Talent Unleashed

Presents guidance on how to inspire others through effective communication, including advice on helping people find clarity, a unique voice, and creativity.

Mr. Carlson is a radio broadcaster by profession. He has owned and operated ten radio stations in Arizona, Idaho, Nevada, and Utah. He has completed thirty-seven marathons including those in New York, Boston, and Pike’s Peak, plus numerous 5 and 10K races. He has completed the 42-mile Grand Canyon “Double Cross” endurance race – a rigorous course traveling from the South Rim to the North Rim, then back. In 2001, at age 71, Mr. Carlson scaled Mt. Kilimanjaro, the highest peak on the African continent (19,340 feet).

"The vast majority of the workforce in any organization possesses far more talent, intelligence, capability, and creativity than their present jobs require or even allow." - Dr. Stephen R. Covey That's what Talent Unleashed is about—unleashing that unlimited store of potential in people. That's a leader's job. And how does a leader do that job? Through 3 leadership conversations—not just individual events, but ongoing discussions designed to help people give the best they can. In these conversations, leaders trade fear for trust, confusion for clarity, and micromanaging for empowerment. The three vital conversations are: The performance Conversation The Voice Conversation The Clearing the Path Conversation Performance Conversations define roles and set clear goals. Leaders hold people accountable for these roles and goals, thus transforming team members from "managed hirelings" to "trusted partners and teammates." Voice Conversations affirm the worth and potential of each person on a team. Leaders help individuals discover their unique gifts, talents, and abilities and align these gifts, talents, and abilities to the great mission of the organization. It is the process that ignites the inner fire. Clear the Path Conversations turn supervisors into leaders who become sources of help and empower people to succeed in their jobs. Leaders help clear away the obstacles from the success pathway.

"Takes dead aim at the conservative economic consensus that has dominated U.S. politics . . . Biting and necessary."—The American Prospect In this provocative, witty, and revealing polemic, Daniel Brook's The Trap argues that the exploding income gap—a product of the conservative ascendance—is systematically dismantling the American dream, as debt-laden, well-educated young people are torn between their passions and the pressure to earn six-figure incomes. Rising education, housing, and health-care costs have made it virtually impossible for all but the corporate elite to enjoy what were once considered middle-class comforts. Thousands are afflicted with a wrenching choice: take up residence on America's financial and social margins or sell out. And it's not just impoverished teachers and social workers, struggling to pay their rent, who are hurt. From the activist who works to give others a living wage but isn't paid one himself, to the universal health-care advocate who becomes a management consultant for Big Pharma, Brook presents a damning indictment of the economic and political landscape that traps young Americans. When the best and the brightest cannot afford to serve the public good, Brook asks, what are we selling out: an individual's career, or the very promise of American democracy?

"A toolbox full of wisdom, an urgent starting point in finding possibility, potential, and power in the people around you."—Seth Godin, author of Linchpin Fans of Crucial Conversations, The Speed of Trust, Radical Candor, and The Five Dysfunctions of a Team will love Get Better, a guide to cultivating relationships and building them into your organization's greatest assets. From the business experts that brought you The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. Strengthen relationships and improve communications skills: In Get Better: 15 Proven Practices to Build Effective Relationships at Work, Chief People Officer Todd Davis moves beyond the adage that an organization's greatest assets are its people. Instead, he argues that relationships drive professional and personal effectiveness—and, in the end, create a culture that can become an organization's competitive advantage. Improve your emotional intelligence and become the ideal team player: In an approachable, engaging style, using real-world stories, Davis uncovers the most common relationship pitfalls that hurt careers and negatively affect organizational results. From his experience observing, leading, and coaching others for more than thirty years, David identifies fifteen proven practices that anyone at any level of an organization can apply to be successful at work, improve business results, and truly master effective relationships. Readers will learn how to: -Behave their way to credibility -Think “we,” not “me” -Take stock of their emotional bank accounts -Examine their real motives -Do less talking and more active listening -Make it safe to tell the truth and have difficult conversations -Start with humility, and much more! Master communication, understand your emotions, and build effective relationships with Get Better.

From the author of the New York Times bestseller The Inevitable— a sweeping vision oftechnology as a living force that can expand our individual potential This provocative book introduces a brand-new view of technology. It suggests that technology as a whole is not a jumble of wires and metal but a living, evolving organism that has its own unconscious needs and tendencies. Kevin Kelly looks out through the eyes of this global technological system to discover "what it wants." He uses vivid examples from the past to trace technology's long course and then follows a dozen trajectories of technology into the near future to project where technology is headed. This new theory of technology offers three practical lessons: By listening to what technology wants we can better prepare ourselves and our children for the inevitable technologies to come. By adopting the principles of pro-action and engagement, we can steer technologies into their best roles. And by aligning ourselves with the long-term imperatives of this near-living system, we can capture its full gifts. Written in intelligent and accessible language, this is a fascinating, innovative, and optimistic look at how humanity and technology join to produce increasing opportunities in the world and how technology can give our lives greater meaning.

Students need teachers and school leaders who are at their best- and being your best happens when you know your strengths and boldly use them to empower others. Talent often hides in the most unlikely people and places. Hidden talents serve no one, but when you learn how to spot and release talent, you can make your school amazing for everyone. In Unleash Talent, educator and principal Kara Knollmeyer explains that by exploring the core elements of talent-passion, skills, and personality traits-you can uncover your gifts and help others do the same. It doesn't matter if you are a teacher, administrator, or custodian; your unique talents can make a powerful impact on your school community. Knollmeyer's insightful guide walks you through a powerful process of self-discovery. She notes that scores, job satisfaction, happiness, and teacher retention improve when every member of the school community is encouraged to use their unique gifts. You'll learn . . . Why we should bring our passions to work How to draw out and build on existing skills Why we should embrace our unique and varied personality traits All learners-children and adults alike-have special talents just waiting to be unleashed.

Though Joss Whedon's television show Dollhouse ended in January 2010 after its second season, its small but devoted cult following is still reeling from not only from its mind-blowing plot twists but also its challenging, dystopic look at the ethics of new technology. Inside Joss' Dollhouse is a fitting tribute to this complex, engaging show. The anthology's 18 sometimes funny, always insightful pieces cover Dollhouse from anticipated start to explosive finish. Drawn from an international contest judged by fan favorite Whedon screenwriter Jane Espenson, its essays get right to heart of what Dollhouse viewers loved most about the show. Espenson also acts as the book's editor, offering context and extra insight on its topics and the show—a role she played in previous anthologies Finding Serenity and Serenity Found, also on Joss Whedon creations. From programmer Topher's amorality to the accuracy of the show's neurobiology, Inside Joss' Dollhouse brings Dollhouse back to life with a depth sure to satisfy its many still-mourning fans.