Stephanie Middaugh's book, Elevate and Optimise – Your Enablement Maturity Journey, offers a compelling roadmap for professionals seeking to elevate their sales enablement strategies. With a focus on measurable maturity, the author blends practical guidance with strategic insights, making it a valuable resource for both newcomers and seasoned practitioners. Middaugh’s structured approach demystifies the often complex world of sales enablement, allowing readers to assess their current maturity level while laying the groundwork for continuous improvement. Her engaging writing style, coupled with actionable frameworks, ensures that the reader remains invested and empowered to implement these learnings.

What sets this book apart is its real-world applicability. Middaugh provides detailed case studies, showing how sales enablement maturity can transform an organization’s efficiency, culture, and overall success. The balance between theory and practice is particularly well-handled, making the book not just an intellectual exercise but a practical toolkit. Whether you're in sales enablement, leadership, or any business role that requires continuous optimization, Elevate and Optimise is a must-read for anyone looking to drive meaningful, long-term growth.

This book by Jaywant Singh and Paurav Shukla offers a detailed exploration of brand management, providing both foundational principles and cutting-edge strategies for effective branding in today’s market. The authors successfully bridge the gap between theory and application, making complex concepts accessible to readers with varied experience in the field. Whether you're a marketing professional or a business owner, the well-structured content serves as a practical toolkit for building and maintaining a powerful brand identity.

Moreover, the examples and case studies included throughout the book add real-world relevance, illustrating how these branding techniques can be applied across industries. Singh and Shukla excel at presenting clear, actionable insights that not only address the nuances of branding but also prepare readers to adapt to ever-evolving consumer expectations. For anyone looking to master the art of branding in today’s competitive landscape, this book is an invaluable resource.

In Supercharging the Customer Experience, Alan Williams and Dave Stubberfield deliver a compelling guide that emphasizes the importance of internal organizational alignment in creating extraordinary customer experiences. Drawing from their wealth of experience, the authors illustrate how well-aligned teams, clear communication, and shared values translate into seamless customer journeys. They back their insights with concrete examples from leading companies, making the book not just theoretical but highly practical. Their step-by-step approach empowers business leaders to bridge internal silos and optimize both employee engagement and customer satisfaction.

The book stands out by highlighting the often-overlooked interplay between internal culture and external customer-facing outcomes. Williams and Stubberfield make a persuasive case that true customer experience excellence doesn’t start with external touchpoints but rather with internal clarity and purpose. Readers looking to elevate their organizational performance will find this book an invaluable resource, blending research, case studies, and actionable strategies to help businesses drive sustainable growth through a customer-first mindset.

Mary Olson-Menzel’s What Lights You Up? is a refreshing and inspiring guide for anyone looking to re-energize their career or find deeper fulfillment in their professional life. With a blend of personal stories, practical advice, and thought-provoking exercises, Olson-Menzel encourages readers to reflect on what truly motivates and excites them. The author’s empathetic tone makes it feel like a personalized coaching session, guiding the reader to examine their career aspirations and take bold steps toward achieving their full potential. Whether you’re feeling stuck in your current role or looking to make a significant career shift, this book offers a roadmap to self-discovery and empowerment.

What makes this book stand out is its actionable approach to career growth. Olson-Menzel doesn’t just offer vague advice; she presents tangible strategies that can be immediately implemented. From identifying your core values to setting achievable goals, every chapter is packed with insights designed to help you craft a career that aligns with your passions. What Lights You Up? is not only a motivational read but also a practical toolkit for professionals at any stage of their career journey. Highly recommended for those ready to illuminate their path and take control of their future!

The Power of Closure by Gary McClain is a compelling and thought-provoking exploration of one of the most universal human desires: the need for closure. McClain masterfully blends psychology, personal stories, and practical advice to help readers understand why we seek closure in various aspects of our lives, from relationships to career choices. His insights into how unresolved feelings can weigh on us emotionally and mentally offer a fresh perspective on why closure is so critical for personal growth. The book does an excellent job of explaining the process of identifying when closure is needed, how to approach it, and recognizing when it's best to simply walk away.

What makes this book particularly powerful is its practical approach. McClain doesn't just focus on abstract ideas but provides actionable steps for readers to use in their own lives. His advice on when to push for resolution and when to accept ambiguity is both relatable and liberating. Whether you're struggling with an old wound, seeking peace from a tough decision, or wanting to make sense of past experiences, The Power of Closure offers invaluable guidance for anyone looking to move forward with clarity and confidence. It's a must-read for anyone looking to free themselves from the emotional baggage of unfinished business.

Gregory H. Garrison's Lead! Developing Your Leadership Style is an insightful and practical guide for aspiring and seasoned leaders alike. Building on the foundation set in the first book of the series, this second installment offers a deep dive into how leaders can discover, refine, and adapt their personal leadership style. Garrison’s approach is both hands-on and reflective, giving readers actionable strategies while encouraging self-awareness. His examples, drawn from real-world experiences, make the lessons relatable and easy to apply in any leadership context.

What sets this book apart is its focus on the individuality of leadership. Rather than promoting a one-size-fits-all approach, Garrison acknowledges that effective leadership varies depending on personal strengths and circumstances. He guides readers through a process of introspection and growth, making it clear that developing leadership style is a journey. For anyone looking to elevate their leadership impact, this book offers both inspiration and practical tools.

The Silent Rebellion – Becoming a Modern Leader by Chris Lewis and Inez Odom is a compelling exploration of leadership in the 21st century, offering a fresh perspective on what it takes to lead in today's complex and ever-evolving world. Lewis and Odom take the reader through the key challenges modern leaders face, highlighting the need for a shift from traditional, hierarchical leadership models to more empathetic, adaptive, and inclusive styles. The book is filled with insightful anecdotes and practical strategies, illustrating how leadership has evolved to become less about command and control and more about empowering and engaging teams. The authors emphasize that true leadership comes from fostering a culture of innovation and trust, rather than enforcing rigid structures.

What sets The Silent Rebellion apart is its focus on the often-overlooked emotional and human aspects of leadership. Lewis and Odom argue that today's leaders must embrace vulnerability, lead with purpose, and focus on personal authenticity to inspire real change. The book is not just a call to action but a guide for navigating the nuanced balance between authority and collaboration. With actionable insights and real-world examples, it’s a valuable resource for both aspiring leaders and seasoned executives looking to redefine their leadership style to resonate with the needs of modern workplaces.

The PATH to Strategic Impact: What Great Leaders Understand about Strategy Communication (and Others Don’t) by Michael Gerharz is a masterclass in the art of communicating strategy with clarity and purpose. Gerharz draws from years of experience to deliver a concise yet deeply insightful guide on how effective leaders bridge the gap between strategy and communication. The book is filled with practical advice, real-world examples, and thoughtful reflections on how to make strategic messages resonate with audiences. It stands out for its simplicity and focus on actionable insights, making it a refreshing read for leaders who want to inspire action and alignment within their teams.

What sets The PATH to Strategic Impact apart is Gerharz's ability to break down complex ideas into digestible concepts. His approach is both empathetic and pragmatic, encouraging leaders to not only communicate well but also to deeply understand the perspectives of those they lead. The emphasis on strategic storytelling and clear, focused communication is particularly powerful in today’s fast-paced business world. Whether you’re a seasoned executive or an aspiring leader, this book will help you transform your strategy into a compelling narrative that drives impact. Highly recommended for anyone looking to sharpen their leadership and communication skills.

Neal Schaffer’s Maximizing LinkedIn for Business Growth: A Practical Guide to Building Your Brand and Driving Results offers an accessible and straightforward approach to leveraging LinkedIn as a business tool. With the platform's growth in professional networking, Schaffer taps into its potential for brand building and driving tangible results. The book is packed with practical tips and real-life examples that make it easy for even beginners to follow along. From setting up an optimized profile to growing a network with intention, Schaffer breaks down strategies into bite-sized actions that can be immediately implemented, making it especially useful for small business owners and entrepreneurs looking to make the most of LinkedIn's reach.

Where the book shines is in its step-by-step guidance, covering everything from creating content that resonates with your audience to using AI to help you. However, for more advanced LinkedIn users, the advice might feel somewhat basic, as the book is aimed at beginners or those who are just starting to consider LinkedIn as part of their marketing strategy. While it doesn’t dive deep into sophisticated techniques, Schaffer's clear, no-nonsense writing and emphasis on practical implementation make it a great starting point for professionals looking to expand their LinkedIn presence and grow their business through effective online networking.

In "Mindshift: Transform Leadership, Drive Innovation, and Reshape the Future", Brian Solis presents a compelling argument for leaders to rethink how they approach innovation and change in an increasingly digital world. Solis emphasizes that in order to lead effectively in the age of disruption, individuals must cultivate a mindset that embraces adaptability, creativity, and empathy. The book provides a roadmap for leaders to not only understand emerging technologies but also to reshape organizational culture in a way that empowers employees to think differently and collaboratively. Solis's use of real-world examples and case studies adds depth to his thesis, making his ideas both practical and inspiring.

What sets "Mindshift" apart is Solis’s focus on the human side of leadership in the digital era. He argues that technology is only as transformative as the people who wield it, encouraging leaders to focus on fostering a culture of learning and curiosity. Solis also highlights the importance of emotional intelligence and a growth mindset, noting that innovation stems from the ability to challenge norms and remain open to new possibilities. While the book is particularly relevant for executives and business leaders, its broader insights on navigating change and leading with purpose will resonate with anyone striving to make a meaningful impact in today’s fast-paced world.

I wrote the first edition of "social selling - techniques to influence buyers and changemakers - 1st edition" (the one with the white cover) back in 2015 and it was published in 2016. It was the first book on social selling to be published. With so many changes that have taken place in social media over time, when Kogan Page, my publisher, approached me and asked for a second edition (the one with the yellow cover), I agreed.

This second edition, has been totally updated from 187 pages to 306. I explain how the world of business has changed with digital and how that impacts the modern buyer and it's a business imperative that we change our sales and marketing.

Many people often think that social selling is some sort of future state. It's not, it's the here and now. DLA Ignite, my company, for example, has clients doing $multi-million deals using social media. If your not doing $multi-million deals on social, your competition are and you are losing market share and revenue.

With this book, I contacted people I knew that were using social media to drive revenue and got them to tell their story. Chris Fleming the CEO of Cyberhawk, shares how he transformed his business to social and digital 3 years ago. Putting that another way, if you haven't transformed to a social selling methodology by now, you are 3 years behind the market.

In my second book, "Smarketing - How to achieve competitive advantage through blended sales and marketing" published through Kogan Page, we looked at the age old problem of marketing and sales working together.  At the time there was a lot of conversations on social media about how on earth do we get sales and marketing to be one team?

The book, takes a case study, which we cannot mention, it works through the strategy, how to implement a program to implement sales and marketing, the political risks and measures and governance. The book finishes with a look into the future of sales and marketing.

I would admit that if we wrote the book today, we would probably call it Rev-ops (revenue operations).

Please note that some reviews (but not all) I had Chat GPT or Google's Gemini to help me.