Business Change

Change is hard," we say, and it is even harder when change is thrust upon us. In today's tough times, we may be forced to reinvent our career or downsize our lives; at any point in life, we may lose a love or a dream. Our first reaction to change we didn't ask for may be to rail against fate. But what if we could see past today's turmoil and spot the opportunities that lie within unasked-for change?

People who are trying to solve tough economic, social, or environmental problems often find themselves frustratingly stuck. They cannot solve their problems in their current context; the larger system within which they are operating is too unstable or unfair or unsustainable. They cannot transform this system on their own or by working only with their friends or colleagues; the system is too complex to be grasped or shifted by any one person or organization or sector.

In What Works: A Comprehensive Framework to Change the Way We Approach Goal Setting, celebrated speaker, coach, and author Tara McMullin shows you how to transform the way you set and achieve your goals to create a gentler and more fulfilling way to work toward what you truly want. In the book, you'll explore what's driving your pursuit of "more" (more money, more things, more prestige, etc.), set commitments to help orient your growth, and organize your actions as part of a holistic learning process.

Hope is much more than wishful thinking. Science tells us that it is the most predictive indicator of well-being in a person's life. Hope is measurable. It is malleable. And it changes lives. In Hope Rising, Casey Gwinn and Chan Hellman reveal the latest science of hope using nearly 2,000 published studies, including their own research. Based on their findings, they make an impassioned call for hope to be the focus not only of our personal lives, but of public policy for education, business, social services, and every part of society.

Tama Kieves knows a thing or two about dramatic changes. Tama left an unfulfilling life at a prestigious law firm to pursue her passion as a writer and inspirational speaker. Now, she dedicates her time to helping people face their fears, tackle uncertainty, and shift their mindset to achieve the extraordinary. Thriving Through Uncertainty proves that the moment your plans fall apart is precisely when your true destiny begins. With Tama's guidance, you can take hold of the blessings and opportunities hidden within uncertain transitional periods and begin to move forward.

How to Be Human in a Technical World is a powerful account for the technically minded who want to change their behavior and their lives, but don’t know where to start. The first step, asserts author Karine Leblanc, is to increase their emotional intelligence and learn her recipe for success with the Six Magic Skills. Full of real-life stories, research, practical tools, and action steps, this book is the solution to every analytically minded left-brain thinker who desires more from their career, their relationships, and their life.

Do the leaders in your company work together towards a common goal? Do they trust one another? Are they accountable not only individually but as a team? These are just a few traits found in community-minded leaders, the kind of leaders essential to grow your organization. With his new book, Community of Leaders, New York Times bestselling author Vince Molinaro breaks down why having a strong leadership culture in your organization is critical, how to build it, and how to sustain it for long term success.

For more than a decade, Jason T. Smith led the Back In Motion Health Group with a traditional organisational structure. For a while, it worked well. But then something changed. Jason set a new goal that couldn’t be achieved through the status quo. In this audiobook Jason shares how just two years later, after challenging their internal culture and work flow, they found the sweet spot between authentic collaboration and the holy grail of peer accountability. The result: an explosion of new business growth and the freedom for each team member to excel at what they love.

If you as a leader hold on too tightly—to your people, to everyday decision-making, to the past, and more—you will cut off vital oxygen necessary for growth. The solution: stop being a control freak and instead empower your employees, get out of your own way, and establish a clear vision for the future. Embrace the growth paradox to get unstuck and grow your company to the next level. By leaning into some key, counterintuitive business ideas, you’ll make space for changes that will lead to nonlinear growth.

Too many people in their forties and fifties (Gen X) are trapped in work that bores them, drains them of energy, stresses them out, threatens their relationships or simply feels meaningless. This rebellious generation has been tamed by the corporate master and trained into submission. Lucia Knight challenges you to step back, look at what you wanted, where you are now and what you want to create next. It is possible to take control of your own career and work story. BUT Without a clear understanding of how to do this effectively you risk everything.

The "Step Up, Step Back" approach suggests leaders need to step up and do more than they typically do in the early stages of the change - in specific ways and at specific times; and then step back and do less than they typically do in the later stages of the change - again, in specific ways, at specific times. The result is not only change that sticks, but empowered, motivated managers who can get on with delivering change, without needing ongoing input or cover from leaders.

Along the path to any goal - completing a marathon or a thesis paper, winning a medal or a contract - familiar mental hurdles arise: We may fixate on the odds of failure or find our interest flags two-thirds of the way through. That’s when elite endurance athletes - top performers in running, cycling, and swimming - turn to their rich arsenal of cognitive strategies to overcome self-doubt and unlock peak performance.

What if nothing could stop you? How big would you dream? My big, beautiful vision is a world where every voice actor has an authentic (and therefore awesome!) brand. But I realize that’s a big ask...and that it’s not humanly possible to work with every voice actor in the world. That’s why I wrote this audiobook: Voiceover Achiever: Brand Your VO Career, Change Your Life. Because fine...if I can’t work with every voice actor in the world, I want them to have access to my knowledge and my secrets! I want them to know how to create a brand they fall-to-the-floor adore.

How many times did your inner critic pop up and talk you down today? Or, tell you someone else wasn't good enough? Is your inner critic running rampant, thwarting your advancement as a leader? You may have never called your inner critic out or confronted its harsh ramblings until now, but it's time! Mastering Your Inner Critic offers firsthand hard-won advice for scaling the hurdles that prevent you from controlling that little voice. It's time to counter those nagging questions that torment you - with positive solutions that empower you.

Moments of Impact is an audiobook on a mission: to eradicate time-sucking, energy-depleting workshops and meetings. In our fast-changing world, organizations have important challenges and opportunities to address - and no time to waste. Moments of Impact delivers the single most useful resource for managers and leaders who need better strategic conversation - now - to shape the future of their organizations.

Already a BBC documentary miniseries and excerpted in the Guardian, We Bought a Zoo is a profoundly moving portrait of an unforgettable family living in the most extraordinary circumstances. This touching memoir is set to be a major motion picture starring Scarlett Johansson and Matt Damon, in theaters December 23, 2011.

Social Innovation, Inc. declares a new era where companies profit from social change. Leading corporations like GE, Wellpoint, Travelers and Wal-Mart are transforming social responsibility into social innovation and revolutionizing the way we think about the role of business in society. Based on four years of measuring the social strategies of America's leading corporations, Jason Saul lays out the five strategies for social innovation and offers a practical roadmap for how to get started.

Personal branding and reputation management expert, Lida Citroën guides leaders through this new paradigm of executive presence and influence. Through inspiring examples, compelling stories, and practical exercises, Citron helps leaders tap into their passion, connect authentically with others, and create space for inclusivity and community.

Imagine what life would be like if you started every morning with small actions that created a chain reaction of positive benefits throughout your life. You eat a healthy breakfast, have a great conversation with your loved ones, and then begin your workday focusing on the important tasks. Then, throughout the day, you complete other habits that positively impact your top goals. I guarantee you'd feel more fulfilled, get more accomplished, and have a better direction for your career.

Leading with Strategic Thinking reveals what effective leaders do differently. Eschewing the one-size-fits-all leadership model, this helpful guide outlines four general leadership types and demonstrates how each type achieves success - whether through personal vision, structured process, collaboration, or empowering others. The authors identify the actions and skills that distinguish strategic leadership, drawn from interviews and focus groups with over 300 leaders from around the world.