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The 80/20 CEO: Take Command of Your Business in 100 Days

The risk in leading a business is the same as in piloting an airplane: namely, crashing and burning. But what if you had an operating system to keep your business airborne until you wanted to land it? How much time would that OS save you? How much money?

Written by the creator of the Profitable Growth Operating System®, The 80/20 CEO: Take Command of Your Business in 100 Days is a detailed playbook for aspiring or accomplished senior-level executives who want to lead their organizations in profitable strategic growth and do so on demand, on track, on pace, and without surprises.

Understand the Process and Journey

Bill Canady Author Interview

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 The pages are full of fun and interesting historical references as well as humor and real-life case studies of businesses that were course-corrected through the 80/20 process.”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

The 80/20 CEO: Take Command of Your Business in 100 Days introduces the Profitable Growth Operating System (PGOS), featuring 80/20.  
 
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

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