Rather than explain the power of recognition in a typical business book, acclaimed CEO David Novak wrote a fun story that draws on his real-world experiences at Pepsi and Yum! Brands, as well as his personal life. When was the last time you told your colleagues how much you value them? It sounds like a trivial thing in the middle of a busy work day. But as Novak discovered during his years as a hard charging executive, there’s nothing trivial about recognition. It can make a life-or-death difference to any organization, when people see that someone important really notices and appreciates their contributions. The story of O Great One! opens when Jeff Johnson becomes the third-generation CEO of his family business, after the sudden death of his father. The Happy Face Toy Company had many hits in the 1950s and 60s, including Crazy Paste, but its results have been declining for more than a decade. The board has given Jeff just one year to turn the business around, or else they’ll have to sell it to the highest bidder. As Jeff races to save his family’s legacy by getting the company back on track, he meets downtrodden factory workers and an uninspired executive team. Then a birthday gift from his grandson gives Jeff an important insight into why Happy Face lost its culture of innovation and excitement, along with its profitability. He comes up with an idea that seems crazy… But is it crazy enough to work? Whether you’re trying to lead a small department, a Fortune 500 company, a non-profit, or your own family, the story and lessons of O Great One! can help you make everyone around you happier and more effective.

O Great One!: A Little Story About the Awesome Power of Recognition

Business & Money

Novak, David

Bourg, Christa

Business Culture

Portfolio

A parable about the secret to engaging and motivating people to do great things in all walks of life, by the bestselling author of Taking People With You.Based on real experiences that David Novak had as the Chairman and CEO of Yum! Brands, this parable will empower readers to recognize the contributions of those around them in order to drive bigger and better results. It’s not hard, it’s not expensive, and you don’t need an MBA or even a position of authority to do it. It’s a deceptively simple principle that can have a huge impact on both your life and your business.Jeff Johnson, the new CEO of The Happy Face Toy Company, has one year to save his family’s famous toy company, which has fallen on hard times following the death of his father. If Jeff fails, the whole company will fail. As he races to save his family’s legacy by getting the company back on track, Jeff encounters downtrodden factory workers and an uninspired executive team. Then a birthday gift from his grandson gives Jeff an important insight into why business is suffering: the secret ingredient to making people happy and engaged is missing.During his time as CEO of Yum!, Novak harnessed the power of employee recognition to revitalize the culture. The principles he lives by, from handing out personalized awards to coaxing office culture into life, are at the core of this parable. Novak recently founded OGO Enterprises, the world’s first recognition brand focused on appreciating all people for who they are and what they do.

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Books by Bourg, Christa

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Bourg, Christa. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

O Great One!: A Little Story About the Awesome Power of Recognition

O Great One!: A Little Story About the Awesome Power of Recognition