Kingkike Business And Small Business

Migration Makes a Connected World Brainier

2011-12-24T06:45:00.000-08:00

Excellent opinion piece by Robert Guest for The Wall Street Journal.

First though, from the Partnership for a New American Economy (which is a snippet to the lead on the commentary):

I once asked the boss of Tata Consulting Services, a gigantic Indian IT firm, how many of his top executives had worked or studied abroad. He replied: "All of them."

The world's most talented people are exceptionally mobile. When they move to America, they make it smarter, and that's not just because they are smart. It is also because migration creates connections.

Read the commentary: How Immigrant Entrepreneurs Turbocharge U.S. Trade

Robert Guest is the Economist's business editor. His new book is Borderless Economics: Chinese Sea Turtles, Indian Fridges and the New Fruits of Global Capitalism

What To Ask The Person In The Mirror by Robert Steven Kaplan - Book review

2011-12-23T23:29:00.000-08:00

What to Ask the Person in the Mirror

Critical Questions for Becoming a More Effective Leader and Reaching Your Potential

By: Robert Steven Kaplan

Published: August 3, 2011
Hardcover: 288 pages
ISBN-10: 1422170012
ISBN-13: 978-1422170014
Publisher: Harvard Business Review Press

"In the course of these experiences, I have found that almost without exception, successful leaders go through significant periods of time in which they feel confused, discouraged, and unsure of themselves and their decisions. They feel as if they should be somewhere else, doing something else. They wonder why other executives seem to have an easier time doing their jobs", writes Professor of Management Practice at Harvard Business School and co-chairman of Draper Richards Kaplan Foundation, Robert Steven Kaplan, in his brilliant and insightful book What to Ask the Person in the Mirror: Critical Questions for Becoming a More Effective Leader and Reaching Your Potential. The author describes how leaders are not born to greatness, but that their leadership skills are learned techniques that can be added to any successful executives personal toolbox.

Robert Kaplan understands that while leaders develop their leadership skills and abilities over time, the techniques and knowledge take hard work and determination to master. The author points out that all leaders enter into periods, that are often very lengthy in terms of time, where they doubt their own skills and ability to make the right decisions and take the proper course of action. Robert Kaplan writes that it's not the role of the successful leader to avoid their times of self doubt and loss of confidence. Instead, the author shares the skills and exercises that will guide the leader to take a step back and ask what are described as a series of critical questions. These personal queries provide fresh insights into the real problems, develop solutions and a plan of action that the leader can utilize to propel the organization forward to meet and overcome any challenge.

Robert Steven Kaplan (photo left) understands that all leaders experience times of self doubt and uncertainty. This important observation leads the author to the insight that successful leaders discover how to work through these periods of personal crisis. Robert Kaplan describes the techniques that are learned, practiced, and put into action to establish effective leaders in any field of endeavor. The starting point for this long and often difficult journey toward confident leadership begins with asking oneself the critical questions.

Robert Kaplan provides seven areas of personal questioning that lead to successful and effective leadership. The seven principles are as follows:

* Vision and priorities
* Managing your time
* Giving and getting feedback
* Succession planning and delegation
* Evaluation and alignment
* The leader as role model
* Reaching your potential

For me, the power of the book is how Robert Steven Kaplan combines his theoretical framework for establishing successful leadership skills, with the practical techniques, tools, and exercises necessary to create dynamic personal change and growth. The author supports his recommendations with his decades of personal experience with leaders of all types. Unlike many leadership book authors, Robert Kaplan acknowledges that learning the essential skills of leadership is a long and often difficult process that can't be achieved overnight. Instead, the author presents a realistic overview of the entire personal leadership journey, and how many of the steps present a major challenge to potential leaders.

I highly recommend the practical and idea filled book What to Ask the Person in the Mirror: Critical Questions for Becoming a More Effective Leader and Reaching Your Potential by Robert Steven Kaplan, to anyone seeking a clear and realistic guide to developing personal leadership skills that really work to guide executives in overcoming challenges in any field. This book will transform anyone, who is willing to put in the time and effort, into an effective leader who gets things done to benefit the entire organization and its future.

Tags: What to Ask the Person in the Mirror: Critical Questions for Becoming a More Effective Leader and Reaching Your Potential, Robert Steven Kaplan, leadership building strategies, business book reviews

Green Standards For An Ever Changing Complex World

2011-12-23T03:08:00.000-08:00

Walmart’s Chinese sales receipts account for only 2 percent of the company’s annual revenues or roughly $7.5 billion. Fortunately, its sales in China have risen substantially over the past decade. Not the case in the United States; they have been shrinking.

What does this mean? Is China changing Walmart or is Walmart changing China? Looks like new green initiatives are in the works.

The world’s biggest corporation and the world’s most populous nation have launched a bold experiment in consumer behavior and environmental stewardship: to set green standards for 20,000 suppliers making several hundred thousand items sold to billions of shoppers worldwide. Will that effort take hold, or will it unravel in a recriminatory tangle of misguided expectations and broken promises?

Read the entire article here.

The Power of Presence by Kristi Hedges - Book review

2011-12-22T23:37:00.000-08:00

The Power of Presence

Unlock Your Potential to Influence and Engage Others

By: Kristi Hedges

Published: November 18, 2011
Format: Hardcover, 240 pages
ISBN-10: 0814417736
ISBN-13: 978-0814417737
Publisher: AMACOM

"Executive presence begins in your head. It resides in how you think about yourself, your abilities, your environment, and your potential", writes communications expert, entrepreneur, and certified leadership coach Kristi Hedges in her empowering and career building book The Power of Presence: Unlock Your Potential to Influence and Engage Others. The author describes the critical importance of executive presence for business and career success, and provides an effective blueprint for developing a strong and confident presence for anyone.

Kristi Hedges understands the importance of of leadership presence in today's highly competitive business, career, and employment markets. The author offers compelling evidence that improving one's personal presence, regardless of of their personality or position, greatly increases the opportunities for success. Kristi Hedges provides research based evidence that simply having the required skill level is no longer sufficient. Without a presence that creates respect and attracts others, a very highly qualified and skilled person will be overlooked and not provide their ideas and talents fully to their organization. The author points out that leadership and presence enhancing skills can be learned by anyone, while building on their own individual strengths.

Kristi Hedges (photo left) recognizes that a person's inner mind must be combined with the outer impression given to others to form their authentic presence. The author dispels concerns that executive presence is some sort of act or manipulation. Instead, Kristi Hedges demonstrates that the most effective and confident form of presence is in complete alignment with their own inner beliefs and principles.

To achieve that authentic presence, Kristi Hedges shares her I-Presence™ model for the development of leadership presence. The three principles of the I-Presence™ are as follows:

* Intentional: A person's beliefs must match their internal and external messages, body language, and self confidence.

* Individual: Leaders must have the ability to connect with others at all levels.

* Inspirational: Leaders must learn how to inspire and motivate others as visionaries.

For me, the power of the book is how Kristi Hedges combines the theoretical framework of her I-Presence™ model with the practical tools and techniques to develop one's latent executive presence skills. Unlike many books that recommend adopting the entire system, Kristi Hedges reminds her readers that even developing one area of executive presence will provide a powerful and positive impact on their careers. The book is filled with exercises, and useful chapter takeaways, that can be practiced and applied both immediately, and over the longer term. The author also backs up her concepts with real world research data that underline their effectiveness and value.

I highly recommend the very engaging and hands on book The Power of Presence: Unlock Your Potential to Influence and Engage Others by Kristi Hedges, to anyone seeking to improve their personal leadership and executive presence, to enrich and enhance their business, career, and personal lives. This book will increase your confidence, your ability to inspire others, and help you to rise much higher in your career or profession than you had ever dreamed was possible.

Tags: The Power of Presence: Unlock Your Potential to Influence and Engage Others, Kristi Hedges, leadership building strategies, business book reviews

Get Ready to Go Global in 2012

2011-12-22T04:04:00.000-08:00

How do you go global? Let me count the ways.

Here are ten to start:

How to Position Your Business for Global Success

The Decision To Trust by Robert F. Hurley - Book review

2011-12-21T22:32:00.000-08:00

The Decision to Trust

How Leaders Create High-Trust Organizations

By: Robert F. Hurley

Published: October 25, 2011
Hardcover: 256 pages
ISBN-10: 1118072642
ISBN-13: 978-1118072646
Publisher: Jossey-Bass

"Trust is central to human existence. like all social animals, human beings have an instinctive need to cooperate and rely on each other in order to satisfy their most basic emotional, psychological, and material needs. without trust, we are not only less happy as individuals but also less productive in groups", writes professor at Fordham University and president of Hurley Associates, Robert F. Hurley in his comprehensive and thought provoking book The Decision to Trust: How Leaders Create High-Trust Organizations. The author describes despite the overall decline in trust found in today's society, it's critical for companies to develop trust within their organizations and its teams, to achieve peak performance.

Robert Hurley recognizes that the current loss of trust in institutions and business is an important phenomenon in our lives. At the same time, however, the author understands completely that without a high level of trust, organizations cannot achieve a high level of productivity and performance. Robert Hurley points out that without a high trust factor in a company, attracting and retaining top talent is very difficult to attain. If co-workers don't trust their managers or one another, very little will be achieved in the organization either. Robert Hurley considers trust to be at the very foundation of an organization's success. As a result, the author shares his dynamic framework for building and maintaining trust in any company, and achieving top performance.

Robert F. Hurley (photo left) understands the dynamic nature of trust relationships within an organizational culture. This dynamism is based on experience. If the employee is faced with deceit, the individual will lose trust in the deceitful person. Once lost, that trust is very difficult to regain and reestablish. On the other hand, if an employee is rewarded in a trusting relationship with managers and co-workers, the level of trust will be deepened and strengthened. For employees at the team level, or at the level of the entire organization, a culture of trust will achieve superior results over a climate of fear and mistrust.

Rober Hurley proposes the Decision To Trust Model (DTM) to enrich the trust level within organizations. The factors are as follows:

* Security
* Similarity
* Alignment of interests
* Benevolent concern
* Capability
* Predictability and integrity
* Communication

For me, tho power of the book is how Robert Hurley combines the theoretical framework for improving trust levels with the practical tools and techniques to establish more organizational and team trust. The author demonstrates how to pinpoint the areas where trust has broken down, and provides the process for repairing the damage, as well as building new bonds of trust between people. Robert Hurley strengthens his proposed Decision To Trust Model (DTM) with a step by step system for its implementation.

The author also offers two decades of research data, real world case studies, and examples of improved trust resulting in more engaged and productive employees. Robert Hurley demonstrates clearly that trusting organizational cultures operate on a higher degree of performance and are more profitable for the company.

I highly recommend the essential and engaging book The Decision to Trust: How Leaders Create High-Trust Organizations by Robert F. Hurley, to any business leaders, managers, or anyone involved in employee relations who are seeking a proven and effective system for creating, nurturing, and deepening trust levels within organizations. This book, and the processes it contains, will transform a company culture from one of fear and mistrust, to one where engaged employees perform at peak levels, and where profitability is much higher than ever before.

Tags: The Decision to Trust: How Leaders Create High-Trust Organizations, Robert F. Hurley, trust building strategies, business book reviews

Masters of Business Administration admissions questions - Shari Sekel: Brock University Faculty of Business - Interview

2011-12-21T08:42:00.000-08:00

Shari Sekel, of the Brock University Faculty of Business was kind enough to take the time to answer a few questions about the Brock University Master of Business Administration (MBA) programs, the faculty admissions process, and about applying for attaining the MBA degree in general.

Shari Sekel described the popularity of the MBA degree, what potential students need to know about the admissions process, and how the school will help students achieve the educational goals that are right for the individual.

Thanks to Shari Sekel for her time, and for her very informative and comprehensive responses. They are greatly appreciated.

Why have Masters of Business Administration (MBA) become so popular in recent years?

Shari Sekel: I think that the MBA has always been a popular degree in certain markets. Where we have seen a lot of growth in the industry, however, is in the expanded reach to different types of students. As an example, we now see several programs (including Brock’s) which do not require work experience. When combined with co-op opportunities, the MBA becomes an attractive opportunity for students fresh from undergraduate studies – those who want to set themselves apart from their job-seeking colleagues by achieving the MBA at the commencement of their careers.

We found this was particularly true in 2008 and 2009 when new bachelors grads were faced with a tight job market – the MBA was a way to wait out the economic downturn while setting themselves up with a qualification that would help them accelerate their career progression in future years.

The other area where we have seen a lot of growth in MBA offerings in Canada is the international student marketplace. The global economy of the 21st century demands leaders who are trained in business theory and practices beyond the borders of individual countries. We see a lot more partnerships between business schools in different parts of the world, greater international exchange opportunities for MBA students and a great value placed on the rich cultural diversity that international students bring to classroom discussion and group projects in an MBA program.

With so many students applying for limited MBA spaces, what crucial challenges do students face in their application process?

Shari Sekel: Applying to graduate school, similar to applying for job opportunities, is all about differentiating yourself from the rest of the applicant pool. Students can stand out through strong GMATs and GPAs but there are also other ways that students can bolster their applications. As an example, leadership experience – both paid and volunteer – should be highlighted in any MBA application.

The personal statement (also known as the statement of interest) is important because it can help admissions personnel assess applicant/program fit. I always encourage applicants to talk about two main things in their statement. First, talk about what the student is hoping to get out of the MBA program – how will the program help the student achieve his or her career objectives? Second, talk about what the program can expect to get out of the applicant – highlight experience, previous activities, unique skill sets that will contribute to the program learning environment.

Many students consider the GMAT test to be their nemesis. Is the GMAT a student;'s enemy or does it offer some real benefits as well?

Shari Sekel: The GMAT is definitely not a student’s enemy. There are a lot of instances where it can be one of the most useful parts of an MBA application. Remember, the admissions process is all about trying to predict which applicants will find academic success in the MBA program. Admissions Committees look at lots of factors when trying to make this prediction. The GPA and GMAT are generally the two main objective measures of an MBA application.

Imagine a case where an applicant graduated from his or her undergraduate program fifteen or twenty years ago. In this instance, the GPA is clearly not going to be as reliable a predictor of current abilities as a GMAT score written within the last year or so. So students whose long-ago undergraduate performance was weak can find a lot of benefit in a GMAT score that more appropriately reflects their current potential.

For another example, consider a case where an applicant studied a non-business undergraduate degree (very common, by the way) but has a keen interest in a business career. We often see that students who are not passionate about their undergraduate subject matter have grades which reflect their lack of engagement. In these cases, the GMAT offers the applicants a chance to demonstrate their capabilities in subject areas more relevant to their proposed graduate business studies. On the admissions side, the GMAT is a tool that helps us compare applicants from diverse educational backgrounds. Such comparisons are not always relevant when done using GPA alone as we typically see lower grades in some disciplines than others.

Shari Sekel, Brock University Faculty of Business (photo left)

Many potential MBA students are intimidated by the process, and are afraid to ask questions of the faculty. How can this fear be overcome?

Shari Sekel: At Brock, as well as many other MBA programs, we strongly encourage students to contact us in advance of their applications. We want to make sure that questions get answered, that the application process itself runs smoothly and timely and that the applicant’s objectives are consistent with the program options that we can deliver. You’ll read below that making connections with your schools of choice before submitting your applications is actually a great approach!

Before contacting a school, students need to have a good understanding of their own objectives and need to have done some research through program websites. Most simple questions about program specializations, start dates, fees, and more can be easily located online. Once students have learned the basics from the program websites, they should be able to create a short list of schools that seem to cover their basic needs/wants. At that point, students should make a connection with each program to talk about fit.

But students should be prepared to answer as many questions as they ask. In fact, when I counsel MBA prospects, I always start the conversation by talking about their career objectives. Doing so helps make sure that I’m providing students with information relevant to their individual circumstances.

Choosing a graduate program is a big decision – students owe it to themselves to make a personal connection with their MBA program choices. At Brock, we’re genuinely interested in finding students who are the right fit for our program – and we’ll be honest if a prospect and his or her objectives is not a good fit for what we have to offer. In fact, we’re happy to point you to another program that might be a more appropriate choice for your needs. These are the kinds of things that aren’t on the website so making that connection is definitely worth it!

How does a student know that they are the right fit for the school and courses they are selecting for their MBA program?

Shari Sekel: There are no guarantees in life. All we can do is try to predict the future. On the MBA program side, we have admissions requirements and processes that help us predict which applicants will be successful in our program. These are the people to whom we will offer admission. At the same time, prospective MBA students undertake an admissions process of their own as they decide which programs are worth their application and most likely to help them achieve their objectives.

As discussed elsewhere in more detail, there are three main recommendations that I have for MBA prospects. First, they need to understand themselves, their strengths, their weaknesses and their objectives. Second, they need to do some basic research online. Third, students need to connect with their prospective schools. Talk to people, visit campus, get advice from the program staff who’ve seen previous students come through the program. Ask if these experts have had other students with a similar background come through the MBA? Was the program a good fit for them?

At the end of the day, students won’t know until they are likely long out of their MBA program whether it was the perfect fit for them. A lot of the theory and professional skills acquired in an MBA only show their value when applied in the post-MBA workplace. The steps described above, however, will certainly help an MBA prospect make the best possible prediction.

Students often think that the admissions process is out to eliminate them. Is this a misconception on the part of some applicants?

Shari Sekel: Absolutely! Most MBA programs are looking for the strengths in their applicants. Prospective MBA students come from a wide variety of backgrounds and each application is unique. As such, it really isn’t productive to apply a cookie-cutter admissions approach. There are certainly minimum academic standards that need to be met – we are talking about a graduate degree, after all – but MBA applicants almost always offer a lot of other important factors including work or volunteer experience, diverse academic and cultural backgrounds, extra-curricular leadership positions and more. All of these things are valuable to an application and can really impress those involved in the MBA admissions process.

Is the MBA option the right one for every student; and what should they consider before applying to a school?

Shari Sekel: The MBA is a broad business degree that helps individuals pursue their career objectives – but it is certainly not the only means by which people can further their education. Students who are interested in pursuing a research-based career or further academic study at the doctoral level, for example, are usually better served by a more research-intensive graduate program – like Brock’s Master of Science in Management – where there is a mandatory thesis requirement. In other cases, a post-graduate diploma at the college-level is a viable and useful option for further education.

Before applying to any school, I strongly advise students to make a connection to an advisor for some pre-admission counseling. MBA application fees are usually at least $100 – students who connect with schools early can really make sure that their applications are targeted. At Brock, we have one individual who serves as the point of contact for all prospective students in our traditional MBA program. She works extensively with students from their first inquiry through to (hopefully) admission to the program. I also encourage students to visit campuses – look for opportunities to connect with current students, alumni and faculty at recruiting events.

At Brock, we have launched a live webinar series that includes monthly informal chats with myself and our team, Q&A sessions with current students, faculty and alumni. We’ve been able to connect with prospects from around the world – and, most importantly, they’ve been able to see, hear and ask questions of the very same people who will help them along their MBA journey from first inquiry through the graduation ceremony and beyond. In short, don’t be afraid to connect with your target schools – that is what we’re here for!

What is the first step a student should take before beginning the MBA application process?

Shari Sekel: People who are thinking about an MBA or any graduate program need to make sure that they have a clear understanding of their objectives. Where do you they see themselves in five years? Ten years? Are they looking to shift careers or industries? Ultimately, students who clearly understand their own goals are the most likely to find the best fit with the MBA or other graduate program that they choose.

Prospective applicants also need to understand their own learning styles. Do they learn best in large, lecture-based environments or small, highly interactive classes? Different MBA programs offer different advantages – only a student who understands his or her own educational needs and expectations will be able to make the best choice about their future.

What is next for the Brock University Faculty of Business?

Shari Sekel: The University is in the advanced planning stages for a new $50-million facility to house the Faculty of Business. Space for graduate programs and research are among the top priorities in the planned facility. We are currently pursuing financial support from the province of Ontario.

Tags: Brock University Faculty of Business, Brock University Master of Business Administration (MBA, Shari Sekel, business education interviews

5 Tips to Grow Your Export Sales

2011-12-21T05:49:00.000-08:00

As one expert says, "Start small, but start."

Here are five tips to reduce risk, increase opportunities and grow your export sales.

Read: IndustryWeek: 5 Keys to Growing Your Export Sales

Posted by: The Global Small Business Blog

Eliminate Excuses in 2012: Go Global

2011-12-20T03:51:00.000-08:00

Stop making excuses and get ready to go global in 2012!

Top 10 Excuses for Not Going Global

Reasons why you should go global.

Kristin Zhivago: Roadmap To Revenue - Blog Business Success Radio

2011-12-20T02:12:00.000-08:00

Listen to Wayne Hurlbert on Blog Talk Radio

Revenue coach and author of the eye opening and results oriented book Roadmap to Revenue: How to Sell the Way Your Customers Want to Buy, Kristin Zhivago, describes how customers have changed and that salespeople have not changed their approach, resulting in a mismatch between what customers expect and what they actually hear. Kristin Zhivago points out that not only do sales representatives not answer the most important questions from buyers, but neither do their company websites. Kristin demonstrates how to avoid the most common mistakes made by salespeople when working with today's empowered customers, She also provides a roadmap that will guide sales reps along the right path to providing what buyers really want and understanding their new buying process, regardless of the buyer's level of interest or scrutiny of the company, products, or services.

Kristin Zhivago is my internet radio show guest on Blog Business Success; hosted live on BlogTalkRadio.

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

Revenue coach and author of the eye opening and results oriented book Roadmap to Revenue: How to Sell the Way Your Customers Want to Buy, Kristin Zhivago, describes how customers have changed and that salespeople have not changed their approach, resulting in a mismatch between what customers expect and what they actually hear. You will learn:

* What customers really care about when buying

* Why customers don't buy from you

* How to utilize an effective, repeatable system to increase sales

* How to incorporate the system into your entire company and its culture

Kristin Zhivago (photo left) is a "revenue coach" whose clients range from thriving young start-ups to those in the Fortune 500, including Dow Jones, IBM, and Johnson & Johnson, and the fastest-growing companies, including Bazaarvoice and Eloqua.

Zhivago has become one of the world’s leading experts on the customer’s buying process. She speaks and teaches frequently for companies and organizations. She is the author of the blog RevenueJournal.com

Kristin Zhivago has perfected a works-every-time research method to uncover the barriers to the sale — and to identify what is working and what is broken. She then uses her findings to guide managers in creating customer-centric companies, websites, products, and services. The methods she has perfected are revealed in her new book, Roadmap to Revenue: How to Sell the Way Your Customers Want to Buy.

After selling and marketing software and other technology products for 12 years, Zhivago founded Zhivago Management Partners, Inc., in Silicon Valley, in 1979. The company moved to Jamestown, RI in 1996. Zhivago worked exclusively in the high-tech industry until the Web emerged as a platform for commerce in 1994. She then started also applying her revenue growth methods to companies in the travel, health, publishing, food, and consumer goods industries. She spent a number of years as a "rent-a-VP," performing marketing and sales department turnarounds for CEOs, and then settled on her current role as Revenue Coach. She is passionate about helping CEOs, entrepreneurs and managers increase their revenue, using logical and straightforward methods.

My book review of Roadmap to Revenue: How to Sell the Way Your Customers Want to Buy by Kristin Zhivago.

My book review of Rivers of Revenue: What to Do When the Money Stops Flowing by Kristin Zhivago.

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 revenue coach and author of the eye opening and results oriented book Roadmap to Revenue: How to Sell the Way Your Customers Want to Buy, Kristin Zhivago, as she describes how customers have changed and that salespeople have not changed their approach, resulting in a mismatch between what customers expect and what they actually hear. Kristin Zhivago points out that not only do sales representatives not answer the most important questions from buyers, but neither do their company websites. Kristin demonstrates how to avoid the most common mistakes made by salespeople when working with today's empowered customers, She also provides a roadmap that will guide sales reps along the right path to providing what buyers really want and understanding their new buying process, regardless of the buyer's level of interest or scrutiny of the company, products, or services on Blog Business Success Radio.

Tags: Roadmap to Revenue: How to Sell the Way Your Customers Want to Buy, Kristin Zhivago, sales strategies, Blog Business Success, Blog Talk Radio.

Roadmap To Revenue by Kristin Zhivago - Book review

2011-12-19T22:05:00.000-08:00

Roadmap to Revenue

How to Sell the Way Your Customers Want to Buy

By: Kristin Zhivago

Published: April 15, 2011
Format: Hardcover, 296 pages
ISBN-10: 0974917923
ISBN-13: 978-0974917924h
Publisher: Bristol & Shipley Press

"The two activities - your selling and their buying - are worlds apart. The misalignment between what you are doing, and what your customer is doing, is costing you. You are losing sales you should be making. You're also wasting money", writes revenue coach Kristin Zhivago in her eye opening and results oriented book Roadmap to Revenue: How to Sell the Way Your Customers Want to Buy. The author describes how customers have a buying process that they follow, and it's critical for marketers and sales representatives to understand what the buyer is trying to do during the sale.

Kristin Zhivago understands that marketing people and sales representatives are not always on the same page. Marketers believe that bringing in leads and prospects are their job; but, mistakenly, that closing the sale is not their role. The author makes it clear that today's empowered buyer requires attention from both the marketing staff and the sales people. The buyer, after all, is the person who determines whether or not to purchase a product or service. Kristin Zhivago points out that customers will tell you what they want, if they are asked properly, at the correct time, and in the right manner. The author makes it clear that the wrong time to ask is during the sales process, because buyers rarely tell salespeople what they are thinking while they are in negotiation mode.. Kristin Zhivago also offers advice on the shortcomings of focus groups and surveys, as well as the limitations of social media driven information.

Kristin Zhivago (photo left) recognizes the importance of creating and developing a system, that is logical and easily followed to increase the volume of sales. Through the use of the system recommended by the author, sales and marketing people will know what is preventing the customer from buying, and then by applying the appropriate remedy.

The major emphasis, in the system prescribed by Kristin Zhivago, is on reverse engineering successful sales to determine what went right about that process through a deeper understanding of the customer's viewpoint. With that knowledge in hand, the successful process becomes a repeatable event. The author makes clear that the system is an inclusive one, that can be applied to all sales situations. Once the system is integrated into the sales process:

* Buyers will help with the sale and provide referrals
* Internal political issues between employees and departments will end
* Marketing, sales, product development and product management will be aligned

For me, the power of the book is how Kristin Zhivago presents a comprehensive system that can be incorporated into any organization and will achieve positive sales results. The promise of the book is to build revenue through selling to customers in the way they prefer to buy. The author delivers on that promise by focusing the system on the customer, and away from the sales representative or marketer.

Kristin Zhivago guides the sales person through the entire process, including the complete review of current sales practices, reverse engineering successful sales, and providing a complete system to increase the overall number and value of sales for the sales staff. Another positive feature of the process, and one that is usually not considered in sales related books, is the inclusion of how and why the system will improve the internal culture of the organization itself.

I highly recommend the valuable and sales boosting book Roadmap to Revenue: How to Sell the Way Your Customers Want to Buy by Kristin Zhivago, to any entrepreneurs, top managers, sales managers, marketers, sales representatives, and other business people seeking a proven and effective system for increasing their sales numbers. This book will change the way you think about customers, how they buy, and how to place your products and services in alignment with how the customer chooses to buy them.

Tags: Roadmap to Revenue: How to Sell the Way Your Customers Want to Buy, Kristin Zhivago, sales strategies, business book reviews

Select a Company Name That Reflects Happy and International

2011-12-19T04:00:00.000-08:00

Why didn't I think of this company name?

Joy Global

Joy Global Inc. is a worldwide leader in high-productivity mining solutions. Through its market-leading businesses – P&H Mining Equipment and Joy Mining Machinery – the company manufactures and markets original equipment and aftermarket parts and services for both the underground and above-ground mining industries and certain industrial applications. Joy Global's products and related services are used extensively for the mining of coal, copper, iron ore, oil sands, gold and other mineral resources.

Global demand. Global reach. Learn more here.

Unfinished by Suzanne Gravelle - Book review

2011-12-18T22:02:00.000-08:00

Unfinished

By: Suzanne Gravelle

Published: October 7,2011
Format: Paperback, 291 pages
ISBN-10: 192700506X
ISBN-13: 978-1927005064
Publisher: TRUMEDIA

"I am living in self-imposed exile. I have intentionally removed myself from everyone and everything that is familiar. Whether it is because we need to rest and rejuvenate our minds and bodies or we need to explore and work through an issue that is troubling us without distraction, interruption or influence, taking time alone, in my opinion, is important", writes traveler and seeker of the self, Suzanne Gravelle, in her inspirational and deeply moving book Unfinished. The author describes her journey of self discovery that began with her resignation from her career as a real estate agent in Nova Scotia, and continued over a long tour of Canada, where she discovered the hidden places of the nation, and those buried deep within herself.

Suzanne Gravelle understands deeply that life is not always as it appears on the surface. Beneath her life of sameness, the author believed that her true essence was being lost forever. To free her inner spirit, Suzanne Gravelle took the extraordinary step of not only seeking her true inner self, but found the need to make that personal voyage of self discovery in what she calls her self imposed exile. She began her personal voyage and adventure by leaving her Nova Scotia life, and began driving across Canada, seeking her lost soul and Canada's lost places. She could find herself and her life's meaning in those expected locations. Her inner being dwelt in lost places as well, giving the journey symbolic meaning on two different levels.

Suzanne Gravelle (photo left) finds her journey manifesting itself in her chosen archetypes of the warrior and the gypsy. Like the gypsy, the author chooses a life of travel and living on the fringes of society, observing and learning of others and of herself. As the warrior has honor, integrity, and respect for the opponent, Suzanne feels respect for her journey and the dream that lives within her. As with a voyage into oneself, the necessity of disengaging from the allegedly real world, and entering into the realm of dream forms the vision of the dreamer. The author discovers her inner gypsy and warrior honor through her entering the dream realm through travel. Throughout the voyage, the author builds on those archetypes, and forms an outline of her true self.

For me, the power of the book is how Suzanne Gravelle shares both the interior and exterior aspects of her journey. Her inner voyage is a discovery of her true self, and the development of her preferred warrior and gypsy self. It was also a journey she had to take alone, in what she calls her self-imposed exile. Her exterior venture is the literal trip across Canada, but even within the context of that long expedition, she finds the less explored places in the country. As with the still undiscovered areas of her own soul, Suzanne identifies with the lost locations of Canada. Those spots parallel her own missing feelings, and form an enriching source of understanding for her and for the reader. With the voyage ending literally at the West Coast, Suzanne's journey of self exploration completes one crucial phase, preparing her for the next act in her life's play.

I highly recommend the profound and soul enriching book Unfinished by Suzanne Gravelle, to anyone seeking a guide and traveling companion, on the road to one's own inner voyage. Whether the reader is moved by Suzanne's inner travel, or by the literal transcontinental road trip, or by both at once, this book is a deeply personal adventure not to be missed.

**********************
For more information about Unfinished by Suzanne Gravelle, visit Unfinished on Amazon.com. You can follow her journey on her blog

About Unfinished

This is a true story of a woman who experienced such a profound awakening that she could no longer live the same way, the same life she was just one week before. She could no longer ignore the woman who was screaming to be set free from the ties that bind her to a life she no longer desired or recognized. The transformation to become the woman she really wanted to be has propelled her upon the most remarkable self-discovery journey of her life. She sold her home, gave up her career, kissed her children, grandchildren and friend’s good bye, got into her vehicle and just drove away…ALONE. Where was she going? 30,000km later she finds herself in the most unlikely place to try to piece her life together, trying to make sense of the constant feeling of being Unfinished.

About Suzanne Gravelle

Suzanne Gravelle is 49 Years old and has 3 children, 2 grandchildren who live in Nova Scotia. At the time this book goes to print she is single and homeless by choice, still travelling, seeking that place of comfort she will eventually call home. She spent most of her life living in Nova Scotia but her formidable years aged 10-25, were spent living on Vancouver Island, British Columbia. She resigned as a Real Estate Agent in Nova Scotia, to embark upon this most incredible journey, driving, exploring Canada and writing this book. Read Suzanne's extended biography.

Suzanne’s Links

Find out where Suzanne is and listen to a current interview on 1290 CJBK London, Ontario on Suzanne's blog

Suzanne’s own BlogTalkRadio radio program Wednesday mornings 10am EST

Facebook: Suzanne Gravelle on Facebook

Twitter: @tourwithsuzanne

Tags: Unfinished, Suzanne Gravelle, personal self discovery, personal development book reviews

Subsurface Sensing edited by Ahmet S. Turk, A. Koskal Hocaoglu & Alexey A. Vertiy - Book review

2011-12-17T23:28:00.000-08:00

Subsurface Sensing

Edited by: Ahmet S. Turk, Ph.D., Koksal A. Hocaoglu, Ph.D., Alexey A. Vertiy, Ph.D.

Published: August 16, 2011
Format: Hardcover, 920 pages
ISBN-10: 0470133880
ISBN-13: 978-0470133880
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

"The major goal of this book is to provide a deep understanding of both the capabilities and limitations of the various sensor technologies used for detecting buried objects", write leading authorities in subsurface imaging and sensing, Ahmet S. Turk, Ph.D., Koksal A. Hocaoglu, Ph.D., and Alexey A. Vertiy, Ph.D., in their very comprehensive and authoritative book Subsurface Sensing. The authors describe the very wide and multidisciplinary field of subsurface sensing,and provide both the theoretical and practical applications and technologies that comprise the subject material.

Ahmet S. Turk, Ph.D., Koksal A. Hocaoglu, Ph.D., and Alexey A. Vertiy, Ph.D. understand both the strengths and limitations of subsurface sensing technology. As a result, the authors provide students, geophysicists, researchers, and engineers with a complete examination of the most important applications and technologies utilized in the field. The authors divide the book into three sections to provide the best overview of the subject: The three sections are as follows:

* The first part covers ground penetrating radar (GPR), electromagnetic induction (EMI), and microwave tomography
* The second part covers acoustic and seismic sensors, biochemical sensors, nuclear sensors, and optical sensors
* The third part includes the areas of application including geophysical, secuirty, landmine detection, and transport and civil engineering applications

Ahmet S. Turk, Ph.D., Koksal A. Hocaoglu, Ph.D., and Alexey A. Vertiy, Ph.D. recognize that their wide ranging overview of the subject will lack depth in each specific area. At the same time, that overall coverage offers practitioners with an examination of the theory, key applications, and important technologies in the field. The overview methodology of the book provides a firm foundation in the subject matter, leading to further in depth study for each application or technology as needed. Within the three principle sections of the book are individual chapters offering an examination of the wide and varied applications of subsurface sensing.

For me, the power of the book is the impressive array of multidisciplinary experts who provide their authoritative articles to the book. The expertise on offer covers a wide range of fields and subjects, but focuses on the principle areas of theory, sensor technology, and sensing applications. The sections of the various types of sensors, the mathematical and physics formulas, and the vast number of applications of the technology are especially useful. The authors are to be commended as well for including chapters that point to the potential weaknesses and limitations of subsurface sensing in all fields of study. Overall, this book is an excellent guide to the wide ranging and ever expanding field of subsurface sensing.

I highly recommend the essential and definitive book Subsurface Sensing edited by Subsurface Sensing, to any students, engineers, practitioners, business leaders, and policy makers seeking a complete overview of the theory, technology, and applications of the critical field of subsurface sensing. This book is a must for anyone with an interest or need for subsurface detection in any area of engineering, resources, business, or scientific research.

Tags: Subsurface Sensing, Ahmet S. Turk, Ph.D., Koksal A. Hocaoglu, Ph.D., Alexey A. Vertiy, Ph.D., subsurface detection technology and applications, science book reviews.

World: Experience the Mysterious

2011-12-17T04:24:00.000-08:00


©Laurel J. Delaney 2011, "Beach Art"

"The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious. It is the source of all true art and all science. He to whom this emotion is a stranger, who can no longer pause to wonder and stand rapt in awe, is as good as dead: his eyes are closed." ~ Albert Einstein

Photo courtesy: ©Laurel J. Delaney 2011, "Beach Art"

Gold Under Ice by Carol Buchanan - Fiction book review

2011-12-16T22:04:00.000-08:00

Gold Under Ice

By: Carol Buchanan

Published: July 20, 2010
Format: Paperback, 408 pages
ISBN-10: 0982782217
ISBN-13: 978-0982782217
Publisher: Missouri Breaks Press

During the American Civil War, Daniel Stark saves a drowning man from the icy water of Alder Creek, Montana Territory, and sets of a series of events that traverse America from the Old West to the gold trading pits of Wall Street, in the spellbinding and fast paced novel Gold Under Ice by award winning, Montana based novelist Carol Buchanan.

Carol Buchanan moves well beyond the usual historical fiction realm, and enters into a story of Wall Street gold trading and the value of President Abraham Lincoln's greenback currency. The story of Daniel Stark, and his quest to repay his family's indebtedness, is mirrored by the larger historical drama of the Wall Street battle of the greenback dollar against the gold Double Eagle coin. The fate of America, embroiled in the horrific carnage of the Civil War, hangs in the balance. The threads of Daniel Stark's life become intricately woven in the arcane financial drama played out by the gold traders in New York. In the days before electronic trades, the gold market was a rough and ready business, that could easily determine the outcome of the war, and the future of America, in just a few failed or successful trades.

Carol Buchanan (photo left) creates living breathing characters, with realistic dialogue, who are caught up in events that sweep them to their destiny. The desires and motivations of the characters, are timeless, and provide an immediacy to the sweeping tale. For business readers, the intricacies of the gold pits, and of the battle for supremacy between gold and paper currency, are fascinating in their modernity.

The price of gold, and the value of the dollar were as as much the daily headlines in 1864 as they are today. The trades made on Wall Street could make or break a currency and a nation then, and they can still do so in the modern world. The author creates a realistic portrayal of the financial markets of yesterday, that still has relevance in the our own time. The battle between gold and paper money, the lure of riches, and the often cold calculation of profit regardless of the outcome, remain as true as ever.

Carol Buchanan tackles a potentially tricky area with the discussion and description of the Civil War era gold and financial markets. The author deftly combines the microcosm of the Daniel Stark story with the larger narrative of the national economy. Even more important, Carol Buchanan transforms the actions on Wall Street from a potentially dry and arcane topic, into a riveting part of the novel. The novel is a fascinating account of fictional characters inhabiting a historically accurate world. The novel is a page turning epic, a lesson in the often ignored financial history of America, and a series of well drawn character studies.

I highly recommend the wonderful historical novel Gold Under Ice by Carol Buchanan, to anyone seeking aen enjoyable and idea filled historical novel. The characters are memorable, and stay with the reader, long after the last page is completed. This book is well worth a read, as the events of the story feel as if they are taken from today's financial headlines, all wrapped up in a gripping adventure tale of family honor.

Tags: Gold Under Ice, Carol Buchanan, Civil War era gold trading, fiction book reviews

Business At The Speed Of Now by John M. Bernard - Book review

2011-12-16T07:13:00.000-08:00

Business at the Speed of Now

Fire Up Your People, Thrill Your Customers, and Crush Your Competitors

By: John M. Bernard

Published: December 6, 2011
Format: Hardcover, 256 pages
ISBN-10: 1118054016
ISBN-13: 978-1118054017
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

"Customers increasingly demand a yes answer to each and every question they ask. They want what they want, and they want it now", writes founder and chairman of Mass Ingenuity, John M. Bernard in his insightful and practical book Business at the Speed of Now: Fire Up Your People, Thrill Your Customers, and Crush Your Competitors. The author describes how in an age of mass customization, it's essential for organizations to empower all of their employees to act quickly and decisively to take full advantage of opportunities as they arise in real time.

John Bernard recognizes that standard management practices are unsuited to cope with the marketplace sea change from the age of mass production to the age of mass individualization. Managers in many companies fail to understand that the demands on employees, by their more empowered customers, are stifled by outdated management practices. Because of this enormous shift in customer expectations, employees are being asked to deliver more than than they have the authority or tools to provide, causing a rift with customers. John Bernard offers an innovative and transformational alternative approach that empowers and engages employees at all levels, provides managers with better data for decision making, and removes obstacles for leadership and innovation.

John M. Bernard (photo left) understands that the marketplace has changed in radical ways, and that the management tools and techniques of even a few years ago, are insufficient for today's reality. The author proposes an end to micro-managing, which is not even possible in contemporary organizations. Instead, John Bernard proposes that managers engage employees to propose and develop fresh ideas for meeting the challenge of today's more demanding customers. The author emphasizes that managers must leverage the power of social media, cloud computing, and the millennial mindset, to achieve success.

Instead of counterproductive policies, including the banning of on the job social media usage and fears of cloud information storage, the author proposes the removal of fear in the workplace. John Bernard recommends that business leaders think in terms of NOW management and its revolutionary goals:

* Removing fear in the workplace
* Reducing variation in all areas of the business
* Overcoming the barriers that prevent change toward empowerment

For me, the power of the book is how John M. Bernard combines the theory of transforming a company to NOW Management, with the tools and strategies for achieving the NOW goals. The author understands completely that traditional management practices are standing in the way of employee engagement. The desire for control is also an outmoded concept that no longer works in a social media, cloud computing, and empowered employee organization. Control is simply no longer possible as today's customer will simply turn to another company for their products and services. To bolster his case, John Bernard shares data, case studies, and anecdotes of companies succeeding through the NOW formula, and their engaged employees becoming more productive, providing more value and profit for the company.

I highly recommend the inspirational and empowering book Business at the Speed of Now: Fire Up Your People, Thrill Your Customers, and Crush Your Competitors by John M. Bernard, to any business leaders and managers who are seeking a fresh and effective strategy to compete effectively in today's highly competitive marketplace. The transformation from an organization of fear to one of engagement will improve employee performance, boost the bottom line, and distance your company from the lagging competition.

Tags: Business at the Speed of Now: Fire Up Your People, Thrill Your Customers, and Crush Your Competitors, John M. Bernard, business development strategies, business book reviews

Do Your Part to Change the World

2011-12-16T06:03:00.000-08:00

Search, find your cause, change the world -- those are the words of Barton Brooks, founder of Global Colors, working to create self-sustaining grassroots projects for the common good of each community it serves.

Global Colors came after he took a trip to a small village in Cambodia. He says he was so moved by the people and their struggles that he decided to form his own organization to help get aid to people in need. To fund the first Global Colors projects, Barton sold his only asset at the time—a Shelby Cobra replica he built by hand. "It turned into education for kids and sustaining life for some widows in Kenya, so it's kind of hard to miss it that much," he says.

Read more here.

Posted by: The Global Small Business Blog

The Importance of the Spanish Speaking Market

2011-12-15T06:15:00.000-08:00

Mary Davis Holt: Break Your Own Rules - Blog Business Success Radio

2011-12-14T22:27:00.000-08:00

Listen to Wayne Hurlbert on Blog Talk Radio

Keynote speaker, executive coach, managing partner at Flynn Heath Holt Leadership, and co-author of straight talking and empowering book Break Your Own Rules: How to Change the Patterns of Thinking that Block Women's Paths to Power, Mary Davis Holt describes why there are so few women in C-level positions. Despite great strides made in diversity, women are underrepresented in the executive suite, Mary Davis Holt points out that women run companies are more profitable meaning that businesses are missing out on great leadership. Mary shares the six faulty assumptions, often mistakenly considered rules, followed by women that stand in their way. Mary provides advice and strategies for changing those assumptions to new ways of acting that will help more women achieve C-level positions. Mary Davis Holt is firm in her conviction that by changing the old rules to new ones will place women in 30 percent of leadership roles within a decade.

Mary Davis Holt is my internet radio show guest on Blog Business Success; hosted live on BlogTalkRadio.

The show airs live on Thursday, December 15, at 8:00 pm Eastern Time; 5:00 pm Pacific Time.

Keynote speaker, executive coach, managing partner at Flynn Heath Holt Leadership, and co-author of straight talking and empowering book Break Your Own Rules: How to Change the Patterns of Thinking that Block Women's Paths to Power, Mary Davis Holt describes why there are so few women in C-level positions. You will learn:

* Why there are so few women in top leadership positions in the corporate world

* The myths and behaviors that hold women back from achieving career success

* How women can change their behavior to reach the top in any company

* What are tge new rules of business and behavior for women

Mary Davis Holt (photo left) s a partner at Flynn Heath Holt Leadership (FHHL) whose goal is to move women and organizations forward, faster. She is an executive coach and keynote speaker on business, women, and leadership. As an in-demand voice, Mary shares her hard-won insights and promotes FHHL's new rules for success to a wide range of audiences.

Prior to joining FHH, Mary held executive positions at Time Warner with oversight that ranged from finance to information technology, marketing, human resources, manufacturing, and distribution. She held a number of leadership roles in the publishing group including Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Time Life, Inc. Among her many career highlights, Mary led the management of worldwide manufacturing distribution for all of Time Inc.'s magazines (e.g., Time, Fortune, People, Sports Illustrated). She also served as president of Time Life Books and Time Life Kids.

My book review of Break Your Own Rules: How to Change the Patterns of Thinking that Block Women's Paths to Power by Jill Flynn, Kathryn Heath, and Mary Davis Holt.

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 keynote speaker, executive coach, managing partner at Flynn Heath Holt Leadership, and co-author of straight talking and empowering book Break Your Own Rules: How to Change the Patterns of Thinking that Block Women's Paths to Power, Mary Davis Holt, as shedescribes why there are so few women in C-level positions. Despite great strides made in diversity, women are underrepresented in the executive suite, Mary Davis Holt points out that women run companies are more profitable meaning that businesses are missing out on great leadership. Mary shares the six faulty assumptions, often mistakenly considered rules, followed by women that stand in their way. Mary provides advice and strategies for changing those assumptions to new ways of acting that will help more women achieve C-level positions. Mary Davis Holt is firm in her conviction that by changing the old rules to new ones will place women in 30 percent of leadership roles within a decade on Blog Business Success Radio.

Tags: Break Your Own Rules: How to Change the Patterns of Thinking that Block Women's Paths to Power, Jill Flynn, Kathryn Heath, Mary Davis Holt, career strategies for women, Blog Business Success, Blog Talk Radio.

Exporting: Got a Marketing Plan?

2011-12-14T02:27:00.000-08:00

If you are considering exporting, better get organized on the marketing front. This article might help.

Keep the research summary to one page, and break it into four manageable parts (refer to article below). The purpose of this exercise is to establish a broad scope on your research market analysis but not so broad that you overwhelm yourself. Try to begin with the end in mind: Where do you want to go and how will you know that you have arrived?

How to Develop an Export Marketing Plan

Break Your Own Rules by Jill Flynn, Kathryn Heath & Mary Davis Holt - Book review

2011-12-13T23:10:00.000-08:00

Break Your Own Rules

How to Change the Patterns of Thinking that Block Women's Paths to Power

By: Jill Flynn, Kathryn Heath, Mary Davis Holt

Published: September 13, 2011
Format: Hardcover, 208 pages
ISBN-10: 111806254X
ISBN-13: 978-1118062548
Publisher: Jossey-Bass

"We have a dream. It is a big vision...it is a leap...and it is audacious: we want to see women make up at least 30 percent of the top leadership positions in corporate America within the next ten years", write managing partners at Flynn Heath Holt Leadership (FHHL), Jill Flynn, Kathryn Heath, and Mary Davis Holt, in their straight talking and revolutionary book Break Your Own Rules: How to Change the Patterns of Thinking that Block Women's Paths to Power. The authors describe the myths and misconceptions that hold women back from achieving their fullest potential as leaders in the corporate world, and share strategies for changing these false rules, and replacing them with fresh ideas for success.

Jill Flynn (photo left), Kathryn Heath, and Mary Davis Holt recognize that women have moved forward in business over the past few decades, but despite these advances, women are very underrepresented in corporate boardrooms. The authors point out that fewer than one in six top leadership positions in the Fortune 500 are held by women. At the same time, the authors demonstrate that companies with female leadership at the C-level are more profitable and have a better business model for the future. The authors identified six faulty rules that hold women back from achieving their full potential as corporate leaders. These behaviors are rooted in societal norms and cultural mores, and the authors provide alternative rules to replace these deadly misconceptions, that work for the advancement of women, and achieve greater performance for their companies.

Kathryn Heath (photo left), Mary Davis Holt, and Jill Flynn understand that women have faced and continue to encounter societal pressure to follow an archaic set of supposed rules of behavior. Instead of following society's programming of letting others move ahead, and accepting a lesser role, the authors recommend that women step forward and seize opportunities for moving their careers ever upward. The authors content correctly, that these alleged rules were not and are not carved in stone. Indeed, they are not carved in anything except some antiquated societal mores.

For the authors, it's time for women to break free of these unhealthy myths, and achieve their roles as effective corporate leaders. The authors present their new rules as follows:

* Take center stage
* Proceed until apprehended
* Project personal power
* Be politically savvy
* Play to win
* It's both and...
* Stand together and close ranks

Mary Davis Holt (photo left), Jill Flynn, and Kathryn Heath provide an empowering manifesto for women in the corporate world, that for me, represents the power of the book. The authors not only dispel the myths that have derailed women's careers, but they provide a positive set of new behaviors for women to achieve success in the corporate world. The authors bolster their call to action with real world success stories of women who made it to the top of Fortune 500 companies by doing things their way. The lessons provided by these top female executives add inspirational background to the practical advice shared by the authors.

I highly recommend the empowering and myth destroying book Break Your Own Rules: How to Change the Patterns of Thinking that Block Women's Paths to Power by
Jill Flynn, Kathryn Heath, and Mary Davis Holt, to any women seeking to advance their careers, and moving past the barriers presented by outdated behaviors and mores. This book will transform any woman's career path into one that leads to the very top leadership roles and to the C-level in any size or type of company.

Tags: Break Your Own Rules: How to Change the Patterns of Thinking that Block Women's Paths to Power, Jill Flynn, Kathryn Heath, Mary Davis Holt, career strategies for women, business book reviews

Jim Lehrer interviews Secretary of State Hillary Clinton

2011-12-13T14:48:00.000-08:00

PBS NEWSHOUR Executive Editor Jim Lehrer will interview United States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton live onstage Wednesday, December 14, at The Newseum in Washington D.C. for Innovation and the Global Marketplace: A Discussion on American Innovation, Trade, and the next 10 million jobs.

Jim Lehrer and Secretary Hillary Clinton will discuss how America will create jobs going forward, and the future of the global economy.

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton (photo left)

The event will also include three panel discussions between leaders in the private and public sectors on the subjects of innovation and economic growth, moderated by NEWSHOUR correspondents Jeffrey Brown, Hari Sreenivasan, and Paul Solman.

Created through a partnership between the NEWSHOUR, The Aspen Institute and Intel, Innovation and the Global Marketplace will be streamed live on the NEWSHOUR’s website starting at 8:45 a.m. ET on December 14.

Viewers can join the conversation on Twitter using the hashtag #IEglobalmkt and by following @InnovationEcon and @Newshour.

Tags: PBS NewsHour, The Aspen Institute, Intel, Jim Lehrer, Jeffrey Brown, Hari Sreenivasan, Paul Solman, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, innovation in the global economy.

Changing the World One Heart at a Time

2011-12-13T04:05:00.000-08:00

What is Hearts For Hearts Girls (pictured)?

Playmates Toys, the company behind Hearts For Hearts Girls, is among the most respected and innovative marketing and distribution companies in the global toy industry. Playmates Toys has a proven 40-year history in the creation of innovative and imaginative products as well as the development and management of profitable, long-term brand franchises.

Learn real stories from girls all over the world here. And why it matters. Visit World Vision as well.

Posted by: The Global Small Business Blog

Nepal Trade and Export Promotion Center

2011-12-12T05:58:00.000-08:00

The Government of Nepal established "Trade and Export Promotion Centre (TEPC)," a national trade promotion organization of the country in November 2006. They accomplished this by merging three organizations: the Trade Promotion Centre, Export Promotion Board and Carpet and Wool Development Board. The objective is to promote foreign trade with particular emphasis on exporting from the country.

Learn more here.

Sandy Carter: Get Bold! Use Social Media For Social Business - Blog Business Success Radio

2011-12-11T23:06:00.000-08:00

Listen to Wayne Hurlbert on Blog Talk Radio

IBM Vice President, Social Business Evangelism, and author of Get Bold: Using Social Media to Create a New Type of Social Business, Sandy Carter, describes how to use social media tools and techniques to build a company that is more dynamic, collaborative, efficient, customer driven, and successful. Sandy Carter shares ideas for transforming any business into a top performing social business. Sandy Carter offers her six step AGENDA that covers all aspects of a business, inside and outside of the organization. Learn how to use social media to boost innovation, cost reduction, customer relationships, and talent management to create maximum business value through social media.

Sandy Carter is my internet radio show guest on Blog Business Success; hosted live on BlogTalkRadio.

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

IBM Vice President, Social Business Evangelism, and author of Get Bold: Using Social Media to Create a New Type of Social Business, Sandy Carter, describes how to use social media tools and techniques to build a company that is more dynamic, collaborative, efficient, customer driven, and successful. You will learn:

* What it means to be a social business

* Why social businesses are more profitable than non-social companies

* How to implement the AGENDA strategy to transform your company

* How to measure success in a social business

Sandy Carter (photo left) is a recognized leader in Social business, a best selling author, and one of the most influential women in Web 2.0 technology. As IBM Vice President, Social Business Sales and Evangelism she is responsible for setting the direction for IBM’s Social Business initiative, a $200B market opportunity. Due to her extensive knowledge of social businesses, she is a sought after speaker.

She is an avid social business evangelist, blogger, and twitterer. She was recognized in 2009 as Brand Leader of the Year by World Brand Congress and as one of the top 10 women in social media by Altimeter Group. She is the author of two best-selling books: one of which won the Silver Marketing Sherpa award in 2009.

My book review of Get Bold: Using Social Media to Create a New Type of Social Business by Sandy Carter.

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 IBM Vice President, Social Business Evangelism, and author of Get Bold: Using Social Media to Create a New Type of Social Business, Sandy Carter, as she describes how to use social media tools and techniques to build a company that is more dynamic, collaborative, efficient, customer driven, and successful. Sandy Carter shares ideas for transforming any business into a top performing social business. Sandy Carter offers her six step AGENDA that covers all aspects of a business, inside and outside of the organization. Learn how to use social media to boost innovation, cost reduction, customer relationships, and talent management to create maximum business value through social media on Blog Business Success Radio.

Tags: Get Bold: Using Social Media to Create a New Type of Social Business, Sandy Carter, social business development strategies, Blog Business Success, Blog Talk Radio.

Get Bold by Sandy Carter - Book review

2011-12-10T23:02:00.000-08:00

Get Bold

Using Social Media to Create a New Type of Social Business

By: Sandy Carter

Published: September 21, 2011
Format: Paperback, 288 pages
ISBN-10: 0132618311
ISBN-13: 978-0132618311
Publisher: IBM Press

"It is imperative that you have a bold agenda to engage your clients, your partners, and your employees. The Social Business AGENDA is the connection to outperforming in the marketplace", writes IBM Vice President, Social Business Evangelism, Sandy Carter in her business results oriented and strategy based book Get Bold: Using Social Media to Create a New Type of Social Business. The author describes the benefits of making the transition to a social business, and provides the blueprint for completing that transformation.

Sandy Carter presents a best practices adoption model for applying the principles and benefits of social media to any organization. The author recognizes the value of social media for creating and developing trust, authenticity, and transparency for the company's customers and for employees. For Sandy Carter, the social business integrates the concepts of social into every internal and external aspect of the organization. The benefits of the two way contact, enveloped in social media, achieve the company's goals more effectively for every department. The author points out that people have a deep desire to be social, and the concept of the social business leverages that very human trait for the benefit of the entire organization, including its more engaged employees, and its new form of social customers.

Sandy Carter (photo left) understands that social business has changed companies and their relationships with their employees and their customers in very fundamental ways. The role of the employee is altered in a social business and is more engaged with customers, and with each other, than ever before. The company's processes are more transparent and easily understood by all stakeholders, and the actions taken by social businesses regarding their customers are much faster and more responsive than in non-social businesses. At the same time, social businesses are more profitable as a result of their more fully engaged employees and relationship based customers.

To guide companies in the process of establishing an effective social business, Sandy Carter shares her AGENDA principle. The AGENDA concept is an acronym consisting of the following factors:

* Aligning organizational goals and culture
* Gaining loyal trust
* Engaging through experiences
* Networking the business processes
* Designing for reputation and risk management
* Analyzing the data

For me, the power of the book is how Sandy Carter combines the reasons for establishing a social business with the road map needed to achieve that goal. The author provides many real world examples of successful social businesses, and shares the techniques used to develop those effective social businesses. Filled with screen captures, helpful graphics, and well set apart case studies, the book offers practical detail that enriches the theoretical concepts, and further illustrates the overall AGENDA strategy. Overall, this book is an excellent guide book for companies seeking the business and cultural transformation opportunity presented by becoming a social business.

I highly recommend the very hands on and stakeholder engagement building book Get Bold: Using Social Media to Create a New Type of Social Business by Sandy Carter, to any business leaders, executives, managers, or owners seeking to take the next step in their company's evolution and become a complete social business. This book provides the proven strategies that will turn any company from the ordinary to the extraordinary and very profitable realm of social business.

Tags: Get Bold: Using Social Media to Create a New Type of Social Business, Sandy Carter, social business development strategies, business book reviews

Made In USA: Chopsticks Destined for China

2011-12-10T05:19:00.000-08:00

Renewable Energy Facts and Fantasies by Craig Shields - Book review

2011-12-09T22:39:00.000-08:00

Renewable Energy Facts and Fantasies

The Tough Realities as Revealed in Interviews with 25 Subject Matter Experts

By: Craig Shields

Published: July 30, 2010
Format: Paperback, 322 pages
ISBN-10: 0615388353
ISBN-13: 978-0615388359
Publisher: Clean Energy Press

"Don't expect a surprise ending; there is none. We actually do live in a world of tough realities. No one can snap his fingers and turn on a safe, readily available, and cost-effective stream of renewable energy", writes marketing consultant and editor of 2GreenEnergy,com, Craig Shields, in his realistic and thought provoking book Renewable Energy Facts and Fantasies: The Tough Realities as Revealed in Interviews with 25 Subject Matter Experts. The author shares his twenty-five interviews with a very wide spectrum of experts and thought leaders on every aspect of the potential and challenges of sustainable energy sources.

Craig Shields recognizes that there are no quick fixes or easy answers to the very difficult realities and choices facing everyone regarding renewable energy. The author provides conversations with specialists, in an impressive variety of fields, who approach the concept of sustainable energy from very different directions and starting points. Craig Shields places the interviews within the context of the three most important, and often very contradictory areas of technology, economics, and politics. As a result, the experts don't always agree with one another, or even agree with the book's author. The result is a lively and often controversial book filled with often difficult ideas, challenges, and possibilities for the future.

Craig Shields (photo left) understands that the development of clean and renewable energy souls is a complex, and multi-layered issue. For the author, the best method of approaching the many sides and nuances of sustainable energy is to consider the realities of the controversial ideas and forces involved in the search. Understanding the technology alone is not sufficient to address the energy challenge. The societal challenges of politics and the often often harsh world of economics must also receive consideration. Without taking all three overarching areas into account, neither the obstacles or the benefits of renewable energy will achieve the best results for the planet. Craig Shields points out that when all three considerations are not in harmony, the result will be solutions that fail in both the near and longer terms.

For me, the power of the book is how Craig Shields addresses the reality of renewable energy with the goal of finding real solutions, through a multi-disciplinary approach. The author believes that hearing as many different voices as possible, including ideas that disagree with his own, will create a more open discussion. Craig Shields provides a collection of interviews that offer real world considerations of sustainable energy, and avoids the pitfall of suggesting a quick and easy solution.

For the author and his contributors, there are no quick fixes or magic bullets. Instead, they provide a realistic and thoughtful discussion of the most daunting challenges facing renewable energy, and how they affect and are affected by the the ever present and critical areas of technology, economics, and politics. The result of Craig Sheilds' wide ranging and very balanced interviews is a deeper and richer understanding of a complex but crucial subject.

I highly recommend the important and often unsettling book Renewable Energy Facts and Fantasies: The Tough Realities as Revealed in Interviews with 25 Subject Matter Experts by Craig Shields, to anyone seeking a comprehensive and real world based anthology of discussions on sustainable energy sources, and their technological, economic, and political ramifications. This book will introduce the reader to new ideas, including concepts that may disconcert some readers. The book's open and honest expert interviews make this book a must read for anyone in business, politics, technology, or the general public with an interest in the critical issues surrounding renewable energy.

Tags: Renewable Energy Facts and Fantasies: The Tough Realities as Revealed in Interviews with 25 Subject Matter Experts, Craig Shields, sustainable energy sources, science book reviews.

Tip for Global Small Businesses?

2011-12-09T01:59:00.000-08:00

It's our monthly e-newsletter, Borderbuster! You probably already know about it but just in case, go here to subscribe.

Tips for Small Businesses Going Global

And see what the Federation of International Trade Associations (FITA) says about Borderbuster. They must like it because they featured it to more than 70,000 readers of their own newsletter! They also mention The Global Small Business Blog and the About.com Import and Export site.

We are grateful and thank FITA for their support. Our social media platforms are buzzing!

Effective Learning In The Life Sciences Edited by David J. Adams - Book review

2011-12-08T22:15:00.000-08:00

Effective Learning in the Life Sciences

How Students Can Achieve Their Full Potential

Edited by: David J. Adams, Ph.D.

Published: December 6, 2011
Format: Paperback, 288 pages
ISBN-10: 0470661577
ISBN-13: 978-0470661574
Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell

"There has never been a more exciting time to study biology", writes Director of the national Centre for Bioscience based at the University of Leeds, David J. Adams, Ph.D., in his leading edge thinking and learning desire building book
Effective Learning in the Life Sciences: How Students Can Achieve Their Full Potential. The author shares essays by leading educating thinkers, in the field of biology, that encourage teaching and learning skills in the life sciences.

David J. Adams recognizes the revolution that is taking place in the biological and life sciences and provides an important guide for students and educators to advance learning opportunities in this growing field. For students committed to an educational experience in the life sciences, the contributors to this book offer a wide perspective on the critical areas of the educational and learning experience. The comprehensive nature of the essays provides students with understanding of the traditional learning process in biology, as well as considering the crucial areas of creativity, e-learning, bioethics, and bioenterprise. The contributors also consider the less obvious, but important and often problematic areas, of mathematics, statistical analysis, problem solving, and feedback processes.

David J. Adams (photo left) provides an outline, along with the appropriate cutting edge thinking contributors, to ensure that students realize their fullest potential in their study of the biosciences. At the same time, each of the contributed articles emphasizes the importance of the scientific method, along with advancing the concepts of biology and the many issues that surround learning and practice within the life sciences. The wide ranging approach taken by the editor and writers ensures a complete set of skills for laboratory and field research, and for working within an employment setting.

The editor provides essays within the following subject areas:

* Creativity
* Problem solving
* In the laboratory
* Fieldwork
* In vivo work
* Research projects
* Mathematics and statistics for biologists
* E-learning for biologists
* Bioethics
* Assessment, feedback, and review
* Communication in the biosciences
* Bioenterprise

For me, the power of the book is how David J. Adams created an all encompassing textbook for students within the biological sciences. The essays cover the standard biology curriculum, with the added study of the more challenging societal issues that surround the biosciences. For a student today, these often controversial topics are essential for study and understanding, due to their impact and influence on scientific study and research. The editor provides for a hands on and interactive approach to learning, backed by examples and case studies of the principles in action in real world settings. Overall, the book is an engaging and comprehensive, must have guide for students within the life sciences.

I highly recommend the essential and student potential developing book Effective Learning in the Life Sciences: How Students Can Achieve Their Full Potential, edited by David J. Adams, Ph.D., to any students, educators, bioscience practitioners, business leaders, or policy makers seeking a useful and accessible guide to learning, instructing, and understanding the wide array of concepts and issues within the fields of biology, bioscience, and the life sciences. This boos is a must read for anyone involved with the biosciences in education, policy making, or a business environment.

Tags: Effective Learning in the Life Sciences: How Students Can Achieve Their Full Potential, David J. Adams, Ph.D., bioscience and biology learning, science book reviews.

A New Type of Hyperconnectivity

2011-12-08T04:00:00.000-08:00

With technology, mass migration is changing the way that people do business

In the flat world of maps, sharp lines show where one country ends and another begins. The real world is more fluid. Peoples do not have borders the way that parcels of land do. They seep from place to place; they wander; they migrate.

Read the entire article: Migration and business: Weaving the world together | The Economist

Illustration credit here.

Wendy Axelrod & Jeannie Coyle: Make Talent Your Business - Blog Business Success Radio

2011-12-07T22:35:00.000-08:00

Listen to Wayne Hurlbert on Blog Talk Radio

Managing Partners of Talent Savvy Manager, and co-authors of the very practical and results oriented book Make Talent Your Business: How Exceptional Managers Develop People While Getting Results, Wendy Axelrod and Jeannie Coyle describe that while mangers understand that highly talented employees are critical to an organization's success, growing talent remains a difficult challenge for many managers. Wendy Axelrod and Jeannie Coyle provide evidence that things don't have to be that way, and that the goal of developing engaged and top performing employees can become a reality. For managers who feel they lack the time or resources to develop talent, Wendy and Jeannie share the ideas and techniques used by successful talent building managers. The authors provide the five common traits and practices that guide managers toward fulfilling that dream of bringing out the best in their people while boosting company performance and results.

Wendy Axelrod and Jeannie Coyle are my internet radio show guests on Blog Business Success; hosted live on BlogTalkRadio.

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

Managing Partners of Talent Savvy Manager, and co-authors of the very practical and results oriented book Make Talent Your Business: How Exceptional Managers Develop People While Getting Results, Wendy Axelrod and Jeannie Coyle describe that while mangers understand that highly talented employees are critical to an organization's success, growing talent remains a difficult challenge for many managers. You will learn:

* Why highly talented employees are critical to an organization's success

* Why managers are frustrated with staff development efforts

* How to implement the five steps to staff development used by successful managers

* How leading companies are gaining competitive advantage from staff development

Wendy Axelrod, Ph.D., (photo left) is Managing Partner of Talent Savvy Manager. Her work with Line and HR Executives heightens the impact of their Talent Development, Leadership Development and Executive Coaching efforts. Previously, as a Fortune 100 Executive she led Talent Management and Leadership Development functions. A former President of Philadelphia Human Resource Planning Society, she created and now leads their Professionals Mentoring Program. Her professional passion is helping managers crack the code for significantly developing their people which is often career changing for their staff members and completely gratifying for the managers themselves.

Jeannie Coyle (photo left) Managing Partner of Talent Savvy Manager, has been an innovator in the field of talent management throughout her career. As Senior Vice President of Human Resources at American Express, in the early 1980's, she designed and implemented the system for developing leaders over time through experience. It endures today as a most successful talent management system that continues to be driven by top management and produce measureable results. As an executive coach and strategic HR solutions provider she has displayed a knack for understanding the true drivers of talent development and helping leaders and organizations make practical breakthoughs that truly deliver new capabilities to achieve business priorities. A former board member of the Human Resource Planning Society, she is currently on the board of the Pacific North West Strategic HR Forum.

My book review of Make Talent Your Business: How Exceptional Managers Develop People While Getting Results by Wendy Axelrod and Jeannie Coyle.

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 Managing Partners of Talent Savvy Manager, and co-authors of the very practical and results oriented book Make Talent Your Business: How Exceptional Managers Develop People While Getting Results, Wendy Axelrod and Jeannie Coyle, as they describe that while mangers understand that highly talented employees are critical to an organization's success, growing talent remains a difficult challenge for many managers. Wendy Axelrod and Jeannie Coyle provide evidence that things don't have to be that way, and that the goal of developing engaged and top performing employees can become a reality. For managers who feel they lack the time or resources to develop talent, Wendy and Jeannie share the ideas and techniques used by successful talent building managers. The authors provide the five common traits and practices that guide managers toward fulfilling that dream of bringing out the best in their people while boosting company performance and results on Blog Business Success Radio.

Tags: Make Talent Your Business: How Exceptional Managers Develop People While Getting Results, Wendy Axelrod, Jeannie Coyle, employee development strategies, Blog Business Success, Blog Talk Radio.

Global Distortions

2011-12-07T06:49:00.000-08:00

How do you battle cheap and low quality imports and other 'global distortions' in your country? See what Brazil is doing to combat these dumping woes by way of a lesson from tire producer Pirelli.

Read: Brazil's Consumers Go To Ground

Pirelli Corporate

Make Talent Your Business by Wendy Axelrod & Jeannie Coyle - Book review

2011-12-06T23:12:00.000-08:00

Make Talent Your Business

How Exceptional Managers Develop People While Getting Results

By: Wendy Axelrod, Jeannie Coyle

Published: June 6, 2011
Format: Paperback, 210 pages
ISBN-10: 1605099317
ISBN-13: 978-1605099316
Publisher: Berrett-Koehler Publishers

"Wouldn't it be heavenly if the people you manage were developing new skills while they delivered results every day? They would be more productive, happier, and less likely to leave", write Managing Partners of Talent Savvy Manager, Wendy Axelrod and Jeannie Coyle, in their very practical and results oriented book Make Talent Your Business: How Exceptional Managers Develop People While Getting Results. The authors describe why it's important to develop staff and help them learn new skills, and provide the hands on tools for improving employee performance and transforming a company culture to one of ongoing employee development.

Wendy Axelrod (photo left) and Jeannie Coyle understand the value of employees to the overall growth and productivity of a company. While most executives and managers will say that their employees are the key to their organizational success, those same managers will point out that they lack the time, skills, or resources to ensure continual staff development.

The authors point out that while many managers are unable to provide their desired level of employee development, other managers are succeeding in that personal building and learning area very well. Wendy Axelrod and Jeannie Coyle highlight the common traits and techniques, these successful development managers have in common, and demonstrate how these same practices can be utilized in any organization to enhance peak performance.

Jeannie Coyle (photo left) and Wendy Axelrod recognize that managers want to develop their employee skill levels, and that staff people want to learn new skills to better perform their jobs as well. The authors emphasize that huge amounts of time and money are spent in development programs that are ineffective and fail to achieve the desired results. For the authors, those programs fail because they are treated as separate, compartmentalized events from the daily work assignments.

Instead of isolating development from actual tasks and assignments, the authors propose an integrated approach to staff development that combines work duties with additional training and coaching that stretches the employee's abilities and adds fresh skills to their knowledge base.

To create this unified approach to staff development, Wendy Axelrod and Jeannie Coyle share the five practices shared by managers who excel at staff development. The five practices are:

* Make every day a development day
* Tap the psychological side of development
* Connect people with development partners
* Teach skills to navigate organizational politics
* Shape your environment to drive development

For me, the power of the book is how Jeannie Coyle and Wendy Axelrod combine the importance of staff development with a holistic and effective process fro enhancing the skill levels of employees. The authors describe how the recommended practices have worked effectively for managers in a wide range of companies and industries. With the positive, real world data and experiences of effective development managers as support, the authors provide those proven practices for other managers. Not only do managers find their own jobs more effective, but the employees discover and learn new skills while working on their own assignments. The company benefits as well, through better performance, a more engaged workforce, and higher productivity.

I highly recommend the research based and pragmatic idea filled book Make Talent Your Business: How Exceptional Managers Develop People While Getting Results by Wendy Axelrod and Jeannie Coyle, to any business leaders, executives, managers, and business owners who seek a useful and hands on guide to developing their employees, and increasing their overall skill levels. This book will help companies engage both managers and employees as they develop their skill levels and boost the overall productivity of the company.

Tags: Make Talent Your Business: How Exceptional Managers Develop People While Getting Results, Wendy Axelrod, Jeannie Coyle, employee development strategies, business book reviews

Wake Up World: The Future of Computing Is Here

2011-12-06T02:19:00.000-08:00

David Gelernter (pictured), Professor of Computer Science at Yale, offers his fresh and compelling view on future computing, including his new concept called "lifestreams." Worth a read.

The idea, though, of lifestreams has been catching on. A lifestream is a way of organizing digital objects—photos, emails, documents, Web links, music—in a time-ordered series. A timeline, in essence, that extends into the past but also the future (with appointments, to-do lists, etc.). Facebook, with its "wall" constantly updated with postings by you and your friends, is a lifestream. Twitter's feed is a lifestream. "Chatter," developed by Salesforce.com for internal use by client companies, is a lifestream.

Rethinking the Digital Future

More on David at Edge and Wikipedia

Photo courtesy Edge.

Danny Kofke: A Simple Book Of Financial Wisdom - Blog Business Success Radio

2011-12-05T22:01:00.000-08:00

Listen to Wayne Hurlbert on Blog Talk Radio

Educator and author of the very practical and straight talking book A Simple Book of Financial Wisdom: Teach Yourself (and Your Kids) How to Live Wealthy with Little Money, Danny Kofke, describes how people can teach themselves to live a fulfilling lifestyle with very little money. Danny Kofke shares proven and painless techniques for not being broke, and for avoiding the vicious cycle of living pay day to pay day, Danny offers ideas for changing how you think about money, and as to what money really means. Danny Kofke provides advice for getting out of debt and staying out, and how money can be saved without sacrificing everything for that money. Learn how to live a comfortable, and even a wealthy lifestyle, on a low or moderate income.

Danny Kofke is my internet radio show guest on Blog Business Success; hosted live on BlogTalkRadio.

The show airs live on Tuesday, December 6, at 8:00 pm Eastern Time; 5:00 pm Pacific Time.

Educator and author of the very practical and straight talking book A Simple Book of Financial Wisdom: Teach Yourself (and Your Kids) How to Live Wealthy with Little Money, Danny Kofke, describes how people can teach themselves to live a fulfilling lifestyle with very little money. You will learn:

* Why so many people, regardless of income level, find themselves broke

* How to get your financial house in order and plan for now and the future

* How to get the entire family involved and save money for children's education

* How to get out of debt, pay off the mortgage, and live a wealthy lifestyle

Danny Kofke (photo left) is currently a special education teacher in Georgia. He has also taught pre-k, kndergarten, first grade and second grade. Danny's love of teaching and helping others led him to write two books - How to Survive (and Perhaps Thrive) on a Teacher's Salary (Tate Publishing Co. OCT 2007) and A Simple Book of Financial Wisdom: Teach Yourself (and Your Kids) How to Live Wealthy with Little Money (Wyatt-MacKenzie SEP 2011).

Danny has appeared on various media outlets including CNN, Fox News, MSNBC, AOL.com, Yahoo Finance and The Wall Street Journal.

Many people feel that financial matters is difficult to figure out and hard to understand. Danny wants to show others if this school teacher can do it they can too.

My book review of A Simple Book of Financial Wisdom: Teach Yourself (and Your Kids) How to Live Wealthy with Little Money by Danny Kofke.

My book review of How to Survive (and Perhaps Thrive) on a Teacher's Salary by Danny Kofke.

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 educator and author of the very practical and straight talking book A Simple Book of Financial Wisdom: Teach Yourself (and Your Kids) How to Live Wealthy with Little Money, Danny Kofke, as he describes how people can teach themselves to live a fulfilling lifestyle with very little money. Danny Kofke shares proven and painless techniques for not being broke, and for avoiding the vicious cycle of living pay day to pay day, Danny offers ideas for changing how you think about money, and as to what money really means. Danny Kofke provides advice for getting out of debt and staying out, and how money can be saved without sacrificing everything for that money. Learn how to live a comfortable, and even a wealthy lifestyle, on a low or moderate income on Blog Business Success Radio.

Tags: A Simple Book of Financial Wisdom: Teach Yourself (and Your Kids) How to Live Wealthy with Little Money, Danny Kofke, personal finance strategies, Blog Business Success, Blog Talk Radio.

How To Survive Running a Small Business In Egypt? Egyptology

2011-12-05T06:01:00.000-08:00

Read Jane Akshar’s life story which has all the makings of a best-seller and a lesson on taking a small business global. Fascinating.

Global Entrepreneurship: Running a Small Business in Egypt

Jane and Mahmoud's business: Flats in Luxor (as illustrated above). Curious about the 'Egyptology' part? Go here.

A Simple Book of Financial Wisdom by Danny Kofke - Book review

2011-12-04T22:02:00.000-08:00

A Simple Book of Financial Wisdom

Teach Yourself (and Your Kids) How to Live Wealthy with Little Money

By: Danny Kofke

Published: September 1, 2011
Format: Paperback, 164 pages
ISBN-10: 1936214458
ISBN-13: 978-1936214457
Publisher: Wyatt-MacKenzie Publishing

"We need to think about money more. We need to educate ourselves about finances, our own situation, and how to plan for our future and for our families", writes speaker, special education teacher in Georgia, Danny Kofke, in his very practical and straight talking book A Simple Book of Financial Wisdom: Teach Yourself (and Your Kids) How to Live Wealthy with Little Money. The author describes how to live a life of comparable wealth on a modest income, without sacrificing everything you enjoy in the process.

Danny Kofke recognizes that many people have very little knowledge or information about managing their money. As a result, people very often live from pay day to pay day, and are flat broke most of the time. Danny Kofke points out that even very high earning people, including well known celebrities, find themselves broke. For Danny Kofke, income level has very little, if anything, to do with having money and living well. What matters, is how that money is managed, and how the person thinks about money, and the spending habits that very often lead to empty pockets. Danny Kofke provides advice for painless and even enjoyable ways to save money, while living well, and enjoying life without constant financial worry.

Danny Kofke (photo left) tackles some of the most daunting questions about money head on with easy to understand and readily applicable advice. The author offers the insight that most people who are in financial difficulty either never had the opportunity or the incentive to learn how to handle and manage money. Very often, writes Danny Kofke, that people have some misguided ideas about what money really is, and what money is not in their lives. The author provides an alternative to the mistaken idea that money, or what money can buy, constitutes happiness.

With the misconceptions about the nature of money cleared up, Danny Kofke offers sound advice on the following topics:

* Financial planning and the future
* Educating yourself about money
* Helping your children understand finances
* Financing your children's education
* Getting out of debt and paying off a mortgage
* Saving and investing money
* Living well with little money

For me, the power of the book is how Danny Kofke offers sound, common sense financial advice that doesn't equate to real pain or living like a pauper. Instead, the author shares proven and pragmatic solutions to living the good life without sacrificing the joy of life to money. Indeed, Danny Kofke advises against becoming a dependent of money, and gaining control over the cash and its real function in life. The author covers the most important financial questions that arise within families, and answers them with useful alternatives that save money, time, and remove worry from a person's life.

I highly recommend the handy and very useful book A Simple Book of Financial Wisdom: Teach Yourself (and Your Kids) How to Live Wealthy with Little Money by Danny Kofke, to anyone seeking a hands on and realistic book on managing their personal and family finances. With this book in hand, you can live a very happy and successful lifestyle, while spending far less money than you think.

Tags: A Simple Book of Financial Wisdom: Teach Yourself (and Your Kids) How to Live Wealthy with Little Money, Danny Kofke, personal finance strategies, business book reviews

Corporate Entrepreneurship by Robert D. Hisrich & Claudine Kearney - Book review

2011-12-03T22:56:00.000-08:00

Corporate Entrepreneurship

How to Create a Thriving Entrepreneurial Spirit Throughout Your Company

By: Robert D. Hisrich, Claudine Kearney

Published: August 17, 2011
Format: Hardcover, 288 pages
ISBN-10: 0071763163
ISBN-13: 978-0071763165
Publisher: McGraw-Hill

"As organizations, industries, and consumers become more dynamic, corporate entrepreneurship becomes more important. While entrepreneurship has traditionally been defined as a private sector phenomenon, corporate and social entrepreneurship have developed in a number of different domains such as not-for-profits, for-profits, and public sector organizations", write Garvin Professor of Global Entrepreneurship and director of the Walker Center for Global Entrepreneurship at Thunderbird School of Global Management,Robert D.Hisrich; and visiting researcher in entrepreneurship at Thunderbird School of Global Management, Claudine Kearney, in their organizational changing and opportunity building book Corporate Entrepreneurship: How to Create a Thriving Entrepreneurial Spirit Throughout Your Company. The authors describe why corporate entrepreneurship is essential to developing an organization that is competitive in the ever evolving global marketplace, and provide strategies for creating an entrepreneurial culture in any organization, and how to identify and capitalize on market opportunities.

Robert Hisrich and Claudine Kearney recognize that when organizations and their employees fail to innovate, the company's competitive level declines very quickly. In today's hyper-competitive global economy, innovation is critical for company success. Failure to innovate will result in a business and its brands becoming irrelevant almost overnight. The authors offer the solution to the challenge of global competitiveness through their vision of corporate entrepreneurship. The authors point out that within every company, there are mavericks and creative individuals who thrive on innovation and finding creative solutions. Instead of isolating these innovative people, they should be encouraged to seek out fresh ideas and new markets for the resulting products and services.

Robert Hisrich (photo left) and Claudine Kearney understand that not every organization is prepared for corporate entrepreneurship so they provide a complete background to the concept and why it's so important. The authors demonstrate how to identify innovators within the organization, and share the techniques to develop a company culture of entrepreneurship. With the appropriate culture in place, the authors provide the strategies for uncovering and organizing the entrepreneurial venture. With the planning and organization developed, the authors offer the techniques for funding and implementing the venture successfully, along with ideas for compensating and rewarding the entrepreneurs and innovators within the company. The authors also share ideas for managing the internal politics of ventures and for building corporate venturing into the organizational DNA.

For me, the power of the book is how Robert D. Hisrich and Claudine Kearney combine the theory and reasons for establishing a culture of corporate entrepreneurship with the strategies and tools for implementing the resulting innovation effectively. The authors provide valuable insights into the importance of corporate entrepreneurship, and share the techniques for ensuring a successful transition to a venture oriented company. The authors offer a step by step plan for planning, executing, and evaluating an internal entrepreneurship initiative. The concepts are bolstered by real world examples of companies applying the corporate entrepreneurship successfully, and transforming their organizations into leaders in innovation.

I highly recommend the organizational culture building and idea filled book Corporate Entrepreneurship: How to Create a Thriving Entrepreneurial Spirit Throughout Your Company by Robert D. Hisrich and Claudine Kearney, to any business leaders who are seeking a revolutionary concept that will turn any organization into an innovative powerhouse. This book will help your organization thrive and prosper in the rapidly changing global marketplace.

Tags: Corporate Entrepreneurship: How to Create a Thriving Entrepreneurial Spirit Throughout Your Company, Robert D. Hisrich, Claudine Kearney, corporate development strategies, business book reviews

Hello World: Go Live Your Dream Today

2011-12-03T03:06:00.000-08:00

©Laurel J. Delaney, 2011

"The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams." ~ Eleanor Roosevelt

Photo credit: ©Laurel J. Delaney 2011, "Rogers Park, Illinois Lakefront"

Go For It! A Practical Guide to Success for Everyone by John J. Tassone - Book review

2011-12-02T22:57:00.000-08:00

Go For It!

A Practical Guide to Success for Everyone

By: John J. Tassone

Published: June 15, 2011
Format: Paperback, 176 pages
ISBN-10: 1879384817
ISBN-13: 978-1879384811
Publisher: Cypress House

"Successful people are people who form habits of doing things that failures don't like to do. You, and only you, control your own destiny", writes successful entrepreneur and acclaimed speaker John J. Tassone, in his inspirational and success building book Go For It! A Practical Guide to Success for Everyone. The author describes his real world tested and proven ideas for building a successful career in sales, entrepreneurship, as a public speaker, for overcoming the barriers to achieving success in business and in life.

John Tassone recognizes that maintaining a positive attitude about business and life are critical to achieving success in any endeavor. While the author writes with sales professionals and entrepreneurs in mind, the same techniques that work in those careers will benefit people in every walk of life. John Tassone reminds his readers that becoming a success is not something that arrives automatically, but requires hard work and remaining positive that great things will happen. The author points out that success is difficult to attain, unless there is a clear goal as to what that success will look like to the person. When an individual has those goals clearly in mind, the author then guides the reader toward developing a plan to reach those personal targets.

John J. Tassone (photo left) understands that each person's life is an epic journey, and carries within it an important story. As a result, the individual must recognize and believe in that personal story, and build upon it with vigor and not wishing that it was a different story. With that story and a positive outlook in hand, then goals can be set to achieve greatness. While those goals are important, and the path to reach them must be planned, John Tassone reminds his readers that while on that personal voyage, additional opportunities and fresh goals may arise as well.

The author recommends that the reader seize those moments and opportunities for growth as well. In the end, however, John Tassone shares the philosophy that whatever goals are decided upon, it's critical for the person to take action. There are many problems faced by individuals, organizations, and society as a whole. What John Tassone recommends is that these challenges be recognized, solutions devised, and actions taken to resolve them. As the title of the book says, it's crucial to go for it.

For me, the power of the book is how John Tassone combines his personal philosophy for achieving success with his real world proven techniques for achieving even the loftiest goals. Along with the reaching of goals, the author also shares ideas for overcoming even the most difficult obstacles at any level and in any area of a person's life. John Tassone believes and demonstrates that any problem, regardless of size or complexity, has solutions.

What is required, writes the author, is the attitude that these challenges can be met, and the problem solved. To discover and implement effective solutions to these problems, John Tassone provides his methods that worked for him, and for countless other people as well. When goals are set, a plan put into place, and direct action taken, great results and achievements will happen for anyone.

I highly recommend the real world wisdom and practical idea filled book Go For It! A Practical Guide to Success for Everyone by John J. Tassone, to anyone seeking a hands on and proven guide to overcoming personal obstacles, achieving success in sales or entrepreneurship, or in their personal lives. Fr anyone facing life or business challenges, this book can help guide you back onto the path to success.

Tags: Go For It! A Practical Guide to Success for Everyone, John J. Tassone, personal development strategies, business book reviews

Is Asia's Export-Oriented Model Dead?

2011-12-02T01:56:00.000-08:00

Stephen S. Roach, non-executive Chairman of Morgan Stanley Asia, lecturer at Yale University's School of Management and Jackson Institute for Global Affairs and author of "The Next Asia" has word or two to say about whether Asia's export-oriented model is dead or not.

Asia's Wake-Up Call: Is The Export-Oriented Model Dead?

Posted by: The Global Small Business Blog

Wharton Executive Education Essentials: Finance & Accounting by Richard A. Lambert - Book review

2011-12-01T22:04:00.000-08:00

Wharton Executive Education Finance and Accounting Essentials

By: Richard A. Lambert

Published: October 11, 2011
Format: Paperback, 172 pages
ISBN-10: 1613630093
ISBN-13: 978-1613630099
Publisher: Wharton Digital Press

"Finances affect every aspect of business. Once executives and managers understand the rudiments of financial statements and the tools of financial analysis, managers can understand what is driving revenue, pinpoint where the organization is doing well, and analyze why performance isn't living up to expectations", writes Miller-Sherrerd Professor of Accounting at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, Richard A. Lambert, in his clear and concise book Wharton Executive Education Finance and Accounting Essentials. The author describes the critical importance of understanding accounting and financial statements as they are the guide to where the business has been, is now, and where it's headed in the future.

Richard Lambert understands that to make effective and informed decisions for their companies, business leaders require fundamental knowledge of financial information. The author points out that many decision makers are not fully fluent in the language of financial statements, and are unable to interpret the the crucial information depicted in the numbers. The ability to effectively interpret financial statements creates the opportunity to uncover potential profit points for the organization, as well as revealing the problem areas that must be addressed to avoid losses. To make informed decisions, the author provides clear evidence that business leaders must understand the language of numbers in their organization's accounting and financial data.

Richard A. Lambert (photo left) emphasizes the importance of financial literacy for business decision makers as the key to making informed choices for the company. The author provides the background to what the numbers mean, and how looking more deeply into the data offers different knowledge than seen at a single glance. Richard Lambert breaks down the basics of accounting and financial reporting, as well as providing an overview of the differences between internal and external reports. For the development of corporate strategy, it's imperative that leaders understand completely the implications of all company financial statements.

Richard Lambert offers an overview of the following areas of finance and accounting for company leaders and executives:

* What financial statements say about the health of the company
* How and when actions and events affect the numbers
* Using the Income Statement to analyze revenue, expenses, and profits
* Utilizing and financing assets effectively
* Using cost information for better decision making
* Evaluation of investment opportunities with discounted cash flow analysis
* Using the numbers to develop a complete business strategy
* A deeper study into cash flow statements

For me, the power of the book is how Richard A. Lambert not only explains, in easily understood terms and language, how financial statements work, but also how and why they are essential to decision making. The author goes beyond teaching the fundamentals of finance and accounting, and places them in the context of sound business practices, decision making, and overall company strategy. At the same time, Richard Lambert demonstrates what the numbers reveal when examined more deeply, as well as pointing out the limitations and subjectivity of the numbers for executives. With a better grasp of the financial statements and their meaning, business leaders are able to make more informed decisions. Executives can develop a much more sound strategy, than choices made without an understanding of the numbers.

I highly recommend the business building and very hands on book Wharton Executive Education Finance and Accounting Essentials by Richard A. Lambert, to any business leaders seeking an understandable guide to utilizing accounting and financial statements more effectively. This book will certainly improve an executive's strategy and decision making ability, and improve the company's bottom line as well.

Tags: Wharton Executive Education Finance and Accounting Essentials, Richard A. Lambert, company financial strategies, business book reviews

The State of the World, According to OECD

2011-12-01T05:07:00.000-08:00

In its report on the state of the global marketplace, the Organisation of Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) says:

"Trade growth slowed strongly in most major economies in the third quarter of 2011."

Learn more here.

Illustration credit: OECD

Daniel Esty & P. J. Simmons: The Green To Gold Playbook - Blog Business Success Radio

2011-11-30T22:11:00.000-08:00

Listen to Wayne Hurlbert on Blog Talk Radio

Chairman of Esty Environmental Partners, Daniel C. Esty; and Chairman of the Corporate Eco Forum, P. J. Simmons; co-authors of the very practical and comprehensive book The Green to Gold Business Playbook: How to Implement Sustainability Practices for Bottom-Line Results in Every Business Function, describe how companies can gain business value through going green. The authors provide practical and money saving ideas for developing and implementing a sustainability strategy. The authors offer green ideas that can be applied to any department of any organization, at any time. Discover how to save money, and how to increase revenue, through green initiatives that provide real solutions for companies seeking to be more environmentally responsible in a world of increasing resource shortage problems.

Daniel C. Esty and P. J. Simmons are my internet radio show guests on Blog Business Success; hosted live on BlogTalkRadio.

The show airs live on Thursday, December 1, at 8:00 pm Eastern Time; 5:00 pm Pacific Time.

Chairman of Esty Environmental Partners, Daniel C. Esty; and Chairman of the Corporate Eco Forum, P. J. Simmons; co-authors of the very practical and comprehensive book The Green to Gold Business Playbook: How to Implement Sustainability Practices for Bottom-Line Results in Every Business Function, describe how companies can gain business value through going green. You will learn:

* How to develop a comprehensive green strategy for any size or type of company

* How ti implement the sustainability strategy effectively

* How to find ares for environmental improvement in every company department

* How to measure and improve the environmental strategy over time

Daniel C. Esty (photo left)is co-author of the bestseller Green to Gold and The Green to Gold Business Playbook: How to Implement Sustainability Practices for Bottom-Line Results in Every Business Function, and Hillhouse Professor at the Yale Center for Environmental Law & Policy and Director of Yale's Center for Business and the Environment. He served as a senior official at the U.S. EPA and more recently as an energy and environmental advisor to the Obama presidential campaign. He comments frequently on environment issues on TV, radio, and in publications like The New York Times, The Economist, and The Financial Times. As Chairman of Esty Environmental Partners, he's advised CEOs across the world and designed strategies for 100+ companies in dozens of industries.

P. J. Simmons (photo left) is the Chairman of the Corporate Eco Forum, a network of senior Global 500 executives focused on sharing best practices and forging "next" practice in corporate sustainability. P.J. has worked as a trusted sustainability analyst, strategist, and bridge-builder for 16 years, including as a White House research associate, founder of the Wilson Center's Environmental Change and Security Program, Director of the Greener Business Education Project in Washington DC, and Deputy Chair for Climate and Energy at the Clinton Global Initiative. Simmons is a life member of the Council on Foreign Relations.

My book review of The Green to Gold Business Playbook: How to Implement Sustainability Practices for Bottom-Line Results in Every Business Function by Daniel C. Esty and P. J. Simmons.

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 Chairman of Esty Environmental Partners, Daniel C. Esty; and Chairman of the Corporate Eco Forum, P. J. Simmons; co-authors of the very practical and comprehensive book The Green to Gold Business Playbook: How to Implement Sustainability Practices for Bottom-Line Results in Every Business Function, as they describe how companies can gain business value through going green. The authors provide practical and money saving ideas for developing and implementing a sustainability strategy. The authors offer green ideas that can be applied to any department of any organization, at any time. Discover how to save money, and how to increase revenue, through green initiatives that provide real solutions for companies seeking to be more environmentally responsible in a world of increasing resource shortage problems on Blog Business Success Radio.

Tags: The Green to Gold Business Playbook: How to Implement Sustainability Practices for Bottom-Line Results in Every Business Function, P. J. Simmons, Daniel C. Esty, company sustainability strategies, Blog Business Success, Blog Talk Radio.

Proof That a Shipment Is In Good Condition

2011-11-30T07:00:00.000-08:00

When you place an order with a supplier located thousands of miles away, how do you protect yourself on the quality of the merchandise before it is released?

Request an inspection certificate. Make it a condition (required document) within your payment arrangement. Learn more here and here.

Nigel Cheshire: Teamstudio Unplugged mobile applications - Interview

2011-11-29T22:01:00.000-08:00

Founder and CEO Of Teamstudio and Teamstudio Unplugged, Nigel Cheshire was kind enough to take the time to answer a few questions about the companies and their products and services.

Nigel Cheshire describes the concepts of mobile data sync, moving Lotus Notes® and Domino® applications over to mobile devices, and some business initiatives taken by the company.

Thanks to Nigel Cheshire his time, and for his informative responses to the questions. They are greatly appreciated.

We’ve heard people talk about Teamstudio Unplugged but many people don’t really understand what it does. What is so unique about Teamstudio Unplugged?

Nigel Cheshire: Unplugged is a mobile XPages engine that lets you build XPages applications that you can easily deploy to mobile devices such as the Blackberry® and the iPhone®. It has a replicating data store so your apps will work offline.

What’s motivating companies to want to move their Lotus Notes® and Domino® applications over to run on mobile devices?

Nigel Cheshire: The first step our customers usually want to take is to provide access to Notes® mail and calendar to their mobile users. Once they’ve done this, they then start thinking about simple productivity boosters, such as an Approvals application that links into the mobile email.

What is mobile data sync and why is it important? Why not just go for online mobile web apps?

Nigel Cheshire: Online mobile Web apps work well when you have good mobile signal strength, but not so well under poor or variable signal conditions. With Unplugged’s support for mobile data sync, the application is always responsive to the user, and data is saved locally and synced back to the server when the signal gets better. Another way of saying this is that Unplugged is designed to support the occasionally-connected model, where the online mobile Web app is designed for the always connected model.

Which platforms do you support; and why not all mobile platforms?

Nigel Cheshire: The first version of Unplugged we brought out last year was for the BlackBerry. We’ve since added versions for Android and for Apple iOS devices. We prefer to support a small number of platforms very well rather than try to cover every single platform and do it inadequately. Especially as these other platforms have very little or declining market share in the enterprise space.

Nigel Cheshire (photo left)

What should my first priorities be when mobilizing my Notes & Domino applications?

Nigel Cheshire: Choose business processes where the addition of the mobile capability gives an immediate and clear improvement in the efficiency of that process. The mobile user interface needs to be sleek and simple. If you take a big bulky Notes application and try to move that to mobile, that’s usually not going to be accepted very well by users.

We’ve heard some debate about whether Lotus Traveler® provides sufficient mobile device management capabilities. What do you think?

Nigel Cheshire: Lotus Traveler is a great first step for companies that want to link in their iPhone®, iPad® and other non-Blackberry mobile users. But I think even IBM® would acknowledge that they never set out to build a fully-fledged mobile device management system. If you are planning to connect a couple of hundred or more mobiles, I’d recommend installing a dedicated Mobile Device Management solution.

Your company has recently formed a partnership with AirWatch®. How does this partnership help Teamstudio® customers?

Nigel Cheshire: We see AirWatch as the market leader in mobile device management delivered as Software-as-a-Service. For large customers, implementing a proper mobile device management system helps ensure that they maintain a high level of data security as they roll out mobile email access and the Unplugged applications. With AirWatch you can roll out quite a lot faster than an on-premise MDM system, and at lower cost.

What are the key trends you see driving tablet penetration in the enterprise?

Nigel Cheshire: In our enterprise customers, the iPad has been the big driver of mobile integration over the last 6–12 months. Looking forward, I’m fascinated to see what’s going to happen when Microsoft® launch their Windows 8 tablets, especially the ARM-based systems that should come close to the iPad on battery life. It’s going to be a massive marketplace battle that will drive all tablet penetration much higher.

What is next for Teamstudio Unplugged?

Nigel Cheshire: We’ve just opened the beta program for for Unplugged for the iPhone and iPad, and we expect to get to the final shipping release within a couple of months. After that, it’ll be a case of listening to our customers and delivering any extra features that they see as crucial to their applications.

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

Nigel Cheshire Bio

Nigel founded Teamstudio in 1996, and since that time has led Teamstudio as CEO, building an international business with customers representing some of the world's largest and most successful companies. He comes from a background of software development and networking, starting in the pioneering days of email, by helping build one of the first cross-platform email systems. Teamstudio has traditionally served the enterprise software development community, and in 2010 launched Teamstudio Unplugged, a unique replicating datastore and software development environment for enterprise mobile applications.

Prior to Teamstudio, Nigel was a principal of Ives & Company, a UK-based CRM solutions consultancy that was acquired by Aspective in 1999. Before that, he worked in the R&D group at Data General Corp. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in computer science from the University of Teesside, England.

Thunderbird Global Business Dialogue 2011

2011-11-29T03:52:00.000-08:00

Thunderbird School of Global Management launched an ongoing discussion about leadership in the 21st century with a signature business conference Nov. 10-11, 2011, at the Glendale Renaissance Hotel and Spa in Arizona.

The inaugural Thunderbird Global Business Dialogue drew more than 1,000 business, government and social sector leaders from more than 50 countries to explore the theme, “Redefining Global Leadership.”

The Thunderbird Global Business Dialogue is Thunderbird School of Global Management’s first attempt at holding a keynote international business conference in Arizona or globally, and was the largest event the school has held to date. Over the course of two days, more than 1,000 attendees including many Thunderbird alumni and 95+ world-class speakers and panelists from all over the world participated.

Learn more here.

Meanwhile, the next Global Business Dialogue will be held in Berlin, Germany in May 2012 and will focus on European Perspectives. For more information, please visit: http://www.thunderbird.edu/dialogue

Photo credit: Thunderbird Global Business Dialogue 2011

The Green To Gold Business Playbook by Daniel C. Esty & P. J. Simmons - Book review

2011-11-28T23:20:00.000-08:00

The Green to Gold Business Playbook

How to Implement Sustainability Practices for Bottom-Line Results in Every Business Function

By: Daniel C. Esty, P. J. Simmons

Published: April 19, 2011
Format: Hardcover, 440 pages
ISBN-10: 0470590750
ISBN-13: 978-0470590751
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

"Interest in green business has expanded considerably. Top executives in almost every large corporation now recognize that the environment and sustainability issues must be part of business strategies", write Chairman of Esty Environmental Partners, Daniel C. Esty; and Chairman of the Corporate Eco Forum, P. J. Simmons, in their very practical and results oriented book The Green to Gold Business Playbook: How to Implement Sustainability Practices for Bottom-Line Results in Every Business Function. The authors describe how companies can develop a strategy to uncover and implement sustainable and green programs and initiatives, in every area of their organization, that not only benefit the environment but boost overall profitability as well.

Daniel Esty (photo left) and P. J. Simmons recognize that environment issues are critical for companies of any size. The authors also understand that for many business leaders, the challenges of sustainability and the environment are often difficult to grasp and change is not always easy to implement. At the same time, many companies are discovering that becoming more environmentally friendly offers benefits to their corporate image, engages their employees and customers, and creates a positive effect on their company bottom line. The authors demonstrate that becoming more green conscious with products, processes and practices, while not always easy, provides real and tangible benefits for the company, its employees, customers, and society as a whole.

P. J. Simmons (photo left) and Daniel C. Esty demonstrate that business value resides in every aspect of a company's operations, and also within some departments where sustainability and green possibilities may not be obvious at first glance. The authors provide an outcomes focused blueprint for transforming any company into a sustainability leader, with opportunities for reduced costs and enhanced revenue. For employees, the enhanced engagement created through fulfilling a larger environmental purpose, builds a high morale and motivated company culture.

The authors provide a clear step by step process for finding green opportunities in all areas of the organization, through a strategic approach:

* First step: Getting the company leadership on board
* Analyze: Identifying eco-risks and green opportunities
* Strategize: Showing how every area can benefit and contribute
* Mobilize: Executing the plan and engaging all stakeholders
* Optimize: Evaluate, report, and reassess results and potential improvement

For me, the power of the book is how Daniel Esty and P. J. Simmons integrate the concept of a green strategy into an overall process that benefits employees, customers, and the community, along with boosting the company's overall image, eco-risk reduction, productivity, and profitability. The book goes far beyond the standard discussions of both the need for an environmental strategy and the basic improvement recommendations, and provides the techniques for developing a holistic environmental and green strategy. The book also contains advice for transforming that overall strategy into a working and ongoing culture and business change for the company. Every chapter is filled with actionable ideas that can implemented in any sized company, regardless of industry.

I highly recommend the essential and must read book The Green to Gold Business Playbook: How to Implement Sustainability Practices for Bottom-Line Results in Every Business Function by P. J. Simmons and Daniel C. Esty, to any business leader who seeks a clear and comprehensive guide to developing, executing, and assessing a successful sustainability and green strategy. This book will not only change your company culture, business operations and processes, but provide a measurable boost your overall profitability as well.

Small and Medium Business (SMB) IT Spending Worldwide

2011-11-28T03:05:00.000-08:00

IDC, considered the premier global market intelligence firm, also covers the SMB market. Here's what they predict (2010):

In the next 12-18 months, IDC expects a variety of evolutionary and revolutionary changes to take place in the small and medium-sized business (SMB) technology market that will drive opportunities on both a worldwide and regional basis. Based on this, and with in-depth knowledge of key technology areas where SMB offerings are dominant, IDC has expanded its research and consulting capabilities around understanding the SMB opportunity.

Learn more here. Be sure to also check out: Exploring the Global SMB Marketplace

David P. Jones: Million Dollar Hire - Blog Business Success Radio

2011-11-28T00:21:00.000-08:00

Listen to Wayne Hurlbert on Blog Talk Radio

President of Growth Ventures Inc., and author of the eye opening and results focused book Million-Dollar Hire: Build Your Bottom Line, One Employee at a Time, David P. Jones describes how in today's competitive environment, companies can no longer afford to hire the wrong people. David Jones provides advice for how any company of any size can reinvent its hiring process while adding millions to the bottom line. David offers tools that translate hiring and recruiting selections into profitable financial returns. David points out why it's important for companies to treat acquiring employees in the same dollar value manner as when they acquire other high value assets. David Jones demonstrates how to choose and hire the right people, and how to measure their added value for the company in real dollar terms. Discover how hiring the right people for the job combines additional revenue, with actual money savings, resulting in added profit for the business.

David P. Jones is my internet radio show guest on Blog Business Success; hosted live on BlogTalkRadio.

The show airs live on Tuesday, November 29, at 8:00 pm Eastern Time; 5:00 pm Pacific Time.

President of Growth Ventures Inc., and author of the eye opening and results focused book Million-Dollar Hire: Build Your Bottom Line, One Employee at a Time, David P. Jones describes how in today's competitive environment, companies can no longer afford to hire the wrong people. You will learn:

* How much it costs a company to hire the wrong people

* How to recruit and hire the right people into your organization

* How to find and recruit the top fifteen percent of people in your industry

* How to create a repeatable and measurable hiring process that gets positive results

David P. Jones, Ph.D. (photo left) has worked as an organizational psychologist for over 30 years. One of the few in his profession to found and grow a major business enterprise, he launched HRStrategies, a human resources consulting and outsourcing firm with offices throughout the U.S. and Europe, recognized as one of the fastest growing consulting companies in the U.S prior to its acquisition by Aon Corporation. He was the global head of human resources consulting with Aon Consulting Worldwide, and today is President of Growth Ventures Inc., a human capital advisory firm. He works with both start-up and established companies, and units of government, to create innovative, technology-based recruiting and hiring solutions, often assuming the role of expert witness in employment litigation matters.

My book review of Million-Dollar Hire: Build Your Bottom Line, One Employee at a Time by David P. Jones.

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 President of Growth Ventures Inc., and author of the eye opening and results focused book Million-Dollar Hire: Build Your Bottom Line, One Employee at a Time, David P. Jones as he describes how in today's competitive environment, companies can no longer afford to hire the wrong people. David Jones provides advice for how any company of any size can reinvent its hiring process while adding millions to the bottom line. David offers tools that translate hiring and recruiting selections into profitable financial returns. David points out why it's important for companies to treat acquiring employees in the same dollar value manner as when they acquire other high value assets. David Jones demonstrates how to choose and hire the right people, and how to measure their added value for the company in real dollar terms. Discover how hiring the right people for the job combines additional revenue, with actual money savings, resulting in added profit for the business on Blog Business Success Radio.

Tags: Million-Dollar Hire: Build Your Bottom Line, One Employee at a Time, David P. Jones, personnel hiring strategies, Blog Business Success, Blog Talk Radio.

Million-Dollar Hire by David P. Jones - Book review

2011-11-26T23:00:00.000-08:00

Million-Dollar Hire

Build Your Bottom Line, One Employee at a Time

By: David P. Jones, Ph.D.

Published: April 5, 2011
Format: Hardcover, 320 pages
ISBN-10: 0470928425
ISBN-13: 978-0470928424
Publisher: Jossey-Bass

"And two things about hiring should grab the attention of any businessperson: a relatively high-volume event (hiring) that produces a relatively high rate of errors - people who fail. These error have a financial consequence", writes organizational psychologist and President of Growth Ventures Inc., David P. Jones, in his eye opening and results focused book Million-Dollar Hire: Build Your Bottom Line, One Employee at a Time. The author describes the critical importance of hiring the right people to the overall success of the company, and how mistakes in hiring have a direct and measurable negative effect on the organization's fortunes.

David Jones recognizes that the people who comprise the company are a critical asset for the business. As a result, the author provides evidence that as much care should be taken in the recruiting and hiring process, as with the acquisition of any other company assets. David Jones shares the real world effects that result from both good hiring, and from adding the wrong people to the payroll. Regardless of the size of the company, or even of the employee salary level, hiring errors are not only a problem with employee relationships, but they also represent a loss of revenue and profit for the company. David Jones offers financial proof to back up his statements, and provides a repeatable and effective system for making the right hiring choices for the company.

David P. Jones (photo left) understands that recruiting and hiring new employees is a process. As a result, that process can be streamlined, made more effective, and more efficient in weeding out weaker applicants, and in creating a pool of best possible hires at any time. In place of guesswork about the value of a good candidate to the organization, the author provides a step by step system, that is both measurable and repeatable, for ensuring that the best job seekers get hired; while the less valuable employees are removed in the pre-screening and screening process. David Jones goes beyond simply screening the available applicants but also offers advice for sourcing and recruiting from an ever larger pool of possible employees, through embracing technology, the internet, and social media.

For me, the power of the book is how David P. Jones demonstrates clearly why hiring the right people is a critical asset for the company, and provides the strategies and tools for ensuring that the best people become part of the organization. The author backs up his concepts with hard data and dollar values that show clearly the real benefit of hiring the top fifteen percent of candidates.

The author also points to the potential problems, both financial and legal, of hiring and being forced to dismiss the wrong people. David Jones shows companies a process to hire the best people, from the largest possible pool of great employees, and then how to ensure that those employees are able to become the top performers in the company. The ideas in the book are easy to understand, and to implement, in any size or type of company.

I highly recommend the very practical and strategy filled book Million-Dollar Hire: Build Your Bottom Line, One Employee at a Time by David P. Jones, to any executives, managers, and business owners who are seeking an effective and quantifiable system for improving their hiring process, while also boosting the company's revenue and profits. This book will remove the often chaotic and haphazard hiring practices that hold back so many companies, and replace it with a repeatable and effective system that will provide great employees and create proven results.

Tags: Million-Dollar Hire: Build Your Bottom Line, One Employee at a Time, David P. Jones, personnel hiring strategies, business book reviews

World Travel Market Trends Report 2010

2011-11-26T02:02:00.000-08:00

An overview of the leading new trends emerging in the global travel and tourism industry.

World Travel Market Global Trends Report 2010

Download now

Principles and Case Studies of Simultaneous Design by William L. Luyben - Book review

2011-11-26T00:29:00.000-08:00

Principles and Case Studies of Simultaneous Design

By: William L. Luyben

Published: October 11, 2011
Format: Hardcover: 344 pages
ISBN-10: 0470927089
ISBN-13: 978-0470927083
Publisher: Wiley-AIChE

"Process design involves the development of an effective flowsheet to transform reactants into products in a profitable, safe, environmentally friendly, and controllable plant", writes Professor of Chemical Engineering at Lehigh University, William L. Luyben, in his comprehensive and detailed book Principles and Case Studies of Simultaneous Design. The author describes the general design principles, and provides the necessary mathematical formulas, for understanding the process for creating an effective flowsheet and control structure for the development of a chemical process.

William Luyben understands that the role of a chemical process is to take chemical discoveries and transform them efficiently and safely into a marketable product. The process involves scaling up small scale experiments and scaling them up into manufacturing sized quantities. William Luyben points out that how a chemist conducts small scale projects may be very different from the application of the concept in product development. The chemistry and physics of scaling up a small batch to a large scale often poses a problem for engineers. As a result, William Luyben provides the tools, formulas, and mathematics necessary for scaling a small experiment into a full manufacturing scale operation.

William L. Luyben (photo left) recognizes that scaling up a process from the laboratory to the large sale product building process is really a synthesis problem. The designer faces many challenges within the process, and some of those challenges are very often in direct conflict with one another. For the author, the chemical design process is a crucial area of chemical engineering. With concerns of energy and environmental issues and how they interact, reviving interest in energy efficient processes and plants, the author focuses on achieving the goals of developing process designs in a safe and environmentally sound manner.

William Buyden provides the principles of general design in a concise way to develop an effective and efficient flowsheet and control structure. The development of a chemical process requires consideration of both the steady state economic and controllability parts of the process. That is the simultaneous design concept that is addressed so effectively in this book.

For me, the power of the book is how William L. Luyben combines the theory of simultaneous design with the mathematical formulas and chemical engineering reactions to guide students, chemists, and engineers in developing a process. The author reinforces the principles outlined in each chapter with real world case studies of those same principles in action. William Luyben provides a service to industry as well, through the recognition of the need for developing new products, refining their processes, and for ensuring a safe and environmental quality control.

The author shares the crucial technical information that is understandable for the engineering student, practicing engineer, and for chemists and designers in the scaling up of small scale tests into large scale processes. Non-engineers and students are reminded that this book is very technical in nature and requires some understanding of mathematics and chemistry.

I highly recommend the important and all encompassing book Principles and Case Studies of Simultaneous Design by William L. Luyben, to any chemistry or engineering students, practicing chemical engineers, product designers in industry, and business leaders looking for a fresh approach to simultaneous design issues. This book will transform your company's industrial processes and product design into one of a leader in process design.

Tags: Principles and Case Studies of Simultaneous Design, William L. Luyben, general design principles, science book reviews

How Collaborating Pays Off in the Global Marketplace

2011-11-25T05:09:00.000-08:00

At a trade summit recently organized by the Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters, there was talk about the challenges for small and medium-sized companies entering growing and complex markets.

In addition, Cubex shares its story about how it collaborated with a key competitor, to fill a product void and to reach a global audience.

It's all here: Going global all about strategy, timing

The Compound Effect by Darren Hardy - Book review

2011-11-24T22:26:00.000-08:00

The Compound Effect

Jumpstart Your Income, your Life, Your Success

By: Darren Hardy

Published: November 1, 2011
Format: Hardcover, 172 pages
ISBN-10: 1593157134
ISBN-13: 978-1593157135
Publisher: Vanguard Press

"This book is about success and what it really takes to earn it. It's time someone told you straight. You've been bamboozled for too long. There is no magic bullet, secret formula, or quick fix", writes entrepreneur, personal development thought leader, and publisher and editorial director of SUCCESS Magazine, Darren Hardy in his idea packed and achievement oriented book The Compound Effect: Jumpstart Your Income, your Life, Your Success. The author describes the fundamental principles that underpin success and achievement in business, relationships, and any other aspect of a person's life.

Darren Hardy understands that people have received some very dubious advice for reaching their goals and achieving success in business and in life. Because of the many supposed quick fixes offered to the public, the author realizes that many people have been sidetracked from the basic principles that create real and lasting success. Darren Hardy suggests that what he calls the operating system that people use to run their lives and make their crucial decisions needs replacement. For many people, the replacement is more in the way of doing things differently in their lives and choices. In the place of those previous ineffective operating systems, the author provides what he calls the Compound Effect.

Darren Hardy (photo left) bases the Compound Effect on his experience in applying the principles successfully in his own entrepreneurial ventures. He also reads and edits countless articles for his magazine, and has seen too many gimmicks that run counter to the Compound Effect. Those gimmicks were invariably failures. Darren Hardy warns his readers that earning success is hard work, and for many people that slow, arduous process is not what they intend to do or even consider as a course of action.

Intriguingly, the author makes the startling statement that people know already what they need to know to succeed in any area of their lives and businesses. The good news, writes Darren Hardy, is that the Compound Effect is both predictable and repeatable. It is based on sound decision making and practices that anyone can follow without difficulty.

For me, the power of the book is how Darren Hardy provides a no nonsense approach to achieving success. The principles he shares is called the Compound Effect. In reality, the concepts that comprise the Effect are universal and long held wisdom. The very timelessness of these ideas gives them long experience at achieving positive results. The author offers a step by step process for putting the Compound Effect into action.

More importantly, Darren Hardy reminds his readers that the principles are basic and easy to learn, but they take a lifetime of practice and patience to master. The good news is that like compounding interest, the effects are cumulative and accelerate over longer time periods. Instead of the failed get rich quick gimmicks offered by countless hucksters, Darren Hardy taps into long term thinking and ageless wisdom as the proven means to real and sustainable success.

I highly recommend the timeless and wisdom filled book The Compound Effect: Jumpstart Your Income, your Life, Your Success by Darren Hardy, to anyone seeking a reality based and practical approach to achieving personal and business goals and successes. Instead of the standard unhelpful advice offered by many, this book shares principles and techniques that are proven to stand the test of time. They have worked for others, and they will work for you, provided you work hard at them and give them time to repay your efforts.

Tags: The Compound Effect: Jumpstart Your Income, your Life, Your Success, Darren Hardy, personal development, business book reviews

Giving Thanks to You Dear Readers Round the World!

2011-11-24T07:01:00.000-08:00

Thank you for your readership and comments from time to time. Without you, this blog would not be nearly as lively or as much fun. Have a Happy Thanksgiving (celebrated primarily in the United States and Canada)!

Photo courtesy: ©Laurel Delaney 2011, "World's Largest Pumpkin"

Posted by The Global Small Business Blog

Your MBA Game Plan, Third Edition by Omari Bouknight & Scott Shrum - Book review

2011-11-23T22:50:00.000-08:00

Your MBA Game Plan, Third Edition

Proven Strategies for Getting Into the Top Business Schools

By: Omari Bouknight, Scott Shrum

Published: October 15, 2011
Format: Paperback, 320 pages
ISBN-10: 1601631820
ISBN-13: 978-1601631824
Publisher: Career Press

"Since writing the first edition of this book,we've been in direct contact with hundreds more business school applicants. Many of them still fall short on at least one or two of the goals that an applicant has: to show fit with an MBA program and to stand out versus the competition", write Business Unit Director at Thoratec, Omari Bouknight; and Vice President of Marketing at Veritas Prep, Scott Shrum, their very hands on and results oriented book Your MBA Game Plan, Third Edition: Proven Strategies for Getting Into the Top Business Schools. The authors describe the importance of being the right fit for an MBA program along with standing out from the crowd of hundreds of other applicants, and also provide the tools and strategies for achieving those two intertwined goals as the key to application acceptance.

Omari Bouknight (photo left) and Scott Shrum recognize that applicants to top MBA programs face the dual challenges of fitting the program, and of establishing their uniqueness as people and as students. The authors also acknowledge that since the publication of the earlier editions of their book that the MBA application landscape has changed making the process even more difficult for aspiring students. Not only are there more advice books on the market, but there are more forms of the MBA program as well. These changes magnify the need to both fit the program format and to separate oneself from the pack of applicants. For the authors, failure to receive admission into an MBA program is now deeper than an easy to spot item as in a low GMAT score. Instead, the authors demonstrate that the rejection problem usually is the result of a failure to understand the targets and goals of the MBA programs themselves.

Scott Shrum (photo left) and Omari Bouknight understand that for each MBA school, there is a theoretical perfect applicant, and that each ideal student differs with each type of program. The authors offer advice for strengthening the weak areas in each application to ensure that the strengths are emphasized and the weaknesses are not treated as automatic grounds for rejection. The authors provide the background and importance of each of the components that enter into a student's application.

By understanding these components, and how they are interpreted by the admissions staff, is critical for students. A failure to recognize the significance of each component, as well as the nuances of different answers, can derail an otherwise strong application. The authors describe the process for developing a strategy to put the components together into an attractive whole, and how to ensure uniqueness of the individual as well as being the ideal fit for the goals of the MBA program.

For me, the power of the book is how Omari Bouknight and Scott Shrum provide both a strong theoretical and research based background for their recommendation, and combine those results with the practical tools necessary to achieve successful admission. The authors share some valuable examples of how to write strong admission essays and for creating the ideal resume. At the same time, the authors offer advice for performing well on an admission interview, and for avoiding the most common mistakes that remove a student from consideration for admission. Overall, the book is a powerful guide for achieving successful admission into the MBA program that is right for both the student and for the school itself.

I highly recommend the comprehensive and must have book Your MBA Game Plan, Third Edition: Proven Strategies for Getting Into the Top Business Schools by Omari Bouknight and Scott Shrum, to any student who is considering applying for admittance into any MBA program. This book not only answers the most popular admission questions, but also addresses issues that most aspirants never even knew were crucial in the application process. This book is essential for anyone seeking admission to any MBA program.

Tags: Your MBA Game Plan, Third Edition: Proven Strategies for Getting Into the Top Business Schools, Omari Bouknight, Scott Shrum, MBA admission strategies, business book reviews

How to Rev Up American Exports

2011-11-23T03:59:00.000-08:00

The Wall Street Journal's David Wessel moderates a discussion on the U.S. trade gap and how to fire up the export engines. Read the edited excerpts of the conversation below.

Building a U.S. export economy start with a new mind-set for companies

Here's one comment:

Only 1% of U.S. firms today are exporters. In a sense, U.S. firms have never had the export muscle—or to the extent that they had it, that muscle has atrophied over time.

And one of four recommendations:

1. GLOBALIZE ATTITUDES OF U.S. BUSINESS

To ensure growth, U.S. businesses should recognize the importance of developing foreign markets, including locally based products and services. They should set targets and goals for increasing participation in foreign markets and encourage more U.S. nationals to live abroad for a period. Government can help by providing support and education to smaller and medium-size businesses to increase their exports.

Related article:

Leading with a Global Mindset (1998) by Laurel Delaney

Getting Published in the Life Sciences by Richard Gladon, William Graves & Michael Kelly - Book review

2011-11-22T23:02:00.000-08:00

Getting Published in the Life Sciences

By: Richard J. Gladon, William R. Graves, J. Michael Kelly

Published: August 30, 2011
Format: Paperback, 368 pages
ISBN-10: 1118017161
ISBN-13: 978-1118017166
Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell

"This book focuses on the steps in the process of preparing a manuscript for subsequent submission to a refereed journal in the life sciences", write Richard J. Gladon of Iowa State Univerisy, William R. Graves of Iowa State University, and J. Michael Kelly of Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, in their comprehensive and revolutionary book Getting Published in the Life Sciences . The authors describe a fresh approach for preparing, writing and submitting scientific papers to peer reviewed journal to increase dramatically the opportunity for achieving publication status.

Richard J. Gladon (photo left), William R. Graves, and J. Michael Kelly recognize the critical importance of disseminating new and groundbreaking ideas and discoveries for the advancement of scientific knowledge. This sharing of information requires the new discoveries to be published in the appropriate journals and other related publications.

The authors point out that the publishing process is one where many scientists fail to achieve success. Many practicing scientists lack the proper skills to write a convincing and technically sound paper; or they dislike the process of writing entirely. The authors provide the appropriate skills for preparing, writing, and publishing a scientific paper that will increase the chances of acceptance in peer reviewed publications.

William R. Graves (photo left), J. Michael Kelly, and Richard J. Gladon provide an alternative approach to writing scientific manuscripts. The authors recommend a backwards technique to ensure that the final manuscript contains valuable take away points and information. Through this focus on the back end of the paper, the scientist begins with the conclusion first, and ends the writing with the paper's abstract. For the authors, this back to front writing technique ensures a more focused and concise paper that will enjoy a greater chance of acceptance for publication.

The authors divide the book into three distinct sections that break up the process into three discrete steps.:

* Addressing the issues the scientist must consider before thinking about and organizaing the the paper
* The new method for developing and actually writing the paper
* Actual submission, peer review, paper revision and other aspects of the process

For me, the power of the book is how J. Michael Kelly (photo left), Richard J. Gladon, and William R. Graves combine the overall process of writing a paper, from planning to submission, with clear advice for achieving publication of the manuscript. The authors present a unique reversal writing method, focusing on the end result and overall impact of the paper, to ensure clarity on the part of the writer.

The book is filled with tips and advice for writing manuscripts for biological, natural, and life sciences that can be modified for different audiences and disciplines. The writing techniques ensure that the scientist writes well and with clarity, provides a strong conclusion, and understands completely what peer reviewers seek in a publishable manuscript. To help guide the scientist in their writing practice, the authors include sample and practice outlines for the writer to hone individual skills that lead to a stronger manuscript.

I highly recommend the very practical and results oriented book Getting Published in the Life Sciences by Richard J. Gladon, William R. Graves, and J. Michael Kelly to anyone in any life, natural, or biological science who seeks to write a clear and concise manuscript for publication in any peer reviewed journal. This book takes the guesswork out of the planning, writing, and publishing process and is certain to boost the publication success rate of any practicing scientist.

Tags: Getting Published in the Life Sciences , Richard J. Gladon, William R. Graves, J. Michael Kelly, scientific manuscript publishing strategies, science book reviews

An Import/Export Business Is Born

2011-11-22T01:01:00.000-08:00

See how Mary Smith and Tom Jackson got started in the import and export business.

Technology Helps Business Go Global

by Laurel Delaney, About.com Import & Export Guide

Posted by: The Global Small Business Blog

The Enemy of Engagement by Mark Royal & Tom Agnew - Book review

2011-11-21T23:38:00.000-08:00

The Enemy of Engagement

Put an End to Workplace Frustration--and Get the Most from Your Employees

By: Mark Royal, Tom Agnew

Published: October 28, 2011
Format: Hardcover, 240 pages
ISBN-10: 0814417957
ISBN-13: 978-0814417959
Publisher: AMACOM

"Managers are bombarded with messages about how important it is to motivate and inspire their people. Very little attention, however, has been given to how managers can most effectively translate employee motivation into optimal levels of performance", write leaders in the employee research division at Hay Group, Mark Royal and Tom Agnew, in their research based and very practical book The Enemy of Engagement: Put an End to Workplace Frustration--and Get the Most from Your Employees. The authors describe how managers and employees are frustrated by overwhelming demands for more productivity and higher performance, but not provided with the necessary support to enable their employees to do their jobs properly and to achieve their goals.

Mark Royal (photo left) and Tom Agnew recognize that the true barrier to achieving peak performance is the workplace itself, and not some proposed shortcomings on the part of the employees. With this key insight in place, and understood by managers and executives, the authors are then able to move toward overcoming the obstacles presented by the workplace environment itself.

When managers become clear that the problem doesn't lie solely with the worker, they can move toward transforming motivation into real results. The previous paradigm, of attempting to somehow fix the employees, led only to frustration on the part of both the workers and managers. The authors recommend addressing the problem at its root by initiating real improvements within the workplace.

Tom Agnew (photo left) and Mark Royal understand the importance of removing the often obscured but still frustrating roadblocks that inhibit or work against employee productivity. These organizational barriers must be removed, and support for workers put into place, to ensure that employees are able to achieve peak performance. Failure to remove the barricades results in lost productivity, weaker overall results, and frustrated employees who will leave the organization.

To counter the structural obstacles to high level productivity, the authors recommend some best practices and strategies:

* Create specific measurable goals and provide clear instructions for achieving them
* Provide employees with regular constructive feedback
* Empower employees to make the necessary decisions when required
* Rank investments in staff and resources to give employees job support
* Ensure that roles and assignments match the teams skills and reward results

For me, the power of the book is how Mark Royal and Tom Agnew present their crucial insight that the frustration felt by managers and employees is not the result of personal failings, but one that is endemic to the organization itself. By recognizing that the failure to translate motivation into peak performance is the result of obstacles existing within the organization itself, the authors are then able to offer real world proven techniques to break down those barriers to achievement.

The authors bolster their ideas and best practices with leading edge research into how the same obstacles exist in many organizations, and how leading companies have broken through those barricades successfully. Overall, the book is a powerful guide for transforming under performing companies, filled with frustrated managers and workers, into organizations where peak performance is achieved through a removal of the obstacles to productivity.

I highly recommend the very results oriented and insightful book The Enemy of Engagement: Put an End to Workplace Frustration--and Get the Most from Your Employees by Mark Royal and Tom Agnew, to any organizational leaders, executives, and managers seeking to remove the barriers within their company structure that work against managers and employees achieving their goals. This book guides executives toward transforming a barrier filled organization, where blame and frustration end in loss of performance and top employees, into one where goals are met and employee engagement is at a very high level.

Tags: The Enemy of Engagement: Put an End to Workplace Frustration--and Get the Most from Your Employees, Mark Royal, Tom Agnew, management strategies, business book reviews

Generate Additional Revenue For Your Business: Expand Internationally

2011-11-21T04:00:00.000-08:00

The Institute for Chartered Accountants in Australia in conjunction with Ernst and Young has produced a thought leadership paper entitled "Business Briefing: 20 Issues For Businesses Expanding Internationally."

It covers:

Planning for expansion
Choosing your location
Conducting business overseas

Read the paper here.

Illustration credit here.

Tame Your Terrible Office Tyrant by Lynn Taylor - Book review

2011-11-21T00:30:00.000-08:00

Tame Your Terrible Office Tyrant

How to Manage Childish Boss Behavior and Thrive in Your Job

By: Lynn Taylor

Published: July 20, 2009
Format: Hardcover, 288 pages
ISBN-10: 0470457643
ISBN-13: 978-0470457641
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

"If your boss acts like a bratty bully or a confused little lamb - or just sees impossible to deal with, you can now breathe a sigh of relief. You are working for a Terrible Office Tyrant (TOT) and help is on the way", writes leading expert and speaker on career, hiring, and workplace issues, founder of Lynn Taylor Consulting, and author of the practical and engaging book Tame Your Terrible Office Tyrant: How to Manage Childish Boss Behavior and Thrive in Your Job. The author describes to not only cope with but to put an end to workplace problems resulting from having a terrible, and often childish boss, manager, or supervisor.

Lynn Taylor recognizes that terrible bosses very often behave in the manner of spoiled and demanding children. The author points out that the acting out behavior displayed by bratty children is the same behavior displayed by that petty tyrant of a boss. As a result of working with her own children, Lynn Taylor applied the same child management principles to working with an unruly manager. Instead of letting that problematic boss ruin an employee's day, or even their career, the author shares useful and results achieving methods for working with problem employers. Without sacrificing principles or creating even more office drama and strife, Lynn Taylor demonstrates that it's not only possible to tame that problem boss, to help everyone achieve their goals at the same time.

Lynn Taylor (photo left) understands that toddle bad behavior arrives in and is acted out in many different forms. Bosses too, exhibit a variety of terrible behavior. Those actions can be loud and screaming, passive aggressive, or like a meek lamb, and many more as well. Lynn Taylor documents the bad boss traits, with razor like wit and abundant good humor, and provides proven strategies for working with all types of bad behaving, and bratty bosses.

Lynn Taylor describes this manager as being a Terrible Office Tyrant (or TOT™), and their actions or non-actions can destroy a workplace and reduce overall performance. To remedy this serious problem, the author divides the bad behaving managers into two overall groupings. One type of TOT™ specializes in bratty behavior, while the other TOT™ style is that of lost little lamb. Whether the employer is loud and boisterous, or clueless and needy, Lynn Taylor has the prescription to end their bad behavior and restore sanity to the workplace.

For me, the power of the book is how Lynn Taylor identifies each type of problem boss, and shares hands on results oriented strategies for working with any bad manager. The author bolsters her own experience with case studies that demonstrate her techniques being applied effectively in many organizations. The issue of bad bosses is not simply one where employees have their days ruined either. The author points out that bad behaving bosses cost their companies dearly in lost production and less than optimum employee performance.

At the same time, Lynn Taylor provides advice for managers to overcome their own tendency to become a TOT™, and for organizations to change that bad behavior in their own managerial ranks. Lynn Taylor offers advice that helps everyone succeed, achieve better overall results, and avoids the dangerous and self defeating possibility of compromising one's values and principles.

I highly recommend the insightful and results oriented book Tame Your Terrible Office Tyrant: How to Manage Childish Boss Behavior and Thrive in Your Job by Lynn Taylor, to anyone seeking a guide to working with and changing the behavior of a bad boss, manager, or supervisor. This book is also very useful for organizations looking for hands on methods for improving the behavior, performance, and people management skills of its executives. This book will rid your organization of the TOT™, and your company will be a more engaged and more productive workplace as well.

Tags: Tame Your Terrible Office Tyrant: How to Manage Childish Boss Behavior and Thrive in Your Job, Lynn Taylor, handling bad bosses, business book reviews

The Wealth of Nature: Economics as if Survival Mattered by John Michael Greer - Book review

2011-11-20T00:18:00.000-08:00

The Wealth of Nature

Economics as if Survival Mattered

By: John Michael Greer

Published: May 31, 2011
Format: Paperback, 288 pages
ISBN-10: 0865716730
ISBN-13: 978-0865716735
Publisher: New Society Publishers

"Economics is badly in need of a Copernican revolution of its own, one that will recognize that the center of economic activity is not where where today's economists think that it is", writes scholar of ecological history and internationally renowned peak oil theorist John Michael Greer, in his provocative and visionary book The Wealth of Nature: Economics as if Survival Mattered. The author describes the current state of economic theory, and its many shortcomings, and provides an alternative approach to economic thought grounded in the ideas of E. F. Schumacher.

John Michael Greer guides the reader on a tour of the history of economics, including the theories of Adam Smith, David Ricardo, and John Maynard Keynes. The author offers evidence that contemporary economic thought is deeply flawed, and has failed to meet its purpose of providing guidance and ideas for creating a strong and vibrant economy. For John Michael Greer, the economics profession actually benefits more from being wrong as they were in their failure to understand the housing bubble, and that over dependence on mathematical modelling fails to recognize potential economic disasters as they develop and grow more dangerous to the economy. The author points out that simply tinkering with the most popular and mainstream economic theories won't address or correct those shortcomings.

John Michael Greer (photo left) proposes a fresh look at economic based on reality and an understanding of what constitutes real wealth. For this reappraisal of economics, the author turns to the economic thought of E. F. Schumacher, author of the seminal book Small Is Beautiful: Economics As If People Mattered whose ideas were based on the evidence of what he observed in action around him John Michael Greer points out that the ideas presented by E. F. Schumacher are complex and require extensive study beyond the scope of this book. For purposes of understanding the overall concepts behind Shumacher's thought, John Michael Greer breaks them into four main areas:

* Schumacher drew a hard line between primary goods and secondary goods. Secondary goods are what are studied by mainstream economists, while primary goods are those provided by Nature. Renewable resources of nature are constantly replenished capital while non-renewable resources draw down the overall wealth of Nature and the economy.

* Schumacher emphasized the central role of energy within the sphere of primary goods. For Schumacher, energy can not be treated as a commodity, as energy is the gateway resource to other resources. With enough energy, shortages of other goods can be removed. With an energy shortage, an upper limit is placed on the production of those secondary goods

* Schumacher stressed the importance of the cost per worker of establishing and maintaining a workplace. For societies with abundant capital, ample energy supplies, and established infrastructure, replacing workers with technology is a viable alternative. Such is not the case in developing economies where using human hands and fulfilling local needs is the more viable alternative.

* Schumacher considered the central question of the failure of contemporary economics could not be solved with mathematical or statistical models, as their assumptions are so intertwined with current theories. Economics can't predict the behavior of the economy because that requires criticism of the basic assumptions of contemporary economic theory. Those assumptions must be addressed and related to actual observation.

For me, the power of the book is how John Michael Greer meets and addresses the challenges of rebuilding a workable and reality based economic model. The author combines the current peak oil and energy crisis with solutions based on the ideas of E. F. Schumacher. John Michael Greer provides some solutions that will be controversial and likely to face resistance and opposition. That is to be expected, and the author fully understands that not everyone will embrace his recommendations. The author does point out that both peak oil, and the ongoing economic crisis faced by societies today, demands solutions and hard choices. In the end, the book is offered to the general public, as the final decision makers of how society should move forward into what the author calls the twilight of the Age of Abundance.

I highly recommend the important and landmark book The Wealth of Nature: Economics as if Survival Mattered by John Michael Greer, to anyone who seeks real solutions to the challenges of both peak oil and the economic crisis. This book should be read, discussed, and its empowering ideas considered by everyone. While not all readers will agree with the author's ideas, or the solutions offered, but it's essential to understand these proposals, as the time where the twin problems of peak oil and the financial crisis will force solutions be discovered and put into place.

Tags: The Wealth of Nature: Economics as if Survival Mattered, John Michael Greer, state of economic theory, economics book reviews

Smile to the World

2011-11-19T06:03:00.000-08:00

"Start every day with a smile and get it over with." W.C. Fields

Posted by: The Global Small Business Blog

Photo courtesy: ©Laurel Delaney 2011, "Skokie Art Center"

Practical Field Ecology: A Project Guide by C. Philip Wheater, James R. Bell & Penny A. Cook - Book review

2011-11-19T01:17:00.000-08:00

Practical Field Ecology

A Project Guide

By: C. Philip Wheater, James R. Bell, Penny A. Cook

Published: June 28, 2011
Format: Hardcover, 388 pages
ISBN-10: 0470694289
ISBN-13: 978-0470694282
Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell

"This handbook is designed as a guide to planning and executing an ecological research project and is intended as a companion to preparing a dissertation, report, thesis or research paper", write C. Philip Wheater of Manchester Metropolitan University, James R. Bell of Rothamsted Research, and Penny A. Cook of Liverpool John Moores University, in their comprehensive and very hands on book Practical Field Ecology: A Project Guide. The authors describe how to plan, prepare, monitor and sample, analyze, and present the results of a field study project in a range of ecological subject areas.

C. Philip Wheater (photo left), James R. Bell, and Penny A. Cook introduce the concepts of experimental design, and data analysis, and data interpretation for creating successful and meaningful research projects. The authors also provide the techniques required for field monitoring plants and animals.

The main focus of the book is to instruct researchers in the appropriate methods required to design a field based ecological survey and how to put into action an appropriate sampling system. The authors provide the research skills for any number of field studies in a wide range of organisms, various habitats, and both specialized and general ecological projects.

James R. Bell (photo left), Penny A. Cook, and C. Philip Wheater guide students and researchers through all stages of a complete field research project. The six chapters of the book provide a complete overview of planning, executing, analyzing, and reporting on the chosen topic of study.

The book's six chapters include:

* Preparation for the project including all internal and external factors
* Monitoring the site characteristics
* Sampling static organisms including the various measurement techniques
* Sampling mobile organisms including vertebrates and invertebrates
* Analyzing and interpreting data including mathematical techniques
* Presenting the information including report structure and writing style

Penny A. Cook (photo left), C. Philip Wheater, and James R. Bell offer a solid foundation for students and researchers to develop a sound research project. For me, the power of the book is how the authors combine the theoretical background to ecological research concepts with a complete series of practical steps for every aspect of the study. The book is divided logically in the order of the process, and each chapter is well defined. The authors offer many illustrative black and white photographs of the techniques in action, along with data graphs and charts that demonstrate how the information should be recorded and presented most effectively.

I highly recommend the very thorough and approachable book Practical Field Ecology: A Project Guide by C. Philip Wheater, James R. Bell, and Penny A. Cook, to any students, researchers, ecologists, business people, and policy makers who are seeking a very well grounded guide to planning, executing, measuring, and reporting on any ecological project. This book provides the tools necessary to provide scientifically sound information for informed decision making in any ecology related field.

Tags: Practical Field Ecology: A Project Guide, C. Philip Wheater, James R. Bell, Penny A. Cook, ecological research techniques, science book reviews.

How Students Can Prepare for the Global Marketplace

2011-11-18T04:14:00.000-08:00

Studying abroad is all the rage these days because young people want to take on the world. But where are the students studying?

And students are studying in less traditional destinations. Although the UK, Italy, Spain and France still top the list, China continues to attract with nearly 14,000 students studying there in 2009/10 compared to fewer than 3,000 in 1999/00. Fifteen of the top 25 destinations were outside of Western Europe and 19 were countries where English is not a primary language. There was a 44 % increase in U.S. students going to India, and Israel, Brazil, New Zealand and Egypt showed large percentage gains.

Stacie Nevadomski Berdan has studying abroad for students covered in:

The Right Study Abroad Program Can Prepare Students for the Global Marketplace

Illustration credit: Stacie's e-book

Posted by: The Global Small Business Blog

Higher Ambition: How Great Leaders Create Economic & Social Value by M. Beer, F. Norrgren, N. Foote, R. Eisenstat, T. Fredberg - Book review

2011-11-17T23:49:00.000-08:00

Higher Ambition

How Great Leaders Create Economic and Social Value

By: Michael Beer, Russell A. Eisenstat, Nathaniel Foote, Tobias Fredberg, Flemming Norrgren

Published: September 13, 2011
Format: Hardcover, 272 pages
ISBN-10: 1422159744
ISBN-13: 978-1422159743
Publisher: Harvard Business Press

"These leaders are working to fully realize the potential of their firms to create superior and lasting economic value. At the same time, they are putting their shoulder to the wheel to create superior social value. And they seek to accomplish both goals simultaneously. That is their higher ambition", write business thought leaders Michael Beer, Russell A. Eisenstat, Nathaniel Foote, Tobias Fredberg, and Flemming Norrgren, in their visionary and transformational book Higher Ambition: How Great Leaders Create Economic and Social Value. The authors describe how looking beyond the very narrow focus on shareholder value actually creates even more value for everyone including the company, the employees, the customers, society as a whole, as well as the shareholders.

Michael Beer (photo left), Russell A. Eisenstat, Nathaniel Foote, Tobias Fredberg, and Flemming Norrgren understand that there exists a tremendous crisis in corporate leadership today. The excessive and narrow focus, on the short term bottom line and share value, has failed to produce the intended goals of leadership, and has more often than not, been counterproductive in the end. The authors provide evidence that a new type of leader is delivering more than simply short term profits. The new CEO is not only generating higher numbers and happy shareholders, but is also creating value for employees, customers, and the wider community. Most importantly, the author offer proof that the two goals of economic and social benefits work together to enhance and strengthen each other.

Flemming Norrgren (photo left), Michael Beer, Russell A. Eisenstat, Nathaniel Foote, and Tobias Fredberg share compelling stories from leading CEOs, who shared a strong commitment to building the company as both profitable and of social benefit that included employees, customers, and of society as a whole. These forward thinking business leaders moved well past the selfish greed scenario that has proven a failure so many formerly leading corporations. While personally ambitious, these CEOs channeled that ambition into a larger purpose, described by the authors as being one of a higher ambition. Creating superior economic value, combined with superior social value, resulted in both a stronger corporation, but also provided additional benefits to everyone involved within and outside of the company itself.

Russell A. Eisenstat (photo left), Nathaniel Foote, Tobias Fredberg, Flemming Norrgren, and Michael Beer support increasing shareholder value and corporate profitability, but move beyond those narrow goals. The CEOs profiled in the book demonstrated clearly that moving beyond the fundamentalist shareholder focus resulted in ever greater success. The key additional ingredient was the addition of seeking a higher social purpose. Along the way, these innovative CEOs discovered that their higher ambition developed a fresh corporate vision that exceeded anything that had been accepted orthodoxy in the past. The CEOs recognized as well that selfish personal goals in their part, would fail to achieve their mission toward a higher ambition. At the same time, the leaders understood that focusing only on social value would fail to reach their goals. The two pronged approach was the winning formula.

Tobias Fredberg (photo left), Flemming Norrgren, Michael Beer, Russell A. Eisenstat, and Nathaniel Foote provide the concepts and practices followed by the interviewed CEOs. The visionary CEOs achieved their higher ambition based company success thorough a series of steps:

* Forge a new strategic identity

* Build a shared commitment to excellence

* Create community out of diversity

* Develop and personify "Sisu" persevering leadership

* Commit to collective leadership

Nathaniel Foote (photo left), Tobias Fredberg, Flemming Norrgren, Michael Beer, and Russell A. Eisenstat offer an insightful, research based book that presents a fresh vision for CEOs, and for companies willing to step into a new way of approaching business. For me, the power of the book is how the authors provide real world evidence that establishing a commitment to the dual and very intertwined goals of superior economic performance combined with superior social value. The recognition, on the part of the CEOs interviewed, that simply pursuing one goal or the other is not enough for overall company and societal success.

The higher ambition must combine economic leadership, with strong social values, that consider employees, customers, society, as well as shareholders to achieve success. The older paradigm of shareholder only consideration has proven much less effective, and in many cases, damaging to the company itself. The profiled CEOs also placed their personal ambition into the service of the higher ambition, and this visionary approach created even more success for the organization and all of the stakeholders. This new visionary paradigm is both sustainable and offers real value and benefits for everyone.

I highly recommend the important and landmark book Higher Ambition: How Great Leaders Create Economic and Social Value by Michael Beer, Russell A. Eisenstat, Nathaniel Foote, Tobias Fredberg, and Flemming Norrgren, to any business leaders who are seeking a vision of business and society that is profitable, sustainable, and benefits everyone within and outside of the company. This book demonstrates clearly why the old ways of doing business will no longer work in today's marketplace.

Tags: Higher Ambition: How Great Leaders Create Economic and Social Value, Michael Beer, Russell A. Eisenstat, Nathaniel Foote, Tobias Fredberg, Flemming Norrgren, visionary leadership strategies, business book reviews

ITA: International Trade Administration (U.S.A.)

2011-11-17T03:03:00.000-08:00

Are you operating a business in the United States and need help with exporting and country and regional market information?

Have you looked at the International Trade Administration? It's considered the bible of international trade information.

The Changing Landscape Of Retirement by Mark Singer, CFP® - Book review

2011-11-17T00:07:00.000-08:00

The Changing Landscape Of Retirement

What You Don't Know Could Hurt You

By: Mark Singer CFP®

Published: July 12, 2011
Format: Paperback, 136 pages
ISBN-10: 0983762007
ISBN-13: 978-0983762003
Publisher: ATA Press

"It is very important to recognize what you don't know because, without this information, you may make mistakes that will undermine your definition of a successful retirement", writes Certified Financial Planner® practitioner Mark Singer, in his eye opening and strategy filled book The Changing Landscape Of Retirement: What You Don't Know Could Hurt You. The author describes how profound changes in the economy have caused upheavals in the retirement plans of many Baby Boomers, and offers advice on how to ask the right questions to get that important retirement strategy back on track.

Mark Singer understands the frustration that Baby Boomers experience as they see their retirement plans not turn out as originally thought. For many Boomers, that derailment of their plans was due to not knowing the right questions to ask their investment advisers, writes Mark Singer. The retirement landscape has changed, according to the author, and with those changes new strategies must be put into action. Mark Singer provides an overview of the retirement situation facing Baby Boomers, and provides a method to transform a financially troubled retirement into a successful and opportunity filled transition in life's journey. Instead of a program, Mark Singer provides a strategy for creating a comfortable life for retirees.

Mark Singer (photo left) recognizes that many Baby Boomers made some serious mistakes in their retirement planning. Some of the mistakes were in failure to plan properly; while others mistakes were in not knowing the right questions to ask of financial advisers. Rather than bemoan those errors, the author provides an alternative and effective strategy to right the retirement ship. For the author, it's never too late to plan a retirement strategy that works for the individual needs and circumstances.

Mark Singer presents his Retirement Roadmap as a means of better planning for the transition to retirement. The author provides the tools necessary for transforming a potentially failed retirement plan into a successful one. Mark Singer breaks his book into the following sections to ensure that every aspect of retirement planning is given consideration. The sections include:

* Mistakes
* Fundamentals of planning
* What the future holds
* What about women
Deciding not to go it alone

For me, the power of the book is how Mark Singer outlines a process for creating a personalized financial plan for retirement. Instead of offering a standard plan for everyone, the author shares the techniques for creating a retirement plan that suits the individual. To achieve this personal touch, Mark Singer presents a series of planning tools, and provides the right questions to ask when choosing retirement planners and for selecting the right plan for the person's needs. The author also provides an important section that addresses the retirement issues faced by women as their lives transition into retirement.

I highly recommend the very practical and hands on book The Changing Landscape Of Retirement: What You Don't Know Could Hurt You by Mark Singer CFP® to anyone seeking an approachable and easy to understand guide to planning for retirement, that addresses the profound changes in today's retirement picture. This book could mean the difference between living a comfortable and enjoyable retirement, and one of constant need and worry. Mark Singer offers a means to plan effectively for the next stage in your life's journey.

Tags: The Changing Landscape Of Retirement: What You Don't Know Could Hurt You, Mark Singer, retirement planning strategies, business book reviews

LIVE From Washington Post: It's Exporting for Growth!

2011-11-16T02:16:00.000-08:00

Everything you ever wanted to know about exporting and then some. You'll hear from Terry LaRocca, State of Illinois, John Nevell, U.S. Small Business Administration, Tony Hoti, President, Intercom Ventures, Michael Howard, Export-Import Bank, Julie Carducci, U.S. Department of Commerce, Frank Lavin, Export Now (refer to our earlier post) and Stan Deans, President, Illinois District, UPS.

Go here to access videos where experts discuss how small businesses can efficiently export goods and services abroad.

Brought to you by: Washington Post Live

Related article(s):

Starter Kit for Illinois Businesses Looking to Export
Small Firms Lead the Way In Illinois Exports

Posted by: The Global Small Business Blog

Chip Bell & John Patterson: Wired & Dangerous - Blog Business Success Radio

2011-11-16T00:30:00.000-08:00

Listen to Wayne Hurlbert on Blog Talk Radio

Founder of the Chip Bell Group, Chip R. Bell; and John R. Patterson, President of Progressive Insights, John Patterson; and co-authors of the insightful and and idea filled book Wired and Dangerous: How Your Customers Have Changed and What to Do About it, describe the dramatic changes in customer behavior. Customers have more choices, are better informed, have higher expectations, and voice their opinions more than ever before. If service is not up to expectations, the authors point out that customers will be heard through the many different social media platforms and groups. The authors provide insights into the new customer and why it's important to consider customers as real partners in the company and the brands. By rebuilding a relationship with customers, companies can enhance their customer service and become stronger brands that are more profitable as well.

Chip R. Bell and John R. Patterson are my internet radio show guests on Blog Business Success; hosted live on BlogTalkRadio.

The show airs live on Thursday, November 17, at 8:00 pm Eastern Time; 5:00 pm Pacific Time.

Founder of the Chip Bell Group, Chip R. Bell; and John R. Patterson, President of Progressive Insights, John Patterson; and co-authors of the insightful and and idea filled book Wired and Dangerous: How Your Customers Have Changed and What to Do About it, describe the dramatic changes in customer behavior. Customers have more choices, are better informed, have higher expectations, and voice their opinions more than ever before. You will learn:

* Why today's customers are different from customers of even a few years ago

* Why inferior customer service is part of the problem for today's edgy customers

* Why companies must build partnerships with customers to succeed

* How to build and develop partnerships with customers in this new paradigm

Chip Bell (photo left) is the founder of The Chip Bell Group and has offices in the Dallas and Atlanta areas. Chip’s newest book is Wired and Dangerous, co-authored by John Patterson.

Chip's consulting practice helps organizations build a culture that supports long-term customer loyalty. Prior to starting a consulting firm in the late 1970s, he was Vice President and Director of Management and Organization Development for NCNB, now Bank of America. Dr. Bell holds graduate degrees in organizational psychology and human resource development from Vanderbilt University and George Washington University. He was a highly decorated infantry unit commander in Vietnam with the elite 82nd Airborne Division.

Chip is the author or co-author of nineteen books.

John Patterson (photo left) is founder and President of Progressive Insights a member of the Chip Bell Group. He is the co-author (with Chip Bell) of Wired and Dangerous: How Your Customers Have Changed and What to Do About it

Read his blog about how customers have changed. John’s TwitterID is @johnrpatt. He can be found on Linkedin.com – www.linkedin.com/in/johnrpatterson.

John’s consulting practice helps organizations worldwide consistently deliver great customer service and employee experiences. His clients span a variety of industries including the financial services, insurance, healthcare, pharmaceutical, technology, cable TV, quick service restaurant, utility, assisted living, trade show management, wholesale auto auction, hospitality, commercial construction, real estate, education and business services industries.

John holds a graduate degree in business from the Darden School at the University of Virginia and a B.S. in Business Administration from The Citadel.

My book review of Wired and Dangerous: How Your Customers Have Changed and What to Do About It by Chip R. Bell and John R. Patterson.

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 Founder of the Chip Bell Group, Chip R. Bell; and John R. Patterson, President of Progressive Insights, John Patterson; and co-authors of the insightful and and idea filled book Wired and Dangerous: How Your Customers Have Changed and What to Do About it, as they describe the dramatic changes in customer behavior. Customers have more choices, are better informed, have higher expectations, and voice their opinions more than ever before. If service is not up to expectations, the authors point out that customers will be heard through the many different social media platforms and groups. The authors provide insights into the new customer and why it's important to consider customers as real partners in the company and the brands. By rebuilding a relationship with customers, companies can enhance their customer service and become stronger brands that are more profitable as well on Blog Business Success Radio.

Tags: Wired and Dangerous: How Your Customers Have Changed and What to Do About it, Chip R. Bell, John R.Patterson, visionary customer partnerships, Blog Business Success, Blog Talk Radio.

Where Can You Find Growth? You Must Go Global!

2011-11-15T06:10:00.000-08:00

Good commentary by local columnist John Shoemaker for Wicked Local Wrentham about how to find growth for your business: take it global!

It was the rallying cry for so many in small and medium size businesses: "We must go global!"

And it emphasizes how global commerce, the desire for individual freedom and the Internet are churning out more and more global entrepreneurs!

Read the entire opinion piece: When Business Goes Global

Wired and Dangerous by Chip R. Bell & John R. Patterson - Book review

2011-11-14T22:55:00.000-08:00

Wired and Dangerous

How Your Customers Have Changed and What to Do About it

By: Chip R. Bell, John R. Patterson

Published: June 6, 2011
Format: Paperback, 224 pages
ISBN-10: 1605099759
ISBN-13: 978-1605099750
Publisher: Berrett-Koehler Publishers

"Whether or not you accept the hyperbole of an emerging revolution, there is no doubt customers today are significantly different than those of just a few years ago", write senior partner with the Chip Bell Group, Chip R. Bell; and founder and president of Progressive Insights, John R. Patterson, in their insightful and and idea filled book Wired and Dangerous: How Your Customers Have Changed and What to Do About it. The authors describe how today's customer has changed from customers of the past, how and why that change took place, and offer solutions for companies to create a partnership with their customers.

Chip Bell (photo left) and John Patterson recognize the dramatic changes that have taken place both within customer thinking and with their overall behavior. Today's customers are more empowered than ever before, and as the authors demonstrate, those customers are not afraid to use their new found power to its fullest extent. The authors present a complete picture of today's new normal customer that offers both a challenge and an opportunity for companies. The authors point out that any businesses that fail to provide exceptional service, or don't deliver on their brand promises, will lose today's picky, fickle, vocal, and vain customers. In these turbulent times, customers will not only leave, but they will take their entire networks with them.

John Patterson (photo left) and Chip Bell understand that many business leaders either don't understand or are ignoring this new customer empowerment. Not only are customers who are active online and with mobile devices wired, but all customers are connected to other people through their various internet and offline social arrangements. Companies that provide bad service or an inferior product, to one customer, risk losing an entire circle of customers.

The authors make clear that for empowered customers, anything short of an exceptional service experience risks loss of an entire customer group. While this potential loss of customers, in an age of bad service, presents a challenge to many business leaders, the authors point out that there is an opportunity as well. For the authors, that opportunity is in form of an entirely new paradigm. The authors provide the tools for transforming customers into partners with the company and its brands. This empowering concept creates a winning solution for both the company and for today's edgy customers.

For me, the power of the book is how Chip Bell and John Patterson combine their insights and analysis of today's edgy customers, with practical and mutually beneficial strategies for establishing a partnership with those customers. The authors demonstrate clearly that attempting to maintain the older paradigms, of message control and of inferior customer service, will no longer work. In today's marketplace, businesses who fail to create partnership based relationships with customers risk becoming irrelevant and obsolete.

To create these critical partnerships, the authors share their real world proven strategies, backed by case studies of these partnership techniques in action. The book invites businesses to take the next step in relationships with customers, and present them with partnership status. The result is a positive outcome for both the company and its customer base.

I highly recommend the paradigm shifting and eye opening book Wired and Dangerous: How Your Customers Have Changed and What to Do About it by Chip R. Bell and John R.Patterson, to anyone seeking a fresh and empowering approach to building a new form of customer partnership. The book offers a step forward in customer relationships that satisfies even the edgiest of customers, and benefits even the most bottom line oriented companies.

Tags: Wired and Dangerous: How Your Customers Have Changed and What to Do About it, Chip R. Bell, John R.Patterson, visionary customer partnerships, business book reviews

How China's Market Is Changing Fast

2011-11-14T05:57:00.000-08:00

Find out how China is changing and leaving the companies who wish to do business there - breathless.

You must register to access this article.

China's confident consumers

Posted by: The Global Small Business Blog

Drinking From The Fire Hose by Christopher Frank & Paul Magnone - Book review

2011-11-13T22:04:00.000-08:00

Drinking from the Fire Hose

Making Smarter Decisions Without Drowning in Information

By: Christopher J. Frank, Paul F. Magnone

Published: September 1, 2011
Format: Hardcover, 256 pages
ISBN-10: 1591844266
ISBN-13: 978-1591844266
Publisher: Portfolio/Penguin

"Whenever you feel like a data storm is about to block out the sun, we want you to turn to the straightforward questions that form the backbone of this book - questions that we still ask ourselves every day. In other words, don't ask us: ask yourself. But ask the right questions", write vice president at American Express, Christopher Frank; and vice president of business development and alliances at Openet, Frank Magnone, in their insightful and provocative book Drinking from the Fire Hose: Making Smarter Decisions Without Drowning in Information. the authors describe the critical importance of asking the deep and probing questions that divide data into groups that measure and groups that inform.

Christopher Frank (photo left) and Paul Magnone recognize the problems and challenges, presented to business leaders, by the huge amount of data generated in today's companies. as a result, the authors suggest that decision makers pose probing questions about the nature and value of that heavy data stream. Every piece of data tells a story, and the numbers only provide part of that narrative.

The authors advise leaders to look deeper into the numbers, and into the overall data, through questions that seek well researched answers. For the authors, data that offers real solutions to problems facing the organization will very often be overlooked due to the bias of supporting the existing strategic plan. Instead, the authors share the idea of asking where the surprises in the data were found, and to dig more deeply into the those surprising bits of information. The result may be a business transformational concept simply awaiting discovery.

Paul Magnone (photo left) and Christopher Frank understand the difficulty of sorting the useful and game changing information from the deluge of misleading or status quo supporting data. Their solution is to ask challenging questions. The the use of smarter questions, the difference making data, and especially the unexpected surprise data, will present itself to decision makers. Instead of offering prescriptive answers, the authors propose the asking of challenging and information seeking questions.

The authors offer seven specific questions to ask of the data:

* What is the essential business question?
* Where is your customer's North Star?
* Should you believe the squiggly line?
* What surprised you?
* What does the Lighthouse reveal?
* Who are your swing voters?
* The three W's: What? So What? Now what?

For me, the power of the book is how Christopher Frank and Paul Magnone turn traditional data concepts upside down. The authors start by dividing the data stream into data that measures, and data that informs. The ability to understand the differences between these two types of data is critical for developing breakthrough strategies. Unlike most business books, the authors decline the opportunity to offer advice and to provide answers to problems. Instead, they take the opposite approach of asking their seven fire hose questions.

Through this informed questioning process, the previous assumptions about the data, what it measures, and the level that informs decisions, comes into sharp focus. With each question, an entire chapter is devoted to understanding the reasoning behind the questions, and how to apply the question to extract the most meaningful and informed responses.

I highly recommend the thought provoking and profound book Drinking from the Fire Hose: Making Smarter Decisions Without Drowning in Information by Christopher Frank and Paul Magnone, to any business leaders who are seeking a fresh approach to understanding and utilizing the steady downpour of data that floods into their offices each day. Through the discerning questioning technique, the useful and informing data can be separated from the data that merely measures, and very often measures the wrong things. This book will change your organization from one that looks for easy answers, and instead asks the difficult and challenging questions.

Tags: Drinking from the Fire Hose: Making Smarter Decisions Without Drowning in Information, Christopher Frank, Paul Magnone, visionary leadership, business book reviews

Matthew David: HTML5 Mobile Websites - Blog Business Success Radio

2011-11-12T23:44:00.000-08:00

Listen to Wayne Hurlbert on Blog Talk Radio

Specialist is developing rich technologies for websites and author of the very practical book HTML5 Mobile Websites, Matthew David describes the power of mobile sites for marketers and brands. Matthew provides insights into connecting with customers through mobile technology, and building relationships with today's untethered customer. Matthew points out that the technology is not complicated, and as a result, marketers should readily embrace the connective power of mobility. Matthew shares tips for creating websites that really, to avoid the cost of paid programmers, and to enrich the marketer's familiarity with the technology. Discover the power of mobile, and its future as a marketing and branding tool, that enriches and deepens relationships with customers. Today's customer is using mobile technology, and to find that customer, it's imperative for brands to be part of the mobile revolution as well.

Matthew David is my internet radio show guest on Blog Business Success; hosted live on BlogTalkRadio.

The show airs live on Tuesday, November 15, at 8:00 pm Eastern Time; 5:00 pm Pacific Time.

Specialist is developing rich technologies for websites and author of the very practical book HTML5 Mobile Websites, Matthew David describes the power of mobile sites for marketers and brands. You will learn:

* Why the untethered mobile customer is so important for business

* How to reach the mobile customer and build relationships

* How to create mobile applications effectively and with minimal programming

* Why the future of marketing demands a mobile marketing presence

Matthew David (photo left) is a specialist developing rich Web solutions using technologies like Flash and the latest Web design techniques. In addition, he works in online sales, marketing, and search engine optimization, with the aim of driving business to customer sites. Matthew partners with many companies as a business strategist, works closely with the World Wide Web Consortium Group (W3C), and is on Adobe's Advisory team.

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 specialist is developing rich technologies for websites and author of the very practical book HTML5 Mobile Websites, Matthew David, as he describes the power of mobile sites for marketers and brands. Matthew provides insights into connecting with customers through mobile technology, and building relationships with today's untethered customer. Matthew points out that the technology is not complicated, and as a result, marketers should readily embrace the connective power of mobility. Matthew shares tips for creating websites that really, to avoid the cost of paid programmers, and to enrich the marketer's familiarity with the technology. Discover the power of mobile, and its future as a marketing and branding tool, that enriches and deepens relationships with customers. Today's customer is using mobile technology, and to find that customer, it's imperative for brands to be part of the mobile revolution as well on Blog Business Success Radio.

Tags: HTML5 Mobile Websites, Matthew David, mobile customers, Blog Business Success, Blog Talk Radio.

Wherever You Are: Is Your Head in the Clouds?

2011-11-12T06:00:00.000-08:00

"It is better to have your head in the clouds, and know where you are ... than to breathe the clearer atmosphere below them, and think that you are in paradise." ~ Henry David Thoreau

Posted by: The Global Small Business Blog

Photo credit: ©Laurel Delaney 2011, "Clouds, Chicago lakefront."