We need to reduce costs or increase sales. We need to generate a new product idea or solve a customer service issue. So what do we do? We brainstorm! What else? This book is the what else. As Kevin and Shawn have discovered, brainstorming isn’t all that great after all. Instead, they recommend a process they call brainsteering. Don’t aim for the stars and hope to hit the moon, instead be more focused and realistic. Details inside!

More about Shawn and the book here.
Transcript of this podcast is here.

You are B2B and linked to the success of the end product. The customer chain that your customer deals with may be very complex, and you probably find that it’s difficult to do anything beyond selling on price. In this book you’ll find different growth strategies to position your products differently so that you can become an invaluable partner with those you do business with.

More about Atlee and the book here.
Transcript of this podcast is here.

Chris was into retail very young and quickly learned the importance of listening to your customers. There are plenty of books to bemoan the state of customer service, and Chris’ story is a perfect antidote. He talks about the things he’s done, both good and bad, that have made Zane’s Cycles one of the five largest retail bicycle stores in the US.

More about Chris and the book here.
Transcript of this podcast is here.

Traditionally companies have used their product teams to create the things we buy. However, you are not limited to your internal resources. That’s where co-creation comes in. By allowing your customers to innovate on top of what you’ve done, you make way for a richer, longer-lasting customer experience.

I talk with Francis about what co-creation is, what co-creation did for Nike and more.

More about the book here and Francis blogs here here.

This topic is on the mind of businesses and employees alike. Serigraph found itself burdened by the rising costs and John took it to task. He details the steps the company took to lower its costs, save employees money and not sacrifice quality.

More about the book here.

Great Places to Work surveyed 350,000 people and Adrian and Chester analyzed it to figure out what makes team go. In the end the key ingredients are Wow, No Surprises and Cheering each other on. They also look at hurdles, improving communications, recruiting and hiring, etc.

More about the book here, and Adrian, here.

When we think about our customers being always-connected, it means much more than just how the customer service department is organized. This book looks at how the product offerings take into account how we live today. How does your brand interact with that? Are you in their face or a silent partner? Customers consider not just the cost, but the time it will take to switch or sign up. Incorporate the customer’s time into your mix, and see what kind of home run you can create.

I talk to Adrian about how time affects how we do business, the difficulty of being a silent partner, the scoop on bundling, and more.

More about the book at http://24HourCustomer.com/.

If we aren’t careful, pricing can be like a pendulum with large across-the-board increases or discounts. There’s a line for every customer, and getting the right amount of profit for each is the thesis of this book. The beauty of this is, increased profits for your company may not be from the endless pursuit to cut costs or restructuring. Rafi lays out 50 different ways you can increase your profits a little at a time. Now 1% may not sound intriguing, but consider this: if Wal-mart increased it’s profit by 1%, it would mean billions more in profit.

I talk with Rafi about how this works, bringing dormant customers back into the fold, and how to compensate salespeople.

More about the book at PricingForProfit.com.

We read and hear the stories people tell about Zappos, Trader Joe’s and other companies that don’t just have customers, they have fans. These are beloved companies, as Jeanne calls them. They have created a connection with their customers by how they’ve chosen to interact with them. This book looks at the 5 key decisions they make, and challenges you to find your way to join the ranks.

I talk with Jeanne about trusting your customer, what these decisions are and more.

More about Jeanne at CustomerBliss.com

While survival is on the mind of many, Steven wants to not only see you survive, but also to use opportunities around you to grow. So the book is divided into two parts: “Ducking” is positioning yourself at your strongest point. Think of a football linebacker in a three-point stance. “Recover” is growing while those around you are satisfied with just hanging on. He does this by challenging common held beliefs and giving guidance on cash flow, pricing and profit margins.

More about the Steven at StevenSLittle.com

Everybody talks about strategy, but there is a big gap between discussing strategy, defining strategy and actually being strategic — so you can accomplish something. This book helps you approach business strategically, explaining what strategy is, why it’s important, and how to do it. “Being Strategic” offers you a step-by-step model and skills for strategic thought and action that are broadly applicable and thoroughly practical.

More about the book at BeingStrategic.com

We live in a “Sea of Sameness”. Your mall is like my mall, and the same fast food restaurants are found on Interstate highways all across America. Can you compete? Of course you can, but not by offering the the same thing as everyone else. Scott lays out the way to become distinct: Clarity, Creativity, Communication, and Customer-Experience Focus. And I’ll warn you now, he’s going to challenge you on these points because everyone says they do it.

More about the book at http://CollapseOfDistinction.com. Scott blogs at http://mckainviewpoint.com.

So many things to do and so little time? You are not alone. Everyone is busy. Everyone has an overflowing email inbox and a never-ending list of to-dos. And in Greg’s case, he found he had to make a choice. He couldn’t do it all, and to do the things that really matter to him, he’d have to say “No” to other things. While this applies to business, it will obviously apply to the other parts of life, too.

I talk with Greg about what caused him to change, how to say no and not be negative, and the changes he’s made to be more effective.

For some, it seems out of place to think that a company is out to make a difference in the world. Rather it is looked on as a way to make and keep a customer and produce a profit at the end of the day. That perspective, however, looses the power that highly-valued brands have. Done correctly, a purpose rallies the employee, solidifies the brand, and makes customer crazy about you.

I talk with Haley about the fear that what you love to do won’t be sustained by the marketplace, the question of shouldn’t business be concerned first with profit, and some ideas on how to find your purpose. More on the book here.. Buy it at Amazon.com

I talk Geoff about what really does get us ahead and what we can do to be truly excellent.

More about Geoff at www.TalentIsOverrated.com.

I talk with Tim about the overabundance of advertising and its effect, whether its better to be who you are or let the customer decide, and what “Relevance” looks like.

More about Tim at Reveries.com and TimManners.com