Interview with David Roche, author of Become a Successful First-Time CEO: Master the confidence, relationships and strategies you need to succeed
David Roche, author of Become a Successful First-Time CEO: Master the confidence, relationships and strategies you need to succeed recommends a fantastic flurry of books! Before jumping into the interview, please check out David's book:
Description from Blackwells: (All links earn commission from purchases. Prices accurate at time of writing)
Become a Successful First-Time CEO: Master the confidence, relationships and strategies you need to succeed
Regardless of your expertise and experience, it's your people skills, political nous and ability to build key relationships that will ensure you survive and thrive. Packed with real-life examples and practical guidance, Become a Successful First-Time CEO is a roadmap to help you develop the confidence and master the strategies you need to be an inspirational corporate leader.
Understand how to:
- Create a dynamic, engaged and empowered senior leadership team
- Manage upwards and impress your boss and the board
- Maximise your position to exploit opportunities
- Develop strong relationships with your most important clients, suppliers and partners
- Become highly regarded and influential in your industry
Regardless of your expertise and experience, it's your people skills, political nous and ability to build key relationships that will ensure you survive and thrive. Packed with real-life examples and practical guidance.
Buy On:
Bookshop.org UK £16.14
Bookshop.org US $21.99
Blackwells £16.99
Waterstones £16.99
Q. Do you have a favourite smart thinking book (and why that book)?
Humankind: A Hopeful History by Rutger Bregman. Description from Bookshop.org: (All links earn commission from purchases. Prices accurate at time of writing)
I read a lot of Fiction and I find this an enjoyable way of consuming ideas and the thoughts of others rather than mainstreaming which some non-fiction can feel like. There are of course some big lightbulb moment non-fiction books that stay with you. Having scared myself silly with the likes of David Wallace-Wells’ The Uninhabitable Earth, I was totally absorbed by Humankind by Rutger Bregman. It’s refreshing as it’s an optimistic book based on the premise that as a race, our human nature is intrinsically good. We are not concerned about ourselves as individuals, it’s everyone else we worry about! But we need to be more Rousseau than Hobbes in order to have our optimism reflected back at ourselves. There are great examples of our goodness emerging as the core reaction to extraordinary events - an area also explored by the wonderful Rebecca Solnit and which governments and authorities should take note when they consider communication and disaster plans. Reassuring reading which makes a change from the newspapers.
Humankind: A Hopeful History
UNLOCK THE KEY TO SUCCESS
In this must-read for anyone seeking to succeed, pioneering psychologist Angela Duckworth takes us on an eye-opening journey to discover the true qualities that lead to outstanding achievement. Winningly personal, insightful and powerful, Grit is a book about what goes through your head when you fall down, and how that - not talent or luck - makes all the difference.
Buy On:
Bookshop.org UK £9.49
Bookshop.org US $20.45
Blackwells £8.99
Waterstones £9.99
Q. What's the most recent smart thinking book you've read (and how would you rate it)?
Shimmer, don't Shake: How Publishing Can Embrace AI by Nadim Sadek. Description from Blackwells: (All links earn commission from purchases. Prices accurate at time of writing)
Shimmer, don't Shake by Nadim Sadek. It’s about how AI could change publishing for the better. It starts with a potted history of both Publishing and AI and the key change milestones that they’ve been through. It then knits the two together and looks at both the possible benefits and the areas that are raising concerns. It’s firmly in the ‘get on board, it’s gonna happen anyway’ camp and Sadek has an eloquent and easy style that makes it an enjoyable journey.
Shimmer, don't Shake: How Publishing Can Embrace AI
Discover the future of publishing in Shimmer, don't Shake: How Publishing can embrace AI by Nadim Sadek. This groundbreaking book explores the evolving landscape of the publishing industry and the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) to revolutionize the way books are promoted, matched with readers, and valued.
Authors often feel frustrated with the limited promotion of their books by traditional publishers. Marketing departments struggle to effectively connect with readers due to limited resources and the strain of managing exasperated authors. On the other hand, readers yearn for a more effective way to find books that suit their tastes. There is a vast untapped potential for matching willing audiences with suitable books, written by talented authors who seek greater reach.
Shimmer, don't Shake presents AI as the solution to these challenges. By leveraging AI technologies, publishers can optimize product descriptions, create unique marketing copy, and generate personalized book recommendations. Large language models like the GPT-series enable automated generation of high-quality book descriptions, freeing marketers from the time-consuming task of manual crafting. AI systems can be trained to consider the psychological profile of a book and match it to the frame of mind of a specific audience, ensuring a more effective connection between readers and books.
With AI, the publishing industry can enter a new era of innovation and success. Shimmer, don't Shake showcases how AI can help authors, readers, and publishers alike. Authors can gain greater visibility and reach as their books are matched with their target audience, allowing their genius to shimmer in the public's eye. Readers can finally discover books that fulfill their needs and preferences, enhancing their reading experience. Publishers can extract more value from their vast catalog of titles, ensuring that every book has the opportunity to shine.
This book goes beyond theoretical discussions and provides practical insights on integrating AI into the publishing process. It addresses the ethical considerations surrounding AI and emphasizes the need to preserve the artistic merit of writing. With a blend of expertise in publishing, psychology, AI, and marketing, the author presents a comprehensive guide to leveraging AI for successful book promotion and engagement.
Shimmer, don't Shake is a must-read for authors, publishers, and anyone interested in the future of the publishing industry. It offers a compelling vision of how AI can transform publishing, allowing books to embrace new opportunities, connect with readers on a deeper level, and ultimately thrive in the digital age.
Buy On:
Bookshop.org US $18.59
Blackwells £13.44
Waterstones £16.99
Q. Do you have a favourite childhood book?
Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier. Description from Bookshop.org: (All links earn commission from purchases. Prices accurate at time of writing)
I went through the classic journey of Dr Seuss, Enid Blyton and Willard Price, visiting the local library on a weekly basis. The book that changed everything was put in my case by my mother when I went on a school trip around 11 years old. It was Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier and I was completely swept away. I haven’t looked back and books have been a very important part of my life ever since.
Rebecca
On a trip to the South of France, the shy heroine of Rebecca falls in love with Maxim de Winter, a handsome widower. Although his proposal comes as a surprise, she happily agrees to marry him. But as they arrive at her husband's home, Manderley, a change comes over Maxim, and the young bride is filled with dread. Friendless in the isolated mansion, she realises that she barely knows him. In every corner of every room is the phantom of his beautiful first wife, Rebecca, and the new Mrs de Winter walks in her shadow.
Not since Jane Eyre has a heroine faced such difficulty with the other woman. An international bestseller that has never gone out of print, Rebecca is the haunting story of a young girl consumed by love and the struggle to find her identity.
Buy On:
Bookshop.org UK £16.14
Bookshop.org US $27.90
Blackwells £16.99
Waterstones £16.99
Q. Do you prefer reading on paper, Kindle or listening to an audiobook?
Kindle is brilliant for taking serious volume of books with you but, for me, is for more frivolous reads and dashing page turners, from Stephen King to my current favourite Mick Herron. Audiobooks work for me only for non-fiction and especially for celebrity autobiographies or comedy - perfect for everything from Matthew McConaughey’s Greenlights to Alan Partridge. But when it comes to my favourite authors and books that I have been waiting to savour and wish to give the time and attention they deserve, it has to be on paper. A brand new Haruki Murakami, Salman Rushdie or Benjamin Myers hardback with gorgeous end papers and beautifully bound - yes please!
Q. Do you have a favourite bookshop (and why that shop)?
Oodi
I’m going to cheat slightly and go for a library. Oodi is a beautiful library built opposite the parliament building in Helsinki as a gift to the nation for Finland’s centenary of independence in 2017. It’s drop dead, epic, design gorgeous for a start, with a sweeping, majestic wooden ‘hull’ and glass top floor with views over the cultural hub of the city. It’s big, bold and a real statement of confidence and acknowledgment of the importance of literature in culture. It actually doesn’t have that many books and probably doesn’t need the little robots that accept the returns and carry them around the building. It’s really a home for like minded people and a creative beacon. It is constantly full and it’s a brilliant place to both visit and work, and particularly to write, I found. It also offers meeting rooms, 3D and poster printers, audio and film studios, a theatre, sewing machines and a hidden cave for children to read in. The Finns built it and the people have definitely come. Just wonderful.
Many thanks to David for recommending a fantastic flurry of books! Please don't forget to check out Become a Successful First-Time CEO: Master the confidence, relationships and strategies you need to succeed.
Daryl
Image Copyrights: Rethink Press (Become a Successful First-Time CEO: Master the confidence, relationships and strategies you need to succeed), Bloomsbury Publishing PLC (Humankind: A Hopeful History), Forbesbooks (Shimmer, don't Shake: How Publishing Can Embrace AI), Little, Brown Book Group (Rebecca).
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