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Understand the Process and Journey
The 80/20 CEO: Take Command of Your Business in 100 Days teaches readers about the Profitable Growth Operating System (PGOS), featuring 80/20. Why did you feel compelled to write this book, and what was your hope that readers take away from it?
The journey of getting to the point where I could write this book has taken over 30 years. I have spent my career as a global business executive in various industries and markets focused on industrial and consumer products and services. Much of my experience has been rapidly turning around and then profitably growing a company. Throughout all of this, I have been repeatedly asked by my teams if is there a book that they can refer to help them understand the process and journey.
The 80/20 CEO: Take Command of your Business in 100 Days is the result of all of the hard work my team put into delivering superior results in both good markets and bad. As my friend Mitch Aiello said, “The book stands as a great step-by-step guide to identify the highest performing quadrant of a business, reduce unnecessary complexity, and redirect valuable resources to accelerate innovation, operational efficiency, and most importantly, profitable growth. The pages are full of fun and interesting historical references as well as humor and real-life case studies of businesses that were course-corrected through the 80/20 process.” I think Mitch is a bit of a genius.
What were some of the key ideas that you wanted to convey through your book?
The 80/20 Management Practice, also known as the Pareto principle, 80/20 is a management concept based on a natural law: 80% of results come from 20% of causes. It is a tool used to prioritize and manage resources, focusing on the most important and impactful activities that generate the majority of results. The principle suggests that organizations can achieve significant improvement by focusing their efforts on the 20% of activities that generate 80% of their results, rather than spreading their resources non-strategically across all activities.
The 80/20 principle can be applied in various ways, including time management, problem-solving, decision-making, and resource allocation. For example, in time management, individuals can use the 80/20 principle to identify the 20% of tasks that generate 80% of desired results and prioritize these activities. In problem-solving, the principle can be used to identify the root causes of issues and focus on solving the most impactful problems.
The 80/20 principle is a useful tool for organizations to achieve more with limited resources, but it is important to remember that it is an approximation and not a strict rule. It is a useful guideline that can help organizations focus their efforts and resources more effectively.
What do you think is the most common misconception people have about business growth, and how does your book address it?
The reason that 80/20 is so valuable is that it is counterintuitive. We tend to expect that all causes will have roughly the same significance, that all customers are equally valuable, or that every bit of business, every product, and every dollar of sales revenue is as good as another.
What is the next book you are writing, and when will that be published?
I am currently writing Earn the Right to Grow. It should be available in the Fall of 2024.
Author Links: GoodReads | Twitter | Facebook | Website | Amazon
PGOS is based on the five management practices 80/20, strategy, talent, M&A, and lean. It is for all senior-level executives, established, rising, or aspiring, who want to lead their organization in strategic growth. PGOS was born in the intensely growth-focused environment of middle-market companies held by private equity, but it applies to virtually any business intent on improving and growing.
The middle market is a powerhouse for the U.S. economy. Yet many of these companies are little known to the general public. PGOS will help them break through with a proven process to double the company’s sales in three to five years.
Excerpt from the book:
EVEN GOOD COMPANIES lose their way.
When that happens, what do you need?
Profitable growth on demand. Now, in fact.
But who yuh gonna call?
The guy who’s got the operating system. And since I’m that guy—me—you now have access to the profitable growth operating system (PGOS) playbook that will show you how to turn your business around in 100 days, use the 80/20 principle to earn the right to grow and position it for long-term profitable growth. This book will walk you through all the strategic actions needed to prioritize everything possible on the 20 percent of investments, processes, products, and customers that generate 80 percent of your revenue. (80/20—that’s a thing. And not just a thing; it’s a natural law. Just 20 percent of what you do or spend generates 80 percent of your revenue. Don’t get too happy, though, because the other 80 percent of what you spend generates just 20 percent of your revenue.
About the Author:
Bill Canady has been leading companies to profitable growth for over 30 years. Working in a variety of industries and markets focused on industrial as well as consumer products and services, he brings to the table a unique Operating System and uses it in a 100-day campaign to position the company for profitable growth. Combining vision and process, Canady aligns leadership and other critical stakeholders to earn the right to grow and then to claim that right with a 3-to-5-year business plan for targeted strategic growth. He believes in bringing the right tools to the job and developing strong leaders and management teams to use them. His experience encompasses global public, private, and sponsor-owned firms.
The 80/20 CEO: Take Command of Your Business in 100 Days
The 80/20 CEO: Take Command of Your Business in 100 Days by Bill Canady is a practical and insightful guide for aspiring CEOs, department heads, and leaders across various sectors. Canady’s book is methodically structured into three sections, each addressing key aspects of business and leadership.
The first section lays a foundation, posing and answering pertinent questions that often challenge business leaders. This part emphasizes understanding your business, strategizing effectively, meticulous planning, and execution. The subsequent section dives into growth and expansion, enlightening readers on setting goals, developing strategies, structuring the organization, and formulating action plans. Particularly noteworthy is the practical guidance for navigating the initial 100 days in a leadership role. The third part of the book seamlessly extends this discussion, offering strategies for sustaining and advancing business operations beyond the first 100 days. Canady’s work is distinguished by its depth and comprehensiveness in covering leadership and management topics. His experience and extensive research are evident throughout the book, making it an indispensable resource for current and aspiring business leaders.
Canady provides an array of tips, industry insights, and advice beneficial for both novices and seasoned professionals. His approachable writing style, engaging anecdotes, and thorough explanations of unfamiliar concepts and phrases make the book accessible and enjoyable. Canady’s authenticity and reliance on facts, research, and established statistics set his work apart. The inclusion of tables and figures interspersed within the text enhances understanding of complex topics such as customer engagement, growth, investment, and business framework development. The author’s concise and direct writing ensures that key points are conveyed effectively and efficiently.
The 80/20 CEO: Take Command of Your Business in 100 Days by Bill Canady stands out as a valuable resource for anyone aiming to gain control and excel in a business leadership role within a short timeframe. It’s not just a book about leadership—it’s a comprehensive guide for transforming theoretical knowledge into practical, actionable strategies for business success.
Page: 264 | ASIN : B0CRGM9674
Principles of Good Management
With so many books out on the market dealing with leadership and team building, your book stands out as a down-to-earth and simplified method that can work for all levels of management. What was the idea, or spark, that first set off the need to write Be a Better Manager in Five Minutes a Day?
I wrote this book because I wanted to create a practical and accessible guide to management, especially for first-time managers and those with limited experience. I have seen firsthand the challenges that new managers face, so I wanted to write a book that would provide them with the tools and strategies they need to succeed.
I was also motivated by the fact that many of the books on the market about management are some combination of narrowly focused, long and complex, making many of them difficult to read and apply. I wanted to write a book that was concise and easy to read, while still providing readers with the essential information they need to be effective managers.
Finally, I wanted to write a book that was relevant to all levels of management, from first-time supervisors to experienced executives. There is often pressure on managers to ‘be perfect’ which none of us are. However, I do think that the principles of good management are universal and that everyone can continue to improve.
What were some goals you set for yourself as a writer in this book?
I wanted to write a book that managers could use to improve their skills and performance, regardless of their experience level. I also wanted to write a book that was easy to read and understand, even for those who were not familiar with management theories.
I know that managers are busy people, so I wanted to write a book that they could read and implement quickly and steadily. I also wanted to avoid jargon and technical language and focus on providing readers with the essential information they need to be effective managers.
Finally, I set out to write a book that would be inspiring and motivating to readers. I wanted to help managers to develop their leadership skills and build high-performing teams.
What experience in your life has had the biggest impact on your writing?
I am somewhat unusual in that I have years of practical experience as well as a PhD in this area. The combination of university work (teaching MBA and Human Resources students) as well as my consulting has given me a unique perspective on management.
I have had the opportunity to work with hundreds of managers and executives at all levels, and I have seen firsthand what it takes to be successful. This experience has informed my writing in several ways. First, it has helped me to identify the most common challenges that managers face. Second, it has given me a deep understanding of the best practices for managing people.
What is one thing that you hope readers take away from Be a Better Manager in Five Minutes a Day?
That the biggest difference we can make is to work on ourselves and our own character. This is something that is always within our control and able to be improved. Therefore, no matter what is going on around us, there are opportunities for continual improvement.
Author Links: GoodReads | Facebook | Website | Amazon
Effortlessly advance from hands-on work to team-building.
Communicate in the best way with your team every time.
Avoid the pitfalls plaguing other first-time managers.
The winner of 2023 PenCraft Award in the Nonfiction Self-Help genre!
Australian Human Resources Institute Fellow Dr. Dominic McLoughlin has the real-world understanding needed to turn wide-eyed novices into tomorrow’s highly sought-after leaders.
He undertook his doctoral research into workplace integrity and has over two decades teaching MBA students under his belt.
Now he’s here to share practical techniques to come out from behind the desk and inspire others to brilliant levels of productivity.
Be a Better Manager is a no-fluff actionable guide to transition into a supervisory role and become someone others clamor to follow.
In Be a Better Manager in 5 Minutes a Day, you’ll find:
10 methods for developing people to catapult the department from good to great
5 ways to grow communication that promotes consistency and provides honesty-driven wins
Examples and stories backed by analysis; each chapter focuses on concrete skills to set beginning bosses on the path to success.
Inspiring systems for keeping goals at the forefront to drive healthy motivation
10 strategies to help make the move from worker to a facilitator of an energized staff
Approaches to overcoming inevitable difficulties, delegating responsibilities, and much, much more!
Be a Better Manager is a down-to-earth manual for anyone stepping into the shoes of management. You will embark on a journey of self-fulfillment, unparalleled professional growth, and dynamic leadership.
Buy Be a Better Manager to rise to the challenge today.
Life-Changing Leadership Habits
We have all seen the results of poor leadership, whether it has been in a school system, in the workplace, or in local or state government. There is nothing worse than being under the leadership of a person or team who does not have the best interests of the organization at heart. Developing the habits of a great leader is integral to creating and sustaining a successful business and maintaining relationships that benefit not only the goal of the organization but each member within as well. Dr. Jeff Doolittle offers readers a master list of life-changing habits in one neat reference tool that leaders can put to use immediately within their organizations.
Life-Changing Leadership Habits, by Dr. Jeff Doolittle, is an excellent handbook that provides business owners and executives the needed tools for developing effective leadership methods and kicking the bad habits that may be holding them back. This book is organized into three easy-to-follow parts that may be read cover-to-cover or easily bookmarked and referenced as needed. Doolittle’s work focuses heavily on character and values, which sets his work apart from other self-help books in this arena.
As someone who is often asked to take over tasks in my school and lead groups of educators, I found Doolittle’s book to be invaluable. One of the most striking notions set forth by the author deals with practice and the importance of having privacy when practicing new and challenging tasks. Having a support system in place when learning new tasks is essential to success, and nowhere is this more evident than in schools. I was impressed with Doolittle’s presentation of this aspect of leadership–it truly hit home.
In addition, Doolittle boldly addresses the role of failure within an organization. He emphasizes the fact that failures should be embraced, leaders should practice vulnerability, and risk-taking should be rewarded. All of these ideas make for a more comfortable work environment. However, no one among us can avoid failure, and learning to create a more supportive environment is paramount to success. Doolittle’s writing is clear on these points.
I am giving Life-Changing Leadership Habits, by Dr. Jeff Doolittle, 5 out of 5 stars. I can see Doolittle’s work as a beneficial addition to any workplace. In fact, as far as required readings go, this book would also make a fantastic reading for school leaders. So many of the principles set forth by Doolittle apply to various workplaces. I highly recommend this book to anyone in a leadership position, no matter the level or organization.
Pages: 305 | ASIN : B0BW3BDKLP
Great Leadership Starts With You
Iris Du targets leaders in all capacities in her book Great Leadership Starts With You: Be the Leader You Want to Be. The author writes hoping that her knowledge will benefit CEOs, managers, supervisors, youth group leaders, church leaders, and even leaders at home and in schools. The author extensively writes on what it entails to be a leader, how to make people appreciate and respect your position, and how to link with those you are governing. Iris Du uses solid illustrations to give additional details about leadership qualities and further explains how a leader should conduct themselves.
One of the most significant things you need to take note of as a leader is how to communicate. I like that the author started by explaining that great leadership begins with you. You establish yourself by leading from within before you guide others. The author continues to write about communication and how it influences excellent leadership. As an individual, you are taught how to be courteous, live by your values, and communicate what you feel in a modest way. One of the biggest lessons I learned in the book is that leaders are not born but made. You can learn how to be a leader.
In every chapter, the author focuses on one or two subjects that she writes about in detail. For example, the chapter on communication was incredible, and so were the rest of the chapters that discussed gratitude, manifestation, self-awareness, self-discipline, and self-mastery. These chapters have gems of knowledge and are written in an engaging and organized manner. Every chapter in the book starts with a quote from a famous person. She then proceeds to discuss the subject matter and includes quality questions and exercises in every chapter. I appreciate the questions and exercises, as they are vital to helping one self-reflect and change one’s leadership method.
Great Leadership Starts With You: Be The Leader You Want To Be is an eye-opening look at what it takes to become a successful leader in all areas of life, not just the corporate business world. With sound advice backed by case studies and actionable items, readers will be able to transform their leadership style into a more efficient approach that highlights not only their strength but their teams.
Pages: 202 | ASIN : B09HM2SG15
Tackling Complexity
Tackling Complexity, by Anu Rathninde, is a book written for and intended for leaders. Its aim is to help them become a better version of themselves and to learn from their own or other leaders’ mistakes. The book’s seven parts each focus on a different aspect of the SIILA model. In addition, they include the writer’s personal experience, giving readers a real-life look at things.
Rathninde writes in a very detailed way, guiding the reader through every concept, even writing a short summary of each part at the end of it. This helps readers review concepts and internalize them. The author also addresses the reader directly, more than once, to strengthen the point and to give suggestions on how to be and become a better leader.
As a reader keen on details, I appreciated the examples taken from contemporary situations. The writer provides the reader with plenty of examples, complete with data, names, and everything that might help contextualize them and that will help the reader understand the concept explained in the paragraph. Furthermore, the focus on variety, complexity, and interdependency helps readers feel part of the process as common situations happen in every work context.
In addition, the book revolves around the SIILA model, a loop of system thinking, internalizing, interaction, learning, and adapting. This model helps the entrepreneur or CEO in question to analyze their own habits and correct them when necessary. It is well described and uses the metaphor of parental love to explain the tough love one has to feel for their own work, which matches their dedication to the process.
Tackling Complexity, by Anu Rathninde, is an enlightening business management book focusing on the personal growth of a leader. With its suggestions and examples that make the reader understand what a good leader is, it can help everyone achieve good results in their own workplace. I recommend this book to any reader keen on self-help books, leaders in need of a guide, and anyone interested in leadership development.
Pages: 221 | ASIN : B09XVMLZ6C
10 Leading Tools
10 Leading Tools by KG Butler is a self-help book that will guide you through your management skills and help make you a better leader. In this book, as the name suggests, the author talks about the 10 tools of leadership. These tools are different than the traditional meaning of tools, but they are sure to enhance the leadership skills you possess.
Many of the tools are something we all are a little bit aware of in general life but have never thought of applying in our leadership. The author breaks down the tools with examples so that we can easily understand and adapt the tools to suit our needs.
The writing style of the book is inspiring and informative at the same time. The sentences merge into each other gracefully and the topics discussed at hand are explained by the author in detail. Be it the theories of Types of Management or the psychological devotion of employees and how to encourage it, the information is backed with solid research and facts. I was aware of a few of the tools mentioned here, but I found many other tools to be informative and beneficial. The way the book begins and ends with the same story with all the tools in between connects the whole book as one piece. However, you can pick any chapter and begin reading from there, a little shuffle of pages won’t reduce the effectiveness of the tools.
The author has divided the tools into two groups. The first group of 5 Tools focuses on the theoretical aspects of being a leader. It guides you through the mindset and thought process that a successful leader maintains. The second part of the book is filled with action tools that require action from the leaders to encourage and boost the work of their team. The author has talked about the purpose of the company, taking play seriously, learning the language of the people you are working with, creating currents through easy and simple methods over complex methods, and many more such important tools that can help a team towards success.
10 Leading Tools offers a great perspective on leadership and tries to explain tools that will help one become a good leader. The author provides an abundance of information about the workings of those tools and the science behind them. If you are feeling lost as a leader, you might try this book and gain some experience through examples and lead the way.
Pages: 242 | ASIN : B09ZRZNW8T
Funnel Theory
In Funnel Theory: How To Build an Online Sales Machine, author Jonathon Kendall shares with the reader steps to help you grow your business at terrific levels. The author s well versed in entrepreneurship and related topics and exhaustively covers every aspect of a business. In his book, Kendall aims to enlighten beginners on running a successful business and growing an empire. The author discusses in-depth the funnel theory and how it has helped entrepreneurs in their entrepreneurship journey. I like how the author introduces the subject of funnel theory and breaks it down for rookies.
One of the most remarkable features of the author is how he disseminates information. Kendall is smooth and thorough. The terms used in the book are easy to comprehend, and effort was placed on expounding heavy jargon and technical words. As a result, this educational book virtually exposes you to a different side of entrepreneurship and tries unexplored areas the same.
The author starts by explaining his funnel theory and writes about how to boost sales. In entrepreneurship, sales funnels is the term used to refer to the path customers take when buying goods or products. The author smoothly illustrates sales funnels excellently, giving one the impression of being in a business class.
Kendall brings the human element to his writing by incorporating his personal journey. The author writes of his beginnings and keeps the reader engrossed by discussing the extensive steps he took and the rewards he got. I appreciate the author for being honest. He bases his conclusions on real-life experiences and gives readers the confidence they need when setting up a business. Apart from being blunt and open to the reader, one can tell that the author is sincere in his quest to enlighten the masses on the Funnel Theory and that he profoundly values entrepreneurship.
Funnel Theory: How To Build an Online Sales Machine is an eye-opening read. The book is short, but the information shared by the author is invaluable. For example, how is your website set up? Are you active on social media? How do your products compare to your competitors? Are you customer-oriented? How do you improve our presence online? Kendall answers these and many other questions in his book.
Pages: 162 | ISBN : 979-8-9859946-0-5
