Blog Archives
Values Based Organizations: Aligning Culture and Strategy
Values Based Organizations lays out a clear and practical roadmap for building organizations that actually live their values instead of just talking about them. It explains how culture, strategy, leadership, and processes can work together when they are aligned. The core idea rests on five practices: Take Stock, Commit to Why and How, Align Action, Champion Values-Based Leadership, and Engage Everyone. Throughout the book, author Dr. Thomas Epperson uses stories, interviews, and real examples to show how these practices play out in companies of all sizes. The narrative leans heavily on the transformation of Luck Companies and other organizations that chose to anchor their work in purpose and values.
I found myself reacting with a mix of curiosity and skepticism that often turned into appreciation. The writing comes across as honest and steady, almost like talking with someone who has seen the same mistakes happen over and over. I liked the plain language and the way the author admits that culture work is messy and sometimes painful. I felt the weight of those stories about organizations drifting or fighting themselves, and I caught myself nodding when he described leaders who avoid hard truths or cling to the wrong assumptions. The book made me think about my own reactions to change. I kept feeling a strange mix of discomfort and motivation, like someone tapping me on the shoulder saying, “Stop pretending you don’t see the problem.” That emotional push gave the ideas more power.
I also enjoyed the practicality of the examples. The section on Taking Stock made me laugh at the image of leaders scribbling complaints and then discovering that none of them had written “me” on the list. That moment says everything about the self-awareness required for real change. The parts about rediscovering a company’s history gave me a sense of warmth and even hope, because the idea that organizations can return to their roots instead of tearing everything down feels refreshing. Sometimes the book leans into repetition, and at moments I wished it would linger less on the obvious, but even then I understood why the reminders mattered. Culture work is slow, and people forget quickly.
The book isn’t flashy, but it is sincere, and it pushes you to think about organizations as living systems that need both care and discipline. I would recommend Values Based Organizations to leaders who want to shift their culture in a real and grounded way, and to teams that feel stuck or scattered. It would also be helpful for anyone stepping into a new leadership role who wants a straightforward guide to understanding how values can steer an organization.
Pages: 164 | ASIN : B0FTLLR57V
The Unexpected CEO: My Journey from Gas Station Cashier to Billion-Dollar CEO
When I first opened The Unexpected CEO, I thought I’d be reading another standard success story, but it turned out to be much more. Shirin Behzadi takes us from her childhood in Iran, through the revolution, exile, and survival in a new country, all the way to her rise as the CEO of a billion-dollar company. It is part memoir, part leadership guide, and part testament to resilience. The book moves from deeply personal family stories to the cold realities of business, weaving them together in a way that shows how character and conviction are built over a lifetime of trials.
The writing surprised me. It isn’t polished in the glossy, distant way you sometimes see in business memoirs. It feels raw, often intimate, as if she is telling you the story over a late-night coffee after years of holding it in. Some chapters hit hard, especially when she recounts her experiences during the revolution and the losses that came with it. Others feel like a quiet conversation about values, leadership, and how to carry empathy into places where profit usually reigns supreme. I found myself moved, sometimes even shaken, by how open she was about trauma and recovery. The sections on illness and learning to walk again made me pause, close the book, and just sit with my own thoughts.
Some sections gon on longer than I expected, while others fly past events that I wanted more detail on. Life is messy, and she doesn’t try to iron out the wrinkles for the sake of a neat story. Her ideas about leadership resonated strongly with me. She refuses the cutthroat style so often celebrated in business, insisting instead that culture, trust, and compassion drive success. I believed her because she lived it, not because she wrapped it in fancy management speak. It’s rare to read a business book that makes you tear up, and yet this one managed that more than once.
I walked away feeling inspired. This is not a fairy tale of overnight success. It is a story of grit, survival, and the slow shaping of a person who carried her scars into the boardroom and refused to let them harden her heart. I would recommend The Unexpected CEO to anyone who has faced adversity, to entrepreneurs who think they have to choose between kindness and profit, and to readers who want to be reminded that success is possible without losing your humanity.
Pages: 320 | ASIN : B0DVD24YV7
The Influence Mindset for Sales Acceleration: The 7 EQ Brain Hacks That Get People to Choose You
Christian Hansen’s The Influence Mindset for Sales Acceleration is a lively guide to bridging the gap between what we think we’re communicating and how others actually perceive us. He builds his case around the idea that success in sales, and really in most high-stakes interactions, is less about raw value and more about how that value lands in someone else’s mind. The book moves through personal stories, neuroscience tidbits, and a framework of seven “EQ brain hacks,” all designed to help the reader stand out as the obvious choice in a crowded field. It’s practical, but it never feels dry. Hansen writes in a way that makes brain science feel like kitchen-table advice.
I enjoyed how much personality was packed into these pages. The tortilla fiasco with his Danish in-laws had me laughing, but it also drove the point home better than a pile of charts ever could. I felt pulled into the message because the stories felt so human. Hansen often leans on tidy acronyms and clear formulas. Far from being overbearing, this structure actually made the concepts easy to follow and apply. The clarity gave me a sense of order in what could otherwise feel like a messy subject. And paired with Hansen’s warmth and confidence, it felt like he was handing me a ready-made toolkit I could start using right away, something I could test on Monday morning and expect to see working by Friday.
What I liked most was how he reframed things I’ve been guilty of myself. I’ve leaned too hard on proving my value, or I’ve tried to charm my way through, and both times I’ve missed the mark. Reading his breakdown of “competence without connection” being just noise hit uncomfortably close to home. I liked how he didn’t just call out the problem but showed how to balance both sides of the bridge. The mix of storytelling and science kept me hooked, even if I sometimes wished he’d dig deeper instead of keeping it all so polished.
This is a book for people who live in the push and pull of convincing others, like salespeople, but also entrepreneurs, job seekers, and even anyone pitching ideas inside a company. If you’ve ever felt like you’re spinning your wheels and not getting chosen, Hansen’s approach will feel like a reset button. I’d recommend it most to folks who are comfortable trying new ways of communicating and want something practical that doesn’t read like a textbook. It’s not a magic trick, but it gives you tools that make influence feel a little less mysterious and a lot more doable.
Pages: 290 | ASIN : B0FDH4LQ7Z
Billion Dollar Communication Skills
John A. Brink’s Billion Dollar Communication Skills is part memoir, part how-to guide, and part deep dive into the mechanics and power of human communication. The book opens with Brink’s harrowing journey from war-scarred Holland to the lumberyards of British Columbia, setting the stage for his transformation from a non-English-speaking dropout with undiagnosed learning disabilities to a successful entrepreneur and compelling public speaker. Each chapter explores a different facet of communication—its history, its pitfalls, its digital evolution—while Brink laces in personal anecdotes and practical tips to help readers speak better, listen harder, and connect more meaningfully, whether in the boardroom or on a Zoom call.
Reading this book made me feel like I was being mentored by someone who’s been through it all and has no interest in whitewashing the struggle. Brink’s writing is plainspoken but deeply felt. He doesn’t just preach the importance of communication; he bears the scars of someone who failed at it. His account of freezing up in front of government officials was crushing and real. But what struck me wasn’t just the failure—it was the climb afterward. Toastmasters saved him, but he also saved himself, one terrifying speech at a time. That slow build toward confidence was something I think a lot of readers will find both hopeful and moving.
What surprised me most was how much ground the book covers beyond speaking. There are smart, sharp chapters about digital communication, misinformation, and even the etiquette of running meetings. Brink doesn’t just talk about what to say—he’s obsessed with how it lands. The Gladstone vs. Disraeli anecdote about listening blew my mind. And then there’s his voice: part business vet, part earnest grandpa, part no-nonsense Dutch-Canadian straight shooter. At times, the tone swings wide—funny in one section, dead serious in the next—but somehow it all works. The text meanders occasionally, but that meandering often leads to little gems that feel earned.
Billion Dollar Communication Skills isn’t just for people who want to be better speakers. It’s for anyone who wants to be heard—and who wants to hear others more clearly. I’d recommend this book to young professionals trying to find their voice, to entrepreneurs building their brand, and to anyone who’s ever felt like they had something to say but didn’t know how to say it. This book might not make you a billionaire, but it will make you braver.
ASIN : B0F8XSCBLJ
We Can Do Better: Setting the Pace for the Next Generation
D. Jomo’s We Can Do Better: Setting the Pace for the Next Generation is a reflective dive into the human experience during the COVID-19 pandemic and its broader societal implications. Framed by the author’s personal journey and observations, the book seeks to inspire community engagement, compassion, and self-improvement. Jomo’s narrative weaves through topics like honoring essential workers, supporting the elderly, and balancing individualism with collectivism, all with an undercurrent of hope for a more unified society.
One thing I appreciated about this book was how Jomo tied big ideas to real-life experiences. Her retelling of the early days of the pandemic, from witnessing a quarantined cruise ship to navigating personal fears of exposure, was vivid and relatable. The chapter on essential workers, for instance, shone a necessary spotlight on those who kept the world running, from janitors to grocery clerks. Jomo shares her own awakenings, like realizing the indispensable role of local shopkeepers. It made me reflect on how often I overlook everyday heroes in my own life.
The writing is engaging and heartfelt, though it occasionally revisits similar points, especially when highlighting societal gratitude and the importance of taking action. However, this earnestness works to drive home the book’s central themes. In the chapter on the elderly, Jomo’s personal anecdotes, such as befriending a senior during her teenage years, are both touching and motivational. Her practical suggestions for improving elder care, like designing more senior-friendly housing, feel actionable rather than idealistic. That said, I did wish for a deeper exploration of some solutions rather than a broad sweep across many issues.
The discussion of individualism versus collectivism stood out as particularly thought-provoking. Jomo’s balanced view of both perspectives felt refreshing. Her call for integrating collectivist empathy into individualistic societies resonated, especially as she framed it against the backdrop of the pandemic.
We Can Do Better is a heartfelt and optimistic guide for anyone looking to contribute to a more compassionate world. It’s especially suited for readers reflecting on their role in their community or grappling with the lessons of recent global events. The book’s sincerity and focus on actionable kindness make it a worthwhile read. I’d recommend it to those who enjoy introspective works with a call to action, especially fans of socially conscious memoirs.
Pages: 96 | ASIN : B0C385Z82K
Self Love: Journal your Journey. The challenge is to be yourself in a world that is trying to make you like everyone else.
Self Love, by Natalie Bears, is an insightful guide on creating the life you desire through the power of self-love. Bears explains the scope of self-love and how it can transform your life by exploring essential topics like gratitude, routines, and mindset. Each chapter includes a journal section, providing readers with the opportunity to reflect and engage deeply with the material.
The book delves into the relationship between self-love and respect, as well as self-love and emotions. Bears reinforces her concepts with thought-provoking quotes from thought leaders and famous personalities, adding depth and resonance to her messages. One of the most compelling themes of the book is the impact of others’ opinions. Bears discusses how external views affect our self-perception and why this can be detrimental to our well-being. She further explores the importance of positive self-talk, emphasizing how the way we communicate with ourselves is crucial for maintaining a healthy mindset.
Self Love offers valuable insights. I would love to have seen the inclusion of real-life case studies or additional information on the psychology behind self-love. While the content occasionally revisits similar themes, this repetition helps reinforce key messages. Bears’ uplifting ideas and positive approach make the book a worthwhile read.
Self Love is an excellent choice for anyone looking to explore self-love without getting bogged down by technical information. It’s particularly suited for readers who appreciate Natalie Bears’ unique perspective on self-improvement.
Pages: 83 | ASIN : B0D5FS2Y15
Your REAL Life: Get Authentic, Be Resilient, Make it Count
In Your REAL Life: Get Authentic, Be Resilient, Make it Count, Nathan Andres delves into the essence of authenticity and resilience, drawing upon the iconic words of Shakespeare’s Hamlet, “To thine own self be true.” Andres’s work emerges as a compelling guide, not unlike a modern-day manual, exploring the necessity of resilience in confronting life’s challenges.
The narrative is rooted in Andres’s personal experiences, lending it an authenticity that resonates deeply with the reader. He skillfully intertwines these experiences with a broader examination of universal challenges, providing a lens through which the omnipresence of adversity and the lurking shadow of impostor syndrome are viewed. The book emphasizes how one’s response to life’s “little bumps” can dictate the trajectory of their journey, either propelling them forward or holding them back. Andres lays out the multifaceted nature of challenges in a candid, matter-of-fact manner, compelling readers to confront and understand these difficulties. This clarity, combined with a holistic grasp of the subject, establishes the book as both insightful and accessible.
The author offers not just narrative and theory but also practical exercises and reflective prompts. These tools underscore his commitment to aiding personal growth and highlight the importance of authenticity in a world where the term is often used superficially. Andres’s writing style is noteworthy for its simplicity, yet it never compromises the depth and richness of the content. The book strikes a fine balance between being relatable and inspiring, intertwining personal anecdotes with valuable lessons. It guides readers through various life scenarios, from mundane daily decisions to significant career choices, underscoring the transformative power of resilience and self-awareness.
In essence, Nathan Andres has crafted a work that goes beyond mere literature. It stands as a tool for personal growth, offering readers not only insights but also practical methods to navigate through life’s complexities with authenticity and resilience at their core.
Pages: 260 | ASIN : B0C3DSMKSK
LITERARY TITAN 