FALL BACK TO READING SERIES – Featuring David Beaumont

This year, as the seasons change and we enjoy fall, I’ve launched my FALL BACK TO READING SERIES. The series will feature two dozen leadership and marketing experts, who will share their inspiration in both fiction and nonfiction, and hopefully, provide the impetus to read more. To quote New York Times Bestselling author Kristin Harmel, “If you give a person a book, you give him the world.” For today’s post, I’d like to introduce David Beaumont.

Known for delivering outstanding customer support to clients, David Beaumont is a knowledge seeker and results driven visionary who builds relationships with clients and peers by aiding the end-user through training and development tasks. David is a qualified support professional, HDI Certified, and holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, Finance from The Ohio State University. He has more than 15 years of experience in customer service, equality/diversity/inclusion (EDI), and client support.

QUESTION: Which three business books have made the biggest impact on your career?
DAVID BEAUMONT: Here are my three:
(1) GRIT by Angela Duckworth
(2) Mindset by Carol Dweck
(3) Everybody Matters by Bob Chapman

These books have provided insight on helping me to learn from my fails, to take more risks and to understand that if a task does not work out, that there is always a learning opportunity to be gained. The books have inspired me to be comfortable with the uncomfortable, because this is where growth is obtained. The mindset I carry with me is: "I have not accomplished it yet!" Also, that comfort and growth cannot exist in the same space. With all that, these books have reinforced my belief that kindness, compassion, and civility are what will keep people inspired and engaged with the work they do.

QUESTION: Who is your favorite author, and why?
DAVID BEAUMONT: I have to say Stephen King.

I enjoy reading Stephen King's books because his writing keeps you on the edge of your seat. He makes you feel like what you are reading is so real. There are some books I have read where I had to close the book and take a break, because the thrill was getting so intense. Reading his books allows me to break away from the daily grind and enjoy a thrill. The one caveat though, some books by Steven King (some I have read, and some I have not): I would not see them if they were made into a movie. LOL!

QUESTION: Do you intersperse fiction with your business reading? If yes, what was the last work of fiction that you read, and what caught your attention about it?
DAVID BEAUMONT: Fairy Tale by Stephen King. Well, I like how he writes, and when I saw the book cover, I wanted to read it. (I know, you can’t judge a book by the cover.) Well, I have an Audible subscription, and that book was one that I listened to.

It was enjoyable, one where when I would be out cutting the grass, I would stop at certain points just so that I could focus on the story - because I felt something shocking was going to happen next. Fairy Tale is one that I would go see at the movies, if the book were made into one.

QUESTION: If you created a nonprofit organization to promote reading to children and young adults, what would you name it, and why?
DAVID BEAUMONT: A View into Possibilities.

This would be an organization to encourage reading for stimulating the mind. We would show all the benefits of reading where a positive impact could be obtained. By reading regularly, you can become proficient in different subject matters and hold intelligent conversations with others. Reading can also be inspirational for the young minds, allowing them to venture out and do something they may have never thought they could have done before. Reading about something great, inspirational, and encouraging could allow that young person to say, "Why not me?" or "It’s possible for me to do a great thing."

SHARE THIS: By reading regularly, you can become proficient in different subject matters. ~@dbeaumont266 #Reading #DebbieLaskeysBlog

My gratitude to David for participating in this year’s fall back to reading series and for sharing his inspiring recommendations!

Image Credit: Debbie Laskey.

Check out David’s links:
Twitter/X: @dbeaumont266
Blog: https://customerserviceisreal.wordpress.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidbeaumont-blogger

Check out David's previous appearance here on my blog:
Are You a Customer Advocate?  (September 2022)
https://www.debbielaskeysblog.com/2022/09/are-you-customer-advocate.html

FALL BACK TO READING SERIES – Featuring Leanne M. Dzubinski

This year, as the seasons change and we enjoy fall, I’ve launched my FALL BACK TO READING SERIES. The series will feature two dozen leadership and marketing experts, who will share their inspiration in both fiction and nonfiction, and hopefully, provide the impetus to read more. To quote New York Times Bestselling author Kristin Harmel, “If you give a person a book, you give him the world.” For today’s post, I’d like to introduce Leanne M. Dzubinski.

Leanne M. Dzubinski is professor of leadership and director of the Beeson International Center at Asbury Theological Seminary. She has published many scholarly articles on women in leadership along with practitioner articles in Harvard Business Review and Fast Company. Her books include Women in the Mission of the Church: Their Opportunities and Obstacles throughout Christian History; Playing by the Rules: How Women Lead in Evangelical Mission Organizations; and most recently Glass Walls: Shattering the Six Gender Bias Barriers Still Holding Women Back at Work.

QUESTION: Which three business books have made the biggest impact on your career?
LEANNE M. DZUBINSKI: Here are my three:

One would be Ann Crittenden’s If You’ve Raised Kids, You Can Manage Anything. For many women who juggle paid work and childrearing, whether simultaneously or sequentially, it can feel like the energy we invest at home detracts from progress at work. Crittenden flips that message on its head and says that all the skills women develop at home make them stronger leaders at work.

Next is Sex and the Office by Kim Elsesser. She tackles head-on the worries about romance and sex in the workplace. Setting up a "glass partition" to keep men and women separate may seem logical, but really, it just limits women’s opportunities because they’re excluded from networks, mentoring, and access to crucial organizational information.

Last, I just stumbled across Switch by Chip and Dan Heath. It’s old but offers good basic principles about how to bring change. In my work on gender bias, the big question that people always ask is “"How do we change things?" The authors lay out a simple three-pronged approach that is memorable and actionable for any type of change we want to create at work.

QUESTION: Who is your favorite author, and why?
LEANNE M. DZUBINSKI: At the risk of sounding snarky, it’s the one I'm reading when asked that question! Seriously, though, there are so many good authors and good books I wouldn’t know how to pick a favorite. If the author I’m reading is addressing a topic I’m interested in and writes well, then they’re my current favorite. That happens over and over as I read.

QUESTION: What book did you read in high school or college that, to this day, you still remember vividly, and why?
LEANNE M. DZUBINSKI: In tenth grade, my English teacher had me read Native Son by Richard Wright. It wasn’t a class assignment, just something she gave me to do. The writing was compelling, the story was riveting, and the events horrifying. It gave me a clear exposure to racial injustice in American society. Looking back, I’m so grateful that she had the courage to assign me a challenging book to expand my understanding and imagination.

QUESTION: Do you intersperse fiction with your business reading? If yes, what was the last work of fiction that you read, and what caught your attention about it?
LEANNE M. DZUBINSKI: Absolutely! I love reading fiction. It expands my horizon and my imagination; it helps me develop empathy for others who are not like me; and a good story can lift me out of any kind of emotional distress. I just finished Steeltown Magnolia by Melissa Miller. Miller is prolific, and most of her books have a strong female lead who deals with tangled, difficult situations at work as well as whatever is happening in her personal life.

SHARE THIS: Fiction expands my horizon and my imagination - and helps me develop empathy for others who are not like me. ~Leanne M. Dzubinski #Reading #DebbieLaskeysBlog

QUESTION: If you created a nonprofit organization to promote reading to children and young adults, what would you name it, and why?
LEANNE M. DZUBINSKI: Read for Life.

Reading is life-giving and a wonderful lifelong practice. Reading helps kids succeed in every other subject at school. Reading develops imagination and empathy. Reading transports the reader to other worlds and other times. Reading provides an escape when stress mounts up. Reading is perhaps the most fundamental skill people need to succeed in life. If we can get young people to love reading, we’ll do them a lifelong favor!

SHARE THIS: Reading is a wonderful lifelong practice...it is perhaps the most fundamental skill people need to succeed in life. ~Leanne M. Dzubinski #Reading #DebbieLaskeysBlog

My gratitude to Leanne for participating in this year’s fall back to reading series and for sharing her inspiring recommendations!

A quick note, I was introduced to Leanne by Amy Diehl, a gender equity researcher, speaker, and consultant who has appeared several times here on my blog. Amy and Leanne co-wrote a book published in June 2023, and I highly recommend you check it out. The book is entitled, "Glass Walls: Shattering the Six Gender Bias Barriers Still Holding Women Back at Work."

Image Credit: George Pagan III via Unsplash.

Connect with Leanne at these links:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leanne-dzubinski/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LeanneDzubinskiPhD

To learn more from Leanne and Amy on workforce gender bias, check out this joint interview:
https://medium.com/authority-magazine/the-great-resignation-the-future-of-work-amy-diehl-and-leanne-dzubinski-on-how-employers-and-5283302beb0f

FALL BACK TO READING SERIES – Featuring Gail Robertson

This year, as the seasons change and we enjoy fall, I’ve launched my FALL BACK TO READING SERIES. The series will feature two dozen leadership and marketing experts, who will share their inspiration in both fiction and nonfiction, and hopefully, provide the impetus to read more. To quote New York Times Bestselling author Kristin Harmel, “If you give a person a book, you give him the world.” For today’s post, I’d like to introduce Gail Robertson.

Here's how Gail writes her bio...Everyone has a unique story. GailNow’s mission as a Public Relations Strategist is to help deliver those stories to the world. She helps manufacturers, specifically those in moldmaking, to tell AND share their stories. Gail provides virtual and in person coaching (in workplaces, events, and tradeshows) to "break the mold" of traditional marketing. She is also the host of Curious Minds on her GailNow YouTube Channel, where she shares ideas without prejudice, opinions without criticism, and the philosophy and reasoning behind her mantra: "Sign Up, Suit Up and SHOW Up." She is also a keynote speaker on curiosity, media, and public relations, and how everyone has a story worth sharing...maybe even a book! 

QUESTION: Which three business books have made the biggest impact on your career?

GAIL ROBERTSON: Here are my three:

(1) The Wealthy Barber by David Chilton 

(This book should be required reading for all students too...life-changing!) 

(2) The Tao of Twitter by Mark Schaefer 

(3) High Performance Habits: How Extraordinary People Become That Way by Brendon Burchard 

QUESTION: Who is your favorite author, and why?

GAIL ROBERTSON: Bryce Courtenay.

I read his book, The Power of One, while on a plane travelling to Australia in the 1990's. Then I looked him up while there, met him, and he was a great host, a charismatic storyteller and very true to his writing style. It was life-changing for me, since it also showed how powerful it can be when we take risks, when me make calls that scare us! That one phone call led to my meeting him and having a delightful discussion over tea at his office in North Sydney! A memory I will never forget! And his book: The Power of One is equally memorable. 

"The Power of One is a novel by Australian author Bryce Courtenay, first published in 1989. Set in South Africa during the 1930s and 1940s, it tells the story of an English boy who, through the course of the story, acquires the name of Peekay. The author identifies "Peekay" as a reference to his earlier nickname "Piskop": Afrikaans for "Pisshead." It is written from the first-person perspective, with Peekay narrating (as an adult, looking back) and trusting the reader with his thoughts and feelings, as opposed to a detailed description of places and account of actions."

The novel had an impact on me because the message was all about believing in yourself to overcome adversity and many difficult things we may experience everyday. Interestingly, today, my favorite show is Ted Lasso, that also focusses on how much we need to believe in ourselves. Even my 3-step process of "Sign Up. Suit Up and ShowUp" starts with the power of mindset. We must first sign up and commit to taking action. And for that, we must believe that we can do something.

QUESTION: What book did you read in high school or college that, to this day, you still remember vividly, and why?

GAIL ROBERTSON: The Diviners by Canadian author Margaret Laurence. 

It was actually on a banned list, so that made it even more appealing, I think. The teacher made it optional reading, so of course, many of us added it to our list. Phenomenal writing and storytelling.

Here's an excerpt from Wikipedia: 

"The Diviners is a novel by Margaret Laurence. Published by McClelland & Stewart in 1974, it was Laurence's final novel, and is considered one of the classics of Canadian literature. The novel won the Governor General's Award for English-language fiction in 1974. The protagonist of the novel is Morag Gunn, a fiercely independent writer who grew up in Manawaka, Manitoba. Morag has a difficult relationship with her daughter Pique and her Métis lover Jules Tonnerre, and struggles to maintain her independence. The book has been repeatedly banned by school boards and high schools. It is a regularly featured book on the American Library Association's Freedom to Read campaign."

QUESTION: Do you intersperse fiction with your business reading? If yes, what was the last work of fiction that you read, and what caught your attention about it?

GAIL ROBERTSON: I read fiction when on holiday, usually John Grisham and Canadian Rick Mofina (highly recommended, since as a former journalist who covered the police beat, his descriptions are well-researched). Love me a good crime fiction book!

QUESTION: If you created a nonprofit organization to promote reading to children and young adults, what would you name it, and why?

GAIL ROBERTSON: Curious Minds. 

This is also the name of my YouTube show: Curious Minds with GailNow. While my goal for the show is this, reading can also encourage curiosity, critical thinking, and convince us to get outside our echo chambers. I want to hear different views. I am against censorship and advocate for free speech (of course, with limits).

Reading as a child was a major part of my growth and my ability to better understand the world. I also travelled as a young adult, and that further confirmed for me the value of exploring different ideas, different views, and different perspectives. Lastly, my son also attended a local library reading group at age 4, and I have always supported local libraries! 

SHARE THIS: Reading as a child was a major part of my growth and my ability to better understand the world. ~@GailNow #ReadingOpensMinds #DebbieLaskeysBlog

My gratitude to Gail for participating in this year’s fall back to reading series and for sharing her inspiring recommendations!

Image Credit: Justin Heap via Unsplash.

Connect with Gail at these links:

Linktree: https://linktr.ee/gailrobertson

YouTube: www.YouTube.com/@GailNow 

Website: www.gailnow.com

Check out Gail’s previous appearance here on my blog:

Storytelling, Connections, and Social Media - 2022:

https://www.debbielaskeysblog.com/2022/09/storytelling-connections-and-social.html

Note: Gail mentioned the Freedom to Read Foundation in one of her responses. Here's some info from Wikipedia to learn more.

(Link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freedom_to_Read_Foundation)

The Freedom to Read Foundation (FTRF) is an American non-profit anti-censorship organization, established in 1969 by the American Library Association. The organization has been active in First Amendment-based challenges to book removals from libraries, and in anti-surveillance work. In addition to its legal work, the FTRF engages in advocacy and public awareness, such as its sponsorship of the annual celebration of "Banned Books Week."

Established in 1969 by members of the American Library Association, including Judith Krug, Alexander Allain, and Carrie C Robinson. the organization was founded as "the American Library Association's response to its members' interest in having adequate means to support and defend librarians whose positions are jeopardized because of their resistance to abridgments of the First Amendment; and to set legal precedent for the freedom to read on behalf of all people."

The organization's charter describes four purposes:

(1) Promoting and protecting the freedom of speech and of the press;

(2) Protecting the public's right of access to information and materials stored in the nation's libraries;

(3) Safeguarding libraries' right to disseminate all materials contained in their collections; and

(4) Supporting libraries and librarians in their defense of First Amendment rights by supplying them with legal counsel or the means to secure it.

The organization works through litigation, consumer education, and awarding grants to other individuals and entities working on similar projects.

FALL BACK TO READING SERIES – Featuring James Strock

This year, as the seasons change and we enjoy fall, I’ve launched my FALL BACK TO READING SERIES. The series will feature two dozen leadership and marketing experts, who will share their inspiration in both fiction and nonfiction, and hopefully, provide the impetus to read more. To quote New York Times Bestselling author Kristin Harmel, “If you give a person a book, you give him the world.” For today’s post, I’d like to introduce James Strock.

James Strock is an independent writer, speaker, reformer and entrepreneur, based in California. He's the author of several books about leadership, politics, Ronald Reagan, and Theodore Roosevelt.
 
QUESTION: Which three business books have made the biggest impact on your career?
JAMES STROCK: Here are my three: Peter Drucker’s The Effective Executive; Dynamic Administration: The Collected Papers of Mary Parker Follett; and Ralph Waldo Emerson’s Collected Essays and Lectures.

I’m also a dedicated Tom Peters stan. What each of these books share is a focus on the human dimension of business enterprises as well as other organizations. Follett and then Drucker urge a focus on the human angle, in part, in response to the over-reliance on quantification spurred by Frederick Winslow Taylor and others in the mass-production phase of the industrial-age economy. Emerson, by contrast, might be seen as speaking more to the spirit of an entrepreneurial American in the mid-nineteenth century. In the Information Age, when entrepreneurship is reviving, Emerson has found new relevance.

QUESTION: Who is your favorite author, and why?
JAMES STROCK: At the moment of global and national discord and division amid breakneck change, I find great inspirational, practical value in the work of George Orwell and heartily recommend his collected essays and related Everyman volumes.  

QUESTION: What book did you read in high school or college that, to this day, you still remember vividly, and why?
JAMES STROCK: Samuel Johnson: Selected Poetry and Prose. Johnson’s moral writings are timeless gems of observation of the human condition. Not incidentally, his writing is so polished and piercing that to read it with the care it merits is to improve oneself.

QUESTION: Do you intersperse fiction with your business reading? If yes, what was the last work of fiction that you read, and what caught your attention about it?
JAMES STROCK: The End of Asquith, by Michael Byrne. This is a fascinating, historically-grounded account of the political machinations resulting in the accession of David Lloyd George, succeeding Herbert Asquith as British Prime Minister in the midst of the Great War.

QUESTION: If you created a nonprofit organization to promote reading to children and young adults, what would you name it, and why?
JAMES STROCK: Read Today, Lead Tomorrow.

Reading is the master key to everything important in life and work. It holds the promise of opening the minds of readers far beyond their own circumstances. In our moment of rampant solipsism* — where many assume that the best and only necessary source of understanding is their own lived experience — the need for reading in order to extend one’s comprehension is acute. (*We cannot thank French philosopher Rene Descartes for this term, but instead, Venetian scholar Giulio Clemente Scotti in 1645.)

SHARE THIS: Reading is the master key to everything important in life and work. ~@jamesstrock #ReadingOpensMinds #DebbieLaskeysBlog

My gratitude to Jim for participating in this year’s fall back to reading series and for sharing his inspiring recommendations!

Image Credit: Nav Rashmi Kalsi via Unsplash.

Connect with Jim at these links:
Website: www.servetolead.com
Twitter: @jamesstrock

Check out Jim's previous appearances here on my blog:

What Happens When Leadership, Service and Encouragement Join Forces? - 2020:
https://www.debbielaskeysblog.com/2020/07/what-happens-when-leadership-service.html

Sharing Timeless Leadership Lessons - 2018:
https://www.debbielaskeysblog.com/2018/11/sharing-timeless-leadership-lessons.html

Leadership Is All About Serving Others - 2014:
http://debbielaskey.blogspot.com/2014/03/leadership-is-all-about-serving-others.html
 
Serve to Lead - What a Visionary Concept - 2011:
http://debbielaskey.blogspot.com/2011/03/serve-to-lead-what-visionary-concept.html

FALL BACK TO READING SERIES – Featuring Rebecca Herold

This year, as the seasons change and we enjoy fall, I’ve launched my FALL BACK TO READING SERIES. The series will feature two dozen leadership and marketing experts, who will share their inspiration in both fiction and nonfiction, and hopefully, provide the impetus to read more. To quote New York Times Bestselling author Kristin Harmel, “If you give a person a book, you give him the world.” For today’s post, I’d like to introduce Rebecca Herold.

Rebecca Herold has over 30 years of IT, security, and privacy experience and is the founder of The Privacy Professor Consultancy (2004) and of Privacy & Security Brainiacs SaaS services (2021). Rebecca has authored 22 published books so far, and co-authored NIST catalogs NISTIR 7628, NISTIR 8259, SP 800-213, NISTIR 8425 and TN 2066. She has served as an expert witness for cases covering HIPAA, criminals using IoT devices, social engineering, stolen personal data of retirement housing residents, and tracking app users with Meta Pixels. Rebecca hosts Data Security & Privacy with the Privacy Professor. Since early 2018, Rebecca has hosted the Voice America podcast/radio show, Data Security & Privacy with the Privacy Professor, and is based in Des Moines, Iowa.

QUESTION: Which three business books have made the biggest impact on your career?
REBECCA HEROLD: They are not business books, per se.

[1] When I was in 5th grade, I read, “How to Win Friends and Influence People,” by Dale Carnegie. I read that three or four times. I had just moved to a new school, where my father was the Superintendent of Schools, and where some of the kids were not very kind. That book not only provided good advice for a scrawny, dorky 5th grader, but the lessons are also still applicable to all aspects of business today.

[2] The U.S. federal NSA/NCSC Rainbow collection of manuals on evaluating "Trusted Computer Systems." They were called the "Rainbow Series" because each book was a different color. In 1990/1991, working as an IT Auditor at Principal Financial Group, I was told to perform an audit of the company’s information security. Where to start? This was before ISO, and even BS7799 security standards existed. I went to the corporate library, and interestingly enough, they had the Rainbow Series of U.S. military manuals on their shelves. Probably because they were an international corporation, and also participated in the OECD. To figure out where to start with evaluating Principal’s information security risks, I read NCSC-TG-001, the “Tan Book,” entitled, “A Guide to Understanding Audit in Trusted Systems.” I recall also using most of the other manuals in the series. Those were key then, as a result of doing that audit, being asked to create the inaugural “Information Protection” department at Principal Financial Group.

[3] The Cuckoo’s Egg by Clifford Stoll. There were so many security lessons in that book that are still relevant today. I was thrilled to bring the subject, and author, of the book to Principal in 1997 (maybe 1999) to talk about the real-life experiences in that book in one of the information protection awareness events I planned. And, Clifford Stoll was also a guest on my radio/podcast show last year (Here's the link to listen: https://www.voiceamerica.com/episode/137436/catching-kgb-hackers-with-75-and-a-2400-baud-modem).

QUESTION: Who is your favorite author, and why?
REBECCA HEROLD: I love a lot of books and a lot of favorite authors. Probably Ernest Hemingway is my favorite author of fiction novels. I read all his books throughout high school and undergraduate college. Why? His writing is beautiful, graphic, thought-provoking, and has lessons that can apply to everyone’s lives. And, just really great storytelling. I have two titles that tie for my favorites: The Old Man and the Sea and The Sun Also Rises.

QUESTION: What book did you read in high school or college that, to this day, you still remember vividly, and why?
REBECCA HEROLD: Besides Hemingway, I’d say two of Jack London’s books: The Call of the Wild and White Fang. I’ve always loved books about being out in the wilderness, survival, with animals, etc. I grew up in a very rural part of north-central Missouri, on a farm on the edge of woods that I used to explore with my own dog and 20-plus cats. I read those books back to back. I read The Call of the Wild first, where Buck went from being a domesticated dog to becoming wild. And then I read White Fang, who went from being wild to becoming domesticated. A fabulous juxtaposition of readings. More great story telling and vivid survival descriptions.

QUESTION: Do you intersperse fiction with your business reading? If yes, what was the last work of fiction that you read, and what caught your attention about it?
REBECCA HEROLD: I rarely intersperse fiction with business reading anymore. It seems that I’m always behind on my business work, and so I read a great amount of research for the topics I work with, and also a lot of news. However, occasionally I will take a short brain break from work to read short poems or stories by Dorothy Parker, who I read a lot (and also liked a lot) in high school. And also occasionally short stories and poems by Edgar Allan Poe, Stephen King, and Philip K. Dick.

QUESTION: If you created a nonprofit organization to promote reading to children and young adults, what would you name it, and why?
REBECCA HEROLD: No Books Banned Here!

Why? Because banning the books that children can read is implicitly, but strongly, conveying to children that the topics about the banned books are wrong, or evil, or some other derogatory term. Censoring books also loudly, implicitly, tells children that they should judge others simply by their “title,” or that they should devalue the thoughts, concepts and beliefs of others by the “content” of their lives.

If children are not allowed to learn about the entire world around them, we have seen that in many places, they grow up to judge and hate others about whom they have never learned, because they were always told that those different others are bad, simply for who they are and how they live their lives in ways that are different from the norm of the associated individual. Children will be much smarter, wiser, and empathetic when allowed to read whatever they want. Censoring books instills the notion that certain topics or things simply cannot be tolerated, even when nothing is known about those topics.

SHARE THIS: Children will be much smarter, wiser, and empathetic when allowed to read whatever they want. ~@PrivacyProf #DontBanBooks #BanNarrowThinking #ReadBannedBooks #DebbieLaskeysBlog

My gratitude to Rebecca for participating in this year’s fall back to reading series and for sharing her inspiring recommendations!

Image Credit: Bangor Daily News.

Connect with Rebecca at these links:
Websites:
Privacy Security Brainiacs: https://www.privacysecuritybrainiacs.com
and
Privacy Guidance: https://www.privacyguidance.com
LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/company/privacy-and-security-brainiacs
and
https://www.linkedin.com/in/rebeccaherold/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rebecca.herold.1/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@PrivacyProfessor
Twitter: https://twitter.com/PrivacyProf

FALL BACK TO READING SERIES – Featuring Susan Friesen

 

This year, as the seasons change and we enjoy fall, I’ve launched my FALL BACK TO READING SERIES. The series will feature two dozen leadership and marketing experts, who will share their inspiration in both fiction and nonfiction, and hopefully, provide the impetus to read more. To quote New York Times Bestselling author Kristin Harmel, “If you give a person a book, you give him the world.” For today’s post, I’d like to introduce Susan Friesen.

Susan Friesen is a visionary brand strategist, entrepreneur, and founder of British Columbia’s premiere boutique web development and digital marketing agency, eVision Media. With over 20 years of experience in the industry, she’s an expert in helping businesses to establish their online presence and create a strong brand identity. Her passion for empowering female entrepreneurs to succeed in the digital world has earned her a reputation as a leading authority in the marketing industry.

QUESTION: Which three business books have made the biggest impact on your career?
SUSAN FRIESEN: Over my career, I've read hundreds of books and I have found the "how to" books are great, but the personal development ones are even better. A lot of business success relies on having a healthy relationship with our inner thoughts.

Here are my top 3 recommendations:
[1] For mental health: The Code of the Extraordinary Mind: 10 Unconventional Laws to Redefine Your Life and Succeed on Your Own Terms by Vishen Lakhiani.
[2] For personal branding: Dressing Your Truth: Discover Your Type of Beauty by Carol Tuttle.
[3] For Business Systems: The E-Myth Revisited: Why Most Small Businesses Don't Work and What to Do About It by Michael E. Gerber.

QUESTION: Who is your favorite author, and why?
SUSAN FRIESEN: I love reading Mark Schaefer's books. He has excellent insights into marketing and how we need to position our brands in order to be relevant and capture the interest of those we want to work with. Whenever he writes a new book, I'm one of the first to buy! I have copious notes and quotes on all of his books that I love to share to whomever will listen.

QUESTION: What book did you read in high school or college that, to this day, you still remember vividly, and why?
SUSAN FRIESEN: I loved reading Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand. I was fascinated by her unwavering point of view on capitalism and how it's not as evil as many make it out to be, with exceptions, of course! I should probably read it again, now that I have a deeper understanding of the book's concept. But I DO know that it helped me to understand that running my own business was a great path to take – so that I could guide my own destiny and fulfill a purpose that is meaningful to me.

QUESTION: Do you intersperse fiction with your business reading? If yes, what was the last work of fiction that you read, and what caught your attention about it?
SUSAN FRIESEN: Not in a long time! I find reading fiction hard to read. There is only so much time in a day, and I want to make the most of it so am always reading books either in the self-help, health, business, or marketing genres.

In saying that, my favourite nonfiction books are The Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon. I was glued to them in my younger years. I loved the storyline of a modern woman living 200 years ago and what she had to do to cope in that day and age. And of course, the romance – how can one not love Jamie! I never read them all but am thoroughly enjoying the TV series based on the books now!

QUESTION: If you created a nonprofit organization to promote reading to children and young adults, what would you name it, and why?
SUSAN FRIESEN: Ooh, good question! How about something like "Pages of Wonder," so it would appeal to those who love to explore their natural wonderment of the world? The pages would be in reference to reading a book while facilitating imagination in a positive and uplifting way.

SHARE THIS: Pages of Wonder would be in reference to reading a book while facilitating imagination in a positive and uplifting way. ~@eVisionMedia #BrandName #DebbieLaskeysBlog

My gratitude to Susan for participating in this year’s fall back to reading series and for sharing her inspiring recommendations!

Image Credit: Asterisk Kwon via Wordswag.

Connect with Susan at these links:
Website: https://eVisionMedia.ca
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/susan.evisionmedia/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/evisionmedia/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/eVisionMedia
Free Branding Gift: https://www.facebook.com/eVisionMedia

Check out Susan’s previous appearances here on my blog:

Digital Engagement Tips to Attract Customers and Fans (November 2022)
https://www.debbielaskeysblog.com/2022/11/digital-engagement-tips-to-attract.html

The Importance of Brand Identity (November 2021)
https://www.debbielaskeysblog.com/2021/11/the-importance-of-brand-identity.html

FALL BACK TO READING SERIES – Featuring Erika Andersen

This year, as the seasons change and we enjoy fall, I’ve launched my FALL BACK TO READING SERIES. The series will feature two dozen leadership and marketing experts, who will share their inspiration in both fiction and nonfiction, and hopefully, provide the impetus to read more. To quote New York Times Bestselling author Kristin Harmel, “If you give a person a book, you give him the world.” For today’s post, I’d like to introduce Erika Andersen.

I’ve had the pleasure of knowing Erika Andersen for many years, and she first appeared in a Q&A on my blog back in 2011. She is the founding partner of Proteus, where she and her colleagues support leaders at all levels to get ready and stay ready to meet the future. Erika advises senior executives and also shares her insights through her books, speaking engagements, and social media. In addition to her latest book, Change from the Inside Out, she is the author of four previous best-selling books: Be Bad First, Leading So People Will Follow, Being Strategic, and Growing Great Employees. Erika is also a popular leadership blogger at Forbes.com, and the creator and host of the Proteus Leader Show podcast.

QUESTION: Which three business books have made the biggest impact on your career?
ERIKA ANDERSEN: I have to start with a caveat – I don’t actually read a lot of business books; maybe 4-5 a year. I find most aren’t very well written – either too self-consciously complex or too simplistic. And it seems to me that many of them don’t make a very good case for what they’re proposing. Having said that, though, there have been and are some real gems in the business book lexicon. Three business books to which I find myself referring to over and over through the years are:

Good to Great by Jim Collins. This one has really stood the test of time for me. I find that the ideas and understanding outlined in this book apply not only to organizations, but to individuals and teams, as well. Collins’ insight into “Level 5 leaders” is especially valuable – and in fact, was one of the things that got me thinking in the direction that led to the model at the heart of my own book, Leading So People Will Follow.

Emotional Intelligence by Daniel Goleman. So much clarity came from reading this book. I had observed people who weren’t intellectually gifted, but who created wonderful careers and relationships for themselves – and others who were near-geniuses, but whose lives weren’t at all what they wanted. Goleman’s book offered a framework for explaining this phenomenon – and, more importantly, for doing something to help. Much of our executive coaching work over the years has centered on supporting our clients to become more emotionally intelligent – and it’s amazing how helpful that can be.

The Speed of Trust by Stephen M. R Covey. You know how sometimes you read a book, and it’s exciting because it presents the solution to a problem you’ve been working on, but haven’t cracked? This book was that for me. I had been trying to articulate something I saw in myself and others, that when there was trust between us in a working situation, it was based on both practical things (Did the person fulfill their commitments? Did they have the skills to do their job?) and on more interpersonal elements (Did they tell the truth? Did they support others’ success?). Covey captured this distinction so clearly, in talking about trust based on “Character and Competence,” that it was a joyful experience for me to read. We’ve used his core ideas ever since, especially in helping teams build trust.  

QUESTION: Who is your favorite author, and why?
ERIKA ANDERSEN: Debbie, that’s an impossible question to answer! But I can share a bit about a couple of my favorites.

At the risk of being nepotistic, one of my favorite authors is my brother Kurt Andersen. He has a unique ability to take masses of data and create an engaging and compelling narrative thread. I found that especially true in his books Fantasyland and Evil Geniuses. I also love his joyful curiosity – he gets so excited when he discovers and can share something weird or wonderful, or some single fact that encapsulates and demonstrates a complex concept.

In the timeless greatness category, my favorite author is Shakespeare. That may seem like a cliché – but there’s a reason people have been reading his works for over 400 years. He was able to touch and tell the truth of human emotion and relationship in a way that no one else has ever done.

For fun, I read tons of Regency novels – modern books in the style of Jane Austen. And my three favorite authors in the genre are Mary Balogh, Grace Burrowes, and Mary Kingswood. All are gifted storytellers and are particularly good at creating three-dimensional characters living within the strictures of that earlier age. And I’ve learned a lot about creating a graceful narrative arc by reading their work, as well.

Finally, I love Maya Angelou. Her writing pulls at my heart and is lyrical in a way that I find nourishing even when she is sharing difficult truths. Some of her aphorisms I reflect on and share almost daily. “When people show you who they are, believe them,” is particularly useful for me, as I tend to be overly optimistic in my assessments of people – even when I have evidence, from them, to the contrary.

QUESTION: What book did you read in high school or college that, to this day, you still remember vividly, and why?
ERIKA ANDERSEN: To Kill a Mockingbird. I grew up in a very white community in a very white state, in a very happy upper-middle class family – and reading that book woke me up to injustice and to the idea that everyone wasn’t getting to play by the same rules that I was. And I have to give props to my mom: giving me that book was one of many things that she did for me and my siblings to help assure that we would become aware, empathic, motivated world citizens. She knew that books were a powerful medium of inspiration and learning for me: she also gave me Elizabeth Blackwell, First Woman Doctor, and Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring. Good work, mom.

QUESTION: Do you intersperse fiction with your business reading? If yes, what was the last work of fiction that you read, and what caught your attention about it?
ERIKA ANDERSEN: I read far more fiction than nonfiction; I’d say almost a 10 to 1 ratio. Lately, I’ve been re-reading the Harry Potter books in Spanish, as part of my ongoing effort to become fluent. (My husband and I recently bought an apartment in northern Spain and are spending about half our time there.)

I read the whole series when they first came out, as a fun thing to do with my kids, who were just the right age at the time and were also reading them. Re-reading them now, in another language, is giving me an entirely new appreciation of the depth and richness of the world Rowling created in those books.

QUESTION: If you created a nonprofit organization to promote reading to children and young adults, what would you name it, and why?
ERIKA ANDERSEN: Great question. I would call it “Whatever You Want,” because that’s true, and I think the idea would be appealing to kids and teens who too often feel powerless, constrained, or bored.

Books really do offer a way to discover, explore, learn, and see all the skills, all the ideas, and all the possible worlds that human beings have developed so far. They are an infinite treasure chest, available at any time. It’s why so many reactionary forces throughout the centuries have sought to ban or burn books: reading can be a revolutionary act.

SHARE THIS: Books are an infinite treasure chest, available at any time. ~@ErikaAndersen #Reading #DebbieLaskeysBlog

My gratitude to Erika for participating in this year’s fall back to reading series and for sharing her inspiring recommendations!

Image Credit: Lena via Unsplash.

Connect with Erika at these links:
Website: https://erikaandersen.com
Website: https://www.proteus-international.com
Books: https://erikaandersen.com/books

Check out Erika’s previous appearances here on my blog:

How Magic and Happiness Impact Leadership (April 2023)
https://www.debbielaskeysblog.com/2023/04/how-magic-and-happiness-impact.html

Tips to Become “Change-Capable (May 2022)
https://www.debbielaskeysblog.com/2022/05/tips-to-become-change-capable.html

Three Leadership Secrets: Build Consensus, Be Open to Challengers, and Delegate (May 2021)
https://www.debbielaskeysblog.com/2021/05/3-leadership-secrets-build-consensus-be.html

Review of: Leading So People Will Follow by Erika Andersen (October 2019)
https://www.debbielaskeysblog.com/2019/10/fall-back-to-reading-with-12-thought.html

Leadership + Strategy = Amazing Employee Experience (November 2018)
https://www.debbielaskeysblog.com/2018/11/leadership-strategy-amazing-employee.html

Review of: Be Bad First by Erika Andersen (October 2018)
https://www.debbielaskeysblog.com/2018/10/fall-reading-recap-leadership-branding.html

Are You the Type of Manager or Leader YOU Would Follow? (January 2014)
https://www.debbielaskeysblog.com/2014/01/are-you-type-of-manager-or-leader-you.html

Want to be Nicknamed Strategy Guru? (July 2011)
https://www.debbielaskeysblog.com/2011/07/want-to-be-nicknamed-strategy-guru.htm

FALL BACK TO READING SERIES – Featuring Joseph Michelli

This year, as the seasons change and we enjoy fall, I’ve launched my FALL BACK TO READING SERIES. The series will feature two dozen leadership and marketing experts, who will share their inspiration in both fiction and nonfiction, and hopefully, provide the impetus to read more. To quote New York Times Bestselling author Kristin Harmel, “If you give a person a book, you give him the world.” For today’s post, I’d like to introduce Joseph Michelli.

Joseph A. Michelli, Ph.D., C.S.P., is a Wall Street Journal, USA Today, Publishers Weekly, Nielson BookScan, and New York Times' #1 bestselling business author. He helps companies drive customer loyalty and referrals and writes books about clients like The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, Starbucks, Mercedes-Benz, and Zappos. Joseph received his master's and doctorate degrees from the University of Southern California and holds the Certified Speaking Professional designation from the National Speakers Association. He has won the Asian Brand Excellence Award and has been named a Top 5 thought leader in Customer Experience by Global Gurus for six consecutive years.

QUESTION: Which three business books have made the biggest impact on your career?
JOSEPH MICHELLI: I remember having an epiphanous moment when I first read The Experience Economy by James Gilmore and Joe Pine. I’d been partnering with leaders at brands like the Pike Place Fish Market and Starbucks to elevate their customer experiences. The Experience Economy, however, provided a rich analysis of an emerging economic shift that catalyzed my career. The Fred Factor is a concise masterful work based on the author, Mark Sanborn’s mail carrier. The Fred Factor is the quintessential guide for claiming one’s power to make a difference in the lives of others. Finally, every time I read Brené Brown’s Dare to Lead, I’m inspired and challenged to address issues more directly and assertively. Her humanity-rich and evidence-based works should be must-reads for every leader.

QUESTION: Who is your favorite author, and why?
JOSEPH MICHELLI: Dave Von Drehle is the acclaimed author of non-fiction books like Rise to Greatness Abraham Lincoln and America’s Most Perilous Year. Dave and I were the only two students in an independent writing course at the University of Denver, so I’ve watched him refine the art of storytelling and thrive as a journalist, Washington Post Opinion columnist, and book author. I eagerly anticipate each new book he writes.

QUESTION: What book did you read in high school or college that, to this day, you still remember vividly, and why?
JOSEPH MICHELLI: A Man’s Search for Meaning by Victor Frankl. I remember its profound impact on me in college and re-read it every few years. Despite the horrors of living in a WWII concentration camp, Frankl recounts that some starving captives gave a portion of their food to others who were closer to death. While Frankl noted that few people were that selfless, he reminds us that we are all capable of that level of kindness – even in the worst of times.

QUESTION: Do you intersperse fiction with your business reading? If yes, what was the last work of fiction that you read, and what caught your attention about it?
JOSEPH MICHELLI: I prefer history over fiction, so when I read fiction, I usually gravitate to books inspired by true stories. For example, I am reading An American Beauty, the historical fiction novel by the New York Times bestselling author Shana Abé. An American Beauty is an artful journey into the rags-to-riches life of Arabella Huntington.

QUESTION: If you created a nonprofit organization to promote reading to children and young adults, what would you name it, and why?
JOSEPH MICHELLI: The Window to the Word – reading has always been that for me. I was raised in a small town, and my parents had little money. My local library’s summer reading program was my ticket to ideas, people, and places I couldn’t have imagined. Through my love of reading and writing, I was blessed to receive a full-tuition college scholarship which propelled me to become an author, speaker, and consultant.

SHARE THIS: Reading has always been a window to the world for me. ~@josephmichelli #Reading #DebbieLaskeysBlog

My gratitude to Joseph for participating in this year’s fall back to reading series and for sharing his inspiring recommendations!

Image Credit: Richard Wang via Unsplash.

Connect with Joseph at these links:
Website: www.josephmichelli.com
Twitter: @josephmichelli

Check out Joseph’s previous appearance here on my blog:
The Intersection of Leadership, Employee Experience, and Customer Experience
https://www.debbielaskeysblog.com/2022/09/the-intersection-of-leadership-employee.html

FALL BACK TO READING SERIES – Featuring Shep Hyken

This year, as the seasons change and we enjoy fall, I’ve launched my FALL BACK TO READING SERIES. The series will feature two dozen leadership and marketing experts, who will share their inspiration in both fiction and nonfiction, and hopefully, provide the impetus to read more. To quote New York Times Bestselling author Kristin Harmel, “If you give a person a book, you give him the world.” For today’s post, I’d like to introduce Shep Hyken.

Shep Hyken is a customer service/customer experience expert, award-winning keynote speaker, researcher, and New York Times and Wall Street Journal bestselling author. As the Chief Amazement Officer at Shepard Presentations, Shep helps his clients create amazing experiences for their customers and employees.

QUESTION: Which three business books have made the biggest impact on your career?
SHEP HYKEN: Just three? Let’s start with my all-time favorite business book, The Experience Economy by Joe Pine and Jim Gilmore. This is what customer experience is all about. And early in my career I bought In Search of Excellence by Tom Peters and Robert Waterman. The companies represented in the book are wonderful case studies on how a company can achieve excellence. And finally, Moments of Truth by Jan Carlzon. This book showcases the perfect way to manage the customer experience; one moment at a time.

QUESTION: Who is your favorite author, and why?
SHEP HYKEN: When it comes to fiction, my favorite author is Jeffrey Archer. He is a wonderfully masterful storyteller. I remember reading my first Archer book while still in school. I also want to mention one of my favorite business authors, Dr. Robert Cialdini, author of Influence.

QUESTION: What book did you read in high school or college that, to this day, you still remember vividly, and why?
SHEP HYKEN: A book that had great influence on me was The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand. I read it in my junior year in college. I was very intrigued by the main character, Howard Roark, who had an amazing work ethic and unwavering integrity. The story connected with me at a time when I was contemplating my career.

QUESTION: Do you intersperse fiction with your business reading? If yes, what was the last work of fiction that you read, and what caught your attention about it?
SHEP HYKEN:  I’m a fan of mixing my business books with a non-business book. About every fourth book I read is a non-business book. My most recent books include The Puzzler by A.J. Jacobs, All About Me by Mel Brooks, and The Judge’s List by John Grisham book. I like the entertainment value of non-business books. They also help me stay creative.

QUESTION: If you created a nonprofit organization to promote reading to children and young adults, what would you name it, and why?
SHEP HYKEN: What has reading done for me? It continues to make me smarter, creative, and a more interesting person. Reading stimulates intellectual and creative growth. So, here’s my first thought for a name: Grow With Words.

SHARE THIS: Reading continues to make me smarter, creative, and a more interesting person. Reading stimulates intellectual and creative growth. ~@Hyken #Reading #DebbieLaskeysBlog

My gratitude to Shep for participating in this year’s fall back to reading series and for sharing his inspiring recommendations!

Image Credit: Jessica Ruscello via Unsplash.

Connect with Shep at these links:
Website: www.Hyken.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shephyken/

Check out Shep’s previous appearance here on my blog:
Customer Service vs. Customer Experience: Does Your Business Know the Difference?
https://www.debbielaskeysblog.com/2014/02/customer-service-vs-customer-experience.html