By now, you've probably finished reading everything in our winter book list, and with summer in full swing, we thought we would give you some more titles worth checking out. So grab an iced cold beverage of your choice and one of these books to wrap up a warm summer day...
The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership by John C. Maxwell (Thomas Nelson)
With over 30 years of leadership experience, Maxwell has learned a thing or two about what it takes to be a great leader. He's compiled the ups, downs, ins, and outs to create this revealing study in the culture of leadership.
The Four Obsessions of an Extraordinary Executive by Patrick Lencioni (Wiley, John & Sons, Incorporated)
This is the third book written by Lencioni to make it to our book list (the other two are listed here); needless to say we really like this guy's stuff. Lencioni's book follows two fictional technical consultants and their competing companies to show how less politics, lower turnover, more productivity, and higher morale can improve an organization's health.
Beneath the Armor by Ole Carlson (Influencemany)
If you've been watching Monica's videos , chances are you've heard of the book before. Considered a must-read for CEOs, Beneath the Armor identifies seven strategies defined by your most successful peers that will provide you a road map to position you at eye level with your worldwide, giant competitors.
The Mona Lisa Stratagem: The Art of Women, Age, and Power by Harriet Rubin (Grand Central Publishing)
Who said life ends at 40? Rubin finds inspiration in the Mona Lisa's timeless beauty and mystery to reveal an approach for finding fulfillment in midlife and after. Rubin uses 10 iconic women in history to help women find the true meaning of leadership and power.
You're Not the Person I Hired! A CEO's Survival Guide to Hiring Top Talent By Janet Boydell, Barry Deutsch, and Brad Remillard (Authorhouse)
Your company is only as strong as its weakest link. You're Not the Person I Hired! uncovers the most common causes for executive and managerial failure. The book helps you learn what to look for when hiring top talent and how to avoid hiring mistakes.
The No Asshole Rule: Building a Civilized Workplace by Surviving One That Isn't by Robert I. Sutton (Grand Central Publishing)
Jerks, nincompoops, idiots, nitwits, assholes; whatever you call them, we've all had to put up with them at one time or another another and no matter what your term is to describe them; they're never fun to deal with. Sutton's straight-to-the-point book identifies them as a leading cause in the drop of business morale and calls them poison to the work environment. More importantly, Sutton tells you how to deal with them to create a more positive and productive workforce. He even includes a test to determine if you are among the assholes and gives advice on how to change your ways.
Small business support has finally arrived in the form of America's Recovery Capital (ARC) Loan Program.
The ARC program, passed with the Stimulus Act, American Recovery Actis aimed to help established small businesses that are currently facing financial hardship. ARC allows small business to apply for a loan worth up to $35,000--with a 100% guarantee from the SBA to cover existing debt.
The interest-free small business loans give borrowers up to five years to pay back the principal, allowing them to increase their cash flow and invest it back into their businesses. In order to be eligible for the ARC loan, the SBA is requiring that businesses show proof of "change in financial condition" including difficulty making rent, payroll, or loan payments, and frozen credit lines. Businesses must have a record of positive cash flow in at least one of the past two years. (For more information on loan requirements, check out the SBA website- ARC Loan Eligibility)
According to CNNMoney.com , lenders approved 72 loans during the first week of the program, totaling $2.4 million.
Despite the numbers, many lenders are still hesitant to latch on to the program - with a 60% default rate expected; they are wary of how quickly they will receive payments from the SBA. Still, the SBA encourages potential borrowers to seek out ARC loans from area lenders.
The program started June 15 and will run until September 30, 2010 (or until the funds run out), and the SBA estimates that 10,000 businesses will receive loans in that amount of time.
