Business & Economics Audiobooks

"Since Peter Senge published his groundbreaking book The Fifth Discipline, he and his associates have frequently been asked by the business community: "How do we go beyond the first steps of corporate change? How do we sustain momentum?" They know that companies and organizations cannot thrive today without learning to adapt their attitudes and practices. But companies that establish change initiatives discover, after initial success, that even the most promising efforts to transform or revitalize organizations—despite interest, resources, and compelling business results—can fail to sustain themselves over time. That's because organizations have complex, well-developed immune systems, aimed at preserving the status quo. Now, drawing upon new theories about leadership and the long-term success of change initiatives, and based upon twenty-five years of experience building learning organizations, the authors of The Fifth Discipline Fieldbook show how to accelerate success and avoid the obstacles that can stall momentum. The Dance of Change, written for managers and executives at every level of an organization, reveals how business leaders can work together to anticipate the challenges that profound change will ultimately force the organization to face. Then, in a down-to-earth and compellingly clear format, readers will learn how to build the personal and organizational capabilities needed to meet those challenges. These challenges are not imposed from the outside; they are the product of assumptions and practices that people take for granted—an inherent, natural part of the processes of change. And they can stop innovation cold, unless managers at all levels learn to anticipate them and recognize the hidden rewards in each challenge, and the potential to spur further growth. Within the frequently encountered challenge of "Not Enough Time," for example—the lack of control over time available for innovation and learning initiatives—lies a valuable opportunity to reframe the way people organize their workplaces. This book identifies universal challenges that organizations ultimately find themselves confronting, including the challenge of "Fear and Anxiety"; the need to diffuse learning across organizational boundaries; the ways in which assumptions built in to corporate measurement systems can handcuff learning initiatives; and the almost unavoidable misunderstandings between "true believers" and nonbelievers in a company. Filled with individual and team exercises, in-depth accounts of sustaining learning initiatives by managers and leaders in the field, and well-tested practical advice, The Dance of Change provides an insider's perspective on implementing learning and change initiatives at such corporations as British Petroleum, Chrysler, Dupont, Ford, General Electric, Harley-Davidson, Hewlett-Packard, Mitsubishi Electric, Royal DutchShell, Shell Oil Company, Toyota, the United States Army, and Xerox. It offers crucial advice for line-level managers, executive leaders, internal networkers, educators, and others who are struggling to put change initiatives into practice."

Muhammad (Author), Peter M. Senge (Narrator)

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Leading the Revolution

"In today's world, it's incumbents against insurgents, the old guard versus the vanguard. Companies must reinvent themselves and their industries—not just in times of crisis, but continually. Drawing on the experiences of Charles Schwab, Cisco, Virgin Atlantic, Disney, and other world-class companies, Gary Hamel explains the underlying principles of radical innovation, explores where revolutionary new business concepts come from, and identifies the key design criteria for building companies that are activist-friendly. He shows how to avoid becoming a "one-vision wonder" and instead harness the imagination of every employee, develop new financial measures that focus on creating new wealth, and generate vibrant internal markets for ideas, capital, and talent."

Gary Hamel (Author), Gary Hamel (Narrator)

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Leadership by the Book: Tools to Transform Your Workplace

"Best-selling authors Kenneth Blanchard, Bill Hybels, and Phil Hodges offer a unique, compelling, and paradigm-shifting model that effectively interweaves successful leadership methods with character development principles based on the teachings of history's most influential leader, Jesus Christ. Told in the parable format of The One Minute Manager and Raving Fans, Leadership by the Book offers unexpected and exceptional answers to crucial leadership issues today - helping leaders in all walks of life to fulfill their calling and help others do the same. Is there any common ground between leadership success strategies on one hand, and the Biblical principles regarding character on the other? Yes! And this new book - from three of America's most successful and compassionate leaders - clearly and creatively explains the answer. With unique value for leaders of all kinds, Leadership by the Book interweaves character development principles with successful leadership methods - using the example and words of Jesus as the catalyst and framework for it all. The framework for the sound and practical teachings of this unique and powerful book is a story about three acquaintances who each have something vital to learn. One is a businessman who, after years of fabulous success, finally comes face to face with the emptiness in his soul. His struggle becomes critical when a heart attack leaves him hovering near death. This crisis brings together two figures from his past - a teacher of leadership strategies, and a successful pastor. Their renewed interaction leads them all to deeper discoveries of the value of biblical leadership principles. In Leadership by the Book readers - particularly company presidents, corporate leaders, middle managers, department heads, parents, coaches, community leaders, pastors, lay leaders, and others - will learn the very practical side of Christ's teachings on leadership. And they'll learn that truly effective leadership cannot be divorced from the character issues that Jesus taught."

Bill Hybels, Kenneth Blanchard, Phil Hodges (Author), Sam Freed (Narrator)

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Eight Steps to Seven Figures: The Investment Strategies of Everyday Millionaires and How You Can Bec

"In the tradition of the megabestseller The Millionaire Next Door, Eight Steps to Seven Figures brings together in-depth interviews with over two hundred everyday people whose investments have made them millionaires. But while The Millionaire Next Door describes its subjects' lifestyles and spending habits, Eight Steps to Seven Figures focuses squarely on the investing strategies and principles that ordinary people have used to achieve the magic million-dollar mark. Bestselling author and chartered financial analyst (CFA) Charles Carlson reveals the keys used by the newly wealthy to reap extraordinary dividends, including a discussion of the specific stocks, bonds, and other financial vehicles they choose as part of their investment mix. In the course of the book, readers learn how to determine how much time they need to spend researching and watching over their portfolios, when to buy, and equally important, when to sell. From hundreds of accounts of those Carlson calls "Main Street millionaires," he distills eight specific investment rules anyone can follow to become financially worry-free. Among the lessons he outlines and elaborates on: "Buy and Hold and Buy and Hold and Buy and Hold"--Harness the power of time in growing your portfolio and compounding your investment returns. "Know Where You Are Going"--Determine your invest ment time frame, financial goals, and risk "comfort" level to put together a successful wealth-building strategy. "Play to Your Strengths"--Everyone has different personality strengths, investment advantages, and specialized knowledge that they bring to the table; recognize and exploit them in achieving your financial goals. One of the best things about Carlson's book is that it recognizes and allows for readers who may not have the resources to follow all eight rules. It offers reassurance and hope that there is more than one way to achieve the seven-figure pinnacle. Even people who started investing later in life, and can't fully harness the power of time, can find here the guidance they need to become wealthy. Filled with the insights and investment advice that hundreds of everyday people have followed to become rich, and buttressed with countless you-are-there stories of how these millionaires did it, Eight Steps to Seven Figures is an absolute must for today's investors. Bestselling author and chartered financial analyst (CFA) Charles Carlson reveals the keys used by the newly wealthy to reap extraordinary dividends, including a discussion of the specific stocks, bonds, and other financial vehicles they chose as part of their investment mix. In the course of the book, readers learn how much time they need to spend researching and watching over their portfolios, when to buy, and equally important, when to sell. From hundreds of accounts of those Carlson calls "Main Street millionaires," he distills eight specific investment rules anyone can follow to become financially worry-free. One of the best things about Carlson's book is that it recognizes and allows for readers who may not have the resources to follow all eight rules. It offers reassurance and hope that there is more than one way to achieve the seven-figure pinnacle. Even people who started investing later in life and can't fully harness the power of time still can find the guidance they need to become wealthy. Filled with the insights and investment advice that hundreds of everyday people have followed to become rich, and buttressed with countless you-are-there stories of how these millionaires did it, EIGHT STEPS TO SEVEN FIGURES is an absolute must for today's investors.-->"

Charles Carlson (Author), Charles Carlson (Narrator)

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The Courage to Be Rich: The Financial and Emotional Pathways to Material and Spiritual Abundance

"Bestselling author and financial expert Suze Orman helped millions of Americans turn toward their money and embark on a true path to wealth with her #1 bestseller The 9 Steps to Financial Freedom and her national bestseller You've Earned It, Don't Lose It. Now she returns, with a book that goes beyond the fundamentals of her earlier work in challenging and inspiring us to realize our full financial potential, and to realize as well that the bottom line of life is comprised of much more than money. Practical, spiritual, and above all soundly financial, The Courage Be Rich addresses the rites of passage we all must face-marriage, divorce, death; spending (and overspending) on life's necessities and luxuries; taking control of our financial tomorrows today. From the business of love to buying a home; from imparting proper values to our children to defining our own self-worth; from starting over to staking a claim to our future, Orman shows us how to find the clarity, conviction, and courage to meet the obstacles and opportunities of a lifetime. Expressing her deep belief that only when we truly learn to value and respect money in the most expansive sense will we be able to change our financial destiny, Orman demonstrates-through exercises, examples and case studies-how to create a rich and abundant life, starting from what we have today. Finally, she takes on the seldom explored subject of money and grace-the rewards wealth bestows and the responsibilities if confers. There is no more persuasive, compelling, and honest a financial teacher today than Suze Orman. Building on the rock-solid foundation of her earlier lessons, The Courage to Be Rich is, in every sense, higher education on matters of vital importance to us all."

Suze Orman (Author), Suze Orman (Narrator)

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The Fifth Discipline: The Art & Practice of The Learning Organization

"Create your own guide to mastering the disciplines of organizational learning with this invaluable guide based on the national bestseller The Fifth Discipline. "The Fieldbook is a must read for anyone serious about building communities of common purpose, collective action, and continuous learning."-H. Thomas Johnson, author of Relevance Lost and Relevance Regained Peter Senge's The Fifth Discipline revolutionized the practice of management by introducing the theory of learning organizations. Now Dr. Senge moves from the philosophical to the practical by answering the first question all lovers of the learning organization ask: What do they do on Monday morning? The Fieldbook is an intensely pragmatic guide. It shows how to create an organization of learners where memories are brought to life, where collaboration is the lifeblood of every endeavor, and where the tough questions are fearlessly asked. The stories here show that companies, businesses, schools, agencies, and even communities can undo their "learning issues" and achieve superior performance. If ever a work gave meaning to the phrase hands-on, this is it. Senge and his four co-authors cover it all, including: • Reinventing relationships • Being loyal to the truth • Strategies for developing personal mastery • Building a shared vision • Systems thinking in an organization • Designing a dialogue session • Strategies for team learning • Organizations as communities • Designing an organization's governing ideas The Fieldbook is designed to be referred to in meetings, planning sessions, during reflections, or anytime a conflict or challenge arises. Open it up anywhere and icons and cross-references will lead you from defining the problem to thinking about how to solve it. Mark up the pages, write in the margins, draw, scribble, and daydream-and watch your own guide to mastering the disciplines of organizational learning evolve."

Muhammad (Author), Peter M. Senge (Narrator)

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The Future of Success

"If you think it’s getting harder to both make a living and make a life, economist and former secretary of labor Robert Reich agrees with you. Americans may be earning more than ever before, but we’re paying a steep price: we’re working longer, seeing our families less, and our communities are fragmenting. With the clarity and insight that are his hallmarks, Reich delineates what success has come to mean in our time. He demonstrates that although we have more choices as consumers, and investors, the choices themselves are undermining the rest of our lives. It is getting harder for people to be confident of what they will be earning next year, or even next month. At the same time, our society is splitting into socially stratified enclaves--the wealthier walled off and gated, the poorer isolated and ignored. Although the trends he discusses are powerful, they are not irreversible, and Reich makes provocative suggestions for how we might create a more balanced society and more satisfying lives. Some of his ideas may surprise you; all should spark a healthy–and essential–national debate."

Robert B. Reich (Author), Robert B. Reich (Narrator)

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Keep It Simple

Janet Luhrs (Author), Michael Toms (Narrator)

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Microsoft First Generation: The Success Secrets of the Visionaries Who Launched a Technology Empire

"This is a story with all the ingredients of a modern legend, representing nothing less than the proverbial American Dream-writ extra-large. It is a story of hard work, brilliance, and extraordinary commitment, featuring the story's original cast members, who could not possibly have foreseen the unprecedented success that awaited them: the forging of a technology empire that would change the world forever. What began as a modest start-up partnership only twenty-five years ago has already surpassed all the giants of contemporary capitalism. How did Microsoft achieve all of this in so short a time? Cheryl Tsang steps inside the famous culture of loyalty, the storied "maniacal work ethic," and the hardcore world of reckless risk-taking to reveal, once and for all, exactly what makes Microsoft tick."

Cheryl Tsang (Author), Mary Woods (Narrator)

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Forecasting Budgets: 25 Keys to Successful Planning

Norman Moore (Author), Grover Gardner (Narrator)

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Spin Selling

"How do some salespeople consistently outsell their competition? Why do closing techniques work in small sales but fail in larger ones? How can salespeople dramatically increase their sales volume from major accounts? If you're in sales--or if you manage a sales force--you need the SPIN strategy. Developed from 12 years of research into 35,000 sales calls, SPIN--Situation, Problem, Implication, Need-payoff--is already in use by many of the world's top sales forces. Now these revolutionary, easy-to-apply methods can be yours. With wit and authority, Neil Rackham explains why traditional sales models don't work for large sales. With supreme clarity, he unfolds the enormously successful SPIN strategy, using real-world examples and informative cases. You may find the techniques controversial; they often go against the grain of conventional sales training. In the end, the powerful evidence Rackham presents will convince and convert you."

Neil Rackham (Author), Bob Kalomeer (Narrator)

Audiobook

The Six Sigma Way: How GE, Motorola, and Other Top Companies are Honing Their Performance

"An implementation blueprint for SIX SIGMA! 'The Six Sigma Way demystifies Six Sigma with a real-world 'how-to 'guide. A good investment for any business planning to launch Six Sigma.' John Biedry, VP Quality & Compliance, Sears Home Services. Cost reduction...productivity improvement...customer retention...these are the promises of the Six Sigma quality management system. The Six Sigma Way reveals how GE, Motorola, and numerous other companies are successfully using Six Sigma to fine-tune products and processes, improve performance, and increase profits. Now you can read the roadmap for implementing Six Sigma in your manufacturing or service organization. The authorswho have worked with some of the most visible Six Sigma companies including GEprovide step-by-step guidance and practical implementation guidelines. Whether your goal is to fix a process problem or implement Six Sigma company-wide, The Six Sigma Way will help you develop an approach customized for your company's needs and the challenges of the twenty-first century business environment. The Six Sigma Way: - Addresses the challenges and politics of launching, leading, and training people for Six Sigma. - Focuses on implementing the major steps and quality improvement tools in the Six Sigma system. - Features insights, comments, and examples from business leaders and managers using Six Sigma in their organizations."

Peter S. Pande, Robert P. Neuman, Roland R. Cavanagh (Author), John Lescault (Narrator)

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