Garner Consulting, LLC

Current study

Although I've pieced together Six Sigma methods (along with some common sense) for service process improvement , this book is a focused package on putting it all together.

Now semi-famous for his involvement in American Inventor, this is a great book by Doug Hall. His true claim to fame has been his work in bringing Deming-like process analysis and continuous improvement into the marketing world. This book is jammed with facts and "Meaningful Marketing" tips that will improve any organization's communications efforts.

I highly, highly recommend it. 

Seth Godin -- ahead of his time, or right on time, or leading the pack, or just better at getting to the point with the current marketing reality better than anyone else. This is the classic that everyone should read regarding the new realities of "customer control" in the marketing process.

Another cogent book that discusses the "art form" most advertising has become...which reveals its ineffectiveness. Great ammunition for understanding the importance of the marketing mix and how different marketing tools should be used in different stages of a business, brand, or product life cycle.

A fascinating study on the key factors creating true wealth in nations. Certainly one of my all-time favorites regarding economics and history.

Simply the best book I've read for personal organization and keeping a handle on the volume of information flowing through our hands every day. I also bought their Outlook plug-in which automates keeping track of tasks and managing email.

If you are anywhere near a leadership role in an organization (who isn't?), you simply have to take the time to read both of these books by Jim Collins. Great research, fascinating discoveries, and surprising conclusions that appeal to my contrarian nature. I hate following the crowd and I am always suspicious of "conventional wisdom."

Simply have to get this one along with Good to Great.

As of June 7, 2006, I am only part of the way through this book, but it will make it into my "classics" ranks. The visual tools we have at our disposal makes this a must-read for how to best display rich information. We are overwhelmed with information and this is a guide for turning complex, disjointed data into knowledge that can be quickly and accurately acted upon.

Drawing from things like the cholera epidemic in Great Britain to the space shuttle Challenger disaster, Tufte delivers brilliant insights for how we should be able to do much better.

An important book, though "full of words." Friedman tends to enjoy listening to himself write, coming up with multiple catch-phrases that seem rather contrived. It would have been better to keep to the facts and offer his conclusions and solutions.

He also doesn't miss a chance to take shots at Republicans and President Bush--subtly, but it diminishes the force of his arguments.

Certainly worth reading to get the pulse of the massive, world-wide technological and cultural changes underway in our world. 

Recommended by John - on my "to read" list.

To read list - from Dan

Just began this book. It appears to be filled with "meat" related to my website mantra...

On my list.