce, as people discover they are valued for their contribution, building a stronger company culture. That revamped culture forms a powerful competitive advantage through higher overall engagement and performance levels.

I highly recommend the insightful and refreshing book Untapped Talent: Unleashing the Power of the Hidden Workforce by Dani Monroe, to any business leaders and managers who are seeking a clear and concise blueprint for finding underused talent within their own organizations. This book provides the practices for transforming that hidden workforce into a dynamic force for competitive advantage.

Travels in Elysium by William Azuski - Fiction book review

Travels in Elysium

By: William Azuski

Published: May 1, 2013
Format: Paperback, 540 pages
ISBN-10: 3952401528
ISBN-13: 978-3952401521
Publisher: Iridescent Publishing











When recent university graduate Nicholas Pedrosa is offered his dream job working under the famous archeologist Marcus Huxley, he jumps at the once in a lifetime opportunity. The chance to dig for the golden civilization of the Minoans, on the volcanic island of Santorini, leads to much more than the study of a lost world. Nicholas lands squarely in an ancient mystery as old as time, and a fresh murder mystery that places his life and sense of reality in danger, in the fascinating and metaphysical novel Travels in Elysium by William Azuski.

William Azuski combines a sense of the remote past with the events of the present day as the ancient world seems to encroach on the characters and landscape. This seamless shifting of time and space forms a crucial background landscape for the novel. In a story that is as much about the events of over three thousand years ago, as of the twenty-first century, this bending of time drives the characters forward.

Larger than life archeologist Marcus Huxley represents that timeless longing for a golden age, and his mind is as much in ancient pre-eruption Thera, as in modern Santorini. With that time blending perception, Huxley challenges the very existence of reality with those under his charismatic spell as well. That driven personality may even have caused the unsolved murder that hangs like the constant haze of volcanic dust in the air.

William Azuski (photo left) creates a novel that is as much of ideas as it is of the actions of the characters. The narration by Nicholas Pedrosa offers the reader the story through his eyes. That perspective is both innocent and worldly, as the events unfold and the hidden motives of the other characters become more clear. The island itself becomes a living breathing character in its own right. Having the internal power to destroy a brilliant civilization, the island is both a giver and a taker of life, in the distant past and in the present.

William Azuski addresses the deeper metaphysical questions of life as well. Whether the conversations in the novel consider science or religion, and art or history, the various worldviews become entwined into an overarching mystery beyond simple explanation. For the characters in the novel, their own ideas, values, and sense of what is real are put to the test. This internal struggle, shared by all of the island residents, is reflected in the larger conflicts taking place between the characters, and in the wider world.

For both Nicholas Pedrosa and Marcus Huxley, the story is as much a search for themselves as for the secrets of a long lost civilization. Marcus Huxley challenges the people on his team to look past the current perception of reality and envision possibilities. The very idea that what may be under the centuries of volcanic ash, might be the fabled lost world of Atlantis, creates the sense that legend and history may share some truth. In this case, the truth, the legend, or both may be the cause of a former team member's death.

The author creates a world, partly myth and also as much calculating searches for power and wealth. With the possible discovery of Atlantis would come fame, money, and a complete revision of history as we know it. The stakes of such a monumental discovery are high, but the methods of its unearthing are mundane. Marcus Huxley seeks both the human values of wealth and fame, but also seeks a communion with a world long since vanished. The concepts of time and space, and past and present, as intersecting forces is a major theme of the novel.

I highly recommend the engaging and spellbinding novel Travels in Elysium by William Azuski, to anyone seeking a story that moves beyond the realm of action and adventure, and considers the deeper philosophical questions of time, space, and how they interact with one another across the millennia. This literay novel will keep you turning the pages, and pondering the metaphysics along with the memorable characters in its pages.

*********

Literary fiction blends with Plato’s tale of Atlantis is this metaphysical mystery that takes place on an archaeological dig on the island of Santorini. Travels in Elysium is written in an allegory style. If you would like to read an an online excerpt - we have one posted here http://www.iridescent-publishing.com/tie/tie_prev.htm.

For more information or to get your own copy, visit Amazon.com: Travels in Elysium

The Collaboration Economy by Eric Lowitt - Book review

The Collaboration Economy

How to Meet Business, Social, and Environmental Needs and Gain Competitive Advantage

By: Eric Lowitt

Published: April 22, 2013
Format: Hardcover, 256 pages
ISBN-10: 111853834X
ISBN-13: 978-1118538340
Publisher: Jossey-Bass










"So the purpose of The Collaboration Economy is to both entice and equip entities throughout the private, public, and civil sectors to work collaboratively in order to heal our systems to day for an ensured future for generations in perpetuity", writes globally recognized expert in the fields of competitive strategy, growth, and sustainability, Eric Lowitt, in his visionary and alternative idea packed book The Collaboration Economy: How to Meet Business, Social, and Environmental Needs and Gain Competitive Advantage. The author describes how the current economic model, based on competition and unsustainable environmental practices and exploitation of people, is broken and must be replaced by a more collaborative economic and humane worldview.

Eric Lowitt recognizes that the profit motive and the capitalist system will continue to exist and operate. What the author proposes are improvements and fresh approaches to making profit within a capitalist framework. Faced with governments both unwilling and unable to spend more money, the onus is on both the private and social sectors to work together with the public sector to ensure environmental sustainability, social justice, and economic prosperity that benefits everyone. Eric Lowitt presents a viable, alternative solution to meet the challenges of the present and the future, in the form of the collaborative economy.

Eric Lowitt (photo left) understands that there are critical changes on the immediate horizon for the private sector. These changes will come from pressures from stakeholders and the community at large. Companies will no longer be able to externalize costs, and force them onto the environment and the people and communities they affect. Instead, those costs will be internalized and to reduce those new costs, the author points to collaboration with other members of the public, private, and social sectors as the solution.

Eric Lowitt points out that not only are the changes taking place in society and in business practice, leading to a more collaborative economy, but that any business that fails to embrace this new paradigm will be left behind. The author presents the principles and practices of the collaboration economy on three overarching sections as follows:

* Welcome to the collaboration economy
* Bringing the collaboration economy to life and scale
* Putting it all together to move forward

For me, the power of the book is how Eric Lowitt presents the principles and dynamics that are leading to the development of the collaborative economy, with the practical steps the private, public and social sectors must take to make the transition a smooth and effective one for all stakeholders. The author, and the guest contributors, share the stories of leading companies who have embraced the concept of collaboration, and the necessity of sustainability and societal well being and have incorporated these principles into their overall business strategy.

Eric Lowitt provides important insights into how companies, regardless of their size or market strength, are subject to forces outside of their control. In the modern economy, the old rules no longer apply, and companies that fail to understand these new and emerging realities will face irrelevance. Not only will these companies lose market share, but risk losing shareholders and shareholder value. As the author makes clear, doing the right thing, and forming collaborative relationships, is also good business.

I highly recommend the empowering and fresh paradigm based book The Collaboration Economy: How to Meet Business, Social, and Environmental Needs and Gain Competitive Advantage by Eric Lowitt, to any business leaders, nonprofit executives, environmental and social activists, government policy makers, elected officials, and anyone who seeks a clear and concise vision for the future of a more collaborative and cooperative economy. The future and is one of collaboration, and this book offers a strong call to action for everyone to embrace this important new reality.

Game Theory: An Introduction, 2nd Edition by E.N. Barron - Book review

Game Theory

An Introduction, Second Edition

By: E.N. Barron, Ph.D.

Published: April 23, 2013
Format: Hardcover, 574 pages
ISBN-10: 1118216938
ISBN-13: 978-1118216934
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.












"The topics I have chosen I consider to be foundational to all of game theory and within the constraints of the prerequisites of an undergraduate course", writes Professor of Mathematics and Statistics, Loyola University, Chicago, E.N. Barron, Ph.D. in the completely revised and updated edition of his very hands on and real world problem solving focused textbook Game Theory: An Introduction, Second Edition. The author describes the core game theory topics of zero sum games, nonzero sum games, and cooperative games, along with games that utilize the open source software GAMBIT.

E.N. Barron recognizes that not all subject matter related to game theory can be included in an undergraduate textbook designed for completion in a one semester term class. To facilitate that time based necessity, the author skips the proofs of the theorems included in the book. The author includes a section on mixed strategies for continuous games, but due to their need for an understanding of measure theory, they are not given the prime focus of the book. The games that require software for solutions use readily downloadable Maple and Mathematica programs, and do not necessitate the writing of any software programs.

As an adjunct to the textbook, E.N. Barron also makes available the valuable study guide Solutions Manual to Accompany Game Theory: An Introduction, Second Edition (cover shown in photo left) to provide solutions to the odd numbered problems presented in the textbook.

The target students for the book is primarily those undergraduates specializing in mathematics, but the material is equally valuable for students of economics, business operations and management, political sciences, social sciences, and the natural sciences. The wider applications of game theory beyond pure mathematics add to the importance and value of the book.

E.N. Perron presents the two main classifications of game theory in the form of non-cooperative and cooperative games. The subject matter is covered in the following overarching sections:

* Matrix two person games
* Solution methods for matrix games
* Two person nonzero sum games
* Games in extensive form: Sequential decision making
* N-Person nonzero sum games and games with a continuum of strategies
* Cooperative games
* Evolutionary stable strategies and population games

For me, the power of the book is how E.N. Barron combines a comprehensive overview of non-cooperative and cooperative games, with the practical exercises and problems to ensure their understanding. Recognizing the importance of software programs for finding solutions to complex game theory problems, the author places an emphasis on this critical element of modern mathematics. E.N. Barron focuses on the core principles of game theory due to the time limitations of teaching a complete course in game theory in a single semester.

E.N. Barron acknowledges and incorporates the time factor with the inclusion of recommended course syllabus in the opening chapter. An added feature of the course, from both a teaching and a student learning standpoint is the addition of the study guide and solutions manual Solutions Manual to Accompany Game Theory: An Introduction, Second Edition. The author knows that game theory has numerous real world applications outside the field of mathematics. With the wide diversity of students, in areas of specialization outside of mathematics, the book requires only basic prerequisites for complete understanding, with no need to write software programs for solving problems.

I highly recommend the superb and very practical textbook Game Theory: An Introduction, Second Edition by E.N. Barron, Ph.D., along with its very useful learning companion book Solutions Manual to Accompany Game Theory: An Introduction, Second Edition also by E.N. Barron, Ph.D., to any academic instructors of game theory, especially those who teach a wide range of students from many different disciplines. This textbook provides the foundational aspects of game theory in an approachable and hands on format that will appeal to both professors and students alike.

Do Cool Sh*t by Miki Agrawal - Book review

Do Cool Sh*t

Quit Your Day Job, Start Your Own Business, and Live Happily Ever After

By: Miki Agrawal

Published: August 6, 2013
Format: Hardcover, 240 pages
ISBN-10: 0062261533
ISBN-13: 978-0062261533
Publisher: HarperBusiness










"You have the courage, clarity, and confidence to become authentic, empowered, and actualized - the best version of yourself you could ever imagine", writes serial social entrepreneur Miki Agrawal, in her engaging and proven idea filled book Do Cool Sh*t: Quit Your Day Job, Start Your Own Business, and Live Happily Ever After. The author describes both her journey and yours as a successful entrepreneur at any age or stage of your current career.

Miki Agrawal understands that the best way to share information and experiences is through the medium of story. Utilizing a breezy, narrative style, the author blends the details of her entrepreneurial career, with the necessary skills and strategies essential to success. Miki Agrawal began her career life much as most college grads do in theirs, but instead took what she considers the cool and exciting detour of starting her own business. Recognizing that entrepreneurship is not usually considered or recommended to young college graduates, Miki Agrawal fills that void with enthusiasm, real world tested techniques, and a book load of cool fun.

Miki Agrawal (photo left) recognizes that the first step for would be entrepreneurs is to find their real passion. With that concept established, the next step is to develop a business based on that love and excitement. With the nature of the business discovered, the author also presents ideas and tactics for raising money to transform the dream into a reality. Miki Agrawal also provides advice for a balance of work and life, finding time for romance, caring for the environment, and other good causes that improve the world.

Miki Agrawal covers the essential entrepreneurship topics, but does so with a fresh approach, different from the standard books on starting a business. The author considers the following topics:

* Finding your true passion
* finding business ideas that work with your passion
* Connecting with people to raise money
* Getting the business operating quickly
* Finding free publicity through the media
* Locating the ideal business partner
* Doing good in the world as part of the business
* Enjoying life along with loving the business
* Giving back to the community

For me, the power of the book is how Miki Agrawal combines a passionate introduction to entrepreneurship as a career choice, with the practical skills and techniques to transform that excitement into a successful business. Unlike many entrepreneurial journey style books, the author combines the power of story with useful takeaways that can be applied immediately to any start-up venture. The business operational tips are conveniently placed in contrasting boxes for easy reference at any time.

Miki Agrawal also provides healthy helpings of encouragement to would be business owners as she shares her own ups and downs in the business world. She also provides the additional dimension of finding time for romance, for travel, and for living a life outside of the business. All too often, this life and work balance is ignored in books on entrepreneurship. The book presents the added value of giving back to the community and caring for people and the planet.

I highly recommend the enjoyable and informative book Do Cool Sh*t: Quit Your Day Job, Start Your Own Business, and Live Happily Ever After by Miki Agrawal, to any recent graduates, young professional people, and any would be entrepreneurs seeking a clear and concise guide to starting and operating their own business. This book provides the encouragement for you to take the courageous step toward owning your own company; and loving every minute of the entrepreneurial journey.