Book Review: Want Real Results? Kiss Theory Goodbye

Book Title and Edition: Kiss Theory Good Bye: Five Proven Ways to Get Extraordinary Results in Any Company

Author: Bob Prosen

Condensed Review/Thesis: Skip the skimpy, unsatisfying hors-d'oeuvre of theory and get to the real meat and potatoes of leadership success.

Author's Background: A seasoned Fortune 1000 executive, Bob Prosen is a "man on a mission" to make you a better leader with his combination of far-reaching vision and real-world pragmatism.

Intended Audience: Leaders who want to do something...now; this book is a how-to - and go-do -guide.

Larry's Two Cents: You can't walk through the business landscape without tripping over theories. Prosen argues that you need to put the platitudes aside and get down to business, as it were. He proposes that there are five building blocks that you must consistently act on in order to achieve results: superior leadership, effective sales, operational excellence, financial management, and customer loyalty.

Prosen explains each building block in a no-nonsense, jargon-free style and provides action items to implement (now) and metrics so you can gauge your progress and success. Kiss Theory Goodbye has been criticized for being too obvious, too simple. That's exactly its biggest strength. There aren't many good books that clearly and simply lay out the basics of running an effective business. This is certainly one of them - and one that should be on any leader's bookshelf.

Prosen offers a consummate reference guide; feel free to jump around to solve current problems and use it as a "thought-starter" to explore ways to improve your business. Buy it, scan it, and do something immediately.

When To Read This Book: You are not clear about the overall structure and systems you need to put in place to have an effective organization.