Fish Can't See Water by Kai Hammerich & Richard D. Lewis - Book review

Fish Can't See Water

How national culture can make or break your corporate strategy

By: Kai Hammerich, Richard D. Lewis

Published: September 3, 2013
Format: Hardcover, 312 pages
ISBN-10: 1118608569
ISBN-13: 978-1118608562
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons,Inc.










The idea we present in this book is simple: national culture, through its influence on corporate culture, has a powerful but often invisible impact on the success of global companies. What's more, the very same national traits that accelerated growth in one stage of the corporate lifecycle may derail growth at a different stage or when an inevitable crisis hits", write international headhunter with Russell Reynolds Associates, Kai Hammerich; and renowned British linguist and founder of Richard Lewis Communications, Richard D. Lewis, in their pioneering and practical idea packed book Fish Can't See Water: How national culture can make or break your corporate strategy.

The authors describe how people living in different countries do things in very different ways, as a result of their national cultural traits, and share how business leaders can identify and act upon these national cultural differences.

Kai Hammerich (photo left) and Richard D. Lewis understand that different cultures act in very different ways from one another. As the authors point out, strong corporate results may arise in very different ways from those dissimilar cultures, but one culture is not superior to another.

At the same time, differing national cultures may create rapid growth in one stage of a company's overall lifecycle, but that same culture could be a detriment in another development stage. The ability to learn and recognize these often subtle and hidden differences between national cultures, that are reflected in their national corporate cultures, is critical for success in a globalized economic marketplace.

Richard D. Lewis (photo left) and Kai Hammerich recognize that the national cultures of every country provide both advantages and disadvantages. The authors studied the national traits of seven countries - the United States, Sweden, Italy, Germany, France ,, Japan, and Great Britain - to determine how and why their national traits provided advantages in one area, but also worked against the company in others. The authors examined a series of case studies to find out what worked, what went wrong, what lessons were learned, and where a failure to recognize and learn to overcome different cultural challenges led to losses.

Kai Hammerich and Richard D. Lewis present the often unnoticed, but very visible with a little careful examination, cultural differences that taken together, can propel forward or completely derail a company's international ventures. To discover and analyze the national cultural differences in an objective way, the authors offer Kai Hammerich's Cultural Dynamic Model®. This system provides a framework to examine cultural traits in an analytical format, and through fresh and open eyes.

Overall, the book is divided into three major parts, with each one considering an important component in understanding the underlying components of the national cultural dynamic, as follows:

* Developing the Cultural Dynamic Model®
* Cases: The company lifecycle, from innovation to consolidation
* The model in action: Lessons for managers and investors

For me, the power of the book is how Kai Hammerich and Richard D. Lewis combine a comprehensive analysis of the seven highlighted national cultures, with the workable and objective framework of the Cultural Dynamic Model® to assess the impact of those national characteristics. The authors provide an important, and very hands on approach, to the nascent but growing field of cultural intelligence. Along with the consideration of the national culture, the authors assess the impact of those national traits on corporate cultures.

The authors found small cultural factors that had deep and lasting effects on companies. Different national traits would often come into conflict with the characteristics of people from other nations. To provide background and deeper understanding of the role of national traits on company culture, growth, and success, the authors present a group of case studies to illustrate the concepts in the real world. The authors demonstrate clearly how cultural considerations must be recognized and taken into consideration by leaders and strategists of any company operating on an international scale.

I highly recommend the important and cultural intelligence building book Fish Can't See Water: How national culture can make or break your corporate strategy by Kai Hammerich and Richard D. Lewis, to any business leaders, managers, strategists, and marketers seeking a clear and concise examination and assessment of the importance and impact of national cultural traits on international companies. This book will open many eyes as to why understanding national traits can lead to greater successes or avoid an unexpected disaster for unwary business executives.

Drucker on Marketing by William A. Cohen, Ph.D. - Book review

Drucker on Marketing

Lessons from the World's Most Influential Business Thinker

By: William A. Cohen, Ph.D.

Published: September 12, 2012
Format: Hardcover, 288 pages
ISBN-10: 0071778624
ISBN-13: 978-0071778626
Publisher: McGraw-Hill








"Much of what Drucker taught ran counter to what is said about marketing even by many expert marketing practitioners and academics and what is written in many marketing books", writes internationally renowned thought leader and President of the Institute of Leader Arts, William A. Cohen, Ph.D., in his landmark and comprehensive book Drucker on Marketing: Lessons from the World's Most Influential Business Thinker. The author describes the marketing theories, concepts, and principles devised and shared by the late Peter Drucker, into the first guide to the pioneering marketing guide to the marketing ideas of that great business genius.

William A. Cohen, Ph.D. (photo left) recognizes that Peter Drucker was a groundbreaking thinker in the field of marketing. Indeed, as the author points out, Peter Drucker has been considered the grandfather of marketing. William Cohen offers the insight that Peter Drucker considered marketing and innovation to be the foundation of business success.

As would be expected of a genius, writes the author, Peter Drucker had ideas about marketing that not only ran counter to the traditional approaches to marketing, but were in direct conflict with the recognized experts in both academia and corporate boardrooms. Since Peter Drucker never wrote a book exclusively on the principles of marketing, William Cohen wrote this book to organize the marketing genius of Peter Drucker into one volume.

William A. Cohen understands that Peter Drucker (photo left) thought very differently from what is even considered as accepted marketing wisdom. The author offers the insight that while many experts have long considered sales and marketing not be the same thing, but that Peter Drucker presented the radical concept that sales and marketing could even be adversaries. As a result, the author provides a book that demonstrates clearly just how different the thinking of Peter Drucker truly was fro, that of the supposed conventional wisdom.

William A. Cohen shares the powerful marketing insights discovered by the late Peter Drucker, as well as the impact of these ideas that continues to this day. The author points out that while Peter Drucker told business and marketing leaders what to do, ut not always how to do it. To his credit, William Cohen offers the understanding that Peter Drucker provided timeless truths, but as times change so too does their meaning application in those changing environments. The marketing wisdom of Peter Drucker is offered in five overarching sections as follows:

* The ascendency of marketing
* Innovation and entrepreneurship
* Drucker's marketing strategy
* New products and service introduction
* Drucker's unique marketing insights

For me, the power of the book is how William A. Cohen, Ph.D. combines a collected work of the groundbreaking marketing insights uncovered by the late Peter Drucker, but offers those ideas with his own analysis of the overall concepts. Theauthor adds his own experiences and concepts to further illustrate the monumental monumental thinking offered by Peter Drucker. This book is a really needed addition to the overall marketing literature. Peter Drucker never authored a specialized volume on marketing, but included his seminal thinking in his overall business philosophy.

As is pointed out by William A. Cohen in the book, Peter Drucker frequently took positions that contradicted directly those of business and academic experts. As was almost always the case, the ideas of Peter Drucker were not only more effective on their own contemporary context, but proved to be correct over the long term as well. This volume is more than a mere collection of the marketing thought of Peter Drucker, but is a tribute to the greatness of Peter Drucker as a pioneer in the entire field of marketing.

I hightly recommend the very essential and must read book Drucker on Marketing: Lessons from the World's Most Influential Business Thinker by Wiliam A. Cohen, Ph.D., to any business leaders, executives, marketing and brand managers, academics and business students, and anyone interestesd in the seminal marketing ideas of the great genius Peter Drcker. This book places Peter Drucker where he belongs, in the very upper pantheon of thinkers about marketing and its impact for the organization, the customer, and for society.

Compelling People by John Neffinger & Matthew Kohut - Book review

Compelling People

The Hidden Qualities That Make Us Influential

By: John Neffinger, Matthew Kohut

Published: August 15, 2013
Format: Hardcover, 304 pages
ISBN-10: 1594631018
ISBN-13: 978-1594631016
Publisher: Hudson Street Press











"This book explains how character judgments work. When people size you up, what are they looking for? It also explains how to make character judgments work for you - what you can do to affect how others see you", write presentation coaching and communications strategists, and partners in KNP Communications, John Neffinger and Matthew Kohut, in their cutting edge research based and and very practical book Compelling People: The Hidden Qualities That Make Us Influential. The authors describe how when two people meet, they make very rapid character judgments about each other, with those judgments based on the two criteria the authors call strength and warmth.

John Neffinger and Matthew Kohut understand that the instant judgments made about other people are really two impressions. The first of two important criteria is strength, based on the perceived ability and drive to get things done. The second of the paired criteria is warmth, based on a perception of shared feelings, values, and worldviews. People respect people who provide that sense of strength. People are drawn others who radiate personal warmth.

With these two crucial insights in place, an entirely fresh realization of the human experience is made clear. The authors demonstrate how, along with knowing the value of projecting strength and warmth, to act upon that knowledge effectively in all social environments.

John Neffinger (left in photo left) and Matthew Kohut (right in photo left) recognize that not only do people make judgments about others, but they are being assessed themselves in turn. The authors present the concept that in every social interaction, the individual is sending out personal signals and a message about who they are or appear to be to others. As a result of this important knowledge, it becomes a decision to send out different signals to others in social situations.

The challenge, write John Neffinger and Matthew Kohut, is that it is very difficult to send simultaneous messages of both strength and warmth. To combine the two signals, the authors present a comprehensive outline of how to display this image of leadership potential. After extensive research, the authors offer insights into the dynamics at work for every person. These variables include traits over which a person has little control, and those that can be improved to project warmth and strength, including body language, speech, personal style, and clothing choices. The topics covered in the book include the following overarching sections:

* The big idea: Warmth and strength
* The hand you are dealt
* Playing the hand
* Strength and warmth in the world

For me, the power of the book is how John Neffinger and Matthew Kohut combine the powerful insight of projecting strength and warmth, with the guidance for being self aware of one's personal attributes and choosing to demonstrate the positive traits to the world. The authors provide insights into the reasons why judgments are made regarding the perceived traits of strength and warmth. Those reasons are presented as being influenced by physical, gender, and racial attributes; as well as by behavioral traits that can be transformed by the individual.

The authors provide a complete program for empowering a person to demonstrate leadership potential by radiating both warmth and strength. Instead of being forced to choose one or the other, the authors share the techniques to display them both. The book is designed to be read either as complete narrative, or as a reference to enhance a weakness in either the strength or the warmth attributes. The research based information moves beyond mere opinion, but shows how and why judgments of a person arr made in real world social interactions.

I highly recommend the very hands on and leadership skills development book Compelling People: The Hidden Qualities That Make Us Influential by John Neffinger and Matthew Kohut, to any current or prospective leaders, in any organizations or industries, who are seeking to increase their level of influence by improving how they are judged by others. This book is a clear and complete guide to projecting both warmth and strength as a dynamic and charismatic leader.

Terry Pearce: Leading Out Loud - Blog Business Success Radio

Listen to Wayne Hurlbert on Blog Talk Radio

Executive coach, consultant, founder and President of Leadership Communication, and author of the completely revised third edition of his landmark and classic book Leading Out Loud: A Guide for Engaging Others in Creating the Future, 3rd Edition, Terry Pearce, describes the importance of leadership communication based on authenticity, trust, and empathy with others. Terry Pearce offers the principle of self awareness as the cornerstone of achieving the critical element of authenticity in leadership communication. Terry goes beyond the standard how to methods of communication, and enters the area where the soul meets science, in a holistic approach to inspirational leadership. Terry offers the wisdom that without the soul as a guide, and personal values and self awareness as touchstones, that true visionary leadership is not possible. In the lifelong journey of leadership, Terry Pearce presents the ongoing biography approach to learning in the form of the Personal Leadership Communication Guide. Learn how to transform ordinary leadership into authentic leadership based on a very human and empathic approach to communicating a vision.

Terry Pearce is my internet radio show guest on Blog Business Success; hosted live on BlogTalkRadio

The show airs live on Thursday, August 22, at 8:00 pm Eastern Time; 5:00 pm Pacific Time.

Executive coach, consultant, founder and President of Leadership Communication, and author of the completely revised third edition of his landmark and classic book Leading Out Loud: A Guide for Engaging Others in Creating the Future, 3rd Edition, Terry Pearce, describes the importance of leadership communication based on authenticity, trust, and empathy with others. You will learn:

* Why leadership communication is an essential skill for inspiring others

* Why authenticity, self awareness, and empathy are needed to build trust

* Why both the soul and science are part of authentic leadership

* How to create a Personal Leadership Communication Guide to map your journey

Terry Pearce (photo left) is the Founder and President of Leadership Communication, a company that coaches high-profile corporate, political and community leaders.

In 2003, Business Week magazine called Terry the “eminence grise” of leadership coaches, as his clientele list includes a select group of leaders from around the world.
The content and method of his coaching are departures from conventional wisdom, and are designed to move people to commitment rather than mere compliance, inspiring new levels of contribution and innovation across a spectrum of ethnic, religious, geographic and cultural boundaries.

Terry was an Adjunct Professor at The Haas Graduate School of Business, University of California, Berkeley, (retired 2008) and has served as a visiting faculty member at The London Business School for the MBA program and the Sloan Fellowship Programme.

In 2006, he participated in the Ethics and Leadership Roundtable at Stanford, where he joined other thought leaders in providing case studies to be used to educate future leaders at the Stanford Graduate Business School. He is a doctoral candidate at Pacifica Graduate Institute, studying Comparative Mythology and Depth Psychology, and in 2007, he hosted the Forum on Cross-Cultural Inspiration in San Francisco to explore the ways in which people are inspired without regard to their basic beliefs or cultures.

The first edition of Terry’s best-selling work, “Leading Out Loud, A Guide for Engaging Others in Creating the Future,” was honored by Executive Summaries as one of the best thirty business books of 1996. The third edition was released in 2013. This work is broadly acknowledged as creating the field of Leadership Communication as a distinct discipline and continues to set the standard for the subject.

The principles from all of Terry’s works are used as the basis for corporate leadership development programs offered through BlessingWhite, and by communication departments in colleges and universities around the world.

Terry’s background is as eclectic as his current activities. He was educated in Oregon in business and religious philosophy; then spent 17 years as a manager and executive with IBM. In the 80’s he worked extensively in citizen diplomacy, and pioneered American business activities in the Soviet Union as a co-founder of Partners, a Soviet-American trading company.

He is a former Fellow and Senior Vice President of Executive Communication for Charles Schwab & Co., and his work there from 1994 through 2002 won both the “Golden Quill” award from the International Association of Business Communicators and the “Compass” award from the American Association of Public Relations.

My book review of Leading Out Loud: A Guide for Engaging Others in Creating the Future, 3rd Edition by Terry Pearce.

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 executive coach, consultant, founder and President of Leadership Communication, and author of the completely revised third edition of his landmark and classic book Leading Out Loud: A Guide for Engaging Others in Creating the Future, 3rd Edition, Terry Pearce, as he describes the importance of leadership communication based on authenticity, trust, and empathy with others. Terry Pearce offers the principle of self awareness as the cornerstone of achieving the critical element of authenticity in leadership communication. Terry goes beyond the standard how to methods of communication, and enters the area where the soul meets science, in a holistic approach to inspirational leadership. Terry offers the wisdom that without the soul as a guide, and personal values and self awareness as touchstones, that true visionary leadership is not possible. In the lifelong journey of leadership, Terry Pearce presents the ongoing biography approach to learning in the form of the Personal Leadership Communication Guide. Learn how to transform ordinary leadership into authentic leadership based on a very human and empathic approach to communicating a vision on Blog Business Success Radio.

Leading Out Loud by Terry Pearce - Book review

Leading Out Loud: A Guide for Engaging Others in Creating the Future, 3rd Edition

By: Terry Pearce

Published: February 11, 2013
Format: Hardcover, 272 pages
ISBN-10: 047090769X
ISBN-13: 978-0470907696
Publisher: Jossey-Bass









"The distinctions that separate leadership communication from operational communication reflect the difference between a set of instructions and an internal connection", writes coach, consultant, founder and President of Leadership Communication, Terry Pearce, in the completely revised third edition of his landmark and classic book Leading Out Loud: A Guide for Engaging Others in Creating the Future, 3rd Edition. The author describes the critical importance of authentic communication by leaders, to build trust and inspire others, and shares provides the concepts and exercises to achieve effective communication skills in a globalized and interconnected society.

Terry Pearce understands that the ability to communicate effectively, in a manner that combines personal values with empathy for others, is an essential leadership skill. The author presents the various forms that leadership conversation takes, including speaking to groups of various sizes, written messages, and those informal discussions that happen at random times and places.

For Terry Pearce, these spontaneous conversations, where trust and authenticity are established, and where empathy for others takes place on a deeply personal level, is where leadership takes its real form. For the author, it is crucial for the leader to develop their won self awareness, in order to discover their own true and authentic selves, to build deep and trusting relationships with others.

Terry Pearce (photo left) recognizes that leadership is a place where art and science not only intersect, but become entwined, as the mind and the sole connect as one. Leadership is a deeply personal event, built on trust, authenticity, values, and empathy. These aspects of the leader are all shared between the soul and the mind. Neither science nor the soul has a claim on their entirety. These very fundamental human qualities are part of the holistic human experience. For leadership, they form the core of real communication and inspiration.

Terry Pearce divides the book into two overall sections. The first of the two sections considers the concepts of leadership, self awareness, and personal connection with others. The second section presents the construction of Personal Leadership Guide to enhance communications and to build trust authentic leadership. The areas covered in the two parts are as follows:

Part I: Leadership Communication

* Discovering what matters
* Deepening emotional awareness
* Connecting with others
* Writing: Applying discipline to authenticity

Part II: The Personal Leadership Communication Guide

* Establishing competence and building trustworthiness
* Creating shared context
* Declaring and describing the future
* Committing to action
* Leadership communication in action

For me, the power of the book is how Terry Pearce combines a theoretical and philosophical examination of the nature of leadership communication with the practices and exercises to develop leadership as a skill. The author offers insights into why there is such a crisis in leadership, and why trust in leaders and the organizations they are supposed to guide are failing. Terry Pearce offers an alternative approach to leadership communication through self awareness, authenticity, and empathy for others.

The book is a deeply personal look at the true guiding principles of leadership and its role in the inspiration of oneself and of those who share in the leader's vision. The create this sense of being part of something larger, people must be deeply and personally inspired to achieve greatness. The author offers the path through a soul and science based approach to communication. it's not enough to have the skills of communication in the technical sense if the soul isn't part of the vision sharing process. The role of the leader is not a destination, but a journey, and the personal leadership guide is the record of that self awareness and personal development journey.

I highly recommend the essential and deeply personal book
Leading Out Loud: A Guide for Engaging Others in Creating the Future, 3rd Edition by Terry Pearce, to any leaders at any levels of any organization, who are seeking to establish deeper and more trust build relationships with their followers. This book offers a road map to navigate that very personal journey along the path of authentic and empathic leadership.

Commercial Management: Theory and Practice by David Lowe - Book review

Commercial Management: Theory and Practice

By: David Lowe

Published: August 5, 2013
Format: Paperback, 522 pages
ISBN-10: 1405124687
ISBN-13: 978-1405124683
Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell












"Commercial exists as a distinct management role in many organizations, particularly those originating from the UK, although it is becoming more accepted globally as a valuable business activity", writes Senior Lecturer in Commercial Management, Manchester Business School, The University of Manchester, UK, David Lowe in his comprehensive and very well structured book Commercial Management: Theory and Practice. The author and the globally recognized contributors describe the important role of commercial management within organizations with a project orientation, including a theoretical framework for the latest theories, ideas, and best practices.

David Lowe recognizes the importance of establishing a complete framework as fundamental to a full understanding of the principles and practices of commercial management. The author and contributors utilize the framework as a foundation from with to build and add the various concepts of the subject matter. Through this methodical building process, the student is able to learn the theoretical concepts and practical methodology in a logical and well structured format.

David Lowe offers a complete examination of the commercial management practice providing perspective from both the supply side and the demand side; along with the other pertinent topics that fall under the grouping of commercial management.

David Lowe (photo left) provides a structural approach to the theories and practices that offers a logical route to learning the principles of commercial management. The author and the contributors guide students through an overall introduction to the framework and premises of commercial management. With the roles of the manager, in various positions within the framework, the author continues through the common areas of practice in project based organizations.

The book is divided into four overarching sections that present a complete foundational approach to commercial management in a project oriented environment. The four parts of the book are as follows:

* Introduction: Commercial management in project environments
* Elements of commercial theory and practice
* Approaches to commercial practice
* Case studies: Two extended case studies

For me, the power of the book is how David Lowe, and his contributing experts, combine the frameworks of the various factors within commercial management, with the strategies, tactics, and best practices for their successful implementation. The author and contributors provide in depth examination of the relevant topics, using a logical building block type format to add new concepts to those learned previously. The book is crammed with charts, graphs, highlighted principles, and handy shout outs that guide the student farther along the journey toward fully understanding the role of the commercial manager within a project oriented enterprise.

The author enhances the understanding of the concepts and the framework through two extensice and intensive case studies. These real world examinations of the principles in action in actul project environments illustrate the concepts for additional comprehension. Each chapter has the additional bonus feature of PowerPoint slides, sample exam questions for student practice, ando links to online resources and journals.

I highly recommend the excellent and all inclusive idea filled book Commercial Management: Theory and Practice by David Lewis, to any students at the graduate or undergraduate levels in management, commercial management, project management, educators in academia, professional commercial and project managers, business leaders, pub;ic policy analysts and anyone else interested in the theory and practice of commercial management. This book covers all of the relevant areas completely and authoritatively.

Michael Houlihan & Bonnie Harvey: The Barefoot Spirit - Blog Business Success Radio

Listen to Wayne Hurlbert on Blog Talk Radio

Entrepreneurs, Barefoot Wine co-founders, and co-authors of the inspirational and engaging book The Barefoot Spirit: How Hardship, Hustle, and Heart Built America's #1 Wine Brand, Michael Houlihan and Bonnie Harvey describe how they built their highly successful company and brand through a shared vision of living and acting on their personal values. Michael Houlihan and Bonnie Harvey share their challenges and triumphs as they overcame obstacles through creative thinking and applying their values as a touchstone for every decision. They present their important Worthy Cause Marketing initiative as a way to build brand awareness without advertising, while also giving back to hundreds of non-profit organizations. The authors provide insights into the key principles that built their company, their visionary company culture, and their wildly successful brands. The authors offer their experience and wisdom to other entrepreneurs as part of fulfilling another of their visions, of that of the mentor to other entrepreneurs.

Michael Houlihan and Bonnie Harvey are my internet radio show guests on Blog Business Success; hosted live on BlogTalkRadio.

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

Entrepreneurs, Barefoot Wine co-founders, and co-authors of the inspirational and engaging book The Barefoot Spirit: How Hardship, Hustle, and Heart Built America's #1 Wine Brand, Michael Houlihan and Bonnie Harvey describe how they built their highly successful company and brand through a shared vision of living and acting on their personal values. You will learn:

* How the founders started and built their winery and brands

* How vision and living your values, and acting on them creates good decisions

* How the Worthy Cause Marketing concept achieved greater results than advertising

* How challenges and obstacles develop creative thinking and innovative solutions.

Michael Houlihan (photo left) s a serial entrepreneur, industry reformer, and brand builder. His consulting company, Great Thinks helps small and medium size businesses build their brands and achieve profitability.

As a keynote speaker, author and consultant, Michael focuses on the proven Business and Marketing principles he learned growing the Barefoot Wine Brand. Using out-of-the-box thinking, pay-for-performance, positive culture, channel distribution management, and "Worthy Cause Marketing" he took an obscure brand to a National and International Best Selling American wine icon. He shares his winning business philosophies in his new book, "The Barefoot Spirit."

Michael is a partner with Martin Jones in a consulting firm assisting small and medium size wine country businesses to develop their brands, become more efficient, and achieve profitability.

Founder, President and CEO of Barefoot Wines, June 1985 - January 2005
With no money and no knowledge of the industry, Michael started and built the famous Barefoot Wine brand. Michael earned the industry's top sales awards, including "Trend Setter, "Fast Track Growth Brand" and "Hot Brand" for sales and growth in 2003 and 2004 - all without advertising. In 2005, he successfully sold the brand to E&J Gallo. During the next year, he worked with them as a business consultant to maintain Barefoot's entrepreneurial character and Worthy Cause Marketing program.

Bonnie Harvey (photo left) is Co-Founder of Barefoot Wines and was Vice President for 19 years. During that time, she was an active proponent of Worthy-Cause Marketing over commercial advertising. This resulted in strong company culture and a loyal customer base. She was responsible for the design of the now iconic Barefoot label. The famous bare footprint is Bonnie's footprint.

She used her personal interest in clean water, land preservation, and civil rights to guide Barefoot's support for hundreds of local non-profits. By participating in their fundraising efforts, donating products, and helping them get the word out about their goals, she gave their membership a social reason to buy Barefoot Wine.

Bonnie has a background in entrepreneurialism and financial oversight as well as cash flow management. As Vice President, she was responsible for the company's goal setting and business strategy. She was the final editor for all written materials.

My book review of The Barefoot Spirit: How Hardship, Hustle, and Heart Built America's #1 Wine Brand by Michael Houlihan and Bonnie Harvey.

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 entrepreneurs, Barefoot Wine co-founders, and co-authors of the inspirational and engaging book The Barefoot Spirit: How Hardship, Hustle, and Heart Built America's #1 Wine Brand, Michael Houlihan and Bonnie Harvey, as they describe how they built their highly successful company and brand through a shared vision of living and acting on their personal values. Michael Houlihan and Bonnie Harvey share their challenges and triumphs as they overcame obstacles through creative thinking and applying their values as a touchstone for every decision. They present their important Worthy Cause Marketing initiative as a way to build brand awareness without advertising, while also giving back to hundreds of non-profit organizations. The authors provide insights into the key principles that built their company, their visionary company culture, and their wildly successful brands. The authors offer their experience and wisdom to other entrepreneurs as part of fulfilling another of their visions, of that of the mentor to other entrepreneurs on Blog Business Success Radio.