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.html

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

Marketing News of the Week: The Importance of the Number 25

This past week, the number 25 was significant because three well-known brands celebrated their 25th anniversaries.

GOOGLE
How many of us remember Alta Vista, Ask Jeeves, or any of the other search engines that existed more than two decades ago? Well, Google survived and has even entered the English lexicon by becoming a verb. Many of us simply say "Google it," when we don't know something. Google is a great case study for marketing students.

HARRY POTTER
When the Harry Potter series written by J. K. Rowling first appeared, the fantasy and magical plot quickly became a favorite of both children and adults. While it's hard to believe that Harry Potter was first introduced in a book, due to the movies and theme parks created in his honor, the books were so beloved that they inspired both children and adults to embrace reading as a hobby.

NETFLIX
Many of us signed up for movie DVD's via mail delivery in Netflix's early days. This week, that service ended. However, Netflix has evolved into a TV watching alternative with its streaming service and excellent content.

What other marketing news stood out to you this week?

What will be the marketing buzz next week?


Image Credits: Google, Harry Potter, and Netflix.

FALL BACK TO READING SERIES – Featuring Mitch Pisik

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 Mitch Pisik.

Mitch Pisik, CEO of the Pisik Consulting Group, is an Award-Winning Business Consultant, Executive Coach, Sales and Leadership Trainer, Strategy Facilitator, and Board of Directors Advisor who has worked with over a thousand executives in hundreds of companies in dozens of industries from Fortune 100 global businesses to sole proprietors. He has been consulting for over twenty years; doing so in a full-time practice since 2016.

QUESTION: Which three business books have made the biggest impact on your career?
MITCH PISIK: Here are my three:
[1] The Seven Secrets of Influence by Elaina Zuker (How to communicate effectively).
[2] The Art of War by Sun Zu (How to win battles and wars).
[3] The Prince by Niccolo Machiavelli (How to influence people to want to do what you want them to do).

QUESTION: Who is your favorite author, and why?
MITCH PISIK: Jack Welch because he was one of the most accomplished business executives in United States history. His actions could be a bit harsher then is ideal (Rank and Yank does not foster teamwork); yet he motivated his employees to be the best they could be, focused on maximizing returns for shareholders (and secondarily other stakeholders), dramatically increased the sales, profitability, and overall value of General Electric by huge multiples overall. I respected his disciplined approach of focusing only on what is most important, held people accountable for performance, and rewarded them appropriately. Following much of his approach was instrumental in my successfully turning around and growing four private equity portfolio companies.

QUESTION: What book did you read in high school or college that, to this day, you still remember vividly, and why?
MITCH PISIK: The Prince by Niccolo Machiavelli. He very methodically and intuitively identified what motivates people in various scenarios. Although much of his perspective was foundationally in war and palace intrigue, the logic remains pertinent to today's business environment.

As a Business Consultant and Leadership Coach, I am frequently hired to assist leaders in significant negotiations, inspiring their teams, and assuring they achieve their financial aspirations. Their successes are all tied into how well they learn and implement the art of influence. It's essential to be Interesting and Interested. Always consider the motivations of the other party. Be confident but not arrogant. And always be in control of the situation.

SHARE THIS: It's essential to be Interesting and Interested. ~@mitchpisik #LeadershipTip #Machiavelli #DebbieLaskeysBlog

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?
MITCH PISIK: Virtually all of my reading is focused on business magazines, newspapers, and books. That said, when I can find/make the time to read fiction, I enjoy books where I can learn something new. I am a big fan of Elmore Leonard who, in my semi-humble opinion, is the best American novelist of crime fiction and suspense thrillers. His character developments and creative twists are the best.

QUESTION: If you created a nonprofit organization to promote reading to children and young adults, what would you name it, and why?
MITCH PISIK: I'm very active in the not-for-profit world, and literacy and education are my greatest passion. I believe that the number one opportunity that children have to ultimately flourish and have a happy and rewarding life is through reading/education. A child has a fighting chance in life if he has access to books.

Here are some names:
[1] Books for your best life.
[2] Your best you – in books.
[3] Readers win.
[4] The more books, the greater your success.
[5] Love reading.

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

Image Credit: Paolo Nicoletto via Unsplash.

Connect with Mitch at these links:
Daily tweets on Leadership at twitter.com/mitchpisik and linkedin.com/in/mitchpisik

Check out Mitch’s previous appearance here on my blog:
Do Your Leaders See Around Corners?
https://www.debbielaskeysblog.com/2022/09/do-your-leaders-see-around-corners.html