Iconoclast by Gregory Berns.

Being different or thinking different is a common theme in business growth and innovation. The approach in other books is looking at ways to be creative and generate new ideas. Greg’s approach is from science; he’s looking at what’s going on in the brain while all of this is going on. Come to find out, the brain wants to be efficient, so it takes shortcuts all the time. If you want innovation, you’ll have to take a different approach if you want to see things differently.

Greg discusses the characteristics of an iconoclast, what might help in uncovering a new idea, and advice for teams.

 

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How the Wise Decide: The Lessons of 21 Extraordinary Leaders by Bryn Zeckhauser.

A day for firm decisions… or is it? We’re gathering info and making choices all the time. How do excellent leaders do it? How do they decide A or B, and see it through? How do they handle the tough calls? The authors interviewed 21 long-standing successful leaders in business (and life) to find out what the common traits were. It looks at how they gather information, decide, and then execute.

I talk with Byrn about how to get politics and turf wars out the decision, and how to “fill a room with barbarians”, and have anything good come out at all.

More at the book website.

 

 How the Wise Decide [12:53m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Nice Guys Can Get the Corner Office by Russ Edelman.

Nice guys (and gals) are who we want to work with (who wants to work with a jerk?), but in the process get ‘run over’ by giving in at their expense. What’s the solution? Taking on the Nice Guy Bill of Rights - the formula for being assertive without being aggressive.

I talk with Russ about what a ‘Nice Guy’ is, how nice is mistaken for weak, and what to do once you realize you’ve been getting run over.

More at the book website.

 

 Nice Guys Can Get the Corner Office [12:59m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Innovator’s Guide to Growth by Scott D. Anthony.

There’s nothing like a good innovation to create a market and drive your company’s growth. This book looks at how to:

• Identify potential innovation opportunities
• Formulate and shape ideas
• Build an innovation business
• Build innovation capabilities

I talk with Scott about where to look for innovation, how to increase your odds of success and how to handle an innovation that’s a paradigm shift - solving a problem that people don’t know they have. Scott blogs at HBSP, and is the president of Innosight. Tools for innovator at the book website.

 

 Innovator's Guide to Growth [15:29m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

How You Do What You Do by Bob Livingston.

What you do is what gets the sale, at least in the short term. How you do it is where repeat customers and sustained sales kick in. A satisfied customer returns, a dissatisfied customer goes elsewhere. Bob dives deep into the elements of service excellence and what it takes to implement them. They include how to:

• Develop and live your Purpose and Values
• Understand your clients’ soft needs, and create plans to satisfy them
• Seek continuous improvement by stimulating creativity and innovation
• Keep your service-oriented culture growing
• Create a passion for Service Excellence

More about Bob at REL Communications.

 

 How You Do What You Do [17:54m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Where’s Your Wow? by Robyn Spizman and Rick Frishman.

This book looks into the recipe to create a special sauce in your company. That’s what makes you different and more importantly, appealing for customers. From finding your edge and knowing your customer to hiring people and putting people first, it’s sixteen steps to connecting your product or service to the market and your consumers. Links: Book website, Rick’s website and blog, and Planned TV Arts.

 

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Navigating For Success by Moss A. Jackson, Ph.D.

Moss is a clinical psychologist that has taken that practice and helped business people for over 30 years. He looks at what your doing to drive your ship to its destination - are you in charge, or are the waters tossing you about? The book looks at mapping your course, dealing with fear and danger, obstacles and finding high performance in your passions. More about Moss at Corporate Initiatives.

I talk to Moss about dealing with people conflict, and Moss gives a simple, yet easy way to start getting a handle when you find yourself in a fearful situation.

 

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Big Ideas to Big Results by Michael Kanazawa and Robert Miles

You probably know where you want to go, it’s the getting there that’s the problem. You’re not alone as Fortune 500 companies to the shop on the corner have experienced the same frustration. Based on a methodology that started some 25 years ago at Harvard, the authors have worked to enable businesses of all sizes see their ideas become reality.

I talk with Mike about the beginnings, how this book aides in getting an idea launched (rather than have it stall), and aligning the troops.

Link:
www.BigIdeasToBigResults.com
Big Ideas Blog

 

 Big Ideas to Big Results [16:37m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download