Book Review: The Supermanager – A Short Story About the Secrets of an Extremely Successful Manager
February 4, 2013
Greg Blenco, author of The Supermanager: A Short Story About the Secrets of an Extremely Successful
Manager invited me to read and review his book and I just finished it.
Blenco tells the story of Andrew Hernandez who reflects on lessons learned from his mentor Leon Cook. Hernandez is selected to recruit and manage a team and manages to get a short mentorship by Cook. The seven principles change his perspective on management and assist him an a remarkable career progression.
Who Should Read This Book
This book is designed for people who are new to management and don’t have a lot of formal education and need to get up to speed quickly.
My Final Thoughts
This was a great book. Personally, I think it’s better than Ken Blanchard’s One Minute Manager (which is one of my all-time favorite management books – and the first one I ever read). If you love books written in the style of Patrick Lencioni, you will enjoy this book!
Grade: A+
Book Review: The Advantage: Why Organizational Health Trumps Everything Else in Business
August 27, 2012
Book #21 of 52
The Advantage: Why Organizational Health Trumps Everything Else in Business written by Patrick Lencioni was a 
book that caught my eye at the BWI bookstore. I ordered it for my Kindle App.
Lencioni, argues that the seminal difference between successful companies and mediocre ones has little to do with what they know and how smart they are and more to do with how healthy they are. In this book, Lencioni brings together his vast experience and many of the themes cultivated in his other best-selling books and delivers a first: a cohesive and comprehensive exploration of the unique advantage organizational health provides.
Who Should Read This Book
This is a book that will appeal to management development and organizational development consultants. It may not appeal to Lencioni’s typical audiences as it’s not written in fable format.
My Final Thoughts
Pretty good book. Certainly some good suggestions for planning meetings and strategy in organizations.
Grade: B+
Book Review: Power Questions: Build Relationships, Win New Business, and Influence Others
August 27, 2012
Book #20 of 52
Power Questions: Build Relationships, Win New Business, and Influence Others written by Andrew Sobel and 
Jerold Panas was a book that caught my eye at the BWI bookstore. I ordered it for my Kindle App.
Power Questions sets out a series of strategic questions that will help you win new business and dramatically deepen your professional and personal relationships. The book showcases thirty-five riveting, real conversations with CEOs, billionaires, clients, colleagues, and friends. Each story illustrates the extraordinary power and impact of a thought-provoking, incisive power question. To help readers navigate a variety of professional challenges, over 200 additional, thought-provoking questions are also summarized at the end of the book.
Who Should Read This Book
Awesome book! Perfect for anyone in any area of work or life. The power questions are relevant for anyone!
My Final Thoughts
One of the top 5 best books I’ve read this year. Applied the principles already!
Grade: A+
Book Review: Rebounders: How Winners Pivot from Setback to Success
August 27, 2012
Book #19 of 52
Rebounders: How Winners Pivot from Setback to Success written by Rick Newman was a book that caught my eye at the
BWI bookstore. I ordered it for my Kindle App.
In Rebounders, U.S. News & World Report journalist Rick Newman examines the rise and fall—and rise again—of some of our most prolific and productive figures in order to demystify the anatomy of resilience. He identifies nine key traits found in people who bounce back that can transform a setback into the first step toward great accomplishment. Newman turns many well-worn axioms on their head as he shows how virtually anybody can improve their resilience and get better at turning adversity into personal and professional achievement.
Who Should Read This Book
This is an inspiring book for anyone who plays the “victim-stance” game. Gets you off your butt and back in the game!
My Final Thoughts
Certainly one of the best books I’ve read in the self-help category this year. Highly recommend it!
Grade: A+
Book Review: Professional Presence: A Four-Part Program for Building Your Personal Brand
August 27, 2012
Book #18 of 52
Professional Presence: A Four-Part Program for Building Your Personal Brand written by Peggy Noe Stevens was a
book that caught my eye at the BWI bookstore. I ordered it for my Kindle App.
This book delivers a step-by-step program to develop the social skills you need for career advancement. The four-part learning process focuses on business etiquette, personal brand development, professional presentation, and people skills. By following the exercises in the book, you can learn crucial behavioral strategies, from how to give a successful presentation to how to dress appropriately to how to align personal and professional goals. Imaginative case studies offer powerful thought lessons for applying these skills.
Who Should Read This Book
This is an excellent book for anyone who needs to dress or act to impress.
My Final Thoughts
I’ve read a few of these types of books. This was comprehensive but not overwhelming in material.
Grade: B+
Book Review: Red Blood Black Sand
August 27, 2012
Book #17 of 52
Red Blood Black Sand written by Chuck Tatum was an excellent book I picked up while browsing at book store in the airport. I 
allowed myself to read one non-business book per quarter and this was one.
Tatum was a Marine who fought in the battle for Iwo Jima. He was featured in the HBO mini-series The Pacific and I found that show fascinating so I read the book the series was based on along with all the other books the BOOK was based on. His account of life in basic training all the way through post-war is detailed and riveting.
Who Should Read This Book
This is an excellent book for anyone who is a WWII history buff, particularly the Pacific Theater of war.
My Final Thoughts
This was one of the best Iwo Jima accounts I’ve read. Inspired me to make another visit to the Marine Corps Museum in Quantico, VA!
Grade: A+
Book Review: Books: Tips, Stories & Advice on Writing, Publishing & Promoting
August 27, 2012
Book #16 of 52
Books: Tips, Stories & Advice on Writing, Publishing, and Promoting written by Dan Poynter was an excellent eBook I
downloaded by the Master of Self-Publishing.
Poynter’s book actually is a compilation of several of his works and is a comprehensive guide for writing, publishing, and marketing your book, either commercially or by yourself.
Who Should Read This Book
This is an excellent book for anyone who has a book inside of them and wants to get it published.
My Final Thoughts
Poynter’s book on self-publishing helped me get started and I’ve now written nine of my own and helped many others publish. He is very inspirational.
Grade: A+
Book Review: Blah Blah Blah: What to do When Words Don’t Work
August 27, 2012
Book #15 of 52
Blah Blah Blah: What to do When Words Don’t Work written by Dan Roam was a book that caught my attention in the 
Barnes & Noble as I looked for a good text on using drawing in my seminars.
Roam’s book covers the topic of having a visual approach to connect with an audience. He offers practical advice on how to cut through the distractions that corporations use, intentionally or unintentionally to cloud the message.
Who Should Read This Book
This book is great for anyone who has to stand up and make presentations or has to brief executive teams.
My Final Thoughts
Excellent book! I used the techniques in a workshop I was leading in California as I read this and applied them successfully!
Grade: A+
Book Review: Your Personality Tree
August 27, 2012
Book #14 of 52
Your Personality Tree written by Florence Littauer is a book I found in my parent’s bookshelf, personally autographed by the 
author.
Since I love working with personality Types, I found this book to come from an interesting perspective, Christianity and Jungian psychology. Littauer uses the perspective of the Temperaments, Sanguine, Phlegmatic, Melancholic, and Choleric. It was an excellent read!
Who Should Read This Book
This book is perfect for individuals and couples who want to learn better ways to interact. It’s 1980s setting is nostalgic and refreshing. It’s also a great tool to use in a small group Bible study.
My Final Thoughts
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I was able to apply many of the author’s examples in my current workshops.
Grade: A
Book Review: Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World that Can’t Stop Talking
June 4, 2012
Book #14 of 52
Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World that Can’t Stop Talking written by Susan Cain is a book that caught my eye 
in an airport book store. I’m a certified Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) practitioner so I was immediately intrigued.
Cain is an introvert and writes this book from her own personal experience both in her career and also as a researcher (even going so far as to sign up for a Tony Robbins seminar). She demonstrates that while introverts aren’t necessarily comfortable mixing it up in an extraverted world, they in fact have much to offer.
Who Should Read This Book
This book is great for any MBTI practitioners and for anyone who is introverted or is extroverted and shares a life with introverts.
My Final Thoughts
This is a great, powerful book. After reading it, I realized that while I’m usually identified in my MBTI as an extravert, in fact, I’m an introvert that has been practicing the Free Trait Theory for the past 11 years. It feels good to be in my own skin now!
