Been a While...

It has been a while...but I will be back soon...2013 is a terrific year!

RIP OFF YOUR NECKTIE AND DANCE, by Leen Zevenbergen, reviewed by Valerie Dwyer, Serial Entrepreneur, Coach, Mentor, Inspirational Speaker, founder of My Wonderful Life Coach™, Strategic Insight, Everything is Possible™, and other enterprises. http://www.mywonderfullifecoach.co.uk

 Hop on now. Discover the Chaordic Alternative. Next stop Culture Change Central!

 “Revitalise your business with innovation and entrepreneurship”, sets the scene so you know what to expect, only you don’t because you’re in for surprises. Leen begins with a “passionate plea for authenticity in entrepreneurship” and goes on to decry ‘loincloth’ projects-somewhat worse than sticking plaster. I give this book 5 ***** and say buy it now!

Thought leader Leen Zevenbergen  aims to get everyone out of their straight jackets, to think out of the box, and a high five from me for referring to ‘vision’ in his first sentence, since this is the birth of business transformation. (As a Vision Facilitator am I biased? Of course yes! Vision changes everything!) And it all begins with Leadership. How can a leader inspire others if they are totally uninspiring, this is part of the problem for which Leen offers solutions.

Is yours a ‘Conscious Company’ that demonstrates strategic keenness, energises people and stimulates creative thinking and inspiration. Yes? Well then, you are amongst the minority, the pack leaders. Say No? Better find out what this is about then before it’s too late to change! 

When business is going well, who sees trouble coming or even thinks about it? Learn how to avoid complacency now with the ‘Nightmare Competitor’. “Paradoxically”, Leen tells us, “from time to time a good nightmare guarantees in the long run a better night’s rest”. Don’t ask, but read the book. From the end of the second chapter I already knew there are too many important lessons here to cover.

    Businesses are living through a time of extreme control and regulation (straight jackets). Life is easier by fitting people, staff, customers, into little boxes. Anxiety rules! This spells death for innovation and entrepreneurship. Yes, authentic leadership and transparency are the new kids on the block. Build a new (I say ‘shared’) corporate vision = revitalise your business. We’re reminded that everyone has creativity, how much of it people display outside of the workplace and how easy it is to turn it on. Welcome to the company where people achieve what’s necessary and also have fun!

Leen thinks we’re guilty of murdering the ‘thrill’ of business and proceeds to show us how to put it back. Having persevered past chapter one I walked into a library of desirable futures packed with stimulating ideas for better business backed up by great examples. Leen and I share some common ground in business experiences: especially in how people should be treated; the value of their collective role in turning their company around; that slash and burn can turn business survival into terminal and turnaround needs some investment, however small, in processes like these.

As I’ve experienced first hand when facilitating my SI White Table Visioning Process™, given permission and opportunity to work together as a team, group or company to create a shared vision for the organisation, people bring about positive transformation.  ‘Shared vision’ just two little words that in practise are hard to achieve yet offers major impact.

Leen describes what true creativity looks like, from both an entrepreneur’s and a manager’s perspective and how smaller companies have the market edge, how to create ‘flow’ and when “doing nothing” is right for everyone. Get rid of the ‘guilt trip’, read for yourself what this is all about and learn something invaluable today.  Smile if you must then understand the question – What is ’idiotic’? Something brilliant!

 http://www.nextgenerationbank.nl/wp/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/Leen_Zevenbergen-2.jpeg

http://www.leenzevenbergen.nl/

Beautiful A5 full colour creatively designed 223 pages of short chapters, manageable chunks of learning, packed with wisdom and ingenuity. Excellent Case Studies of creative and entrepreneurial companies, great book references and joy of joy a pretty decent section on ‘vision’.

Highly Recommended  5 *****

The Activity Illusion – Why we live to work in the 21st century and how to work to live instead, by Ian Price, Reviewed by Valerie Dwyer, Serial Entrepreneur, Coach, Mentor, Inspirational Speaker, founder of My Wonderful Life Coach™, Strategic Insight, Everything is Possible™, and other enterprises. http://www.mywonderfullifecoach.co.uk

“A four day week and then three days’ fun”. Prime Minister Winston Churchill’s 1953 prophesy, ambition and hope for British workers, without any drop in income, has not been achieved. Part of the reason now may well be self-inflicted and threatens work-life balance!

Find other reviews here

The aim of The Activity Illusion is to help you break the vicious circle of hyperactive work practises and shows how to fix it for you and your organisation. Though not all may apply to you, “Email is Ruining my Life” and “Lunch is for Wimps”, there are some eye-openers.  Delivers what’s practical and valuable to help you in “Taming the Technology Beast”, dealing with “People” and much more.

 

We may not all be taking hyperactivity to the max but be honest now, how often do you flip into your email while performing other tasks? While you’re there, do you feel an urgent need to respond to inbox messages? How much time do you spend on your mobile? Is it becoming another limb?

As you’d expect from the title, ‘hyperactivity’ is a constant theme throughout. We’ve created the technologies and gadgets to be constantly on call and alert and we’re using these to the max! If we could work in our sleep we would – and why? What is it that we’re all avoiding with ‘busyness’?

Do we really want to change? And if so, how? Are a couple of the key questions to cause us to stop and think, and which reminds me that we each have choices over everything we do, whether we’re working for someone else who is boss or ourselves as the boss (we’re often hardest on ourselves!)

We have learned so much from the Japanese, including Kaizen, widely practised in improving manufacturing efficiencies. Somewhat surprising then to learn that people in Japan have also entered the Karoshi Zone, officially certified as ‘death by overwork’! A sound reason then to reduce and eliminate hyperactivity at work, one of the biggest stressors of the modern world.

Much potential for change is laid firmly at the boss’s door, which could well be all of us! A pointing finger indicates that leadership must lead by example. The culture and environment of the organisation, large or small, reflects the leadership style. Hyperactive staff working long hours is no guarantee of working quicker or effectively.  Past a certain saturation point tests show the reverse is true. Like any activity or addiction, hyperactivity is a choice. Brilliant because that means we can change. Just as well, since studies have shown that between 10%/20% of payroll cost is spent unproductively as a result. In the current economic climate, in anyone’s calculations, too much waste!

Excellent reference to Malcolm Gladwell’s “Tipping Point” – how little things can make such a big difference, as well as disturbing findings from the “Good Samaritan” psychological experiment.  The issue of “values” is raised; references to “visionary” companies and many useful references

to published studies, psychology, leadership, organisational management. There’s substantial value in the chunky sections, including “Focus” and all leading up to “Freedom from Hyperactivity, the virtuous circle.

It is worth reading the whole 210 pages to be fully enlightened and choose what steps you will take.  With all the extra time you’ve made from implementing what you’ve learned, for yourself or your organisation, follow up the informative references, work less, be more effective and have fun…

Recommended

WHACK around the head–Purpose Passion and Power at work right now! by Sharon Eden, reviewed by Valerie Dwyer, Serial Entrepreneur, Coach, Mentor, Inspirational Speaker, founder of My Wonderful Life Coach™, Strategic Insight, Everything is Possible™, and other enterprises. http://www.mywonderfullifecoach.co.uk

“Be yourself. Everyone else is already taken” –Oscar Wilde, sets the scene for ‘WHACK around the head’ which could well have been titled ‘HERE’S YOUR WAKE UP CALL!’ 

 

A warning! And a promise! Just by the title I sensed that ‘WHACK around the head’ had important learning to offer and I was not disappointed. This is a tool for change, a journey to self-growth, to discover or rediscover your Purpose, Passion and Power, Sharon’s mantra for you – see how it works! Though expect to be told quite bluntly some ‘home truths’ in the process. And don’t blame me if your new ‘Outtayerbox You’ is a bit of a handful!

Gremlins, Shticks, Rocks Off, full on! ‘WHACK around the head’ is not for the faint-hearted or a text to glance through while doing something else or even pick out snippets from and think you’ll instantly improve your lot. Study all thoroughly, do the exercises and then flick through again to make it stick and you will be rewarded.

Inner Leadership Coach, Psychotherapist and NLP Trainer Sharon Eden has the credentials to deliver life changing support, drawn from her own and others’ experiences. Sharon created the ‘Whack around the head’ methodology to be direct, yes, at times startling, but most of all a big, bad wake up call for everyone who needs to take back control and Live their WHOLE life.

Invest time and thought to ‘WHACK around the head’ – everything worth having demands this!

This is all about YOU! YOU are the central character in your potentially life-changing story.

Here’s your great opportunity, right now, whatever else is or has been going on to distract you,  to connect or re-connect with your true purpose in life, reignite your passion and go forward in hand with your power.

On first reading ‘WHACK around the head’ I was half-way through before I realised that I just couldn’t put it down – had to get to the end. Not recommended though unless you’ve set the time aside to do some serious thinking, exercises and planning. You’ll need to devote planned time, think of it as a real project with a tangible outcome. Coaches and Mentors may be attracted, since they are always working on personal development and growth, as much for clients as for themselves. Much of what I have read is not new, however approaches are, and new approaches are always refreshing. This is book is for everyone though.

‘Why WHACK around the head’? Well, I was curious! You see the title to me reads as this is your ‘Wake Up Call’ because I’ve had my own ‘WHACK around the head’ more times than I care to remember. Mostly they were very, very real and on occasion life-threatening. Believe me when I say that life-threatening and near death experiences absolutely do make us reassess the lives we are living. Many WHACKS are really out of our control – road traffic accidents, chronic illness, but oh boy, many are self-inflicted – I’ll leave you to think on that!

Stay with ‘WHACK around the head’ – it’s no easy ride - and face up to the questions you’ve been avoiding. Stick with it and persevere on the length of time you spend doing the exercises until you’ve exhausted your answers. Sharon’s approach is different, refreshing, and it really works.

Find and harness your Purpose, Passion and Power but do more…Inspire others to join your newfound ‘Outtayerbox YOU’. Let’s be generous and share this opportunity to make life better for everyone!

Remember Chickens Can Fly! Read it to find out what that’s about. Packs a punch bigger than its 256 pages. Find Sharon at http://www.sharoneden.biz Follow her http://www.twitter.com/sharoneden

Recommended

WANNABE A WRITER WE’VE HEARD OF? by Jane Wenham-Jones, Reviewed by Valerie Dwyer, Serial Entrepreneur, Coach, Mentor, Inspirational Speaker, founder of My Wonderful Life Coach™, Everything is Possible™, and other enterprises, http://www.mywonderfullifecoach.co.uk

It’s official! Wannabe a Writer We’ve Heard Of? is my Best Big Book 2011 (well approx 300 action packed pages) – so far! If I could give you a copy I’d do it - best is to suggest you get yours right now – and enter the Blurb writing competition before 30^th April 2011!

Don’t be deceived! Wannabe a Writer We’ve Heard Of? is not only…for writers, authors, journalists.. but very much also…for everyone, entrepreneurs especially, whose aim is to raise their profile!! Never was learning what’s great for you so much fun! 

Jane (she’s done it again) Wenham-Jones has the reputation of “self-confessed media tart”. You name it – or haven’t yet thought of it – and Jane (is there anything she wouldn’t do to raise her profile?) has already been there and done that to get the publicity that gets her face (and the rest of her) onto celebrity shows, into celebrity networks and her books onto the best-selling lists.

Packed from cover to cover, in this latest edition, the follow up to her hugely successful “Wannabe a Writer”,  she has summoned the expertise, advice, do’s and don’ts of people, authors, celebrities, prs – people we’ve heard of -  who used their wit to become household names through television, radio, newspapers, magazines, books and have significantly expanded their networks with social media.

Fabulously funny with wicked sense of humour Jane reveals all about her antics as a novice then developing her expertise leading on to extremely clever exploits covering the “Campaign Trail” plus how to:-  find 1001 topics for your press releases, perfect your elevator pitch; hone your ‘shout line’ or ‘sound bite’ and so vitally shares ‘what not to do’s’, stark warnings drawn from practical experience.

Keep your notebooks or marker handy because you learn something valuable on just about every one of 300 or so pages, excellent internet pros and cons, blogging, Facebook and much more including the finale “Wannabe a Writer We’ve Heard Of? Blurb Writing Competition”

‘Useful Info’ details things to join, read, do plus online tools, websites and blogs to visit. The knockout Index reads like ‘Who’s Who’ and contains more important web and blog addresses that will help on your journey to be heard of than you can shake a stick at! Jane’s thought of everything – from what to wear, say and do in every situation to (and what not to) to hair colour and wrinkle removal! You know that people make up their mind about you within 3 seconds of seeing you, even if you never speak one word! Frightening thought!

Yes, I admit it, Jane and I know each other! We met through “Women Speakers”, (there’s a very useful quote on pr from MD Sylvia Tidy-Harris) where we’ve both been represented as inspirational public speakers. It was still a surprise though to be asked to contribute a few snippets to Wannabe a Writer We’ve Heard Of? Was it perhaps as a newsletter publisher, or blogger, or my exploits as owner of a successful international marketing, pr and communications agency resulting in volumes of media coverage and television, radio and personal appearances for myself and clients? Who knows!

Exploits from my own unwritten story do mean that I recognise something brilliant when I see it! And what Jane has pulled together for us definitely is! Admit surprise though to read “As Valerie Dwyer warned me darkly…” so I leave you to find out what that is all about! There’s ALWAYS something new to learn and you’ll certainly find it here. Learning was never such fun!

Are you worthy? Well find out. Get on and enter the Wannabe a Writer We’ve Heard Of? Blurb Writing competition (see back pages entry form) for the chance to get published and a slap up lunch in a top London restaurant with author and ‘media tart’ Jane Wenham-Jones; Accent Press Managing Director Hazel Cushion and W H Smith book buyer Matthew Bates. Come on, what are you waiting for? For more visit http://www.wannabeawriter.co.uk follow http://www.twitter.com/UWannabeawriter     Highly Recommended  

Read all my reviews at My Wonderful Life Coach(tm) Book Reviews

JUST GET ON WITH IT! A CARING, COMPASSIONATE KICK UP THE ASS! by Ali Campbell, reviewed by Valerie Dwyer, Serial Entrepreneur, Coach, Mentor, Inspirational Speaker, founder of My Wonderful Life Coach™, Everything is Possible™, and other enterprises. http://www.mywonderfullifecoach.co.uk

Just Get on With It! really is what it says on the cover – A Caring Compassionate Kick Up The Ass! No more procrastination or excuses. Want to turn your life around? Then begin!
      Refreshingly, Ali Campbell, ‘Mr Fix It’ to celebrities, business leaders and even royalty, makes it clear that he does not provide within this book all the (coaching and other) answers that we seek in order to live a fulfilled life. However, more importantly and with guidance, he shows us how to recognise, reconnect with, trust and harness a power that many have lost touch with, possibly the most valuable resource in the universe embedded deep within us, our gut feeling, intuition, call it what you will.
     Ali is keen to point out that ‘this is not a fluffy or typically touchy-feely type of coaching book’ but a collection of lessons and learnings gathered together from clients, books, teachers, trainers, therapists and his own journey trying to stay ‘positive’ growing up in one of the most cynical (yet wonderfully caring) places on earth. Despite this, or perhaps even because of it, Ali brings alive the idea of ‘effortless effort’.
    Although the material is not entirely new, the approach is! Conventional coaching wisdom teaches that ‘the answer lies within’. What is often missing however, is the tools at hand (24/7 if needed) to work this out for yourself. To identify when that little voice in your head (a voice that everyone has) is telling (not always little) white lies or made up stories to sabotage your plans. A sharp reminder - read my full review at My Wonderful Life Coach (tm)book reviews

Start Me Up! – Over 100 great business ideas for the budding entrepreneur, Sonia Williams reviewed by Valerie Dwyer, Serial Entrepreneur, Coach & Mentor

Billed as ‘An essential resource for the budding entrepreneur – start me up! lives up to the promise! Full review http://www.mywonderfullifecoach.co.uk/bookreviews.aspx  As a Coach, Mentor and Business Development Specialist myself to budding entrepreneurs, start-ups and growth-aspiring entrepreneurs over several years, I recognise the valuable content of start me up! Aimed at novices seeking ready-made business ideas, there is also plenty in here for those who have been doing business for a while including reminders and resources for conducting your own business review if performance improvement of your business is on the cards. Pay attention to the Business Plan section, an added bonus of ‘How To’ information on all aspects necessary for upping your game.
    In this rapidly changing world, lust for new trends and search for a ‘greener’ business environment, there’s always something new to learn. Sonia Williams begins by emphasising, quite rightly so, that the idea for your new or next business may just be right under your nose. Advising on the merits of being dissatisfied with the status quo, encouraging you to find a better way to do things (and referring to James Dyson among others who have found this route into mega businesses) but above all imploring you to find and follow your passion in order to be successful.
   Advice on overcoming self-limiting beliefs (is Sonia an NLP or CBT practitioner, I wonder?