Book Summaries - You Exec

Learn from one of the best turnaround leaders of all time, Lou Gerstner of

IBM. If your company or division is in crisis mode, take a page from

Gerstner’s playbook on what to do at the helm of a quickly sinking ship.

Gerstner’s approach for leading IBM back from the brink can be applied in

many scenarios. Understand the importance of cash and how to free up more

of it. Tackle a toxic culture with robust communication and do away with

ineffective practices. Reinvigorate employees with a market-driven strategy

and a sense of urgency to beat competitors. The case of IBM's turnaround

and Gerstner's leadership shows that the winning strategy and the culture

behind its execution are equally important.

Inflection points can create growth opportunities and render entire

industries obsolete. This book teaches you to foresee and take advantage of

the next inflection point. Rita McGrath, world-renowned expert on

innovation, distills decades of consulting expertise to give you the

lowdown on how to anticipate disruption, build organizational resilience,

and thrive when your competitors are caught off-guard. Learn how to spot

signals early, think beyond industries, and innovate for the future with

risk management in place.

Many of us dread “feedback season”. While some exit their reviews happily

and even closer to their managers or mentors, others aren’t always so lucky

and leave their dejected and defeated. Regardless of the feedback you

receive, however, there are research-backed steps you can take to come out

on top, make the conversation productive and positive, and recover from any

negative feedback. On the other hand, for those who conduct the reviews,

also learn how to make your feedback delivery fruitful and mutually

beneficial, rather than an awkward exercise. Catalyze the types of changes

you look for in your employees this year with concepts such as feedback

triggers and how to avoid them, why you should look beyond feedback labels,

and how your body language and facial expressions can give you away.

Most leaders are playing the wrong game. When you play with a finite

mindset in the infinite game of business, you lose trust, cooperation, and

innovation along the way. In contrast, infinite-minded leaders create much

stronger and competitive organizations. They even shape our future and

leave behind resilient organizations and legacy that last generations. Read

this summary to learn the five principles that make someone an

infinite-minded leader who inspires loyalty and ultimately advances a

greater cause.

Need a marketing strategy that can get results fast? Here is a practical

and uncomplicated 1-page marketing plan that you can complete today and

increase your return on investment. This book provides a framework that

clearly defines your marketing strategy and how to get, keep, and realize

value from customers. Discover why you need to pursue an even-tighter

market niche, how to get inside prospects' heads, and why you should raise

prices. Learn how to be perceived as a welcomed guest rather than a

marketing pest. Finally, create your tribe of loyal customers and receive

successful referrals.

A book that received high praise from Warren Buffett, The Outsiders

chronicles the unconventional techniques that led eight CEOs to outperform

the S&P 500 by an astounding twenty times. The best CEOs are not managers,

but capital allocators. They were not charismatic visionaries who actively

managed operations. On the contrary, they decentralized operations and

centralized capital allocation. They rarely paid dividends and emphasized

cash flows over net revenue. Learn how their approach generated exceptional

returns across industries and market conditions.

Do you work increasingly long hours with nothing to show for it, or

struggle to have enough left to save after all the bills? Robert Kiyosaki,

author of the viral book Rich Dad Poor Dad, explains how anyone can move to

the other side of the Cashflow Quadrant and flourish with financial

independence as a business owner or investor. Read this book summary to

discover a new approach to wealth and risk management and apply your

learnings in real life so you can start with small steps that can

eventually lead to substantial assets.

Get the insider’s take on how Netflix went from just one in a million ideas

to one that revolutionized the entertainment industry. For the first time,

Co-founder and first CEO Marc Randolph shares the company’s

behind-the-scenes, beyond the popular story that Reed Hastings founded the

company after a $40 late fee at Blockbuster. Read this book summary for

first-hand insights on their entrepreneurial journey.

A favorite read recommended by both Bill Gates and Warren Buffett,

Business Adventures – Twelve Classic Tales from the World of Wall Street

moves beyond the flashy advice of business newbies and provide relevant

insights that stand the test of time. This book summary covers the gamut

from marketing and sales to stocks, research and development departments,

and so on. Read this summary to learn from decade-old stories that still

resonate in the business world today.

For nearly a century, the Walt Disney Company has experienced seismic

shifts and maintained its status as the world’s most successful media

company. Robert Iger, Chairman and CEO of this legendary brand and a

45-year veteran in the entertainment industry, now tells his story and lays

out the principles that nurture the good and manage the bad. Read this book

summary to learn how to simultaneously embrace change and operate with

integrity, and foster a culture of trust, creativity, and pragmatic

risk-taking.