Two More Great Books ...

"The Company That Solved Health Care: How Serigraph Dramatically Reduced Skyrocketing Costs While Providing Better Care, and How Every Company Can Do the Same," by John Torinus Jr. John grew up in Green Bay as part of a newspaper family, but has run Serigraph since 1987, always with an evil eye on the soaring health care cost P&L line item. Unlike most company CEOs, however, he decided to pay personal attention to understanding what was driving it, how it was impacting both his employees and their families and the company ... and through that understanding to try to take control of the costly elements, instead of letting the system drive them. He has been very successful by being very proactive.

Actually, this is a MUST READ book for all company leaders ... because it lets you know much of what's possible. It will change the conversation you are having with your HR/Benefits people, as well as with the insurors and providers. It's is certainly time to take control ... at the grass roots since Congress isn't going to do their part even though they now have put more than a third of the system under government control.

"Start With Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone To Take Action," by Simon Sinek. His premise that most of us, including me, which may be why I like this book so much, tend to explain/promote ideas by talking about How we do things, and What the result is. I do this constantly. What he says, with myriads of examples of successful CEOs and companies, is that the successful ones start (and often end) with Why the topic/idea is important. The 'Why' is almost always emotional and captivating, whereas the How and What are nowhere near as such. Check out a more complete explanation on www.amazon.com.