PLATFORM: Get Noticed in A Noisy World – Book Review

I read a lot of business focused books. Or let me say, I start a lot of business books that I don’t find compelling enough to finish. Not so the new book by Michael HyattPLATFORM: Get Notice in A Noisy World. About two weeks ago I saw Mike post a twitter about applying to join his launch team for this new book. I was attending a meeting about branding and already on knowledge overload, but this was too tempting. 794 people applied. I feel really lucky and honored to become a part of this team. You can see the PLATFORM Launch Team here.

PLATFORM: Get Noticed in A Noisy Word

The Now Revolution – Book Review

Amber Naslund and Jay Baer have hit it out-of-the-ballpark with this publication. It is so much more than a book. I firmly believe that if your firm does social media you should read it as you will learn new information. If your firm doesn’t do social media, you must read it. I know so many firms that are not monitoring their brand or engaging with their customers or have no idea of the importance of social media to today’s business environment.

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My Love Affair with New York City

I first visited Manhattan in 1994. A little late to the party I know, but it was my first chance to get there. I was in love the moment we turned onto 5th Avenue. I am always ready to plan a trip to New York. By the time the plane is over Philadelphia, I am patting my foot impatiently on the floor wanting to know how soon we will be landing. Flying over the city and seeing the skyline from LaGuardia just makes me smile. So how do I feed my need when I am not there?

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Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap and Others Don’t – by Jim Collins – Book Review

Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap… and Others Don’t

I first read Good to Great several years ago. When I was an employee of IBTX Risk Services the entire staff was required to read the book. The agency’s culture was based on many of the principles of this book. I return to this book as reference material often.

The portions of the book that I continue to use with my clients are:

1. Good is the enemy of great.

2. Have the right people in the right seat on the bus.

3. Disciplined People, Disciplined Thought & Disciplined Action create “A Culture of Discipline.”

This is another book that I often request that the management of an agency read when they are my client. It contains many valuable lessons. If you have read Good to Great would you please share what you believe are the top lessons of this book. I am always looking for other’s points-of-view.

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Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap and Others Don't – by Jim Collins – Book Review

Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap… and Others Don’t

I first read Good to Great several years ago. When I was an employee of IBTX Risk Services the entire staff was required to read the book. The agency’s culture was based on many of the principles of this book. I return to this book as reference material often.

The portions of the book that I continue to use with my clients are:

1. Good is the enemy of great.

2. Have the right people in the right seat on the bus.

3. Disciplined People, Disciplined Thought & Disciplined Action create “A Culture of Discipline.”

This is another book that I often request that the management of an agency read when they are my client. It contains many valuable lessons. If you have read Good to Great would you please share what you believe are the top lessons of this book. I am always looking for other’s points-of-view.

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Presentation Zen by Garr Reynolds – Book Review

Simple Ideas on Presentation Design and Delivery

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More and more agencies are using presentations to convey information to their clients and staff. I highly recommend this book as a resource for ideas for successful presentations. The book discusses how people process information and ways to present so that they get the most from the presentation. Practical examples are given.

I have learned a great deal from this book. I have been incorporating more and more of its ideas into my presentations.

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Make the Noise Go Away by Larry G. Linne

moz-screenshot-1I met Larry Linne several years ago at a Sitkins 100 meeting now known as Sitkins International.  He was a speaker and his subject was on sales management.  Who knew he was writing this wonderful book?  I so wish I had known all that is in this book when I owned a managing general agency.  Oh did I lose sleep and it was very noisy.  It would have also been helpful for those positions where I was second-in-command.

Find your Strongest Life by Marcus Buckingham – Book Review

Are you in a dead end job that drains the life out of you each day?  When you arrive home at the end of the day you have no energy to be present for your family?  Almost everyone has been in this position at one time or another.  “Find Your Strongest Life” should be read by every woman of every age so that you know what action to take to propel yourself from this situation.image

Strictly Business: Body Language: Using Nonverbal Communication for Power and Success

Author: Jan Hargreaves

I saw Jan capture her audience for an hour and a half at the Independent Insurance Agents of Texas annual meeting in Austin, TX, in June 2007.  It seemed like we were there just minutes and everyone wanted more.  She is a fabulous communicator.  If you ever have the chance to see her don’t miss it.  In the meantime you should read this book.

The Three Signs of a Miserable Job

After reading this book I wrote “The Power of the Positive Audit” for The Anderson Agency ReportThe “The Power of the Positive Audit” takes the premise of this book and applies it to insurance agencies specifically.  This book shows us that Patrick Lencioni, renowned business consultant and bestselling author of The Five Dysfunctions of a Team, is on a critical mission to create widespread job satisfaction in a world full of workplace misery.

This is another must read for every owner, partner, manager and supervisor of any type of firm.  My two part article on “The Power of the Positive Audit” are available here:

acrobat20x20The Power of the Positive Audit – Part I

acrobat20x20The Power of the Positive Audit – Part II