The Benevolent Dictator

It is almost wrong to call this a ‘business book,’  to call it such is to sell it short.

Michael Feuer is the author of this new book that is published by Wiley.

Michael founded and grew OfficeMax in 1988 and grew the business in a highly competitive environment before selling the business in 2003.  Office Max grew to have over 50,000 employees and stores in all States except Vermont and operations in China, Japan, Brazil, and Mexico.

Michael’s entrepreneurial odyssey is described in this book as almost a case study and the book is a learning experience that every business person, entrepreneur and those aspiring to be such, will find
incredibly useful and practical.  If you are getting tired of the same old material being peddled in the relentless
flood of business books, you will find The Benevolent Dictator a welcome and useful investment for your time and money.

The Benevolent Dictator delivers sound business advice that is elegantly interwoven with excellent story based narrative to illustrate Michael’s opinions and business philosophies. I found the story about the
founding of OfficeMax intriguing for its stark contradictions to so many widely held assumptions about s founding a capital intensive business like retail.  In an era when so many people are fixated on a kid in a dorm room with a laptop, The Benevolent Dictator describes the founding of a real brick and mortar business.

Michael does not skimp on being transparent with his personal strategies and tactics.  There
is a story about Michael’s planned acquisition of Big Mart by OfficeMax.  The tactics employed by Michael to gain
information about the Big Mart business makes for very interesting reading.  His decision to abandon the acquisition when outbid by another company should be mandatory reading for its illustration of discipline and adherence to values.

There are so many great lessons in this book.  Instead of having a boring list of subject headers with explanatory text chapter by chapter, The Benevolent Dictator delivers a more interesting and impactful learning experience as a true
story.  These are some of the areas that have made me really consider my work in my business:

• Raising capital and leveraging ‘other people’s
  money.’
• Managing yourself, your ideas, and your
  effectiveness.
• Planning and setting goals.
• Managing people effectively to support
  performance.
• Creating competitive advantage.

I read this book on a five hour flight from Brisbane to Perth.  As I read I took notes and thankfully the cramped conditions in the 737 were out of mind.  I wish I had another book of this quality for the trip home, maybe I will read it again.

A New Use for the Napkin

I am blown away by the paradigm shift Unfolding the Napkin has given me.  It is equivalent to the mind-blowing experience I had at University when I applied Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain. I wish I could remember where all those drawings that I created have gone.  Oh well- my white board is looking pretty cool now.  I bought this one first and went through it all on a trip between Brisbane and Melbourne.  Unfolding the Napkin is a course- it takes you on a ‘four day’ learning journey that really has an impact on your ability to communicate with pictures.  You must use the book as a course and do the exercises- you will see a change as you move through ways of analysing and presenting problems.  It is a great learning experience for those of us who present ideas to others as well as offering a toolset you can apply in any problem solving journey.  Highly recommended.

‘Happier’ by Tal Ben- Shahar

This book and its companion were impulse buys at an airport bookstore.  I can get desperate for something to read on a flight and Melbourne is a two hour journey from Brisbane.  I have begun weening myself off the Australian Financial Review, (at least being compulsive about reading each issue).  ’Happier’ has been an excellent investment.  It has been beneficial for me to have an opportunity to reflect upon my own journey that constantly struggles for a happier existence; it is not easy for me.  But on another level this book is an excellent development program for leaders.  In this era it is so often obvious that people are struggling to maintain happiness in their lives and when this is manifest in the workplace its effects can be very destructive both for the individual and the surrounding people.  Understanding how happiness can be fostered and encouraged is a leadership facet.  The use of goals, understanding purpose, finding an inner calling; these are all things raised by numerous leadership experts but many times they are trampled beneath the stampede of the latest and greatest leadership fads.  Meaning, Pleasure and Strengths- very important principles but when applied in a holistic way in a workforce can ignite the best in people.  I am still in the book and looking forward to starting ‘Even Happier’ in the next few days.

Review of ‘How Did That Happen’ by Roger Connors and Tom Smith

 I have read this book without previously reading the authors’ original bestseller ‘The Oz Principle’, Roger Connors and Tom Smith. The title ‘How Did That Happen’ is poignant and super relevant on the macro level given the global economic crisis and its genesis. On the micro level I ask how many managers and leaders have not at some point asked this very question when plans have gone awry, “how did that happen?” A few years back I read ‘Execution’ by Larry Bossidy and Ram Charan. This is a fine book and one that is perfect as an entree into ‘How Did That Happen.’ I found ‘Execution’ to be more of a topographical map while ‘How Did That Happen’ is a GPS system that provides a definite and clearly visible set of directions. Connors and Smith use simple models to ensure understanding of the concepts. The models are supported by smooth easy to understand writing that uses an explanation, followed by an actual example of the concept applied or the consequences of it not being applied and then bullet points and end of chapter reviews to ensure understanding. I did not find myself having to go back and re-read sections either due to lack of understanding or a wandering mind. I like the way the authors use Principles as opposed to techniques. Principles can be applied and implemented for sustainable enduring change. Leaders who apply principles as opposed to using techniques in an organisation are creating an environment where individual differences and diversity can thrive. ‘How Did That Happen’ does not avoid the need for accountability. Accountability is interdependent with culture, motivation and training. The authors have wisely created a ‘scaffold’ effect to ensure accountability is effective as opposed to punitive. I can recommend this book as a practical guide to addressing communication, engagement and accountability issues we all face in organisations. I read the book and recorded some key ideas on a mind map for referral later. I have a number of clients for whom this book will be on the essential reading list. The authors should be commended for creating a book of insight, clarity and practicality. How Did That Happen by Roger Connors and Tom Smith is published by Portfolio. It is due out in August/September 2009.

Keith Ferrazzi – Who’s Got Your Back

I do not comment on books that I read too often.  I find that my comments are best left to myself since each of us has individual needs and tastes.  I have just finished my latest commuting companion; Keith Ferrazzi’s ‘Who’s Got Your Back.’  I read Keith’s previous book ‘Never Eat Alone’ some time ago.  I think  I would like Keith as a person but I find his books point to a substantial ego and one that cannot get enough self praise.  This comes in intermittent doses but he makes sure you get the message.   I read Section One and thought I was in for a good read.  Keith laid a bit bare by indicating that his company ‘Ferrazzi Greenlight’ was going through some change and tumult as well as some inner feelings he had about his own performance.  By page 26 this is all sorted and the company is booming and Keith is an effective executive!  Ok- maybe the rest of the book will provide the play by play action as a real life case study.  No such luck – the rest of the book follows the all too common and now tiresome formula of self -help business hybrid books.  I guess I am getting jaded but these books are plentiful and frankly useless without a means of application for behavioural change.   When I finished this book I vowed to avoid this genre of books.  That said I revisited by bookshelf and grabbed my old copy of ‘The War of Art’ and once again could not put it down.  I think the 4.5 Star Rating at Amazons for ‘Who’s Got Your Back’ is puzzling.

Can You Assemble a Team of Rivals?

I look forward each evening for the chance to get back into this book!  I was lucky enough to catch site of this book in Melbourne Airport.  My first copy was left behind in a Sydney cab so I was off to buy a new one when I was on my return trip to Brisbane.  I cannot speak highly enough of this book.  As an American I never had a good feel for Abraham Lincoln as a man or as a President with any great depth.  Doris Kearns Goodwin has made Abraham Lincoln come alive in my imagination.  The lessons in this book are so relevant across so many dimenstions in modern political, business and community life.  Lincoln encouraged his political (and personal) rivals to take senior positions in his government.  He was a master at interpersonal and strategic leadership despite some apparent missteps in the latter early in his tenure.  How many CEOs are able to draw a team of contrarians together to create a dynamic team focused on execution?  How many politicians actively seek to include rivals in a ‘conversation’ on issues to drive resolution as opposed to point scoring.   One thing that really whacks me when I read this book; times may be tough now but they had enormous challenges in Lincoln’s era.  The Civil War is almost beyond description for its bloodshed and the day to day lives of people were always tinged with death whether by war or disease.

A Personal Growth Manifesto

I have just finished Broken Open by Elizabeth Lesser.  I am sure glad I read this book.  My mom brought the book over from the United States for her visit with us here in Australia.  I devoured this book in a few train journeys to work and a round trip flight to Sydney.  I must admit to not knowing much about Elizabeth Lesser before reading the book but I had heard of the Omega Institute of which she is a co-founder.  Broken Open explores personal growth through the prism of human hardship.  It speaks to all of us whether we want to admit to having difficult periods in our lives or not- we are all pretty much the same.  Elizabeth writes in a conversational style with great clarity to enable easy comprehension and a strong link between the words and your emotions.  Some of the examples of personal hardship and growth are emotional triggers that in my case need some subduing in the train and the 737.  I highly recommend this book- it is a trigger for introspection, gowth and centering back on what is important in our lives amongst the turmoil and gloom.  I vowed I would make the lessons of this book stick- I can say my head is still above the black clouds that seem to be consuming our humanity currently.

Currently reading Transcending the Levels of Consciousness by David R Hawkins.  I am really enjoying this book after reading Power vs Force last week.  This is great brain food for the train journeys to and from work.  Recently I have also devoured Content Rich and Presentation Zen- both of which I highly recommend.