Lord Byron - She Walks In Beauty read by Eric Portman

Lord Byron - She Walks In Beauty read by Eric Portman

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William Blake - Auguries Of Innocence read by Ted Hughes

William Blake - Auguries of Innocence read by Ted Hughes

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Donna Ballman: Stand Up For Yourself Without Getting Fired - Blog Business Success Radio

Listen to Wayne Hurlbert on Blog Talk Radio

Practicing employment attorney, blogger, and author of the clear and concise book Stand Up For Yourself Without Getting Fired: Resolve Workplace Crises Before You Quit, Get Axed or Sue the Bastards, Donna Ballman describes how most employees need to know how to handle real workplace problems and issues. Donna Ballman points out that employees don't know their rights, and often believe they have rights that don't exist, Donna Ballman provides advice for recent graduates, current job seekers, newly hired employees, and long time workplace veterans. Donna offers information on topics ranging from wages to social media, and from discrimination to termination. Donna shares advice for employees thinking about quitting their job, and what to do and not do in that situation. Learn what it means to sign employment contracts, confidentiality agreements, and non-competes.

Donna Ballman is my internet radio show guest on Blog Business Success; hosted live on BlogTalkRadio.

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

Practicing employment attorney, blogger, and author of the clear and concise book Stand Up For Yourself Without Getting Fired: Resolve Workplace Crises Before You Quit, Get Axed or Sue the Bastards, Donna Ballman describes how most employees need to know how to handle real workplace problems and issues. You will learn:

* Why employees have so much misinformation about their rights in workplaces

* How to get started understanding rights and responsibilities from day one

* How to handle discrimination, bullying, and harassment

* How to handle layoffs, termination, and quitting your job

Donna Ballman (photo left) is an employment attorney who represents employees. She hopes to provide information to employees that can inform you of your workplace rights and responsibilities.

Donna Ballman has been practicing employment law, including negotiating severance agreements and litigating discrimination, sexual harassment, non-compete agreements, and employment law issues, in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida since 1986. Her blog on employee-side employment law issues, employeeatty.blogspot.com, Screw You Guys, I'm Going Home, was named one of the 2011 ABA Blawg 100 and the 2011 Lexis/Nexis Top 25 Labor and Employment Law Blogs.

She has written for AOL Jobs, Monster.com, Ask A Manager, and the Huffington Post, and has more than 5,000 Twitter followers as @EmployeeAtty. Ballman has taught continuing legal education classes for lawyers and accountants through organizations such as the National Employment Lawyers Association, Sterling Education Services, and the Florida Association for Women Lawyers.

She's been interviewed by MSNBC, the Wall Street Journal, Lifetime Television Network, the Daily Business Review, and many other media outlets.

My book review of Stand Up For Yourself Without Getting Fired: Resolve Workplace Crises Before You Quit, Get Axed or Sue the Bastards by Donna Ballman.

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 practicing employment attorney, blogger, and author of the clear and concise book Stand Up For Yourself Without Getting Fired: Resolve Workplace Crises Before You Quit, Get Axed or Sue the Bastards, Donna Ballman describes how most employees need to know how to handle real workplace problems and issues. Donna Ballman points out that employees don't know their rights, and often believe they have rights that don't exist, Donna Ballman provides advice for recent graduates, current job seekers, newly hired employees, and long time workplace veterans. Donna offers information on topics ranging from wages to social media, and from discrimination to termination. Donna shares advice for employees thinking about quitting their job, and what to do and not do in that situation. Learn what it means to sign employment contracts, confidentiality agreements, and non-compete agreements on Blog Business Success Radio.

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The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock by T.S. Eliot

The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock by T.S. Eliot, read by the author.

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Mel Carson: Pioneers Of Digital - Blog Business Success Radio

Listen to Wayne Hurlbert on Blog Talk Radio

Internationally renowned expert on search marketing, social media, and online advertising, and founder of Delightful Communications, and co-author of the inspirational and lesson packed book Pioneers of Digital: Success Stories from Leaders in Advertising, Marketing, Search and Social Media, Mel Carson describes the stories behind the key visionaries who influenced how advertising, marketing, search and social media have evolved during the digital era. Mel Carson shares the insights and success stories of the thought leaders and visionaries who transformed how we work on the internet. Mel Carson presents the key ideas and lessons learned from the conversations with the pioneers, and how those same ideas can be applied to your own creative and innovative initiatives. Mel demonstrates how the advice and inspiration shared by the digital pioneers is a combination of timeless wisdom and innovative thinking that leads to unexpected outcomes. Learn how to think like and become a digital pioneer in your own online world.

Mel Carson is my internet radio show guest on Blog Business Success; hosted live on BlogTalkRadio.

The show airs live on Tuesday, December 11, at 8:00 pm Eastern Time; 5:00 pm Pacific Time.

Internationally renowned expert on search marketing, social media, and online advertising, and founder of Delightful Communications, and co-author of the inspirational and lesson packed book Pioneers of Digital: Success Stories from Leaders in Advertising, Marketing, Search and Social Media, Mel Carson describes the stories behind the key visionaries who influenced how advertising, marketing, search and social media have evolved during the digital era. You will learn:

* How the digital pioneers influenced the evolution of the internet

* How their success stories and experiences provide inspiration to others

* The lessons and traits the digital pioneers shared in common

* How to apply the digital pioneering lessons to your innvoations

Mel Carson (photo left) is a world-renowned expert on search marketing, social media and online advertising. An industry veteran, his most notable role has been a seven year stint as Microsoft Advertising's Digital Marketing Evangelist.

He's an accomplished industry blogger and speaks at conferences around the world such as SES in New York and the Interactive Advertising Bureau's Social Media Forum in London.

Based in Seattle, he's also lectured on MBA and MSc courses.

My book review of Pioneers of Digital: Success Stories from Leaders in Advertising, Marketing, Search and Social Media by Paul Springer and Mel Carson.

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 internationally renowned expert on search marketing, social media, and online advertising, and founder of Delightful Communications, and co-author of the inspirational and lesson packed book Pioneers of Digital: Success Stories from Leaders in Advertising, Marketing, Search and Social Media, Mel Carson, as he describes the stories behind the key visionaries who influenced how advertising, marketing, search and social media have evolved during the digital era. Mel Carson shares the insights and success stories of the thought leaders and visionaries who transformed how we work on the internet. Mel Carson presents the key ideas and lessons learned from the conversations with the pioneers, and how those same ideas can be applied to your own creative and innovative initiatives. Mel demonstrates how the advice and inspiration shared by the digital pioneers is a combination of timeless wisdom and innovative thinking that leads to unexpected outcomes. Learn how to think like and become a digital pioneer in your own online world on Blog Business Success Radio.

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Pioneers of Digital by Paul Springer & Mel Carson - Book review

Pioneers of Digital

Success Stories from Leaders in Advertising, Marketing, Search and Social Media

By: Paul Springer, Mel Carson

Published: November 5, 2012
Format: Paperback, 232 pages
ISBN-10: 0749466049
ISBN-13: 978-0749466046
Publisher Kogan Page











"True pioneers of digital, these innovators have pushed the boundaries of what's possible through the internet and created compelling, entertaining and useful experiences that have touched millions around the world", write communications professor and head of research for Design, Media and Management at Buckinghamshire New University, Paul Springer; and internationally renowned expert on search marketing, social media, and online marketing, and founder of Delightful Communications, Mel Carson, in their inspirational and fascinating digital personality filled book Pioneers of Digital: Success Stories from Leaders in Advertising, Marketing, Search and Social Media. The authors share the their intriguing and revealing conversations with the leading discoverers and innovators in the various disciplines that encompass the entire sphere of digital media.

Paul Springer (photo left) and Mel Carson recognize the innovations and contributions made by the visionary individuals profiled in the book. The digital pioneers presented in the various chapters have careers that cross many different disciplines, various platforms, different campaigns, and many industries across the digital frontier. Intriguingly, the authors point out that the creative people profiled had little idea about how ubiquitous and crucial the internet would be in the lives of people around the world. The various profiles include the identification of expanding and innovative regions of the world, including China, India, and the Middle East, where digital communications are being created and where the lives of people are shaped by those same digital media.

Mel Carson (photo left and Paul Springer present unique insights into the thoughts and vision of the profiled digital pioneers. To provide the information in a consistent form, the authors utilize a format here the individuals explain their digital discipline, tell their story in their own words, analysis of the success of their work, and the main points learned for each of the profiled people.

The authors identified a common set of lessons learned from conversations with the various digital pioneers. Those lessons are as follows:

* Not being original
* Pioneering commercial models
* Repositioning creativity
* Skills convergence
* All platforms and no content
* Running in real time: Not being ahead of the game
* Create something useful and never assume
* Enjoy what you do
* Ten steps to becoming a digital pioneer,from the people who got there

For me, the power of the book is how Paul Springer and Mel Carson combine the insightful interviews and stories of the profiled digital pioneers, with the lessons gleaned from the conversations with the profiled individuals. The authors offer a wide range of profiles that include leading thinkers in an array of industries, platforms, technologies, and disciplines. Despite this wide spectrum approach, the authors provide a cohesive overview of commonalities between the various pioneers.

With this understanding of the traits and ideas shared by the thought leaders, the book becomes more than an anthology of profiles. Instead, it becomes a treasure trove of concepts that guide the reader into the direction of becoming a future pioneer. The various stories have both a standard framework, and a unique sense of the individuals and their vision. The opportunity to learn from the successes of the pioneers, and how to learn from their experiences, transforms the book into a powerful teaching and learning tool for the aspiring digital innovator.

I highly recommend the insightful and success oriented book Pioneers of Digital: Success Stories from Leaders in Advertising, Marketing, Search and Social Media by Paul Springer and Mel Carson, to anyone seeking an anthology of informative and idea filled profiles of successful pioneers in the digital world. This book will guide you on a digital voyage around the world, across platforms, and many disciplines as you learn from the successes of the true pioneers of digital.

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Samuel Taylor Coleridge: The Rime Of The Ancient Mariner

James Mason reads The Rime Of The Ancient Mariner by Samuel Taylor Coleridge (1772-1834)

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Leading Culture Change in Global Organizations by Daniel Denison, Robert Hooijberg, Nancy Lane & Colleen Lief - Book review

Leading Culture Change in Global Organizations

Aligning Culture and Strategy

By: Daniel Denison, Robert Hooijberg, Nancy Lane, Colleen Lief

Published: June 26, 2012
Format: Hardcover, 240 pages
ISBN-10: 047090884X
ISBN-13: 978-0470908846
Publisher: Jossey-Bass











"It can be easy to forget that the people make the place, because the structures that we create often outlive our memory of how and why we created them to begin with, leaving us feeling like we are the victims rather than the visionaries of the systems that we create", write professor or management and organization at the International Institute for Management Development (IMD), Daniel Denison; professor of organizational behavior at the International Institute for Management Development (IMD), Robert Hooijberg; research associate at the International Institute for Management Development (IMD), Nancy Lane; and project manager for the IMD-Lombard Odier Darier Hentsch Family Business Research Center, Colleen Lief, in their insightful and organization transforming book Leading Culture Change in Global Organizations: Aligning Culture and Strategy. The authors describe the importance of developing a unique company culture, and present the theory and practices to transform the organizational culture into one that aligns with the overall company strategy.

Daniel Denison (photo left), Robert Hooijberg, Nancy Lane, and Colleen Lief understand the importance of of company culture to the success of the organization. The authors also recognize the necessity of that culture being in alignment with the strategic planning of the organization. This alignment is especially critical in a global company, where adaptability and flexibility are crucial to success in diverse markets.

To achieve the needed level of alignment, and a successful company culture, the authors provide the best practices for developing and managing a strong company culture, aligned to the values and strategy of the organization, and how to measure its overall effectiveness. The authors share a number case studies of company cultural transformation, and analyze the successes and challenges experienced by those organizations

Robert Hooijberg (photo left), Nancy Lane, Colleen Lief, and Daniel Denison approach the issue of company culture from an alignment viewpoint. Within that assessment, the authors consider which paths toward cultural transformation have produced the most success. They also assess the role of the organizational leadership in creating a new culture, and what the results of those changes in culture are over time. The authors also consider the results of the various approaches to culture transformation to determine the most effective practices for a global company. To evaluate the myriad approaches taken by several organizations, the authors applied a survey of the companies involved in the changes.

Nancy Lane (photo left), Colleen Lief, Daniel Denison, and Robert Hooijberg present a comprehensive overview of the development of a unique company culture that is alignment withe organizational strategy. The authors tracked the companies included int their study and developed a series of strategies and lessons for leaders as follows:

* Building a high performance business culture
* Supporting the front line
* Creating strategic alignment
* Creating one culture out of many
* Exporting cultural change
* Building a global business in an emerging market
* Building a global business from an emerging market
* Building for the future: Trading old habits for new

For me, the power of the book is how Colleen Lief (photo left), Daniel Denison, Robert Hooijberg and Nancy Lane provide a powerful combination of theory and practical strategies for developing and managing an effective corporate culture. The authors present the practices for leaders to transform their existing organizational culture, including cultures that are dysfunctional, into unique and vibrant organizations, whose actions and engagement are aligned with the overall goals and strategies of the firm.

The authors move beyond the standard culture based books and offer a research based examination of cultures that have transformed themselves into completely different ones. The book contains the case studies of those companies, and how they met their cultural challenges, and became entirely unique enterprises. The book extends the cultural discussion as well to include the challenges and opportunities for an aligned culture to succeed in the global marketplace. The various chapters in the book contain a series of lessons for leaders, as well, that offer actionable ideas and tactics for creating a fresh and engaged organizational culture.

I highly recommend the research based and very practical strategy filled book Leading Culture Change in Global Organizations: Aligning Culture and Strategy by Daniel Denison, Robert Hooijberg, Nancy Lane, and Colleen Lief, to any organizational leaders seeking to transform their company culture to reengage employees to meet the many challenges presented through operating in the global economy. This book will change the way you think about the value of company culture, and its fundamental importance to organizational success.

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Fearless At Work by Michael Carroll - Book review

Fearless at Work

Timeless Teachings for Awakening Confidence, Resilience, and Creativity in the Face of Life's Demands

By: Michael Carroll

Published: November 13, 2012
Format: Paperback, 304 pages
ISBN-10: 1590309146
ISBN-13: 978-1590309148
Publisher: Shambhala







"But somehow, for so many of us, such workplace confidence seems elusive, and instead of feeling resourceful and resilient, we too often find ourselves hoping for success, chasing happiness, craving rewards, and fearing the worst", writes human resources professional and founding director of AAW, Michael Michael Carroll, in his inspirational and deeply personal book Fearless at Work: Timeless Teachings for Awakening Confidence, Resilience, and Creativity in the Face of Life's Demands. The author describes how employees all too often feel overwhelmed by the obstacles, problems, and challenges they face in the workplace, and offers an alternative approach to meeting those challenges by becoming fearless at work.

Michael Carroll understands that people often feel fear in the workplace, as they meet challenges of all kinds, face unexpected change, and an uncertain future. At such times, when an individual wants to be at their most resilient and most creative, they find themselves immobilized by fear and a sense of being lost due to the uncertain footing. The author acknowledges that he has experienced the same fears and sense of helplessness himself. To regain control of his own life and future, Michael Carroll rediscovered his own natural fearlessness. To regain mindfulness, and to live fearlessly as a human being, the author called upon the principles of Buddhist philosophy, and incorporated its teachings into his own life and thoughts.

Michael Carroll (photo left) recognizes the personal calmness established through adopting the practices of mindfulness. Through a deeper and richer understanding and awareness of the events large and small in our daily lives, people can become more resilient and creative in how they meet those life challenges. Far from recommending the complete expulsion of fear, or becoming aggressive or stoic in the face of those fears, Michael Carroll presents the concept of fearlessness as a confidence to sit and be still, and meeting the challenge.

Michael Carroll shares the five primary slogans for achieving fearlessness at work through the timeless teaching of the Buddhist tradition. The five slogans that form the core of fearlessness are as follows:

* Face the fierce facts of life
* No delight; no courage
* Recognize fear
* Discover the jewel of fearless abundance
* Command gracefully

For me, the power of the book is how Michael Carroll combines the timeless teachings of Buddhism, with the practical techniques and exercises to develop your own fearlessness. The author presents five primary slogans to develop fearlessness, and a total of thirty-eight slogans in all. Michael Carroll explains each set of slogans and principles through the medium of story and personal experience. The author takes a very personal and hands on approach to the wisdom shares in the book. The author encourages the reader to read, contemplate, and practice the principles to develop each person's inherent personal fearlessness.

The very observation that being fearless is a natural human condition is empowering for the individual who experience a temporary failure of confidence. The teachings help guide the individual on the journey from fear to recognizing and embracing personal courage and fearlessness. Instead of fear and doubt ruling the workplace, the author describes practices that can transform the entire culture of the work environment to one of fearlessness. This fundamental change in company culture establishes the conditions of personal growth, creativity, and the confidence to overcome any obstacle/.

I highly recommend the engaging and empowering book Fearless at Work: Timeless Teachings for Awakening Confidence, Resilience, and Creativity in the Face of Life's Demands by Michael Carroll, to anyone seeking a personal loss of grounding and courage at work or in their personal lives. This book offers the wisdom to recapture your inherent human fearlessness, and provide the guidance to live a life of mindfulness and confidence.

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Erika Andersen: Leading So People Will Follow - Blog Business Success Radio

Listen to Wayne Hurlbert on Blog Talk Radio

Blogger, leadership trainer, consultant, and founding partner of Proteus International, and author of the engaging and timeless wisdom filled book Leading So People Will Follow, Erika Andersen, describes how despite many books and much training on the subject, truly great leadership remains rare. In today's challenging economic climate, talented leadership is needed more than ever. Erika Andersen addresses this leadership challenge by presenting an alternative approach. Erika offers a strategy and methodology for how to lead so people will follow. Erika Andersen draws on the leadership stories found in classic fairytales from around the world. From these stories, Erika distills the six characteristics that followers seek and look for in leaders. Erika Andersen also describes how a leader doesn't achieve results alone, and shares the three key types of supporters that successful leaders should seek out, and to gain assistance from them.

Erika Andersen is my internet radio show guest on Blog Business Success; hosted live on BlogTalkRadio.

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

Blogger, leadership trainer, consultant, and founding partner of Proteus International, and author of the engaging and timeless wisdom filled book Leading So People Will Follow, Erika Andersen, describes how despite many books and much training on the subject, truly great leadership remains rare. You will learn:

* Why great leadership is rare despite a growing need for more leaders

* How great leaders have been described through folklore and fairytale

* The six leadership attributes essential for outstanding leadership

* Three special guides and supporters needed by leaders to achieve the vision

Since 1980, Erika Andersen (photo left) has developed a reputation for creating approaches to learning and business-building that are uniquely tailored to her clients’ challenges, goals, and culture. She and her colleagues at Proteus International, inc. offer practical methods and skills for individuals, teams, and companies to clarify and then achieve their hoped-for-future.

Much of her recent work has focused on organizational visioning and strategy, executive coaching, and management and leadership development. In these capacities she has served as consultant and advisor to the CEOs and top executives of a number of corporations, including MTV Networks, Rockwell Automation, Turner Broadcasting, GE, TJX, NBC Universal, Union Square Hospitality Group, and Cablevision Corporation.

She has been invited to share her insights about managing people and creating successful businesses by speaking to corporations, non-profit groups and national associations. Her books and learning guides have been translated into Spanish, Turkish, German, French, Russian and Chinese, and she has been quoted in a variety of national publications, including Glamour, Fortune and The New York Times. She is the author of Growing Great Employees: Turning Ordinary People into Extraordinary Performers (Portfolio, 2006) and Being Strategic: Plan for Success; Out-Think Your Competitors; Stay Ahead of Change (St. Martin’s Press, May 2009), and the author and host of Being Strategic with Erika Andersen on Public Television

My book review of Leading So People Will Follow by Erika Andersen.

My book review of Being Strategic: Plan for Success; Out-Think Your Competitors; Stay Ahead of Change by Erika Andersen.

My book review of Growing Great Employees: Turning Ordinary People into Extraordinary Performers by Erika Andersen.

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 Blogger, leadership trainer, consultant, and founding partner of Proteus International, and author of the engaging and timeless wisdom filled book Leading So People Will Follow, Erika Andersen, describes how despite many books and much training on the subject, truly great leadership remains rare. In today's challenging economic climate, talented leadership is needed more than ever. Erika Andersen addresses this leadership challenge by presenting an alternative approach. Erika offers a strategy and methodology for how to lead so people will follow. Erika Andersen draws on the leadership stories found in classic fairytales from around the world. From these stories, Erika distills the six characteristics that followers seek and look for in leaders. Erika Andersen also describes how a leader doesn't achieve results alone, and shares the three key types of supporters that successful leaders should seek out, and to gain assistance from them on Blog Business Success Radio.

»»  read more

Leading So People Will Follow by Erika Andersen - Book review

Leading So People Will Follow

By: Erika Andersen

Published: October 16, 2012
Format: Hardcover, 224 pages
ISBN-10: 111837987X
ISBN-13: 978-1118379875
Publisher: Jossey-Bass












"We want good leaders. In fact, we crave good leaders. We're hungry for good, worthy, followable leaders in every part of our lives", writes blogger, leadership trainer, and founding partner of Proteus International, Erika Andersen, in her engaging and timeless wisdom filled book Leading So People Will Follow. The author describes how people want leaders who they can follow, and provides the important leadership traits shared by great leaders, to develop leaders who people want to follow.

Erika Andersen understands that people are seeking great leaders, and that they want to follow great leaders. She points out that in today's uncertain economic times that there is an ever more pressing need for outstanding leaders than ever before. The author shares the often overlooked concept that anyone can become that extraordinary leader who people want to follow. Erika Andersen shares the six most essential characteristics that great leaders have in common. To illustrate these timeless traits, the author utilizes the power of story, through a retelling of fairytales and folklore from around the world. By offering these classic tales, where leadership abilities are critical to the story,

Erika Andersen (photo left) creates a compelling blueprint for modern leaders to emulate, and for potential followers to embrace toward achieving the leader's vision. The author recognizes that people are searching for great leaders to follow. Utilizing the the folktale leadership model, where the actions and character of outstanding leaders are part of the story, Erika Andersen presents an instinctive list of ideal leadership qualities. The stories describe these learnable traits in vivid and readily understood detail, as the attributes that are sought after by those who follow great leaders.

Erika Andersen describes the six essential leadership attributes as follows:

* Far-sighted: Emphasizes a vision and how to achieve it
* Passionate: Has commitment to a compelling vision, and has principles
* Courageous: Will overcome challenges and act responsibly
* Wise: Provide thoughtful decisions that gain the confidence of people
* Generous: Support and help their followers, and create a good environment
* Trustworthy: Creates a bond of trust with the followers

For me, the power of the book is how how Erika Andersen combines a powerful framework of leadership qualities through the medium of folktales, with the practical techniques and practices to develop and nurture those attributes. The author presents the timeless wisdom from the worlds of folklore and fairytale, where leaders displayed the six crucial qualities that define outstanding leaders. Erika Andersen offers the important insight, based on both the stories and her own experience and observation, that people have a visceral longing for and recognition of those six essential attributes.

The author makes clear as well that the six qualities of great leadership form a holistic and mutually supporting character. The leader must nurture, practice, and develop all of the six attributes to achieve great leadership within themselves, and for their followers. Erika Andersen also recognizes that great leaders understand they are not all powerful, and that they need guides and supporters in achieving their vision. Utilizing the folklore tradition, the author describes the three key supporters as wizards, well-wishers, and wild cards.

I highly recommend the insightful and transformational book Leading So People Will Follow by Erika Andersen, to any current or aspiring leaders, and to anyone who may find themselves thrust into a leadership role at any time. This important and must read book will develop anyone into a great leader, perhaps even of legendary and folklore proportions.

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Nan S. Russell: The Titleless Leader - Blog Business Success Radio

Listen to Wayne Hurlbert on Blog Talk Radio

Speaker, workplace consultant, columnist, blogger, and author of the empowering and no nonsense book The Titleless Leader: How to Get Things Done When You're Not in Charge, Nan S. Russell, describes how to get things done even though a person supposedly lacks the title, authority, or rank to do so. Nan Russell presents a bold new form of real leadership to counter the de-motivational spiral of self-indulgent and unaligned leaders. Nan Russell points out that where the official leadership has failed and lost trust, it is essential for true leaders to step forward and restore that trust. Nan Russell shares the empowering concept of not needing to be appointed leader to get things done in the organization. Nan offers the essential behaviors for the titleless leader to demonstrate, and how to put this behavior to work to rebuild the organization, while reengaging the workforce. Learn how to put the common sense based principles of the titleless leader to work for you, your fellow employees, the customers, and the well being of the organization as a whole.

Nan S. Russell is my internet radio show guest on Blog Business Success; hosted live on BlogTalkRadio.

The show airs live on Tuesday, December 4, at 8:00 pm Eastern Time; 5:00 pm Pacific Time.

Speaker, workplace consultant, columnist, blogger, and author of the empowering and no nonsense book The Titleless Leader: How to Get Things Done When You're Not in Charge, Nan S. Russell, describes how to get things done even though a person supposedly lacks the title, authority, or rank to do so. You will learn:

* Why it's important in today's business environment to step up as leaders

* What it means to be a titleless leader and why it's important

* How to take appropriate action even without an official title

* How to reengage the workforce and realign the company values with actions

Nan S. Russell (photo left) found that even a Stanford degree didn't protect her from being fired from her first professional job. From minimum wage employee to Vice President of a multi-billion dollar company, Nan learned the hard way what it takes to survive and thrive at work. Now she's helping others avoid the mistakes she made, sharing her real-world perspectives of what does and doesn't work at work.

Currently living a life dream to live and write from the mountains of Montana, her Winning at Working and In the Scheme of Things columns reach millions of readers. Nan is a sought after motivational speaker, workplace consultant, and the author of two books, Hitting Your Stride and Nibble Your Way to Success.

She is also the weekly host of Work Matters on webtalkradio.net, and a Psychology Today blogger on workplace issues

My book review of The Titleless Leader: How to Get Things Done When You're Not in Charge by Nan S. Russell.

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 speaker, workplace consultant, columnist, blogger, and author of the empowering and no nonsense book The Titleless Leader: How to Get Things Done When You're Not in Charge, Nan S. Russell, as she describes how to get things done even though a person supposedly lacks the title, authority, or rank to do so. Nan Russell presents a bold new form of real leadership to counter the de-motivational spiral of self-indulgent and unaligned leaders. Nan Russell points out that where the official leadership has failed and lost trust, it is essential for true leaders to step forward and restore that trust. Nan Russell shares the empowering concept of not needing to be appointed leader to get things done in the organization. Nan offers the essential behaviors for the titleless leader to demonstrate, and how to put this behavior to work to rebuild the organization, while reengaging the workforce. Learn how to put the common sense based principles of the titleless leader to work for you, your fellow employees, the customers, and the well being of the organization as a whole on Blog Business Success Radio.

»»  read more

The Titleless Leader by Nan S. Russell - Book review

The Titleless Leader

How to Get Things Done When You're Not in Charge

By: Nan S. Russell

Published: May 22, 2012
Format: Paperback, 256 pages
ISBN-10: 1601632088
ISBN-13: 978-1601632081
Publisher: Career Press









"We can continue the de-motivating spiral of self-indulgent, unaligned leaders, or we can decide to create tomorrow's workplaces with a new kind of leadership", writes speaker, workplace consultant, and acclaimed columnist, radio host and blogger, Nan S. Russell, in her empowering and no nonsense book The Titleless Leader: How to Get Things Done When You're Not in Charge. The author describes the aligning and transformational concept of the titleless leader as a profound solution to the dysfunctional and counterproductive leadership found in all too many disengaged workplaces.

Nan Russell understands that there is much more to the dynamic of leadership than simply holding an official title. For the author, the title is not what gets the results, it's the actions of the leader that makes all of the difference. Nan Russell lists the crucial elements that the titleless leader must possess to achieve positive results. Those qualities are trust, compassion, stability, and hope. The author presents these uncommon behaviors as essential for the leader without rank, who seeks to propel the organization forward. These behaviors are delivered by the effective titleless leader along with what the author calls the cornerstones of self-alignment, possibility seeds, soul-courage, and winning philosophies.

Nan Russell (photo left) recognizes that the modern workplace is in transition as it evolves into a new and potentially exciting form. The author points out that the leader must change along with the transformation of the workplace to remain aligned with organizational goals in order to remain effective. Nan Russell examines real leadership, that doesn't depend upon a title or rank, but on integrity, positive actions, inner work and reflection. The author offers the concept of the titleless leader as one who practices uncommon behaviors, gets exceptional results, and helps build a successful future.

Nan Russell also shares the strategies, techniques, and practices to incorporate the principles into one's own leadership and into the workplace. To provide a workable and understandable framework for developing titleless leadership in oneself and in others, Nan Russell divides the book into three overarching sections. Each of the three parts is subdivided into the practices and tactics for making tltleless leadership a reality in today's cynical and trust starved workplaces. The three basic sections are as follows:

* From the outside: What does it look like?
* From the inside: How does it happen
* From the practical side: When?

For me, the power of the book is how Nan Russell combines the overall theory and principles of titleless leadership, with the practical and hands on techniques for learning and putting the concepts into action. The author not only proposes a new type of leadership, based in behavior and principles, but also explains why that leadership transformation is essential for organizational success. Nan Russell understands very well the need for leaders to have their own actions aligned with those of the firm. Unfortunately, this alignment has been missing from the supposed leaders who carry with them the titles and official authority.

In their place, Nan Russell presents a fresh manifesto for real leadership to emerge within organizations, regardless of official sanction or rank, and reestablish that important alignment of vision and actions. The loss of trust in the existing and failed leadership has resulted in disengaged employees, dissatisfied customers, and badly performing companies. The titleless leader is one way to empower people to do the right thing, and show the courage to reengage the workforce, and rebuilt that eroded trust.

I highly recommend the straight talking and engagement rebuilding book The Titleless Leader: How to Get Things Done When You're Not in Charge by Nan S. Russell, to any potential leaders within any organization, who seek to reestablish alignment of vision and behavior, to bring back trust, and to recreate the company as a whole. This book is a real call to action for anyone who is willing to step forward, take the titleless leadership challenge, and build a winning philosophy within an aligned and successful company.

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The Landmark Arrian: The Campaigns of Alexander edited by James Romm - Book review

The Landmark Arrian

The Campaigns of Alexander

Edited by: JamesRomm, Ph.D.

Translated by: Pamela Mensch

Published: January 27, 2012
Format: Trade Paperback, 560 pages
ISBN-10: 1400079675
ISBN-13: 978-1400079674
Publisher: Anchor











"There are many reasons for a modern reader to be interested in Arrian's Anabasis, by far the primary one is Alexander. The campaigns of this intensely compelling warrior-king can be followed by way of four ancient and dozens of modern narratives, but Arrian's holds the unique appeal of being both reasonably reliable and exceptionally well told", writes James H Ottaway Professor of Classical Studies at Bard College, James Romm, Ph.D., in his outstanding and landmark edition of Translated by: Pamela Mensch. The editor presents this superb translation by Pamela Mensch of second century CE historian Arrian's account of the military campaigns of the legendary Macedonian king and conqueror known as Alexander the Great.

James Romm presents a heavily annotated edition, complete with a lavish helping of maps and photographs, to guide the reader on the historic campaigns of Alexander. The second century CE Roman historian Lucius Favius Arrianus, better known as Arrian, wrote what is widely regarded as the finest and most authoritative account of the major events in Alexander's military career.

As a military leader himself, Arrian put together the memoirs of Ptolemy, and added his personal military insights gained through his own career. The result is his magnificent account of Alexander the Great, his battles and conquests, and the world in which he lived and fought. Utilizing the superb and very compelling modern translation by Pamela Mensche, James Romm provides an outstanding edition of the ancient texts.

James Romm (photo left) recognizes the shortcomings in in Arrian's historical narrative. While there may be gaps in the historical accounts, the author points out that there is no lack of respect for both Alexander himself, and for the soldiers who served under his command. To ensure that modern readers are able to follow the text, James Romm provides copious notes along with the well translated text, including the use of either modern or more familiar classical names for places and events.

The Arrian text includes the following chapters that cover the campaigns of Alexander the Great through his brief but turbulent career as a military commander. The seven books are as follows:

* Book One: The Campaigns in Europe and Western Asia
* Book Two: The Campaigns in Western Asia (II) and Phoenicia
* Book Three: The Egyptian Sojourn and the Campaign against Darius
* Book Four: The Campaign in Bactria and Sogdiana
* Book Five: The Indian Campaign (I)
* Book Six: The Indian Campaign (II) and the Return from the East
* Book Seven: The Return to Babylon

For me, the power of the book is how James Romm captures the power and scope of the writings of Arrian. Combined with the vivid translation work of Pamela Mensch, the books take on the voice of Arrian, and convey the sweeping panorama of the ancient world and the role played by Alexander in shaping it. The changes and achievements of Alexander the Great were so deeply profound and lasting, that their echoes are still heard in the region today.

James Romm adds to the overall value of the book through the inclusion of a series of essays by leading classical scholars who add depth to the story of Alexander and his many land and sea campaigns. These many appendixes fill in the various gaps in the text, and also add historical perspective to the events. The inclusion of many maps, battlefield reconstructions, and photographs enhances the overall experience of reading this magnificent book.

I highly recommend the definitive and very accessible book The Landmark Arrian: The Campaigns of Alexander edited by James Romm, Ph.D., to anyone interested in ancient or military history, students and academics, military enthusiasts, business people studying leadership, and those following the origin and development of tensions between East and West. This book is more than a history of the campaigns of Alexander, but a seminal work of art in and of itself.

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The Launch Pad by Randall Stross - Book review

The Launch Pad

Inside Y Combinator, Silicon Valley's Most Exclusive School for Startups

By: Randall Stross

Published: September 27, 2012
Format: Hardcover, 288 pages
ISBN-10: 1591845297
ISBN-13: 978-1591845294
Publisher: Portfolio/Penguin












"Individual angel investors have long made seed investments in software startups. But YC pioneered its own twist: mass-producing startups by investing not one at a time but in semiannual batches", writes New York Times Digital Domain columnist Randall Stross, in his eye opening and fascinating book The Launch Pad: Inside Y Combinator, Silicon Valley's Most Exclusive School for Startups. The author describes how one batch of sixty companies went through the process of seeking funding through the exclusive Silicon Valley school for startup businesses known as Y Combinator.

Randall Stross takes the reader on an groundbreaking tour of the entire journey for five dozen hopeful software startup companies in the summer of 2011. The author was granted unprecedented access to Y Combinator (YC) entrepreneur and investor Paul Graham, and uncovered the thinking and vision behind this unique school for potential Silicon Valley ventures. Randall Stross follows the would be Google and Twitter type companies, as they vie for cherished and fiercely sought after spots in the school, the preparation of their products and plans of the funding hopefuls over the summer months, and the final revelation of the products for potential funding on the final Demo Day.

Randall Stross (photo left) Randall places a very human face on the struggles, successes and failures of these would be software businesses of the future. The author provides what amounts to a guided tour of the activities, philosophy, and outcomes of the Y Combinator experience. Not every company that enters the YC program succeeds. On the other hand, the startups are pushed very hard, by YC founder and self proclaimed hacker Paul Graham, to achieve greatness. The emphasis on taking large numbers of potential startups through the intensive engagement is part of the secret of the organization's success.

Producing such high profile success stories as Dropbox, Airbnb, and Heroku has developed and enhanced the school\s reputation and verified its methodology as effective and instrumental in achieving positive outcomes. Randall Stoss tkes the reader behind the scenes as well. The author presents the insider stories of meetings not open to the public, long hours of fatiguing work, and the personal experiences of those potential entrepreneurs who accepted the Y Combinator challenge.

For me, the power of the book is how Randall Stross combines the human element of the would be software entrepreneurs in search of funding, with the overall story and process of the inner workings of Y Combinator. The author provides insights into how the future of technology, and of how people live and work, is being created in this Silicon Valley startup school, and through the investments of venture capitalists and angel investors. Randall Stross presents the Y Combinator founder as both visionary and hacker, as well as a bottom line oriented business leader seeking investment opportunities that will yield enormous profits. The YC story is one where the romanticism of hacking and disruptive technology meets the harsh realities of business plans and return on investment. The book is an object lesson in the process of Silicon Valley style funding, and the creation of the future today.

I highly recommend the landmark and revealing book The Launch Pad: Inside Y Combinator, Silicon Valley's Most Exclusive School for Startups by Randall Stross, to any would be entrepreneurs, seekers of venture capital, providers of venture capital funds, and anyone interested in how the real world of startup schools works in Silicon Valley. This book will both entertain and inform you, as you follow the trials and triumphs of tomorrow's business success stories.

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