Donna Hicks: Dignity The Essential Role It Plays in Resolving Conflict - Blog Business Success Radio

Listen to Wayne Hurlbert on Blog Talk Radio



Internationally acclaimed conflict resolution facilitator, Associate, Weatherhead Center for International Affairs at Harvard Univeristy, and author of the life affirming and honorable resolution based book Dignity: The Essential Role It Plays in Resolving Conflict, Donna Hicks, Ph.D., Ph.D., describes how dignity is the motivating force behind all human interaction. Whether it's in families, communities, the business world, or at the international level, people have the desire to be treated well and with dignity. Donna Hicks points out that if dignity is violated, then the result is aggression, violence, and hatred. Without dignity, the human connection disappears. Donna Hicks offers people an understanding of dignity, which is little understood, despite its universal desire. Donna Hicks examines the gap in the understanding and honoring of dignity. She shares a fresh set of strategies for becoming aware of the role of dignity, and for putting dignity into practice in all of our interactions with other people.

Donna Hicks, Ph.D. is my internet radio show guest on Blog Business Success; hosted live on BlogTalkRadio.

The show airs live on Thursday, February 2, at 8:00 pm Eastern Time; 5:00 pm Pacific Time.

Internationally acclaimed conflict resolution facilitator, Associate, Weatherhead Center for International Affairs at Harvard Univeristy, and author of the life affirming and honorable resolution based book Dignity: The Essential Role It Plays in Resolving Conflict, Donna Hicks, Ph.D., Ph.D., describes how dignity is the motivating force behind all human interaction. You will learn:

* Why dignity is the fundamental value in human interaction

* What are the ten essential elements of dignity

* How to avoid the ten temptations to violate dignity

* How to heal relationships with dignity



Donna Hicks, Ph.D. (photo left) is an Associate at the Weatherhead Center for International Affairs at Harvard University.

In addition to teaching conflict resolution at Harvard, Clark and Columbia Universities, Dr. Hicks has spent nearly two decades in the field of international conflict resolution facilitating dialogue between communities in conflict in the Middle East, Sri Lanka, Colombia, Cuba, and Northern Ireland. She was a consultant to the BBC where she co-facilitated a television series, Facing the Truth, with Archbishop Desmond Tutu, which aired in the United Kingdom and on BBC World in 2006.

Dr. Hicks also works as a consultant to corporations and organizations, applying her dignity model to everyday business and relational situations.

She lives in Boston, MA.

My book review of Dignity: The Essential Role It Plays in Resolving Conflict by Donna Hicks, Ph.D.

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 internationally acclaimed conflict resolution facilitator, Associate, Weatherhead Center for International Affairs at Harvard Univeristy, and author of the life affirming and honorable resolution based book Dignity: The Essential Role It Plays in Resolving Conflict, Donna Hicks, Ph.D., Ph.D., as she describes how dignity is the motivating force behind all human interaction. Whether it's in families, communities, the business world, or at the international level, people have the desire to be treated well and with dignity. Donna Hicks points out that if dignity is violated, then the result is aggression, violence, and hatred. Without dignity, the human connection disappears. Donna Hicks offers people an understanding of dignity, which is little understood, despite its universal desire. Donna Hicks examines the gap in the understanding and honoring of dignity. She shares a fresh set of strategies for becoming aware of the role of dignity, and for putting dignity into practice in all of our interactions with other people on Blog Business Success Radio.

Tags: Dignity: The Essential Role It Plays in Resolving Conflict, Donna Hicks, Ph.D., positive conflict resolution, Blog Business Success, Blog Talk Radio.

Dignity: The Essential Role It Plays in Resolving Conflict by Donna Hicks - Book review

Dignity

The Essential Role It Plays in Resolving Conflict

By: Donna Hicks, Ph.D.

Published: September 6, 2011
Format:Hardcover, 240 pages
ISBN-10: 0300163924
ISBN-13: 978-0300163926
Publisher: Yale University Press















"We share a longing for dignity - the feeling of inherent value and worth. When we feel worthy, when our value is recognized, and honored in our relationships, we are connected", writes acclaimed international conflict resolution facilitator and Associate at the Weatherhead Center for International Affairs at Harvard University, Donna Hicks, Ph.D., in her life affirming and honorable resolution based book Dignity: The Essential Role It Plays in Resolving Conflict. The author describes the important role that dignity plays in all human interaction, its universal desire in all people, and how to practice dignity in all personal, business, community, and international interactions.

Donna Hicks recognizes the importance of respect, but considers dignity to be a human desire of a different form. While respect implies an earned value, dignity should be accorded to everyone regardless of circumstance, based on their humanity alone. The author shares how vital a sense of dignity is to a sense of self worth, and how all conflict resolution must place a priority on the dignity of everyone involved in the process and outcome. Donna Hicks provides what she calls her Dignity Model, for understanding the role of dignity, whether in daily interactions or in international relations. The author places the desire for dignity at the heart of all human relationships.



Donna Hicks, Ph.D. (photo left) demonstrates that people become vulnerable if they are treated as if they have no value. At the same time, if others are treated with dignity, we enhance and reaffirm our own sense of dignity. The empowering aspect of this concept is that by maintaining the dignity of others, increases our own level of dignity. In other words, it is self defeating to attempt to undermine the dignity of others during all personal interactions. When we diminish the dignity or others, we lower our own dignity and self worth as well. The very positive approach to conflict resolution of all types, where dignity is upheld and enriched, promotes reconciliation and a renewal of relationships.

The Dignity model, as offered by Donna Hicks includes three essential parts. The three parts are as follows:

* Ten essential elements of dignity and how to honor dignity in everyone
* Ten temptations to violate dignity and how to avoid these traps
* Healing relationships with dignity through rebuilding and reconciliation

For me, the power of the book is how Donna Hicks combines a powerful theoretical framework of the importance of dignity to all people, with a practical guide to honoring dignity in every form of personal interaction. Donna Hicks shares her Dignity Model which transforms conflict resolution from one of confrontation and the diminishing of others, to one where dignity becomes a prime guiding force in the reconciliation process. Through acceptance of identity, inclusion, fairness, and other positive values, Donna Hicks offers an often overlooked connection for understanding the real underlying causes of conflict.

Donna Hicks understands that temptation to diminish the dignity of others has often caused many resolution efforts to break down without success. The author addresses each of these problematic temptations head on, with the warning signs that they are appearing, and the steps necessary to remove them. Donna Hicks also provides a process for utilizing the power of dignity to rebuild relationships, that goes beyond forgiveness, and renews relationships through a shared honoring of dignity.

I highly recommend the landmark and definitive book Dignity: The Essential Role It Plays in Resolving Conflict by Donna Hicks, Ph.D., to anyone seeking an alternative and fresh approach to rebuilding relationships through the mutual honoring of human dignity. This book will change forever your views of how people respond to others, and how that response will enhance and improve all conflict resolution situations.

Tags: Dignity: The Essential Role It Plays in Resolving Conflict, Donna Hicks, Ph.D., positive conflict resolution, business book reviews

Michael Michalko: Creative Thinkering - Blog Business Success Radio

Listen to Wayne Hurlbert on Blog Talk Radio



Internationally acclaimed creativity consultant and author of the brilliant and very hands on book Creative Thinkering: Putting Your Imagination to Work, Michael Michalko, describes how to resurrect your natural creative thinking abilities. Michael explains that creativity requires making connections between two or more dissimilar subjects, resulting in new ideas and concepts. Michael shares his proven techniques to put this connection skill to practical use to discover exciting new solutions to problems. Michael points out that everyone has the ability for creativity, and provides the techniques used by geniuses to develop your own genius capabilities. The methods offered by the author combine fun with real world results to boost your creativity and problem solving skills. Learn how to change your outlook and way of thinking to one where you act and behave like a creative thinker.

Michael Michalko is my internet radio show guest on Blog Business Success; hosted live on BlogTalkRadio.

The show airs live on Tuesday, January 31, at 8:00 pm Eastern Time; 5:00 pm Pacific Time.

Internationally acclaimed creativity consultant and author of the brilliant and very hands on book Creative Thinkering: Putting Your Imagination to Work, Michael Michalko, describes how to resurrect your natural creative thinking abilities. You will learn:

* Why everyone has the capability for genius level creativity

* Why people aren't as creative as they can and should be in iife

* How to learn and practice creative thinking skills

* How to change how you see the world and become a creative thinker



Michael Michalko (photo left)
is one of the most highly acclaimed creativity experts in the world and author of the best sellers Thinkertoys (A Handbook of Business Creativity), ThinkPak (A Brainstorming Card Deck), and Cracking Creativity (The Secrets Of Creative Genius).

As an officer in the United States Army, Michael organized a team of NATO intelligence specialists and international academics in Frankfurt, Germany, to research, collect, and categorize all known inventive-thinking methods. His international team applied those methods to various NATO military, political, and social problems and in doing so it produced a variety of breakthrough ideas and creative solutions to new and old problems. After leaving the military, Michael facilitated CIA think tanks using his creative thinking techniques.

Michael later applied these creative-thinking techniques to problems in the corporate world with outstanding successes. Michael has provided keynote speeches, workshops, and seminars on fostering creative thinking for clients who range from Fortune 500 corporations, such as DuPont, Kellogg's, General Electric, Kodak, Microsoft, Exxon, General Motors, Ford, USA, AT&T, Wal-Mart, Gillette, and Hallmark, to associations and governmental agencies. In addition to his work in the United States, Michael has worked with clients in countries around the world.

Some of Michael’s creative-thinking techniques that were refined by his government and corporate practice were published in his best-seller Thinkertoys (A Handbook of Business Creativity), which the Wall Street Journal reported "will change the way you think." Women In Business lauded it as "one of the most important business titles of the decade." USA said "believe it or not, this wonderful book will have you challenging the seemingly impossible every day."

Executive Book Summaries praised it by saying, "What we need is a compendium of ways to solve problems. And that’s exactly what you get in Thinkertoys." and Entrepreneur acclaimed it as "required reading for anyone in business." Success magazine awarded Thinkertoys with a Gold Medal for being "one of the best of the best business books." The medal is awarded to books that have that made a major impact on readers who say they've experienced a change -- an improvement in their lives and businesses.

He is also the author of ThinkPak (A Brainstorming Card Deck), a novel creative-thinking tool that is designed to facilitate brainstorming sessions. Michael’s book, Cracking Creativity (The Secrets Of Creative Genius), describes the common thinking strategies creative geniuses have used in the sciences, art, and industry throughout history and shows how we can apply them to become more creative in our business and personal lives.

My book review of Creative Thinkering: Putting Your Imagination to Work by Michael Michalko.

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 internationally acclaimed creativity consultant and author of the brilliant and very hands on book Creative Thinkering: Putting Your Imagination to Work, Michael Michalko, as he describes how to resurrect your natural creative thinking abilities. Michael explains that creativity requires making connections between two or more dissimilar subjects, resulting in new ideas and concepts. Michael shares his proven techniques to put this connection skill to practical use to discover exciting new solutions to problems. Michael points out that everyone has the ability for creativity, and provides the techniques used by geniuses to develop your own genius capabilities. The methods offered by the author combine fun with real world results to boost your creativity and problem solving skills. Learn how to change your outlook and way of thinking to one where you act and behave like a creative thinker on Blog Business Success Radio.

Tags: Creative Thinkering: Putting Your Imagination to Work, Michael Michalko, creative thinking strategies, Blog Business Success, Blog Talk Radio.

Creative Thinkering by Michael Michalko - Book review

Creative Thinkering

Putting Your Imagination to Work

By: Michael Michalko

Published: September 6, 2011
Format: Paperback, 256 pages
ISBN-10: 160868024X
ISBN-13: 978-1608680245
Publisher: New World Library















"Creative thinking requires the ability to generate a host of associations and connections between two or more dissimilar subjects, creating new categories and concepts. We have not been taught to process information this way", writes internationally acclaimed creativity expert Michael Michalko, in his brilliant and very hands on book Creative Thinkering: Putting Your Imagination to Work. The author describes why people always seem to arrive at the same old answers to problems, and shares fun and mind opening practices and techniques to transform anyone into a genius level creative thinker.

Michael Michalko recognizes that people are educated to think logically and in conventional ways. For the author, that educational and societal approach works against the creative thinking process completely. The result is the same ideas are brought forward over and over again. Michael Michalko offers an alternative way of thinking, approaching problems, and looking at the world. The author points out that everyone was creative at a young age, but that innate creativity was removed through the application of firm logic and the standard structure of concepts. To restore that childhood creativity, Michael Michalko provides easy to understand and apply techniques that changes the way people see the world.



Michael Michalko (photo left) understands that conceptual blending of blending two very dissimilar subjects or ideas is one of the secrets employed by creative geniuses throughout history. The author cites the example of Leonardo Da Vinci, whose combining of seemingly random items and concepts, resulted in extraordinary new ideas and ways of thinking. Michael Michalko demonstrates that the principles of creativity, employed by Da Vinci, can be utilized by anyone to create fresh ideas and solutions to problems. Through combining opposites, adding what were previously considered crazy or absurd ideas, changing your perspective on the world, and then letting the idea incubate, breakthroughs will be the result.

Michael Michalko shares his three characteristics shared by geniuses, and offers them as principles for all would be creative thinkers to embrace. The three notable genius traits are:

* Importance of intention and how to use it to develop a creative mind-set
* Changing your thinking patterns by changing the way you speak
* How to become what you pretend to be

For me, the power of the book is how Michael Michalko demonstrates that anyone can become a creative genius and developer of new ideas. The author not only provides evidence that creativity is found in everyone, but also shares proven practices and techniques for drawing out that latent creative thinking ability. For people who mistakenly believe that they lack any sort of creativity, this book is a real eye opening experience. Not only can anyone develop the skills and habits of thought to become a genius level creator, hut the path toward that blissful state is both fun and exciting along the way.

The author brings his own proven experience and real world examples to the book, providing illustrative case studies of the principles in action. A tremendous addition to the book are the many graphics and thought experiments included in every chapter. These enhancements offer fun and challenging techniques to guide the reader toward embracing a creative world view and outlook on life. Michael Michalko also provides very extensive footnotes for each chapter to help readers further their own investigation and study of creative thinking and the creative process.

I highly recommend the creativity inspiring, treasure of a book Creative Thinkering: Putting Your Imagination to Work by Michael Michalko, to anyone in any walk of life, who is seeking to develop their inborn creative skills. This book will transform anyone into a creative thinking, and ideas generating genius level creator of ideas and solutions.

Tags: Creative Thinkering: Putting Your Imagination to Work, Michael Michalko, creative thinking strategies, business book reviews

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Through The Language Glass by Guy Deutscher - Book review

Through the Language Glass

Why the World Looks Different in Other Languages

By: Guy Deutscher

Published: August 30, 2011
Format: Trade Paperback, 320 pages
ISBN-10: 0312610491
ISBN-13: 978-0312610494
Publisher: Picador










"I will argue that cultural differences are reflected in language in profound ways, and that a growing body of reliable scientific research provides solid evidence that our mother tongue can affect how we think and how we perceive the world", writes former Fellow of St. John's College, Cambridge and of the Department of Ancient Near Eastern Languages in the University of Leiden in the Netherlands, and honorary Research Fellow at the School of Languages, Linguistics and Cultures in the University of Manchester, Guy Deutscher in his fascinating and thought provoking book Through the Language Glass: Why the World Looks Different in Other Languages. The author describes how the very words and grammar of a language frames the way its native speakers think and view the world, and that languages are all fundamentally different in very crucial ways.

Guy Deutscher moves linguistics out of the field of genetics and places languages firmly in the camp of culture. In the eternal argument of nature and nurture, the author lands solidly on the side of nurture and cultural influences on language. He goes one step farther, and demonstrates that the very words and structure of a language nurture different ways of thinking and looking at the world from those of other language speakers. Instead of accepting the widely held opinion that languages are subsets, and even dialects of one another, Guy Deutscher considers the different languages to be discrete and the creators of a multitude of varying worldviews.



Guy Deutscher (photo left) recognizes that there are enormous differences in culture around the world, but these are usually thought to be superficial. The author presents the alternative concept that these cultural variations are the result of the structure of the language, its choices and variations of words, and its grammar.

Guy Deutscher points out that different languages have decidedly contrasting structures and views of both time and space. For the author, these and other differences in perception carry with them radically different worldviews that are embedded at a very young age. The author utilizes the latest scientific research in neurology, and the ideas of the great philosophers, to frame his case. For the author, even how various language speakers consider colors, is a reflection of both the mirror of a language, and the lens of the language.

For me, the power of the book is how Guy Deutscher presents a compelling argument that language shapes cultures and the worldviews of its speakers. The author acknowledges that his case must overcome some serious historical baggage relating to cultures and the people of the world. At the same time, he presents language as a cultural phenomenon, and not one of genetics. The author also employs leading edge scientific studies to support his position.

Guy Deutscher writes in a very accessible and lively style that draws the reader along through a historical and global tour spanning continents and thousands of years. The author also presents his ideas in a logical format and includes illustrative and supporting examples from history, science, and philosophy. This book will challenge the reader's own perceptions of the world, and lead to further discussion and investigation of this endlessly intriguing topic.

I highly recommend the groundbreaking and landmark book Through the Language Glass: Why the World Looks Different in Other Languages by Guy Deutscher, to anyone seeking a serious and fresh approach to the study of linguistics, language, and cultural perception. Whether a person agrees or disagrees with the author, this book is an important and essential contribution to the fields of linguistics, language, history, human geography, and culture.

Tags: Through the Language Glass: Why the World Looks Different in Other Languages, Guy Deutscher, language and culture, science book reviews

Field Tested by Emily King - Book review

Field Tested

Recruiting, Managing, and Retaining Veterans

By: Emily King

Published; November 10, 2011
Format: Hardcover, 187 pages
ISBN-10: 0814417795
ISBN-13: 978-0814417799
Publisher: AMACOM












"Let's start with a very basic question: Why hire a veteran? Because it's good business", writes nationally recognized expert on the transition from military service to civilian employment, and founder of Military Transitions™, Emily King in her groundbreaking and very practical book Field Tested: Recruiting, Managing, and Retaining Veterans. The author describes hiring former military personnel as going far beyond altruism or patriotism, as veterans are tremendous employees who bring valuable characteristics and experience to the workplace. The author shares insights to recruiting, hiring, and retaining veterans in organizations, and for optimizing their value to the company.

Emily King recognizes the important attributes that veterans bring to the workplace. Their notable traits include talent, a focus on achieving goals and results, dedication, and loyalty. The author points out that these characteristics are those sought in all employees, and that former service personnel bring them in abundance. Despite the obvious benefits of recruiting and hiring veterans, many companies lack the understanding of ex-service men and woman, and fail to add their talents and skills to the organization. At the same time, the former service men and women are not always aware of the real value and unique skill sets that they bring to the organization. Emily King provides a guide to bridging this gap, benefiting both the veterans and the companies who hire them.



Emily King (photo left) understands the unique strengths that former service personnel bring to the workplace. The author also understands that there are crucial cultural differences between the military and civilian workplaces. Veterans need assistance in making a successful transition to civilian employment, and employers must realize that hiring ex-service men and woman also adds diversity and a sense of inclusion to the organization.

To aid in the successful transition, Emily King shares her Military Transitions Framework™ as a guide and practical tool for facilitating a smooth transfer of skills from the service to civilian employment. The author also shares the Veteran Retention Lifecycle™ as a structure retaining veterans within an organization and assisting in their successful career development. The author also provides a self assessment kit for employers to ensure that their company and its culture are ready to add veterans to their workforce.

For me, the power of the book is how Emily King combines a strong case for hiring former service men and women, with a practical framework and strategy for the successful transition of veterans into the organization. The author asks and answers two important questions in the book. The first question is what traits, skills and knowledge that veterans must bring to the workplace to achieve success in a civilian career. The second question is how can employers better recruit, hire, and retain former service people in their organization, while developing the individual's career path. Both of these questions are answered very well and in depth in the book.

Emily King underlines the tremendous value that veterans bring to the workplace and that hiring former military men and women are a valuable and profitable addition to the company. This book provides a powerful and results oriented base, for both job seeking veterans and employers, to ease and enhance the transition for individuals from military life to civilian careers. Emily King also points out the additional diversity of ideas, background, and experience that veterans bring to any organization. The author also shares real world examples of successful transitions to illustrate her concepts at work with veterans in actual work environments.

I highly recommend the very insightful and essential book Field Tested: Recruiting, Managing, and Retaining Veterans by Emily King, to any former military service personnel seeking to make a successful transition to civilian life; and to any employers, business owners, and hiring managers seeking highly skilled, motivated, and loyal employees. This book will encourage your company to look very seriously at hiring veterans into your organization for the crucial traits and skills they bring to the workplace. Hiring veterans is good business for everyone.

Tags: Field Tested: Recruiting, Managing, and Retaining Veterans, Emily King, hiring military veterans, business book reviews

Hot Leaders Cool Facilitators by Bart R. Wendell - Book review

Hot Leaders Cool Facilitators

Learning to Lead One Meeting at a Time

By: Bart R. Wendell, Ph.D.

Published: September 22, 2010
Format: Paperback, 164 pages
ISBN-10: 0984194894
ISBN-13: 978-0984194896
Publisher: Networlding Publishing










"You are a leader...and you don't like meetings. You want to like them, but you don't, and your don't know why. This book will fix that", writes master facilitator, business consultant and psychologist Bart R. Wendell, in his very hands on and engaging book Hot Leaders Cool Facilitators: Learning to Lead One Meeting at a Time. The author describes in no uncertain terms why meetings fail to achieve their desired goals, and provides practical advice to guide leaders toward facilitating successful meeting outcomes.

Bart Wendell recognizes that meetings provide a public display of leadership abilities, both good and bad, that can make or destroy a leader's career. The author considers the meeting to be a true test of a leader's skills. As a result, Bart Wendell offers the insightful advice that conducting a successful meeting goes far toward the development of an outstanding leader. Because of the nature of meetings, and why they so often fail to produce positive results, alert leadership is a necessity. People drawn into meetings bring their silos, and not solutions, along with them. Meetings include diverse participants with a wide variety of abilities and agendas.



Bart R. Wendell (photo left) understands that leaders must be able to gauge how a meeting is progressing, and time when to look for a needed breakthrough, in order too achieve a positive outcome that benefits the organization. This skill requires practice and is as much an art as a science. The author points out that leaders very often demonstrate their lack of skills when they want and need to perform their best. What Bart Wendell calls Hot leaders overheat the meeting and cause impulsive and rash responses and decisions. The author describes Cool leaders as too calming resulting in a lack of action or decision making.

To counter these three observations, Bart Wendell proposes a framework built of five leadership principles. Those five principles are as follows:

* Meetings reflect leadership ability. Great leaders run great meetings
* A leader changes through the act of running a meeting, both good and bad
* Good leaders use Hot and Cold effectively to guide the meeting
* Great leaders understand themselves; their own strengths and weaknesses
* A great leader is not afraid of uncomfortable but right decisions

For me, the power of the book is how Bart Wendell combines a deep understanding of the subtle human characteristics of meetings, with a practical guide for developing leadership skills, through running effective meetings. The author considers meetings to be the crucible in which skilled leaders forge their best qualities. For the author, this testing of leadership is both an internal struggle with oneself and one's fears, as it is an external discovery of effective leadership techniques. Bart Wendell devotes an entire chapter to each of the critical aspects of leadership in meetings, underlining both the inner journey to self realization, as well as the skills visible to those attending the meeting.

The idea that meetings, with the need to lead and guide others to a worthwhile result, forms the basis of great leadership is a good one. Understanding the many implications of this important leadership concept alone makes this book a very worthwhile read. The author's experience as a business consultant, meeting leader and facilitator, as well as a psychologist bring a unique and valuable perspective to this book that is rarely found in leadership books.

I highly recommend the insightful and leadership building book Hot Leaders Cool Facilitators: Learning to Lead One Meeting at a Time by Bert R. Wendell, Ph.D., to anyone seeking to become a better leader and to conduct more effective meetings. The author demonstrates how intertwining the concept of great leadership with running great meetings is a powerful connection. This book will change the way that you view both leadership and meeting management.

Tags: Hot Leaders Cool Facilitators: Learning to Lead One Meeting at a Time, Bert R. Wendell, Ph.D., leadership and meeting strategies, business book reviews

Ray Schwemmer & Rick Havrilla: Dynamic Collaboration - Blog Business Success Radio

Listen to Wayne Hurlbert on Blog Talk Radio



Software solutions consultants, co-founders of CollabraSpace, and co-authors of the insightful and groundbreaking book Dynamic Collaboration: How to Share Information, Solve Problems, and Increase Productivity without Compromising Security, Ray Schwemmer and Rick Havrilla describe how to tap into the power of social networking to better facilitate communication in the workplace. They provide ideas for implementing collaboration tools to create your own social network. Ray and Rick demonstrate how to use these enhanced communications systems to boost creativity, problem solving and greater transparency within organizations. The authors also share ideas for maintaining security while maximizing information sharing, communication, and idea creation. The authors show how integrating communication tools, with already existing systems increases internal communication, idea sharing, and improves productivity. Learn how to increase your bottom line profits through collaboration of ideas.

Ray Schwemmer and Rick Havrilla are my internet radio show guests on Blog Business Success; hosted live on BlogTalkRadio.

The show airs live on Thursday, January 26, at 8:00 pm Eastern Time; 5:00 pm Pacific Time.

Software solutions consultants, co-founders of CollabraSpace, and co-authors of the insightful and groundbreaking book Dynamic Collaboration: How to Share Information, Solve Problems, and Increase Productivity without Compromising Security, Ray Schwemmer and Rick Havrilla describe how to tap into the power of social networking to better facilitate communication in the workplace. You will learn:

* What collaboration means in a communications system

* Why collaboration is so crucial to organizational success

* How to create an effective collaborative communication network

* How to implement a collaborative system that breaks down barriers



Ray Schwemmer (photo left) has over 20 years of Internet technology experience in large system design and development, project management, sales, and marketing.

As President/CEO, Ray uses his extensive Internet technology and management experience to lead CollabraSpace through the rapid corporate growth of a leading software and services provider. He also assists in building the company’s distribution channels, strategic alliances, partnerships, and corporate development activities.

Prior to starting CollabraSpace, Ray spent ten years working for various IT companies designing and building large-scale distributed systems for both commercial and government clients. Ray holds both a B.S. in Computer Science and an M.B.A. from Drexel University.

Ray is the co-author of Dynamic Collaboration: How to Share Information, Solve Problems, and Increase Productivity without Compromising Security with Rick Havrilla, CTO and co-founder of CollabraSpace. Dynamic Collaboration shows how leaders can harness the power of Web 2.0 and use it to tap into the collective intelligence of their organization. The book will be available in October 2011. Visit http://dynamic-collaboration-book/ to learn more.

Ray and his wife reside in Maryland with their two children. He enjoys golfing and sailing in his free time.



Rick Havrilla (photo left) brings over 20 years of experience designing and implementing enterprise software solutions with over ten years of experience working with collaboration technologies to CollabraSpace. He has worked with numerous organizations on their system architectures to integrate collaborative solutions that fit seamlessly into their architectures and products.

As Chief Technology Officer at CollabraSpace, Rick integrates new technologies and determines the viability and potential of new collaboration prospects. He actively participates in the esthetic design, programming, and technical development of all software products. Rick plays an intricate role in the management of projects for our customers, which has resulted in numerous consulting opportunities for CollabraSpace.

In previous positions, he was responsible for seeking new business opportunities as well as designing and developing large scale distributed systems for both commercial and government clients. Rick holds his B.S. in Computer Science and Applied Mathematics from the University of Pittsburgh and his M.S. in Computer Science from Johns Hopkins University.

Rick is the co-author of Dynamic Collaboration: How to Share Information, Solve Problems, and Increase Productivity without Compromising Security with Ray Schwemmer, President, CEO and co-founder of CollabraSpace. Dynamic Collaboration shows how leaders can harness the power of Web 2.0 and use it to tap into the collective intelligence of their organization. The book became available in October 2011. Visit http://dynamic-collaboration-book/ to learn more.

Rick and his wife live in Maryland with their two children. Rick enjoys playing volleyball, soccer and golf.

My book review of Dynamic Collaboration: How to Share Information, Solve Problems, and Increase Productivity without Compromising Security by Ray Schwemmer and Rick Havrilla.

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 software solutions consultants, co-founders of CollabraSpace, and co-authors of the insightful and groundbreaking book Dynamic Collaboration: How to Share Information, Solve Problems, and Increase Productivity without Compromising Security, Ray Schwemmer and Rick Havrilla, as they describe how to tap into the power of social networking to better facilitate communication in the workplace. They provide ideas for implementing collaboration tools to create your own social network. Ray and Rick demonstrate how to use these enhanced communications systems to boost creativity, problem solving and greater transparency within organizations. The authors also share ideas for maintaining security while maximizing information sharing, communication, and idea creation. The authors show how integrating communication tools, with already existing systems increases internal communication, idea sharing, and improves productivity. Learn how to increase your bottom line profits through collaboration of ideas on Blog Business Success Radio.

Tags: Dynamic Collaboration: How to Share Information, Solve Problems, and Increase Productivity without Compromising Security, Ray Schwemmer, Rick Havrilla, organizational change strategies, Blog Business Success, Blog Talk Radio.

Dynamic Collaboration by Ray Schwemmer & Rick Havrilla - Book review

Dynamic Collaboration

How to Share Information, Solve Problems, and Increase Productivity without Compromising Security

By: Ray Schwemmer, Rick Havrilla

Published: October 15, 2011
Format: Hardcover, 160 pages
ISBN-10: 0982056931
ISBN-13: 978-0982056936
Publisher: Third Bridge Press











"Forward-thinking leaders understand that collaboration is crucial for any organization that wants to be productive, adaptable, and creative", write co-founders of CollabraSpace, Ray Schwemmer and Rick Havrilla, in their insightful and groundbreaking book Dynamic Collaboration: How to Share Information, Solve Problems, and Increase Productivity without Compromising Security. The authors describe how collaboration is essential in the modern organization but is often very difficult to implement. The authors provide a guide to successful deployment of collaboration tools and a change in the culture that encourages and supports open communication and collaboration.



Ray Schwemmer (photo left) and Rick Havrilla understand the vital importance of collaboration as a strategic enhancement to any organization. The power of social networks to transform communications in today's world is a strength that can be leveraged to achieve competitive advantage. The ability to design and put into action new tools that support open communication, similar to the familiar mainstream social media tools, creates a system of horizontal and vertical communication and idea sharing. The authors demonstrate that collaboration integrates an organization, breaks down barriers, and leads to vastly improved problem solving; as well as savings in both time and money. Strategic collaboration results in more engaged and energized employees, who are more productive and more in balance with their lives, leading to improved company profitability.



Rick Havrilla (photo left) and Ray Schwemmer recognize that collaboration technologies have moved beyond the product stage, and are now an integral part of the social media landscape.An internal communications system, that works in the manner of Twitter or Facebook, facilitates efficient and effective idea and data transfer and exchange throughout the organization. The authors point out that this enhanced data and information sharing goes far toward removing barriers and silos within organizations. With these walls broken down, more effective problem solving and solution implementation are the result. At the same time, the removal of obstacles improves the culture, increases morale, and creates a more engaged workforce.

For Ray Schwemmer and Rick Havrilla, organizations that fail to collaborate are described as being stovepiped. Within each pipe, departments maintained their own databases, and information was rarely shared between the pipes. The authors demonstrate that stovepipes worked against collaboration and are a failed organizational model. A lack of collaboration results in failure to share solutions, recognize problem areas, and a reduction in profits. Collaboration removes the pipe effect, enhancing the communication and sharing within the organization. Collaboration creates a united company with a shared sense of purpose that translates into higher performance levels, increased efficiency, and higher profit levels.

For me, the power of the book is how Ray Schwemmer and Rick Havrilla combine their framework for improved collaboration and communication with the practical strategies for implementing a collaborative system. The authors describe the problems that arise from a lack of collaboration, and contrast that scenario with the vastly improved system that results from widespread collaboration. The authors take a holistic approach to collaboration as a social network that works for and benefits the entire organization. The system integrates all social and communications technologies and platforms into a unified whole. The result is an end to stovepipes, silos, and the barriers that prevent people from doing their jobs. With an end to the barriers, morale and engagement levels improve along with productivity and profitability.

I highly recommend the essential and game changing book
Dynamic Collaboration: How to Share Information, Solve Problems, and Increase Productivity without Compromising Security by Ray Schwemmer and Rick Havrilla, to any business leaders who are seeking an improved communication and collaboration system within their organization. This book will break down internal barriers, increase collaboration, solve problems more effectively, and move your company ahead of the competition.

Tags: Dynamic Collaboration: How to Share Information, Solve Problems, and Increase Productivity without Compromising Security, Ray Schwemmer, Rick Havrilla, organizational change strategies, business book reviews

Nancy Oakley: The Road To Success - Blog Business Success Radio

Listen to Wayne Hurlbert on Blog Talk Radio



Entrepreneur and author of motivational and deeply personal book The Road To Success: A Small Business Owner's Guide to Life, Financial Freedom, and Achieving Your Dreams and The Quest For Serendipity, Nancy Oakley (Neuensie Suku) shares her heroic life story of overcoming a life of poverty in Thailand and her successful career in business in the United States. Nancy Oakley describes how to achieve success in business and in life, and presents her philosophy of life. Nancy offers her business secrets that worked for her, and is certain they will work for other entrepreneurs. Nancy points out that dreams, once reached, contain other challenges. She shares how she passed those obstacles to achieve her life of success, financial freedom, and personal happiness. Nancy's amazing life story will inspire you to achieve greatness in your own life.

Nancy Oakley is my internet radio show guest on Blog Business Success; hosted live on BlogTalkRadio.

The show airs live on Tuesday, January 24, at 8:00 pm Eastern Time; 5:00 pm Pacific Time.

Entrepreneur and author of motivational and deeply personal book The Road To Success: A Small Business Owner's Guide to Life, Financial Freedom, and Achieving Your Dreams and The Quest For Serendipity, Nancy Oakley (Neuensie Suku) shares her heroic life story of overcoming a life of poverty in Thailand and her successful career in business in the United States. You will learn:

* How to set goals and plan a course of action to achieve them

* How to succeed as an entrepreneur regardless of initial capital resources

* How to live a balanced business and personal life

* How to create a life plan that includes all aspects on your life



Nancy Oakley (photo left) is a native of Thailand, who moved to the United States during the Vietnam War. After working in civil service for over twenty years, she embarked on her dream of entrepreneurship.

Nancy initially delved into the world of real estate and at one point held over one mullion dollars in assets. In 2008, she began her career as a retail business owner along the famous San Antonio River Walk.

Nancy currently owns and operates a prestigious jewellery and gift shop, a bookstore, and is a successful author. She lives with her family in Spring Branch, Texas.

My book review of The Road To Success: A Small Business Owner's Guide to Life, Financial Freedom, and Achieving Your Dreams by Nancy Oakley (Neuensie Suku).

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 entrepreneur and author of motivational and deeply personal book The Road To Success: A Small Business Owner's Guide to Life, Financial Freedom, and Achieving Your Dreams and The Quest For Serendipity, Nancy Oakley (Neuensie Suku), as she shares her heroic life story of overcoming a life of poverty in Thailand and her successful career in business in the United States. Nancy Oakley describes how to achieve success in business and in life, and presents her philosophy of life. Nancy offers her business secrets that worked for her, and is certain they will work for other entrepreneurs. Nancy points out that dreams, once reached, contain other challenges. She shares how she passed those obstacles to achieve her life of success, financial freedom, and personal happiness. Nancy's amazing life story will inspire you to achieve greatness in your own life on Blog Business Success Radio.

Tags: The Road To Success: A Small Business Owner's Guide to Life, Financial Freedom, and Achieving Your Dreams, Nuensie Suku, Nancy Oakley, personal business philosophy, Blog Business Success, Blog Talk Radio.

The Road To Success by Nuensie Suku (Nancy Oakley) - Book review

The Road To Success

A Small Business Owner's Guide to Life, Financial Freedom, and Achieving Your Dreams

By: Nuensie Suku (Nancy Oakley)

Published: October 7, 2011
Format: Paperback, 236 pages
ISBN-10: 0983767610
ISBN-13: 978-0983767619
Publisher: Motivational Press, Inc.







" Many people associate having one's own business with undertaking a large amount of risk; the fear that if the business goes under, the business owner will lose everything", writes successful entrepreneur Nuensie Suku (Nancy Oakley) in her motivational and deeply personal book The Road To Success: A Small Business Owner's Guide to Life, Financial Freedom, and Achieving Your Dreams. The author describes her personal entrepreneurial journey and shares the practical and timeless advice that guided her business decisions and her life.

Nancy Oakley is no ordinary business owner. Beginning her life in her native Thailand, amidst extreme poverty, the author began her heroic quest to find a better life that led her to the United States during the tumultuous Vietnam War. In America, the author faced new challenges and began her entrepreneurial career. Nuensie Suku overcame adversity through a combination of hard work, sound decision making based on common sense, her strong sense of purpose, and a determination to make her dreams a reality. Along with her business advice and ideas, the author offers her philosophy of life, and her vision for creating a future of success and happiness.



With her straight forward thinking and personal commitment to her goals,
Nuensie Suku (photo left) became a prominent and highly respected business owner on the famous San Antonio River Walk. The author outlines her ideas on real estate investment, including some of the pitfalls that await the unwary investor. The author also describes her ideas on entering and succeeding in the highly competitive retail sector. All through the book, the author shares her philosophy of life, health, and happiness that inspired her way in life.

Partly business manual, partly guide to living a successful and balanced life, the book is packed with wisdom that can be learned and practiced by anyone. The author teaches empowerment and how to live a fulfilling life. That sense of awareness of life and balance sustained the author, and it will sustain and refresh other people as well.

For me, the power of the book is how Nuensie Suku (Nancy Oakley) combines her life story, her philosophy of life and living, and her secrets of business success into a seamless whole. The holistic approach taken to business and life by the author reminds the reader that life and business are intertwined and a balance between the two must be sought and found. For the author, business advice and wisdom of living are one and the same. For the author, a person cannot create and maintain a successful business without living the values that create serenity and personal fulfillment. The author teaches that operating a business is simply another aspect of living a good and complete life as a person.

I highly recommend the wisdom filled and inspirational book The Road To Success: A Small Business Owner's Guide to Life, Financial Freedom, and Achieving Your Dreams by Nuensie Suku (Nancy Oakley), to anyone seeking a refreshing and personal account of how a life of purpose leads to a successful business and personal satisfaction. This little gem of a book will provide the reader with a positive outlook on life, and the means to achieve personal and business success, without compromising values, principles, or life balance.

Tags: The Road To Success: A Small Business Owner's Guide to Life, Financial Freedom, and Achieving Your Dreams, Nuensie Suku, Nancy Oakley, personal business philosophy, business book reviews

Employment Rage: What You've Lost and How To Get It Back by Howard Adamsky - Book review

Employment Rage

What You've Lost and How to Get it Back

By: Howard Adamsky

Published: January 18,2011
Paperback: 204 pages
ISBN-10: 1935254464
ISBN-13: 978-1935254461
Publisher: Norlights Press











"For a person who's unemployed, a typical day can be dismal. You awaken to a stark and jarring reality. You are unemployed and you must find a job. Soon. Money is tight, and hope is in short supply as well", writes recruiter, speaker, and employment consultant Howard Adamsky, in his no nonsense and results oriented book Employment Rage: What You've Lost and How to Get it Back. The author describes what is really happening in the real world of employment and provides proven strategies for employment seekers to land a job in today's difficult labor market.

Howard Adamsky understands what it's like to be unemployed. He has been there, and shares his personal journey through the anger, frustration, and disappointment of losing a job. The author offers advice to job seekers that worked for him, and for other job hunters as well. Not only has Howard Adamsky experienced the pain, guilt, and shame of being without a job, but he has been on the hiring side of the desk as well. The author's keen insights, into the needs and requirements of both the job seeker and the hiring manager, offer guidance to anyone seeking a job in any industry. Howard Adamsky knows very well that the well known employment tactics of the past no longer work. In their place, he offers job seeking strategies that work in the new reality.



Howard Adamsky (photo left) recognizes that people who have lost their jobs in the current dysfunctional economy are feeling stress and personal anguish. The author empathizes with those who are unemployed, and seeks to share his inside knowledge of how employers view candidates, to help applicants land jobs. Howard Adamsky covers all areas of the employment seeking journey to ensure that job seekers have the latest and most critical techniques at their fingertips.

Because Howard Adamsky considers both the individual and the job search, the book is divided into four sections. Those four parts are as follows:

* Exploring the pain of job loss in a recessionary economy
* Advice and counsel for job seekers of all types
* The author's own personal story
* Road map to the future of a fresh start and new job

For me, the power of the book is how Howard Adamsky goes beyond the standard advice manuals of job finding strategies and provides down in the trenches advice that works in a tough hiring environment. The author offers the actual facts of what hiring managers want in candidates, how their resumes should appear, and how to succeed in a job interview. The book is more than simply a job hunting guide. It's also a personal development book, where the author combines his own personal experiences, with reflection on the job seeker's own life. The author pulls no punches, and spares no feelings, when it comes to describing the state of the economy and its current dysfunction.

For Howard Adamsky, it's the economy that failed the individual, and not the other way around. This fresh approach to the human side of the employment equation helps people to overcome their personal feelings of guilt and shame, to become active in discovering a new job. The author also gives some very hands on advice as to how the employment market and hiring practices have changed over time. He doesn't hesitate to point out that what worked in the past is not only no longer effective, but is likely to result in even more frustration and anger during the job search.

I highly recommend the very hands on and real world based book Employment Rage: What You've Lost and How to Get it Back by Howard Adamsky, to anyone who is seeking to either find a job or planning a career change and is looking for some proven and effective advice. This book will help you to pick yourself up, refresh your vision, and land you that great job of your dreams.

Tags: Employment Rage: What You've Lost and How to Get it Back, Howard Adamsky, job hunting strategies, business book reviews

Software Change Management by Donald J. Reifer - Book review

Software Change Management

Case Studies and Practical Advice

By: Donald J. Reifer

Published: December 29, 2011
Format: Paperback, 192 pages
ISBN-10: 0735664757
ISBN-13: 978-0735664753
Publisher: Microsoft Press











"This book was written to equip those making and managing changes in software organizations with the processes, techniques, and tools that they need to be successful", writes successful entrepreneur, software consultant, thought leader, and teacher Donald J. Reifer, in his very hands on and pragmatic advice filled book Software Change Management: Case Studies and Practical Advice. The author describes how to integrate effective and lasting software change within both private and public sector organizations through insightful case study examples of software change.

Donald J. Reider recognizes that problems do arise when planning and implementing software change. The author understands that the challenges facing change agents are not only ones involving technology. Change affects people both individually, and as part of the entire organization. Donald Reider provides strategies for creating sustainable change through a deeper understanding of the people, change process, and software products involved in the transformation. Through his own experience, and through a series of ten case studies involving different change scenarios, the author offers ideas and lessons for organizational change, that avoid the many mistakes and obstacles that can work to block or derail a change initiative.



Donald J. Reifer (photo left) presents an overview of the software change management process, from the planning process to the final implementation by the organization. The author describes many different situations, where problems ranging from inefficiency, to waste, to outright incompetence, stand as roadblocks to the needed change. Donald Reifer presents a series of case studies that show what works, and what doesn't get positive results, when facilitating software change.

Donald J. Reifer offers a systematic approach to software change management. His framework includes the following considerations:

* Organization, its infrastructure and portfolio
* Project infrastructure
* Process including developmental models and activities
* Product in the form of the deliverables
* People in the workforce ,teams, characteristics, and skills
* Change agents and their role at all phases of change

For me, the power of the book is how Donald J. Reifer provides a workable framework for facilitating software change management that includes all aspects of the organization. The book is written for the decision makers and change agents, to equip them with the tools for successful change initiatives. The strategies shared in the book are applicable to a wide cross section of organizations from entrepreneur based companies, to large companies, to non-profit organizations, and for government agencies. The author assumes a basic knowledge of software engineering and fundamentals of management. To reinforce and illustrate his concepts, the author provides ten real world case studies that illustrate the challenges and solutions to software management issues.

I highly recommend the very engaging and real world based book Software Change Management: Case Studies and Practical Advice by Donald J. Reifer, to any decision makers and change agents seeking a practical and real world based guide to holistic change management. This book will ease the transition from existing and legacy software systems to a complete change in the systems and processes across the entire organization.

Tags: Software Change Management: Case Studies and Practical Advice, Donald J. Reifer, organizational change strategies, business book reviews