NEW BOOK
“Big Winners and Big Losers: The 4 Secrets of Long-Term Business Success and Failure,” by Alfred Marcus, Wharton School Publishing, $27.99
The “4 Secrets” are the common denominators from a 1992-2002 study of 1,000 of the largest successful U.S. firms, along with those that experienced persistent failure.
While the time frame covers a large period of economic growth, the “4 Secrets” keep companies stable in tough times too. Marcus provides numerous examples of how winners implemented the “4 Secrets.” He also identifies a number of reasons why losers lose.
All four “secrets” revolve around being a market leader, not a market follower:
– Position: Find uncontested space. Winners know how to deliver value efficiently within their niche. Family Dollar isn’t Wal-Mart and doesn’t want to be.
– Movement: Success brings copycats; agility fends them off.
– Discipline: In managing the organization, winners managed costs and people effectively.
– Focus: Stick to your mission. The core business is the backbone.
–Jim Pawlak, BizBooks
NEW BOOK
“The Leader’s Tool Kit: Hundreds of Tips and Techniques for Developing the Skills You Need,” by Cy Charney, Amacom, $17.95
Aspiring leaders and managers needing a refresher course will appreciate Charney’s in-your-face-cut-to-the-chase style. The book is divided into five sections: Leadership Fundamentals, Life and Career Management, Strategic Leadership, Leading Your People and Performance Leadership.
Some highlights:
– Leadership fundamentals: Be sure individual goals and assignments are clear, the limits of decision-making are defined and the guidelines for making decisions are known. Every vision needs “reality checks.”
– Strategic leadership: Learn that not everything needs to be done “yesterday.” Understand the difference between knowledge and information.
– Leading your people: Let people make mistakes and learn from them. Committing to employee training is likely to result in higher retention.
–Jim Pawlak, BizBooks
