Blues Clues for Success - AchieveMax® Top Ten Book Review
Blue's Clues for Success: The 8 Secrets Behind A Phenomenal Business by Diane Tracy In a previous book review, I warned readers not to judge a book by its cover. I feel compelled to once again issue that warning. When you first spot this bold blue cover, you see the name of a popular children's cable TV show accompanied by the blank stare of an animated puppy who appears to be in search of the nearest fire hydrant. That's two good reasons for me to question the position of this particular book in the business section of my favorite book store and to keep browsing for something of more substance. However, I strive to walk my talk, when possible, so I delved a little deeper. In addition, I must admit that I did recognize both the name and the animation as a result of long conversations with my eight grandchildren. I must also admit that I still struggled to make a connection between this Nickelodeon icon and useful business wisdom. My curiosity led to investigative browsing, purchase of the book, and an enjoyable and enlightening read. To my pleasant surprise, this wasn't a revealing expose' of an animated puppy and her 20-something live male sidekick. Instead, I found a blueprint for achieving phenomenal success if you simply "clue into" your mission, customer, research, technology, work processes, brand, leadership, and culture! I guess my next question dealt with my motive for seeking business wisdom from a team of young people who have turned a children's television program into an extraordinary business triumph. It didn't take me very long to answer that question. Blue's Clues, which hit the airwaves in 1996, now has over 13 million viewers in 60 countries and had earned about $1 billion in licensing products in the year 2000 alone. More than 8 million kids and parents tune into Nickelodeon each week to watch Blue's Clues. Today this same business is generating over $3 billion in merchandising various products. This business has also spawned several best selling books, videos, CDs, and thousands of other consumer products. It's a business that reaches millions of people in more than 60 countries each week. It's a business that has changed the lives of its customers in a positive, educational way. This magical business is not a fantasy. Since 1996, Nickelodeon's Blue's Clues not only has become one of the most popular and successful shows for preschoolers in television history, it also has literally changed the way children watch television with its interactive approach. Such success provides much rich case study material. Executive coach Tracy presents a hybrid case study/business guide based on the creative culture of Blue's Clues. The show employs a deceptively simple concept, yet its creators succeed by expertly doing what cutting-edge management books say to do: walk the talk, live the vision, and discipline yourself to be the best in every aspect of your business. Readers will learn:
- What can happen when leaders of an organization put their egos and self-interests aside for the accomplishment of a worthy mission.
- The power of relationship, and how trust in one another, from the top down, can break through enormous barriers.
- How a clear, grounded vision can allow individuals to push through their own personal barriers and limitations to create something truly phenomenal.
Author Diane Tracy reveals the eight principles behind the success of this amazing show for the business community. She will take you into the Blue's Clues' offices and studios and introduce you to the creators, the animators, the live host, the writers, the producers, and the executives who have turned this show into a phenomenal success. Blue's Clues for Success provides the eight clues to achieving phenomenal success. Learn why the following clues are fundamental to business success and how to apply them: Mobilize the energy in your organization by turning your MISSION into a "mantra."
Know your CUSTOMER, love your customer, and make them the focus of everything you do.
Stay connected to your customer through RESEARCH-and lots of it!
Be the master of, not a slave to, your TECHNOLOGY. Use it creatively.
Create WORK PROCESSES that serve your customers and enable your people to do their best.
BRAND your product or company. Know what you want to be and live up to it.
Provide LEADERSHIP that meets the needs of people, so they can meet the needs of customers.
Consciously manage your CULTURE the way you manage every other aspect of your business.One intriguing thread to this book is the level of balance that the Blue's Clues team seems to have across all of these clues. If companies could harness the imagination and creativity of the "child within" their people, they would have no competition. Blue's Clues for Success will help organizations and individuals tap into this energizing resource to realize their potential and lead more profitable, satisfying businesses. At some level this book represents an interesting case study of how living out these clues can contribute to a vibrant business. Equally interesting is that each business must search for the answers to these clues and they will be different for each business. To be effective these clues must be answered with the specifics of your mission, business, customers, technology and processes. More than 100 business book reviews written by Harry K. Jones are available at http://www.AchieveMax.com/books/. Reprint Information Your organization may reprint this article for your newsletter, online publication, or mailing list. We ask that you print the: - article in its entirety;
- byline of the writer;
- information about the writer, which is available at the end of each article; and
- contact information, including our toll-free phone number in the U.S. (800-886-2MAX) and link to our website - www.AchieveMax.com.
We would appreciate a tear sheet or electronic copy of the articles you reprint. Harry K. Jones is a professional speaker and consultant for AchieveMax®, Inc., a firm specializing in custom-designed keynote presentations, seminars, and consulting services. Harry has made presentations ranging from leadership to employee retention and time management to stress management for a number of industries, including education, financial, government, healthcare, hospitality, and manufacturing. He can be reached at 800-886-2MAX or by visiting http://www.AchieveMax.com.
Related News
|
 |
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
Your Flight Questions Answered
Whether you are an experienced air traveler or a novice, John Cronin's book, "Your Flight Questions Answered," has a little bit of something for everyone.
Pausing To Catch My Breath - Book Review
"Debra Warren has appropriately titled her book of poetry
'Pausing to Catch My Breath'. The pages depict this mother
and grandmother as someone who I would personally love
to sit across from at a kitchen table with a huge pot of tea
and talk for hours.
The Leadership Pill - AchieveMax® Top Ten Book Review
The Leadership Pill is another volume for those of you anxious to add to your library of "mini-books." Ken Blanchard, a veritable self-help book-writing machine, partners with co-author Marc Muchnick to create this 112-page parable that every leader will want to read and share with those he/she mentors.
The Rich Jerk - A Study in Anti-Marketing
I've always been fascinated by "anti-marketing", and how powerful its effect can be if done properly, so when I stumbled upon The Rich Jerk salesletter, I was immediately intrigued.
Hard Candy, Nobody Ever Flies over the Cuckoo?s Nest; Book Review
HARD CANDY: Nobody Ever Flies over the Cuckoo's Nest; Written by Charles A. Carroll is a must read.
Multi-talented Author Joseph Yakel Releases Both Historical and Comedy Works
Author Joseph Yakel is leading a two-pronged charge to provide his avid readership with worthy materials. After releasing his first family history book in December 2004, he struck again with a comprehensive follow-up research work this month. Making the triple play, Yakel delivered an outrageously funny country boy humor/melodrama book to his collection just weeks ago.
Book Summary: How To Work With Just About Anyone
"I just can't seem to get along with this person!"
Nice Girls Don?t Get the Corner Office 101 - A Book Summary
Dr. Frankel clearly identifies the common mistakes ?101 in
all-that women commit unconsciously to sabotage their
careers. This book provides revolutionary guides to help
the women of today eliminate the girl-like behaviors they
became accustomed with, which hold them back professionally.
Book Review - As the Darkness Deepens by Michael Cale
Newton's Third Law of Motions states that "For ever action, there is an equal and opposite reaction." Michael Cale's latest novel, As the Darkness Deepens, is an interesting study in this universal law as it relates to the forces of good and evil. While this is a common storyline, Cale's strong characterization and the powerful climax give an otherwise trite subject substance to formulate a solid story.
Job Interview Answers
Last week I found an interesting book called Ultimate Guide To Job Interview Answers. Having myself hired many people I was intrigued what the book had to offer. Of course before being responsible for hiring people, I had been on the opposite side of the table -- being interviewed.
ARTURO EL REY - Book Review
This large (about 378 pages), fantasy-adventure novel
should give best selling authors like Stephen King heavy
competition. Fantastically interwoven with elements of King
Arthur's realm, including a little Arthurian romance, Arturo el
Rey will keep the reader captivated.
Book Review: Seth Godin - All Marketers Are Liars
Let me start with a small disclaimer: I am a HUGE fan of Seth Godin, and have been ever since he wrote Permission Marketing and probably always will be. Seth has a very unique take on traditional marketing (he thinks it's dead) and I agree with him. A nice summary of stuff Seth knows was kindly put together by Aaron Dignan at Brandplay.com
FDA Approved Vagus Nerve Stimulation Therapy Can Improve The Quality of Your Life
As of August 2005, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration(FDA) approved vagus nerve stimulation therapy as a treatment for depression. This therapy completely changed my life, when everything else had failed. It can improve the quality of your life as well. You need to educate yourself about this new medical breakthrough therapy.
Please Don?t Just Do What I Tell You, Do What Needs to Be Done - AchieveMax® Top Ten Book Review
Please Don't Just Do What I Tell You, Do What Needs to Be Done: Every Employee's Guide to Making Work More Rewarding by Bob Nelson
Washington Historian Remembers Harriet Lane, the Greatest First Lady
Washington Historian Remembers Harriet Lane, the Greatest First Lady
The Power of 2 - AchieveMax® Top Ten Book Review
The Power of 2: Win Big with People in Your Work and in Life by Anthony C. Scire
Call Me Mommy - Book Review
Retired police captain, Marshall Frank, has written another
excellent read in his latest work, Call Me Mommy. Marshall
is definitely a prolific writer ? he has authored five books and
hundreds of short stories and essays to date.
IZEE Growing Up In A Logging Camp: Introduction
Introduction
Pariah - Book Review
"Pariah, written by multi-talented artist and author Timothy
Goodwin, is a science fiction, fantasy novel that incorporates
some very clear ideas to what is wrong with today's world.
The characters are colorfully portrayed and the battles were
very well written.
Beyond Bodybuilding: Stranger in a Strange Land -- A Book Review
When America's foremost literary critic, Harold Bloom, professor emeritus at Yale was asked to define literary greatness, he did so as follows,
|
