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Comedian, CEO of The Work Lady and author of the entertaining and enlightening book Finding The Funny Fast: How to Create Quick Humor to Connect with Clients, Coworkers and Crowds, Jan McInnis, shares ideas for adding humor effectively to speeches, sales letters and presentations, and even casual conversation. She describes how humor makes your communications more memorable, and helps you to connect with others immediately. She also demonstrates how humor can help sell a product or service, or be used to ease up a tense situation.

Jan McInnis is my internet radio show guest on Blog Business Success; hosted live on Blog Talk Radio.

The show airs live on Tuesday, September 1, at 8:00 pm Eastern Time; 5:00 pm Pacific Time.

Comedian, CEO of The Work Lady and author of the entertaining and enlightening book Finding The Funny Fast: How to Create Quick Humor to Connect with Clients, Coworkers and Crowds, Jan McInnis, shares ideas for adding humor effectively to speeches, sales letters and presentations, and even casual conversation. You will learn:

* Why humor can make business and personal communication memorable

* How humor can connect with clients, customers, coworkers and staff instantly

* Why adding humor to sales and marketing presentations and letters sells more

* Why anyone can become funny even if they never thought so before



Jan McInnis (photo left) brings to the stage clean, insightful, and original humor appropriate for company events. A product of the 9 to 5 corporate world, Jan McInnis uses her 15 years in marketing to poke tasteful fun at the day-to-day procedures, politics and policies that are rife in the office environment. Her experience in the business environment helps her relate well to employees at all levels of the company.

Jan McInnis also hits a nerve among audiences with her bits on growing up in a large family, relationships, and kids. Her account of her family's cross-country vacation will bring back memories for everyone in the audience when she reminisces about driving 8,000 miles with six people in a Buick.

Jan McInnis's well-rounded act has made her the Washington, DC winner for HBO's Stand-up, Stand-off Comedy Contest. She has performed for corporations such as Western Union and Kaiser-Permanent, and she's also a regular performer at major venues such as Catch a Rising Star in Las Vegas & Reno, and the Comedy & Magic Club in Los Angeles.

Originally from Washington, D.C., and a member of the last wave of baby boomers, Jan McInnis is perfect for all events; her act cuts across all age groups, genders, and locales. In addition to her comedy show, Jan is a professional writer selling over 100 topical jokes a month to radio and television including the Tonight Show monologue. And Jan McInnis has a nationwide weekly radio show "Cubicle Comedy from the Work Lady," in which she dispenses humorous work advice.

My book review of Finding The Funny Fast: How to Create Quick Humor to Connect with Clients, Coworkers and Crowds by Jan McInnis.

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 comedienne, CEO of The Work Lady and author of the entertaining and enlightening book Finding The Funny Fast: How to Create Quick Humor to Connect with Clients, Coworkers and Crowds, Jan McInnis, as she shares ideas for adding humor effectively to speeches, sales letters and presentations, and even casual conversation. She describes how humor makes your communications more memorable, and helps you to connect with others immediately. She also demonstrates how humor can help sell a product or service, or be used to ease up a tense situation on Blog Business Success Radio.

Tags: Finding The Funny Fast: How to Create Quick Humor to Connect with Clients, Coworkers and Crowds, Jan McInnis, marketing, personnel management, Blog Business Success, Blog Talk Radio.

READ MORE - Jan McInnis: Finding The Funny Fast - Blog Business Success Radio

Finding The Funny Fast

How to Create Quick Humor to Connect with Clients, Coworkers and Crowds

By: Jan McInnis

Published: June 15, 2009
Format: Paperback, 126 pages
ISBN-10: 0984099905
Publisher: Cubicle Comedy





"Don't wait for permission from others to use humor. Anyone can add humor to their presentations", writes comedian and consultant Jan McInnis in her entertaining and enlightening book Finding The Funny Fast: How to Create Quick Humor to Connect with Clients, Coworkers and Crowds. The author describes how adding humor to a presentation or marketing letter can make it not only more memorable, but also much more effective in boosting sales.

Jan McInnis didn't start out in life to become a professional comedian, but she soon came to understand the power of humor for building connections. Since people need to build connections, and business people must build relationships prior to any sales transaction, humor is a fast method of breaking down barriers. Humor adds power to speeches, by putting the audience at ease and by discovering common ground, resulting in a more receptive audience for the speaker's message.In sales letters, a bit of humor can help establish a more personal connection, while helping the message stand out from the rest of the marketing noise. The author demonstrates clearly, why humor works, and why it should become a key component of any business relationship.



Jan McInnis (photo left) was not considered a funny person for most of her life, and when she began to add humor to her presentations, she realized that anyone can be funny. The author demonstrates how topical humor, based on the interests and foibles of the audience including the company itself, can help build rapport with the audience. At the same time, the ability of the audience to share in the joke, helps to build teams within the business as a whole. Humor also can help to defuse conflicts within an organization, making an understanding of how to create humor fast, a critical management and leadership skill. When the value of humor is added to a company culture, its use in the appropriate places, can help get a point across to co-workers and staff, while helping make the information and ideas enjoyable and memorable for all concerned.

For me, the power of the book is the simple premise, that anyone at any time can create and present humor. The understanding that being funny is not some innate gift or talent, but something anyone can do, is one of the crucial discoveries in the book. Jan McInnis stresses well the power of humor, both as a presentation and marketing took, and also as a management and leadership skill. The book contains many great tips for uncovering the hidden humor, in almost any situation. Whether the comedy can be found in the every day absurdities of corporate life, or in solving staff and personnel problems, humor builds common ground from which to build lasting solutions. Adding a dash of laughter to sales and marketing letters and materials makes them more likely to be read and remembered, while developing a connection with the reader.

I highly recommend the light hearted, yet highly practical book Finding The Funny Fast: How to Create Quick Humor to Connect with Clients, Coworkers and Crowds by Jan McInnis, to anyone seeking to build a deeper and more lasting relationship with customers, clients, an audience, colleagues, and staff. From using one liners to kick off otherwise boring meetings, to giving a keynote address to a major audience, the ability to a spice up the moment with a few laughs is a powerful ice breaker.

Read the fun and insightful book Finding The Funny Fast: How to Create Quick Humor to Connect with Clients, Coworkers and Crowds by Jan McInnis, and discover how you can be funny and effective in both management and marketing at work, and for adding a touch of fun to your entire life. Anyone can be funny, and any situation provides ample material for laughter. Become the life of the company, and at the same time, a star performer as well.

Tags: Finding The Funny Fast: How to Create Quick Humor to Connect with Clients, Coworkers and Crowds, Jan McInnis, marketing, personnel management, business book reviews.

READ MORE - Finding The Funny Fast by Jan McInnis - Book review

Lisa Orrell, The Generation Relations Expert, took some time to discuss her insightful book Millennials Incorporated, 2nd Edition: The Big Business of Recruiting, Managing and Retaining the World's New Generation of Young Professionals, and her ideas and research into the fast rising Millennial Generation. Thanks to Lisa for taking the time to provide this valuable information on the impact of the Millennial Generation in the workplace.




You are President and founder of The Orrell Group, located in San Jose, California. Can you tell our readers about your work?

Lisa Orrell: I’m known as the “Generation Relations Expert”, and I’m a speaker/consultant hired by well-known organizations to educate their executive leaders and management teams on how to better recruit, manage and retain Millennial talent. And, I also conduct seminars, workshops and keynotes that improve generation relations, thus increasing team building, morale, productivity, retention and revenue.

How did you gain your expertise in the Millennial and Generations area?

Lisa Orrell: I’ve owned a marketing agency in Silicon Valley for 19 years and that has forced me to stay current on trends that affect business and branding. I started following the “Millennial” demographic a few years ago from a marketing perspective, but when HR-related professionals, and management teams from all departments, heard I knew about this new generation entering the workforce, I started getting a lot of inquiries for information.

It was then that I decided to write my book about them and that lead to starting my professional speaking and consulting business, The Orrell Group. This is now totally separate from my “marketing life” and I’m very passionate about it. I’m at a point where very little of my time is spent on the day-to-day operations of my marketing agency because the demand for my expertise around Millennials and generation relations has grown so much over the past year.

Plus, this area is really where my professional interest is. I love writing books, articles, conducting seminars, speaking at events, and consulting with companies about improving their generation relations. Everything I do around this topic is geared to improve recruiting and retention of ALL employees, and many companies need this help.

Your expertise has also attracted a lot of media interviews for you. Can you give us a snapshot of the coverage you’ve received?

Lisa Orrell: Sure! I’ve appeared on ABC, MSNBC and NPR, and my commentary and articles have been featured in tons of blogs, magazines and newspapers, but a short list includes: WSJ.com, Human Resource Executive, HR.com, FoxBusiness.com, BNET.com, Universum Trainee Guides for Europe, Monster.com, CareerBuilder.com, and China’s Her World magazine.

What is the official/unofficial definition of a Millennial Employee?

Lisa Orrell: Millennials were born close to 1982 and their end-date is around 2002. Their parents are typically from the Boomer generation or are “older” members of Generation Jones.

Why are Millennials suddenly such a hot commodity in the business world?

Lisa Orrell: Our country has a “perfect storm” developing in our workforce. One issue is the Boomer Brain Drain that is starting to happen. The average large company in the US will be losing 30-40% of its employees over the next 5-15 years due to Boomer’s retiring. The second issue is that our birth rate is declining so we’re facing a shortage of around 40 million skilled workers in the US over the next 2-3 decades. Add to that the fact that many students who come here from abroad for a college education are now choosing to go back to their homelands after graduation to start their careers and families there. Places like China and India are much more desirable to live in than they used to be, and their 20-somethings who come here for college are very happy returning “home” to live. Therefore, the US doesn’t get the benefit of them staying here to work as much as we used to.

If you take those 3 big points into consideration, you can see why companies are spending millions of dollars on how to successfully recruit and retain Millennials. US-based companies need them to maintain current and future growth levels, and to remain competitive globally. AND our country as a whole needs them for the same reasons; growth and productivity.

What are some key Millennial traits all employers should know?

Lisa Orrell: They have a strong work ethic (they just want to do it differently than older generations), they are friendly and polite, they are a success-oriented, but they are also high maintenance. The sooner employers accept that last point and make adjustments, the better they’ll do with their Millennial employees. But any company or manager who thinks Millennials will adapt to their “culture”, if it’s not Millennial-friendly, will suffer a high turnover rate. Again, they are less tolerant than generations before them.

There seems to be a growing trend where employers are advertising Senior-level jobs but offering Junior-title pay. How will this "trend" affect Millennials with limited work experience?

Lisa Orrell: I think with the Boomers retiring, we’ll see more Millennials getting “bigger” titles faster because there are not enough Gen Xers to fill all the positions that will become vacant, and/or they’re not all the best candidates for the positions. Plus, some companies are changing their corporate policies pertaining to advancement to give the promotion to whoever deserves it; not based on who as been there the longest.

With the current growth and demographics trends, Millennials will find themselves moving up into leadership roles faster than the generations before them did. That’s why I’m also a Certified Leadership Coach, focused on coaching Gen Y employees into leadership, and have my new book coming out this fall targeted at helping Millennials become effective leaders at work.

I’ve also created a 2-phased workshop with Camille Smith, a 25-year executive coach, that is targeted at both employers/managers and the Millennial employees. It’s called “Transitioning to Leadership: How to Effectively Move Gen Y Into Leadership Roles”. It’s focused on how employers can support/groom their Millennials in moving up the ladder and also teaches/coaches Millennials how to be good leaders.

How will the Millennial influx into business environments shake up corporate cultures?

Lisa Orrell: This also could be a very long answer, but here’s the basic overview: Companies are spending millions of dollars to drastically change their cultures to better attract and retain Millennials. I have clients who have wiped out entire floors of cubicles to create “open” work environments that better suit how Millennials like to communicate. And I know of big, stodgy law firms that now have “Fun Friday’s” where everyone meets in the afternoon to bbq and drink beer.

There are other companies that have never had a policy where people can work from home, but now they do (even if it’s just 1-2 days per week). The list goes on and on, but all the changes being made have been in the past 1-3 years and it’s because the Millennials have started to arrive in professional work environments.

And, quite honestly, the smart companies are open to learning about them and to making adjustments for them. The good news is that a majority of the changes being made benefit everyone at the company; not just the Millennials.



Lisa Orrell (photo left)

What are some tactics companies are using to attract Millennial employees?

Lisa Orrell: To some it may sound like common sense, but I conduct seminars all the time for companies who “know” this stuff but haven’t implemented any of it. Or, they have no idea “what to do” there. But when you have 85% of students on FaceBook, get on FaceBook! I also have clients who are creative with how to have a company presence on YouTube and MySpace. This is where Gen Y “hangs out”…online! If you are simply relying on your company website to “attract” them you are totally missing the boat.

I give a lot of great examples in my book, but a few other tactics for employers to be aware of is look into a presence on SecondLife and CareerTV.com.

There are tons of things employers can do to have a much bigger presence online to attract talent, but they are not doing them. My advice to your readers is to put together an internal task force of multigenerational employees and brainstorm ideas together. And then have a Millennial employee execute them!

What are a few hot buttons companies should push for recruiting Millennials?

Lisa Orrell: Any employer who is not saying/offering the following things are also missing the boat with Gen Y: We offer a great mentoring program; we respect and support your desire for work-life balance; we offer a fun environment; and we have a solid program for fostering your growth and advancement.

Those are just a few but will give your readers something to think about. I offer a ton of other tips and examples in my seminars and in my book. I’ll end this answer by saying that I have clients who have changed their company cultures pretty drastically to make these promises a “reality” and they have found it very beneficial.

What are some key strategies that companies need to consider for retaining Millennials?

Lisa Orrell: This really maps-back to the hot buttons for recruiting them. You can promise the moon in your recruiting and interviewing process but if an employer doesn’t deliver them, Millennials will leave. And, they’ll go online and tell all their cyber-buddies that your company is not a very good place to work.

I had one client who suffered a huge decline in resumes from college grads, and it’s because a large amount of Millennials had left and talked about “why” online. They weren’t saying anything slanderous and they didn’t mention managers’ names, but they simply talked about how this company wasn’t Millennial-friendly. This client then had to do some serious “damage control” through a PR campaign to basically let the 20-somethings of the world know they had made changes and really welcomed Millennials and “knew how to keep them happy”.

Can you share a few key tips for Managers that will be supervising Millennial employees?

Lisa Orrell: A recent study of Millennial professionals revealed that over 60% surveyed want communication with their manager ONCE A DAY. So the pressure on front-line managers (typicallu Gen X or Gen Jones) is bigger than ever before. If the Millennials don’t like their manager, they’ll leave. Again, Millennials are not married to your brand like older generations were; their connection to the company is with the personal relationships they build within the company.

Your brand may be what attracted Millennials to you or made them interested in your job offer, but your brand won’t retain them. This is a very different belief system than older generations had when they started working. Boomers were raised being told “just be happy you have a job, and stay there as long as you can even if you hate it”.

Also, managers and companies need to know rewards and recognition with this generation is bigger than ever before. Lack of rewards and recognition is the #1 reason ANY generation leaves a job, but it’s a much bigger deal for Millennials. If they are not feeling valued and respected quickly, they’ll leave fast–much faster than generations before them.

I tell clients that if you can’t get formal company-wide rewards and recognition programs in place, then department managers need to create their own. And, no, quarterly/annual reviews with raises aren’t what I’m referring to. I’m talking about programs where people get “rewarded” weekly/monthly. It can be something as simple as a “thank you” note or a special “great job statue” that is given to a new employee weekly, but you need something to show them you “value” them.




In your opinion, how do you think Millennials will influence the professional workforce of the future?

Lisa Orrell: I think they’ll do wonderful things to corporate cultures as they reach decision-making positions. I believe they will improve how people communicate (in-person and through technology); how they respect co-workers; and how they foster team-building within departments. Millennials are very much a generation who are into “group” effort and they like collaborative work environments.

I truly think they will transform business environments to be more desirable as they move up the ladder and reach positions where their opinions are taken more seriously.

Right now, I think a majority of companies look at them as a “challenge” because of their demands, but as they are in the work world longer, people will realize the demands they make to be “happy” in a job are things that all generations will benefit from.

Do other countries refer to them as Millennials? And are they experiencing the same challenges that US-based companies are with recruiting, managing and retaining them?

Lisa Orrell: I added a whole chapter about this in the new Second Edition of my book. And I now offer a new seminar about “Understanding Millennials Globally”, so this is something I am asked about a lot!

The short answer is that many countries are seeing similar demands from their 20-something workforces that we see in the US. Employers and managers in countries like Australia, the UK, India and many others, are also dealing with this unique generation and seeing a need to make changes in their work cultures to accommodate them. I think over time, we will be calling the Millennials the “Global Generation”. Our world really has never seen ONE generation so similar in terms of what they desire and seek from employers.

Recruiters are now supposedly having to interview potential candidates and invite their parents for a site visit or lunch before a job offer is accepted. Does this help or hurt the Millennial talent who would like to be perceived as an "independent adult?

Lisa Orrell: First off, yes, having parents attend recruiting lunches is happening. I know employers and recruiters who offer this right away because they know if they can get Mom and/or Dad to tell their adult child “This is the job you should take!” chances are good their adult child will.

I even advise clients to have “Family Days” where younger job candidates can bring their parents to the company for a tour and to meet management. Many people roll their eyes at this until I name-drop some well-known companies who are doing this…and it’s working for them!

With regards to the second part of your question, sure, there are many Millennials who find this embarrassing and would never want their parents involved in their job seeking process. BUT, clearly, many Millennials are totally fine with this parental involvement otherwise companies and recruiters wouldn’t be offering to “meet the parents”.

I know it seems odd to many Gen Xers, Gen Jonesers and Boomers (especially who don’t have kids), but this generation considers their folks as part of their social circle and they value their parent’s opinions.

In every seminar I do, I get several Boomer audience members who come up to me afterwards to tell me they have a 20-something child who they have helped decide which job offer to take.

So, again, these are suggestions I offer to employers who can choose to try them or not, but I see other companies implementing these things and getting good results.

The Millennials are here, and require some different things that employers haven’t dealt with before. But to pretend this isn’t happening is not going to serve any company well. This generation is shaking up the work world, and they’re not going away, so the smart companies will pay attention and consider making adjustments. The ones that don’t could suffer from low recruitment numbers and high turnover of their future managers and leaders.

And, as I tell my audiences of older generations, ”Millennials didn’t just hatch from pods…YOU created them! And now you have to deal with them in the work world!”

My book review of Millennials Incorporated, 2nd Edition: The Big Business of Recruiting, Managing and Retaining the World's New Generation of Young Professionals by Lisa Orrell

Tags: Millennials Incorporated, Lisa Orrell, generational personnel management, author interviews.

READ MORE - Lisa Orrell - Millennials Incorporated - Author interview

Planning to Excel

Strategic Planning That Works

By: Robert L. Mason

Published: August 2009
Format: Paperback, 100 pages
ISBN 13: 978-1-934938-45-4
ISBN 10: 1-934938-45-9
Publisher: Langdon Street Press






"Planning is a leadership responsibility", writes founder of RLM Planning and Leadership Robert Mason, in his practical and succinct handbook on strategic planning Planning to Excel: Strategic Planning That Works. The author stresses the critical importance of establishing a plan for the success of the business, and details how to create a plan that is both effective and flexible.

Robert Mason recognizes the value of a plan to serve as a road map to achieving business success. As a result, the author focuses on developing a workable plan as a cornerstone to establishing a growing company. Robert Mason demonstrates the difference between a mission statement and a vision statement, and why both are essential tools in guiding the organization down the proper path toward its goals. Without an understanding, and a firm grasp on the company's core values, the business can flounder without direction. As a result, the author shows the leadership how to discover and identify those crucial values and to ingrain them into the company culture.



Robert L. Mason (photo left) begins the book with the premise that effective leadership is vital to development of a strong and workable strategic plan. The author guides the company leadership through the entire planning process from developing an initial plan outline to determining the company's most important values to overcoming roadblocks and resistance to the strategic plan and its development process. Bob Mason helps the core leaders to discover other leaders and change agents within and outside of the organization, and to draw on their expertise and insights. Since the author considers planning to be a primary leadership role, the leadership must accept responsibility for the plan's success.

For me, the power of the book is Robert Mason's emphasis on providing a usable, hands on book to guide a company's leadership through the entire strategic planning process. Packed with easy to understand and use worksheets, the book is designed for use as an integral part of the plan development. The chapters are filled with solid planning concepts, that are well explained, so the leadership can start creating a strategic plan from the opening page. The step by step procedure, coupled with handy and easy to apply tips, makes the book easy to read and helps to streamline the planning system. While the author doesn't give an iron clad guarantee that a plan will help a business thrive in an economic downturn, the plan will help keep the leadership from straying from its most important values and goals.

I highly recommend the useful and business changing book Planning to Excel: Strategic Planning That Works by Robert Mason, to any company leaders who are seeking an easy to understand and practical guide to establishing a strategic planning process in their own organizations. The author's systematic approach takes into consideration the differences in company cultures and core values, while recognizing that there will be conflict in the establishment of the action plan. Bob Mason doesn't recommend a one plan for all companies concept, but one the emphasizes the individual strengths of the organization.

Read the comprehensive, yet to the point book Planning to Excel: Strategic Planning That Works by Robert L. Mason, and take responsibility as a leader for your company's overall planning and goals. The easy to use worksheets will make the entire process easier and more successful for everyone in the company.

Tags: Planning to Excel: Strategic Planning That Works, Robert L. Mason, business planning process, business book reviews.

READ MORE - Planning To Excel by Robert L. Mason - Book review

False Economy

A Surprising Economic History of the World

By: Alan Beattie

Published: April 28, 2009
Format: Hardcover, 304 pages
ISBN 9780670068593
Publisher: Viking Canada/Penguin









"Countries have choices, and those choices have substantially determined whether they succeeded or failed", writes economist and economics writer Alan Beattie, in his important and insightful book False Economy: A Surprising Economic History of the World. The author provides a devastating critique of the many myths that have grown up regarding why some countries got rich and others got poor. Alan Beattie demonstrates that clear choices, made by a country's government and elites, can set a course for the nation either toward national wealth or to crippling poverty.

Alan Beattie does not believe that geography, natural resources, or religion predestine a country's future wealth or poverty. The author describes examples of resource rich countries achieving prosperity for its citizens, while other countries with similar resources, fall into political and economic chaos. Religion or national origin do not predict the success of a national economy either, despite well known and widely believed theories as to their crucial importance. Alan Beattie supports freer trade between nations, but at the same time recognizes the shortcomings of globalization and the many current international trade policies. The book is not one based on ideology, but rather on the reality that national governments make policy decisions, and very often those decisions are disastrous for a nation's economy.



Alan Beattie (photo left) provides powerful historical background to his concept that people today face a false economy of economic ideas. What is often thought and understood about national and global economics is very often wrong. At the same time, the reasons why many long held economic theories are incorrect, differ with each country, and at various times in history.

The most powerful example of different choices by government, presented in the book, is the comparison of Argentina and the United States. In 1900, both countries were seen as future economic powerhouses with unlimited opportunities for future growth. Alan Beattie describes that superficial analysis as missing the deeper nature of the two economies. While the United States went on to become the leading economy in the world, Argentina slipped back into isolation and became an economic backwater status. Both countries were changed forever by the economic choices made by their respective governments.

For me, the power of the book is the depth of economic analysis, both contemporary and historical provided by the author. The examples of successful and disastrous national economic policies provided, build the book's case and destroy the usual myths surrounding economic development. Alan Beattie recognizes the importance of comparative advantage in the global economy, but he also points out that various national trade and tariff policies will often work against those natural advantages. Instead, a misguided choice by government can even harm a country's own advantage in other areas. While the author points out the importance of globalization, he doesn't see it as unstoppable, or always destined to grow in the future. Different choices can change the course of global trade and economics leading to an entirely different future, to the benefit of some nations, and harm to the economies of others.

I highly recommend the important and must read book False Economy: A Surprising Economic History of the World by Alan Beattie, to anyone seeking a deeper and more clear understanding of the real reasons why some countries become powerful economically, while others become bywords for national poverty. The author makes a strong case that there was never a certainty that countries who are wealthy, middle income, or poor were predestined to end up that way. Indeed, the crux of the book is that governments have many choices, and it's critical that they make the right ones.

Read the essential analysis of economic development in False Economy: A Surprising Economic History of the World by Alan Beattie, and learn the real reasons why countries develop as they do, and why nations of the past developed as they did and why some were successful and some were dramatic failures. The author provides hope that current governments, if given the right information and can be kept from steering down the wrong path, can help their countries and their people improve economically.

Alan Beattie also provides both contemporary and historical examples of how even some seemingly well meaning policy decisions set their nations on the road to poverty. By keeping vigilant of government policy, and understanding the true causes of wealth and poverty, perhaps more countries can become stronger economies to the benefit of everyone.

Tags: False Economy: A Surprising Economic History of the World, Alan Beattie, economic development, economic history book reviews.

READ MORE - False Economy by Alan Beattie - Book review

Listen to Wayne Hurlbert on Blog Talk Radio



CEO of Cohesive Knowledge Solutions and best selling co-author of the practical guide to making meetings productive and efficient, The Hamster Revolution for Meetings: How to Meet Less and Get More Done, Mike Song shares ideas for making meetings more effective and less of a time waster. He describes why meetings are so overwhelming and how to develop more productive use of meeting time. He shares ideas for reducing the number of meetings and for the proper etiquette for planning, conducting and even declining meetings.

Mike Song is my internet radio show guest on Blog Business Success; hosted live on Blog Talk Radio.

The show airs live on Thursday, August 27, at 8:00 pm Eastern Time; 5:00 pm Pacific Time.

CEO of Cohesive Knowledge Solutions and best selling co-author of the practical guide to making meetings productive and efficient, The Hamster Revolution for Meetings: How to Meet Less and Get More Done, Mike Song shares ideas for making meetings more effective and less of a time waster. You will learn:

* How much meetings cost your business in terms of time and money

* How to apply simple steps to making your meetings productive

* How to improve your online and web based meetings

* How to keep your meetings effective and measure the results



Mike Song (photo left) is co-founder and CEO of Cohesive Knowledge Solutions and one of America's leading experts on email efficiency and etiquette. A sought-after corporate trainer and keynote speaker, Mike has helped more than 5,000 professionals take back their lives by managing email more effectively. His clients include HP, Clear Channel, and Novartis.




My book review of The Hamster Revolution for Meetings: How to Meet Less and Get More Done by Mike Song, Vicki Halsey, and Tim Burress.

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 CEO of Cohesive Knowledge Solutions and best selling co-author of the practical guide to making meetings productive and efficient, The Hamster Revolution for Meetings: How to Meet Less and Get More Done, Mike Song as he shares ideas for making meetings more effective and less of a time waster. He describes why meetings are so overwhelming and how to develop more productive use of meeting time. He shares ideas for reducing the number of meetings and for the proper etiquette for planning, conducting and even declining meetings on Blog Business Success Radio.

Tags: The Hamster Revolution for Meetings: How to Meet Less and Get More Done, Mike Song, conducting more effective meetings, Blog Business Success, Blog Talk Radio.

READ MORE - Mike Song: Hamster Revolution For Meetings - Blog Business Success Radio

The Hamster Revolution for Meetings

How to Meet Less and Get More Done

By: Mike Song, Vicki Halsey, Tim Burress

Published: June 2009
Format: Hardcover, 153pp
ISBN-13: 9781605090078
Publisher: Berrett-Koehler Publishers




"I'm sick of feeling like a hamster all the time", are the words of frustrated executive Iris, who has turned into a literal hamster, in the practical guide to making meetings productive and efficient, The Hamster Revolution for Meetings: How to Meet Less and Get More Done by time and information management facilitators Mike Song, Vicki Halsey, and Tim Burress. Using the business fable format effectively, the authors describe the dilemma facing most business people today, of time wasted on ineffective meetings that don't achieve results.



Mike Song (photo left), Vicki Halsey, and Tim Burress recognize that not only are meetings wasting valuable employee time, they are costing business a fortune in lost revenue and productivity. All too often, meetings start late, lack a set agenda and goal, meander off into low priority discussions that are not priorities at the time, and wrap up with no actionable tasks for the participants. Instead of solving problems, write the authors, meetings create them through failure to plan and execute meetings properly. Indeed, say the authors, even the setting up of meetings is in itself a major time waster for most organizations.



Vicki Halsey (photo left), Tim Burress, and Mike Song also understand that modern office technology, including web meetings and telephone conference calls, carry with them their own issues that make meetings ineffective. Instead of using technology properly, and taking advantage of the opportunities for productivity gains, many business people have turned technology into another time consumer. The authors recommend their POSE system, where they describe an effective meeting as being about the company priorities, has an agenda and objective, is short, and takes advantage of technology for scheduling time. Indeed, the authors suggest several very effective ways to save time in both live and virtual meetings, that get results.



Tim Burress (photo left), Mike Song, and Vicki Halsey get right to the point when describing more effective and productive meetings. For me, the power of the book is the simple business fable format, where hamster Iris discovers how different properly planned meetings are from the ineffective time wasters in her company. Not only do the authors create a useful formula for improving meetings, saving time, and getting better results, but they describe how to put that formula into action. While many books on more effective meetings concentrate on live meetings, the authors include an important section on virtual meetings over the web and telephone. Instead of losing the power of technology for productivity gains, the book describes well how to harness the strengths of the computer and the web for better meeting planning, more orderly conduct, and stronger results.

I highly recommend the essential meeting improvement book The Hamster Revolution for Meetings: How to Meet Less and Get More Done by Mike Song, Vicki Halsey, and Tim Burress, to anyone seeking to regain control of their meetings, their time, and their lives. By following the simple and powerful techniques shared by the authors, anyone can shorten their time spent in meetings, and become more productive as a result. The book demonstrates the crucial importance of considering overall company and career priorities when planning meetings, a strict meeting agenda and objective, a short and adhered to time limit, and the power of technology for improving meetings.

Read the important and powerful book The Hamster Revolution for Meetings: How to Meet Less and Get More Done by Mike Song, Vicki Halsey, and Tim Burress, and take back control of your meetings, and get more positive results. Instead of turning into a hamster like Iris, you can become a meeting virtuoso, both in person and over the web. You have nothing to lose but that time wasted in unproductive meetings.

Tags: The Hamster Revolution for Meetings: How to Meet Less and Get More Done, Mike Song, Vicki Halsey, Tim Burress, conducting more effective meetings, business book reviews.

READ MORE - The Hamster Revolution for Meetings by Mike Song, Vicki Halsey, Tim Burress - Book review

Listen to Wayne Hurlbert on Blog Talk Radio



CEO of TURKEL and author of the straight to the point and insightful book Building Brand Value: Seven Simple Steps to Profitable Communications, Bruce Turkel, has created and working with valuable brands for over 25 years. He was one of the visionaries behind Miami, FL tourism. Bruce has been tapping another source, and transformed himself into a “personal brand” - and as a result, bringing new life to both his company and the ad world as a whole. He travels the country to speak extensively about the simple yet powerful brand building techniques he has used for Miami.

Bruce Turkel is my internet radio show guest on Blog Business Success; hosted live on Blog Talk Radio.

The show airs live on Tuesday, August 25, at 8:00 pm Eastern Time; 5:00 pm Pacific Time.

CEO of TURKEL and author of the straight to the point and insightful book Building Brand Value: Seven Simple Steps to Profitable Communications, Bruce Turkel, has created and working with valuable brands for over 25 years. He was one of the visionaries behind Miami, FL tourism. You will learn:

* Why so many advertising and marketing messages fail to sell

* What form profitable and successful communications message should take

* How branding can boost any product, service, or individual

* How adding more marketing channels can repeat the message



Bruce Turkel (photo left)is the CEO of the successful brand management firm, TURKEL, where he has been creating and working with valuable brands for over 25 years.

Born and raised in Miami, Bruce studied design at the University of Florida and rushed to NYC to start his career. Preferring the sun to the subway, he returned to Miami and opened his own advertising agency built on the belief that marketing should be well-designed, simple, and should make a client’s products and services more valuable. Using this straightforward checklist, Bruce has worked with hundreds of clients, written thousands of headlines, and designed even more print ads, television spots, websites, and campaigns.

Besides all that, Bruce is a husband, father of two and author of three books—his most recent is Building Brand Value: Seven Simple Steps to Profitable Communications. Oh, and he is an avid harmonica player. Bruce tours extensively, spellbinding audiences with simple yet powerful brand building techniques.

My book review of Building Brand Value: Seven Simple Steps to Profitable Communications by Bruce Turkel.

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 CEO of TURKEL and author of the straight to the point and insightful book Building Brand Value: Seven Simple Steps to Profitable Communications, Bruce Turkel, has created and working with valuable brands for over 25 years. He was one of the visionaries behind Miami, FL tourism. Bruce has been tapping another source, and transformed himself into a “personal brand” - and as a result, bringing new life to both his company and the ad world as a whole. He travels the country to speak extensively about the simple yet powerful brand building techniques he has used for Miami on Blog Business Success Radio.

Tags: Building Brand Value: Seven Simple Steps to Profitable Communications, Bruce Turkel, advertising, marketing communications, Blog Business Success, Blog Talk Radio.

READ MORE - Bruce Turkel: Building Brand Value - Blog Business Success Radio

Writing as a Sacred Path

A Practical Guide to Writing with Passion and Purpose

By: Jill Jepson

Published: December 1 2008
Format: Paperback, 256 pages
ISBN: 978-1-58761-325-8
Publisher: Celestial Arts






"This impulse may sound like masochism or addiction, and perhaps it is, but it is also something greater and more compelling: it's a vocation, a calling", writes author and world traveler Jill Jepson, in her powerful and spiritual examination of the writing life Writing as a Sacred Path : A Practical Guide to Writing with Passion and Purpose. The author describes the writer's calling as a spiritual journey, and endowing that path with the virtues of the monastery, the shaman, and the warrior.

Jill Jepson believes that for a writer, the very act of creation is an essential part of life. In the same way as a person must breathe to live, so too must a writer put words on a page. Along with writing being crucial to a writer's bodily existence, so too is writing part of the writer's internal spiritual self discovery. Drawing upon the mysticism of both the Eastern and Western cultures with which she is very familiar, Jill places the act of writing within the realm of the other worldly. Indeed, the author considers writing an act of creation, that takes on mystical overtones, as the writer embarks on that inner journey in search of truth.



Jill Jepson (photo left) recognizes the spiritual path that compels the writer to follow that unending and relentless inner calling to write. She doesn't describe writing, which can be as painful as a shamanic experience, as profound as a mystical experience, or as dangerous as a warrior's battle, as being an easy life. Instead, writing can be painful, and wrenching, as the innermost feelings of the soul are rendered into prose or poetry. Writing itself becomes a gift of that journey, from within, and even from reaching out to a spiritual world that is unseen by others. The calling of the writer places the individual, almost into a portal that extends between the corporeal world, and that of the spirit world.

For me, the power of the book is Jill Jepson's unflinching, and unerring plumbing of the depths of the compulsion to write and create. Drawing on her on personal travels around the world, and deep within her own spirituality, she brings together the deepest and most profound inner truths of the writer's journey. Along with the spiritual guidance for the writer, Jill Jepson also provides practical instruction for harnessing the powerful energy flowing from personal contemplation and interaction with the spiritual realm. The discipline necessary to write well follows closely the discipline of the monk, the transformational power of the shaman, and the will of the warrior. Through personal examination, the most personal and powerful archetypes can emerge, and stream into the writing via the subconscious mind.

I highly recommend the essential guide to the spiritual aspect of writing Writing as a Sacred Path: A Practical Guide to Writing with Passion and Purpose by Jill Jepson to anyone seeking to understand the deeper personal journey within oneself that imbues writing with greatness. For the person who hears the calling to become a writer, and chooses to follow that past because there is no other choice, this book is an indispensable spirit guide to greater understanding and wisdom.

Read and discover the connection between the creative process, and the internal spiritual life as shared by Jill Jepson, in Writing as a Sacred Path: A Practical Guide to Writing with Passion and Purpose. Her writing guide nurtures the restlessness of the creative spirit, while developing the enlightened soul that dwells within the artist. This book will take the writer on a voyage deep within, and to the farthest reaches of the world and beyond. The writer will be a greater person, as well as a more profound wordsmith, as a result.

Tags: Writing as a Sacred Path: A Practical Guide to Writing with Passion and Purpose, Jill Jepson, creative writing, calling, vocation, writing book reviews.

READ MORE - Writing As A Sacred Path by Jill Jepson - Book review

Building Brand Value

Seven Simple Steps to Profitable Communications

By: Bruce Turkel

Published: January 9, 2006
Format: Paperback, 92 pages
ISBN-10: 1419623494
ISBN-13: 978-1419623493
Publisher: BookSurge Publishing









"Those successful ads didn't focus on the product they were selling - instead they were clearly aimed at the person they were selling to", writes successful advertising agency CEO Bruce Turkel, in his straight to the point and insightful book Building Brand Value: Seven Simple Steps to Profitable Communications. The author delves into the key components that make up a successful advertisement, that speaks to its target buyer in a personal way, and then sells the product or service.

Bruce Turkel dispenses with the frills, and drills right down to the basic qualities of a simple, effective, and memorable advertising campaign. Applying what he calls his proprietary Brain Darts (TM), the author focuses the book on the seven steps to creating a successful, and profitable advertising message. Like the message of the book, the narrative itself is also simple and to the point. Combining the basic format of the seven crucial steps to success with real life business examples, light hearted anecdotes, and his own wonderful illustrations, the book itself is an example of Bruce Turkel's highly successful communications philosophy.



Bruce Turkel (photo left) understands that the simplest message is usually the most effective. At the same time, the author resists the temptation to recommend minimalist thinking. Any communication must convey the essence of the message. Too much will overwhelm the recipient, and too little will miss the point of the essential message. Most importantly, Bruce Turkel recognizes that people make buying decisions based on emotions. The facts are used later to rationalize the emotional purchase choice. The advertisement must appeal to the listener directly, and in a way that makes the message personal to them. Once the recipient of the message internalizes it, and takes personal ownership of the basic communication, the choice to buy the product or service will usually follow.

For me, the power of the book is Bruce Turkel's ability to take a complex topic like advertising communication, and render it into simple and actionable points. As with the author's own concept of Brain Darts (TM), the book is a lesson itself in presenting a message in a clear, concise, and memorable manner. The chapters follow the format of the seven steps to success, and each one builds upon the lessons learned in the previous pages. The entire book is a unified whole, as an example of a well crafted communications message. The concept of providing the essential core of the message, and not getting sidetracked with unnecessary information overload, is reflected in the book itself. In effect, Bruce Turkel walks his talk in the creation of this book.

I highly recommend the very readable, and easy to understand book Building Brand Value: Seven Simple Steps to Profitable Communications by Bruce Turkel, to anyone who crafts communications in advertising, sales, marketing, or public relations who seeks to present a more clear and concise message. The author sets out the seven simple steps, and why they are crucial to successful and profitable communications. By following the concepts presented in the book, any organization can achieve greater sales and marketing success.

Read the enjoyable and practical book Building Brand Value: Seven Simple Steps to Profitable Communications by Bruce Turkel, and stop making the simple basics of communication so difficult for your business and your target market. Follow the seven steps and achieve more success, through understanding the buying thought process, and applying it to your own company's communications efforts.

Tags: Building Brand Value: Seven Simple Steps to Profitable Communications, Bruce Turkel, advertising, marketing communications, business book reviews.

READ MORE - Building Brand Value by Bruce Turkel - Book review

Millennials Incorporated, 2nd Edition

By: Lisa Orrell

Published: August 1, 2008
Format: Paperback, 131 pages
ISBN-10: 1932279822
ISBN-13: 978-1932279825
Publisher: Intelligent Women Publishing/Wyatt-MacKenzie





"The Millennial Professionals tend to be very demanding (of themselves and others), and understand that it is their responsibility to work hard to get what they want", writes Millennial and Generation Relations expert Lisa Orrell, in her insightful and eye opening book Millennials Incorporated, 2nd Edition: The Big Business of Recruiting, Managing and Retaining the World's New Generation of Young Professionals. The author describes the Millennial Generation ( born from 1982-2001) as considering themselves special, confident, and high achievers, who are far from being a spoiled, entitled, and arrogant generation who only want things handed to them.

Lisa Orrell recognizes that Millennial employees are very different from their Baby Boomer and Generation X elders. Unlike the previous generations, Millennial professionals have more respect for authority, and value loyalty. At the same time, however, the author points out that Millennials expect that loyalty to be returned. While Baby Boomers and Gen Xers might stay in a job where their loyalty was not returned, that is not true for the new entrants into the workforce. The Millennial generation is used to be working in teams, which is very different from the individualist Gen X employee as well. Being team oriented doesn't mean that Millennials will follow dress codes, or remain passive in meetings. They expect their individuality to be respected, their voices and ideas to be heard, and their goals and career paths to be defined clearly.



Lisa Orrell (photo left) understands that Millennial professionals are the future of every organization, and it's crucial for employers from other generations to take the unique Millennial traits into consideration. The author shares ideas for recruiting Millennial employees through focus on the strengths and desires of that rising generation. The type of organization demanded by Millennials will be team and goal oriented, doesn't stress dues paying, and demonstrates technical savvy. Along with the hiring tips are valuable ideas for managing and retaining Millennial employees. Creating a work environment that values the individual, provides strong personal recognition and mentoring, and is fun, culturally diverse, and green, will go far toward keeping Millennials happy and motivated.

For me, the power of the book is Lisa Orrell's forthright explanation that the Millennial Generation thinks and behaves differently from the elder Baby Boom and Generation X employees. Not only are these differences very real, they are vital to hiring, motivating, and retaining Millennial employees on the job. Failure to recognize and work with the unique requirements of the new generation will create real problems for slow to catch on companies. The author provides powerful techniques for not only understanding Millennial professionals, but for helping them achieve greatness within the organization. As an added bonus, the book contains a chapter that describes working with the global and multicultural members of the generation, and their similarities.

I highly recommend the essential book for understanding the Millennial employee on the job Millennials Incorporated, 2nd Edition: The Big Business of Recruiting, Managing and Retaining the World's New Generation of Young Professionals by Lisa Orrell, to any employer seeking to understand the aspirations and potential of Millennial employees. Since almost all new entrants into the work world, over the next decade will be Millennials, this book is a must read for all recruiters, managers, and executives in all sizes of organizations in every industry.

Read the practical and information packed book Millennials Incorporated, 2nd Edition: The Big Business of Recruiting, Managing and Retaining the World's New Generation of Young Professionals by Lisa Orrell, and let the strengths of the Millennial professionals propel your company to the forefront of your industry. Millennials are hard working, goal oriented team players, who bring fresh ideas to any company. Help the Millennials to help your business succeed, and this dynamic new generation will return your loyalty and care many times over.

Tags: Millennials Incorporated, Lisa Orrell, generational personnel management, business book reviews.

READ MORE - Millennials Incorporated by Lisa Orrell - Book review

How It Ends

By: Laura Wiess

Published: August 2009
Format: Trade Paperback, 368 pages
ISBN-10: 1416546634
ISBN-13: 9781416546634
Publisher: MTV Books/Pocket Books










Fifteen year old Hanna goes off to private school, and drifts apart from Helen, who had been Hanna's companion for most of her young life. Helen, referred to affectionately by Hanna as Gran, longs for the days when she and Hanna were close, while Hanna's parents' marriage was in trouble. While ignoring Helen, Hanna is busy thinking of ways to catch the eye of Seth, who despite Hanna's affections, doesn't treat her well. Startling and powerful events intervene in Hanna's life changing her forever, in Laura Wiess' page turning and engrossing novel How It Ends.

Laura Wiess creates a believable teenage high school world, complete with concerns about dating, clothing, and parties. At the same time, the author introduces darker forces that affect the lives of all of the characters. The novel is, at its heart, a love story. While Hanna may believe that the love story is between herself and Seth as the object of her affection, that is not the case. The deeper, underlying love story is of Hanna and Helen, and how their lives become entwined when Helen suffers an illness. During that time together, Hanna discovers the truth about love, secrets, and lies.



Laura Wiess (photo left)

While ostensibly writing a teenage coming of age story, Laura Wiess delves more deeply into human relationships, and how what is seen on the surface may be only a mask. Helen hints at at darker secrets from the very outset of the story, as the author sets the stage for the intense and unforgettable conclusion. The story is one of the power of love for redemption, and of respect for life and human dignity. The story is also about self respect and loving oneself. Hanna learns that love also involves respect and sacrifice, and that in the end, love can redeem every soul.

I highly recommend the thoughtful and realistic novel How It Ends by Laura Wiess, to anyone seeking a teen novel that combines elements of real world teen life, with deeper themes of love, respect, and redemption. The love story between Helen and Hanna forms the cornerstone of the novel, and from that base, Hanna learns that there is truly a power to love. She also learns that love is complex, and often involves sacrifice and very difficult choices. In the end, however, Hanna learns that love can overcome the lies of the past, and redeem those in the present.

Read the inventive and touching novel How It Ends by Laura Wiess, and enter a world where love past and present combine to change Hanna's life forever. The well drawn and intriguing characters, and their unique relationships, will stay with the reader, long after the book ends.

Tags: How It Ends, Laura Wiess, young adult fiction, fiction book reviews.

READ MORE - How It Ends by Laura Wiess - Book review

Listen to Wayne Hurlbert on Blog Talk Radio



Sloan Fellows Professor of Management Emeritus at MIT and author of the seminal, yet highly practical book Helping: How to Offer, Give, and Receive Help, Edgar H. Schein, discusses the concept of helping from both the helper and the recipient viewpoint. By using a sociological, psychological, and economics approach to the concept of helping, Ed Schein is able to describe the complexity of helping, He shares ideas for offering, giving and receiving help that deepen business and personal relationships. His ideas are equally valuable in a personal or business setting.

Ed Schein is my internet radio show guest on Blog Business Success; hosted live on Blog Talk Radio.

The show airs live on Thursday, August 20, at 8:00 pm Eastern Time; 5:00 pm Pacific Time.

Note: This is a rescheduled show from an earlier date.

Sloan Fellows Professor of Management Emeritus at MIT and author of the seminal, yet highly practical book Helping: How to Offer, Give, and Receive Help, Edgar H. Schein, discusses the concept of helping from both the helper and the recipient viewpoint. You will learn:

* Why the concept of giving and receiving help is so complex

* How societal and status roles affect the helping dynamic

* How helping operates in a business setting

* How to improve your helping roles and your acceptance of help



Edgar Schein (photo left) was educated at the University of Chicago, at Stanford University where he received a Masters Degree in Psychology in 1949, and at Harvard University where he received his Ph.D. in social psychology in 1952. He was Chief of the Social Psychology Section of the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research while serving in the U.S. Army as Captain from 1952 to 1956. He joined MIT's Sloan School of Management in 1956 and was made a Professor of Organizational Psychology and Management in 1964.

At the present he is Sloan Fellows Professor of Management Emeritus and continues at the Sloan School part time as a Senior Lecturer. He is also the Founding Editor of "Reflections" the Journal of the Society for Organizational Learning devoted to connecting academics, consultants, and practitioners around the issues of knowledge creation, dissemination and utilization.

Ed Schein has been a prolific researcher, writer, teacher and consultant. Besides his numerous articles in professional journals he has authored fourteen books including Organizational Psychology (3d edit., 1980), Career Dynamics (1978), Organizational Culture and Leadership (1985, 1992, 2004), and Process Consultation Vol. 1 and Vol. 2 (1969, 1987, 1988), Process Consultation Revisited (1999), and The Corporate Culture Survival Guide (1999).

Ed Schein wrote a cultural analysis of the Singapore Economic Development Board entitled Strategic Pragmatism (MIT Press, 1997) and has published an extended case analysis of the rise and fall of Digital Equipment Corporation entitled DEC is Dead; Long Live DEC: The lasting legacy of Digital Equipment Corporation (Berrett-Kohler, 2003). He was Co-editor with the late Richard Beckhard of the Addison Wesley Series on Organization Development which has published over 30 titles since its inception in 1969.

His consultation focuses on organizational culture, organization development, process consultation, and career dynamics, and among his past and current clients are major corporations both in the U.S. and overseas such as Digital Equipment Corporation, Ciba-Geigy, Apple, Citibank, General Foods, Procter & Gamble, ICI, Saab Combitech, Steinbergs, Alcoa, Motorola, Hewlett-Packard, Exxon, Shell, AMOCO, British Petroleum, Con Edison, the Economic Development Board of Singapore, and the International Atomic Energy Agency (on the subject of "safety culture").

Ed Schein currently serves on the Advisory Board of the Institute for Nuclear Power Operations, and the Boards of Massachusetts Audubon Society and the Boston Lyric Opera.

Ed Schein has received many honors and awards for his writing, most recently the Lifetime Achievement Award in Workplace Learning and Performance of the American Society of Training Directors, Feb, 3, 2000, the Everett Cherington Hughes Award for Career Scholarship from the Careers Division of the Academy of Management, Aug. 8, 2000, and the Marion Gislason Award for Leadership in Executive Development from the Boston University School of Management Executive Development Roundtable, Dec. 11, 2002.

He is a Fellow of the American Psychological Association and the Academy of Management. Prof. Schein is married, has three children, and seven grandchildren. He and his wife Mary live in Cambridge, Mass.

My book review of Helping: How to Offer, Give, and Receive Help by Edgar H. Schein.

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 Sloan Fellows Professor of Management Emeritus at MIT and author of the seminal, yet highly practical book Helping: How to Offer, Give, and Receive Help, Edgar H. Schein, as he discusses the concept of helping from both the helper and the recipient viewpoint. By using a sociological, psychological, and economics approach to the concept of helping, Ed Schein is able to describe the complexity of helping, He shares ideas for offering, giving and receiving help that deepen business and personal relationships. His ideas are equally valuable in a personal or business setting on Blog Business Success Radio.

Tags: Helping: How to Offer, Give, and Receive Help, Edgar H. Schein, personal relationship building, Blog Business Success, BlogTalkRadio.

READ MORE - Edgar Schein: Helping: How To Offer, Give, And Receive Help - Blog Business Success Radio