How to Act Like a CEO: 10 Rules for Getting to the Top and Staying There
Author: D. A. Benton
List Price: $12.95
Our Price: Click to see the latest and low price
ISBN: 0071412948
Publisher: McGraw-Hill Trade (28 January, 2003)
Sales Rank: 96,129
Average Customer Rating: 3.43 out of 5
Customer Reviews
Rating: 2 out of 5
Where is the beef?
I did get one soundbite that I hope I can use in my life from this book, "Be yourself, unless you're a jerk". However, I got so tired of: be nice, have integrity, be an example, on page after page I was only able to make it through half of the book. All of that is important, but they covered that quite well in kindergarten. If you pick it up to read on the plane bring a backup book; you will need it.
Rating: 1 out of 5
No startling revelations
This book is dull and does not unravel anything that the average person who can rise to the top cannot derive on its own - if you are just graduating from college, this may seem appropriate, if you've been around in the business world - seek other material. One reading suggestion, which is light and very simple, but a good reminder of what's required is the book by Lencioni: " The 5 temptations of a CEO" - worth an hour while waiting at the airport between flights.
Rating: 3 out of 5
Management Theory Lite
The book presents itself as a semi-scholarly work, synthesizing interviews with 100 CEOs into a meaninful set of commandats for those that want to act like the big boss. On an academic level, this is fraught with peril - How do we know these are the right CEOs, and do they really articulate what makes them succeed? Business books have a history of weak scholarship (think In Search of Excellence) but still can contain great ideas.
The 10 less than profound results:
1 - Be Yourself, Unless You're a Jerk
2 - See Around Corners
3 - Make Dust or Eat Dust
4 - Make the Big Play
5 - Keep Good Company
6 - Be the Number One Fund Raiser and Protecter
7 - Act Like a CEO When You Don't Feel Like It
8 - Evangelize the World
9 - Go Big or Go Home
10 - Cut Through the Junk
All this is good advice, but did you need to ask 100 CEOs to come up with it?
Ultimately, the book resides in my restroom. It's good for a couple minutes a day of reminding me what I should be doing, but nothing that requires hours of in depth study. It's a light read, but not really the blueprint to the executive suite.
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