This post was originally published on this site
FBR Staff Picks: Recommended Reading
{{post_url}
Ever wondered how Franchise Business Reviews’ staff stays inspired and motivated? Check out our latest list of great reads.
Making Ideas Happen: Overcoming the Obstacles Between Vision and Reality by Scott Belsky
According to productivity expert Scott Belsky, no one is born with the ability to drive creative projects to completion. Execution is a skill that must be developed by building your organizational habits and harnessing the support of your colleagues.
Recommended by: Eric Stites, CEO & Managing Partner
Take the Lead by Betsy Myers
In her hugely inspirational and practical book, Betsy Myers—senior adviser to two US presidents and former executive director of Harvard’s Center for Public Leadership— demonstrates that you do not need to be in a boardroom, on a battlefield, or on a ballot to have a profound impact on everyone around you. Good leadership is not about having the most knowledge or power but about how you make others feel.
Recommended by: Michelle Rowan, President & COO
Amaze Every Customer Every Time: 52 Tools for Delivering the Most Amazing Customer Service on the Planet by Shep Hyken
Renowned customer experience expert Shep Hyken explains how consistently amazing customers through stellar service can elevate your company from good to great. All transformations require a role model, and Shep has found the perfect role model to inspire your team: Ace Hardware. Ace was named as one of the top ten customer service brands in America by Businessweek and ranked highest in its industry for customer satisfaction.
Recommended by: Linda Lorrey, Client Consultant
Managers Not MBAs: A Hard Look at the Soft Practice of Managing and Management Development by Henry Mintzberg
Mintzberg explores the concept of management as a practice blending craft (experience) with art (insight) and some science (analysis). Conventional education in this realm, he says, encourages a “calculating” approach by overemphasizing the science, and a “heroic” approach by overstressing the art. Mintzberg argues instead for training balanced, dedicated managers who practice an “engaging” style, believing that their purpose is to leave behind stronger organizations, not just higher share prices.
Recommended by: Margot Doering, Accounting
The Signal and the Noise: Why So Many Predictions Fail–but Some Don’t by Nate Silver
Nate Silver built an innovative system for predicting baseball performance, predicted the 2008 election within a hair’s breadth, and became a national sensation as a blogger—all by the time he was thirty. He solidified his standing as the nation’s foremost political forecaster with his near perfect prediction of the 2012 election. Silver is the founder and editor in chief of FiveThirtyEight.com.
Recommended by: Mike Kupfer, Online Marketing Manager
Time to Make the Donuts by William Rosenberg
Bill Rosenberg, Founder of Dunkin’ Donuts, lived the American Dream. A scrappy, Jewish kid from Boston who dropped out of school at age 14 to earn money for his family, Bill went on to become one of 20th century’s greatest retail entrepreneurs. Innovative and indomitable, he built his multimillion dollar fortune on grit and determination. Embracing the food industry, horse racing, franchising and philanthropy he pursued his goals with the conviction of a visionary.
Recommended by: Nicole Kenney, Client Services Manager
Small Giants: Companies That Choose to Be Great Instead of Big by Bo Burlingham
It’s an axiom of business that great companies grow their revenues and profits year after year. Yet quietly, under the radar, a small number of companies have rejected the pressure of endless growth to focus on more satisfying business goals. Goals like being great at what they do . . . creating a great place to work . . . providing great customer service . . . making great contributions to their communities . . . and finding great ways to lead their lives.
Recommended by: Julie Nelson, Client Consultant
Five Minutes With VITO By David Mattson
Sandler Training and VITO Selling have combined over 80 years of sales know-how, 1,200 hours of audio and video programs, 5,000 pages of training materials, and direct experience in training over 15,000,000 sales people…and distilled it all into one concise, power selling resource. Five Minutes With VITO is the definitive guide for sales people who want to start where they belong at the top.
Recommended by: Chris Poirot, Client Consultant
What If?: Serious Scientific Answers to Absurd Hypothetical Questions by Randall Munroe
From the creator of the wildly popular webcomic xkcd, hilarious and informative answers to important questions you probably never thought to ask. Millions of people visit xkcd.com each week to read Randall Munroe’s iconic webcomic. His stick-figure drawings about science, technology, language, and love have a large and passionate following.
Recommended by: CJ Fleck, IT Director
The Happiness Project: Or, Why I Spent a Year Trying to Sing in the Morning, Clean My Closets, Fight Right, Read Aristotle, and Generally Have More Fun by Gretchen Rubin
Gretchen Rubin had an epiphany one rainy afternoon in the unlikeliest of places: a city bus. “The days are long, but the years are short,” she realized. “Time is passing, and I’m not focusing enough on the things that really matter.” In that moment, she decided to dedicate a year to her happiness project.
Recommended by: Amy LaLime, Office Manager
Need more?
Check out our collection of articles on franchise leadership, operations, and development or these additional book recommendations from the staff:
The post FBR Staff Picks: Recommended Reading appeared first on AZ Franchising | Franchising dalla A alla Z.