First Friday Book Synopsis

JANUARY 20, 2015

'I interviewed (through e-mail) Bronwyn Allen, President of High Profile in Dallas. She is a high-energy, smart, thinking leader. First, a little about her company, and her, and then the interview High Profile: Hiring Excellence About High Profile (from their website): High Profile is an award-winning professional staffing and recruiting agency specializing in temporary and permanent career placement […].

Skills 129

Skills Energy Blog Career 129

First Friday Book Synopsis

SEPTEMBER 13, 2015

Brian Robertson is an experienced entrepreneur, CEO, and organizational pioneer. Forbes and Fast Company credit him for developing Holacracy, a comprehensive management system for governing and running organizations that are fast, agile, and that succeed by pursuing their purpose, free from the tyranny of top-down planning that is instantly out of date.

Agility 128

Agility Entrepreneur System CEO 128

First Friday Book Synopsis

JANUARY 16, 2015

'Do you read enough in the human need category? You know; the issues of racism; education for the less-than-wealthy; poverty; the working poor; the not-working poor; hunger; challenges for immigrants… the list is a long one. It boils down to this. People need food to eat, health care for their bodies, effective and inclusive educational […].

Health Care 127

Health Care Books Education Human Needs 127

First Friday Book Synopsis

AUGUST 11, 2015

It’s interesting… Just after I presented my synopsis of Team of Teams: New Rules of Engagement for a Complex World by General Stanley McChrystal, (with Tantum Collins, David Silverman, and Chris Fussell) at our monthly First Friday Book Synopsis, Google announced it’s reorganization into a “Company of Companies.” Now, their new big-tent company is “Alphabet.

Silverman 124

Silverman Collins Team Books 124

First Friday Book Synopsis

JUNE 23, 2015

“the role of humans as the most important factor of production is bound to diminish in the same way that the role of horses in agricultural production was first diminished and then eliminated by the introduction of tractors.” 
 Many medical doctors used to have their dictation sent overseas to be transcribed. But an increasing […].

Tips 123

Tips Productivity Products Blog 123

First Friday Book Synopsis

MARCH 14, 2015

'Pi The number ? is a mathematical constant, the ratio of a circle’s circumference to its diameter, commonly approximated as 3.14159. It has been represented by the Greek letter “?” since the mid-18th century, though it is also sometimes spelled out as “pi” (/pa?/). (from Wikipedia) ———————— As you might have heard, if you are […].

Letter 123

Letter Books Blog 123

First Friday Book Synopsis

AUGUST 10, 2015

Announcing my second e-book: 30 Books in 30 Days: Great Lessons from the Best Business Books of the Last 15 Years by Randy Mayeux. When we finished the first fifteen years of the First Friday Book Synopsis, I wrote a blog post a day for 30 straight days. I chose two books to highlight from… Read More Announcing my second e-book: 30 Books in 30 Days: Great Lessons from the Best Business Books of the Last 15 Years by Randy Mayeux.

Books 122

Books Blog 122

First Friday Book Synopsis

SEPTEMBER 8, 2015

“What? You boys are going to sell empty boxes?” …storage and organization products to help busy folks save precious space and, ultimately, time. We fortunately somehow knew you had to be reasonably organized to accomplish half of what you wanted to in life…. As the pace of modern life accelerates and people realize that being… Read More Start with the Golden Rule – My Lessons and Takeaways from Uncontainable by Kip Tindell (CEO of The Container Store).

CEO 122

CEO Productivity Products Organization 122

First Friday Book Synopsis

FEBRUARY 24, 2015

'So, recently, I had a call about some people serving in the top levels of a company. As a group, they are tasked with pretty important responsibilities. A budget in the many millions. Organizing and overseeing big, big projects. And, a set of skills that they have developed that bring the admiration of the many […].

Budgeting 122

Budgeting Blog Project Skills 122

First Friday Book Synopsis

JUNE 30, 2015

There’s always a fine line. You’ve got stubborn people, obnoxious people, and then people with genuine resolve who simply will not give up. Their actual behaviors may look about the same. But, when the motivation is not stubbornness, or plain old obnoxiousness, then true persistence and resolve can be a wonder to behold. Ashlee Vance […].

Motivation 121

Motivation Blog 121

First Friday Book Synopsis

JANUARY 6, 2015

'Read these quotes carefully: If you’re running a big company today and are not aware of these technologies—not to mention how they might impact your company—you are simply not doing your job. Constant learning is critical to staying on the exponential curve. John Seely Brown and John Hagel have observed that although all of our […].

Learning Organization 119

Learning Organization Organization Blog Technology 119

First Friday Book Synopsis

JUNE 28, 2015

Trained as an anthropologist (Ph.D. University of Chicago), Grant McCracken has studied American culture and commerce for 25 years. He has been featured on the Oprah Winfrey Show and worked for Timberland, New York Historical Society, Diageo, IKEA, Sesame Street, Nike, the White House, and Netflix. He started the Institute of Contemporary Culture at the […].

How To 117

How To Training Company Media 117

First Friday Book Synopsis

JUNE 8, 2015

Now you may be asking yourself, if even married couples can’t understand each other – and if even the President of the United States, with his team of communications professionals, doesn’t come across the way he intends to—what hope do I have of ever getting my boss to see my potential, or my colleague to […].

Team 117

Team Blog 117

First Friday Book Synopsis

MARCH 17, 2015

'Failure noun a state of inability to perform a normal function a lack of success ——————– So, I just finished reading a section from the new book Bold on Silicon Valley’s embrace of the mantra “Fail early, fail often, fail forward,” and then I picked up my advance copy of The Other “F” Word: How Smart […].

Blog 116

Blog Books Succession 116

First Friday Book Synopsis

FEBRUARY 17, 2015

'So, we are back to common sense basics when it comes to employee engagement. In this terrific article, Why Engagement Happens In Employees’s Hearts, Not Their Minds: Winning Your Employees Over To Stick With The Company Long Term Involves An Array Of Factors—But First Among Those Is Love by Mark Crowley, we learn again that […].

Long-term 115

Long-term Blog Article Company 115

First Friday Book Synopsis

JUNE 25, 2015

There are plenty of books dealing with exemplar, successful, “great,” “excellent” companies. Some of those companies have already fallen from the list. For example, Jim Collins described Circuit City as one of the exemplar, “great” companies in his book Good to Great, not very long before Circuit City disappeared from our landscape. In other words, […].

Collins 114

Collins Books Succession Examples 114

First Friday Book Synopsis

MAY 13, 2015

On the front page of today’s Dallas Morning News’ Business Section, there is a wonderful article by Cheryl Hall about our monthly event, the First Friday Book Synopsis: Dallas consultants are ghost readers for the business set. (The print version uses a different headline: Reading It For You: Consultants boil down major business books in networking session). […].

Books 114

Books Consultative Article Blog 114

First Friday Book Synopsis

JULY 21, 2015

(This is a story from my memory banks – from decades ago. I’m sorry; I do not remember the name of the seminary). Many years ago, I read about a seminary. It had produced an unusually high number of Pastors for churches that grew in size and number. In other words, the graduates of this particular […].

Banking 113

Banking Books Blog 113

First Friday Book Synopsis

JULY 7, 2015

Over the weekend, my wife and I took in the Perot Museum. One highlight was the showing of the movie Living in the Age of Airplanes. Narrated by Harrison Ford, it was a wonderful brief history of the airplane. Well, not quite. It was a wonderful look at the impact of the airplane. This is closer. […].

Film 113

Film Globalization Blog 113

First Friday Book Synopsis

MARCH 9, 2015

'I always knew when white men were talking about black men, because it was the only time they referred to an adult as a “boy.” Unless they were talking about a “good ol’ boy,” which meant the man was white and “dependable.” A “boy” could never be forgiven, while a “good ol’ boy” could do […].

Reference 113

Reference Blog 113

First Friday Book Synopsis

AUGUST 29, 2015

We lead by being human. We do not lead by being corporate, professional, or institutional. (Paul G. Hawken, founder, Smith and Hawken) Quoted by James M. Kouzes and Barry Z. Pozner, Encouraging the Heart ——————— I’m a fan of using words correctly. I don’t always do it; I sometimes make mistakes. But I think I… Read More “A high value on human resources” = “a high value on human beings” (Insight from Barry Schwartz).

Human Resources 112

Human Resources Resources Blog 112

First Friday Book Synopsis

JULY 28, 2015

There is so much good advice, good counsel, good advice out there in so many places. But, it is tough to beat a good book for the best “where do I go to learn about” counsel. You know the old wisdom — “readers are leaders.” Maybe it is better to say that leaders do plenty of reading. And so […].

White Paper 112

White Paper Download Books Company 112

First Friday Book Synopsis

JULY 6, 2015

You can almost call us prescient. On this month’s New York Times Business Books Best Sellers list, we have already selected the #1 book, Triggers by Marshall Goldsmith, and the # 7 book, Team of Teams by General Stanley McChrystal for our August 7 First Friday Book Synopsis. Karl Krayer has selected the Goldsmith volume, and […].

Books 112

Books Team Blog 112

First Friday Book Synopsis

DECEMBER 7, 2015

We’re in something of a Navy SEALs moment. I’ve now presented synopses of two books written by former Navy SEALs. I presented my synopsis of Leadership Lessons of the U.S. Navy SEALS: Battle-Tested Strategies for Creating Successful Organizations and Inspiring Extraordinary Results by Jeff Cannon and Lieutenant Commander Jon Cannon a few years ago, and… Read More Here are my 8 Lessons and Takeaways from Extreme Ownership by former Navy SEALs Jocko Willink and Leif Babin.

Strategy 111

Strategy Books Organization Succession 111

First Friday Book Synopsis

JULY 27, 2015

Being your own manager is only half the battle. In the old days, as you learned a trade (a skill), you would work under a journeyman (it was pretty much always a journeyMAN), until you became a journeyman yourself. (And then, if you made it to the pinnacle, you would become a master). Today, so […].

Management 111

Management Skills Blog 111

First Friday Book Synopsis

AUGUST 14, 2015

So, how much time have you wasted? For me, the answer is… too much. Recently, Bill Wallace, the leader of Success North Dallas, told me of a simple formula he follows. He calls it his “Return On Time.” (Some call this “ROTI” – “Return on Time Invested.” He says that he wants to attend events with a… Read More Do You Get a Good “Return On Time” Value for the Events you Attend?

Succession 111

Succession Blog 111

First Friday Book Synopsis

JULY 3, 2015

IN CONGRESS, JULY 4, 1776 The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America When in the Course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which […].

Politics 111

Politics Course Power Blog 111

First Friday Book Synopsis

OCTOBER 11, 2015

Larry Light is the Chief Executive Officer of Arcature LLC, consultants in brand management. Light was a senior executive and Board member at BBDO and President of the international division of Ted Bates. He was Global CMO of McDonald’s from 2002 to 2005. More recently, Light was the interim Global Chief Brands Officer of IHG.… Read More Larry Light: An interview by Bob Morris.

Chief Executive Officer 110

Chief Executive Officer Brand Management Brand Globalization 110

First Friday Book Synopsis

MAY 22, 2015

The only thing you got in this world is what you can sell. And the funny thing is, you’re a salesman, and you don’t know that. — ARTHUR MILLER, Death of a Salesman (1949) Takeaway #1 – Accept/Embrace your role in sales – (Market yourself; get out there and sell!) (from my ten takeaways in […].

Marketing 110

Marketing Blog 110

First Friday Book Synopsis

NOVEMBER 3, 2015

I like to read, and present synopses of, books dealing with the future. Give me a choice, and I prefer optimism over pessimism. But, I simply like pondering the “what will tomorrow really be like?” question. I’ve always liked to read these books. I remember being intrigued and energized by Future Shock decades ago, and… Read More Conduct your Own Mini-Seminar on the Coming Future: The Second Machine Age; Exponential Organizations; and Bold (and, don’t forget Abundance).

Seminar 109

Seminar Organization Books Blog 109

First Friday Book Synopsis

MAY 19, 2015

I teach speech at the community college level. I read business books. I speak to business groups. Can I just have the ear of some business leaders for a minute, please. In one of my classes, a student is taking my Public Speaking course in between finishing his B.S. and starting his Masters program. In […].

Skills 109

Skills Class Course Books 109

First Friday Book Synopsis

JANUARY 2, 2015

'There’s a scene in Good Morning Vietnam where an officer is trying to explain to Adrian Cronauer (Robin Williams) why he, Cronauer, isn’t actually funny. The officer quotes from what he has “studied” about comedy, showing Cronauer what is funny. Of course, it wasn’t funny at all. In other words, you don’t study yourself into being truly […].

Succession 109

Succession Blog Course 109

First Friday Book Synopsis

AUGUST 25, 2015

(This is post #2 from the shared wisdom of Charlie Bahr, “The Entrepreneur’s Godfather.” Read my earlier post on “fixing the company” by clicking here). ——————– In the land of farmers with cows (is it ranchers with cows — they each have cattle?…) there is usually a cow with a bell around its neck.

Leadership 109

Leadership Company Blog 109

First Friday Book Synopsis

JULY 20, 2015

Good books are better than not-so-good books. Right?! Here’s a problem. If you read about the really smart people from the preceding centuries, they partly got smart by reading books that they had in their house, in their personal libraries. (So, yes, they could afford libraries – and they had the leisure time to read). […].

Information 108

Information Library Books Blog 108

First Friday Book Synopsis

MAY 5, 2015

Synopsis noun a short description of the most important information about something ——————– You need a well-functioning team, one that has the right mix of strengths and skills needed to move your operation forward. You know that you need to work well together. And, you know that it is so very easy to have meetings […].

Tools 108

Tools Team Books Operations 108

First Friday Book Synopsis

MARCH 9, 2015

'This is important. We know that if you spend some effort gathering information you are likely to set higher aspirations than if you do not. We also know that aspirations become self-fulfilling: aspire low, and you’ll likely realize lower returns on your efforts; aspire high, and you’ll more likely stay in the negotiations in a […].

Blog 108

Blog Succession Information 108

First Friday Book Synopsis

AUGUST 18, 2015

I’ve heard two really ghastly stories in the last week about poor (make that practically non-existent) customer service. They were both in the health care arena – both from hospitals (two different hospitals). They involve stories about inattentive, uncaring nurses; inattention to patient needs; obliviousness to the pain and discomfort of patients. We all know… Read More Some thoughts on Talent Shortages – and Customer Service.

Health Care 107

Health Care Blog 107