Accelerate: 20 Practical Lessons to Boost Business Momentum [Hardcover]

Dan Coughlin (Author)

Book Description

Release date: May 1, 2007 | ISBN-10: 1419593722 | ISBN-13: 978-1419593727

Management consultant and author Dan Coughlin has provided over 1,500 executive coaching sessions, spent more than 3,000 hours on-site observing executives and managers and given over 500 presentations on business acceleration.
 
In Accelerate, Coughlin shares the secrets he’s learned from a wide array of Fortune 500 corporate executives and top private companies in over 20 different industries, including AT&T, Boeing, Citigroup, Coca-Cola, Eli Lilly & Sons, Marriott, McDonald’s, the St. Louis Cardinals, and Toyota, to help accelerate your career, your team and your organization to impact the ultimate shareholder – the consumer.
 
Accelerate is not filled with business theories and complicated concepts—it is filled with practical suggestions from real-world business situations. Packed with case studies and Acceleration Tips, Accelerate is a must-read for those managers who want to take their organization to the next level or simply want to breathe new life into their own career.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Dan Coughlin provides actionable ideas gleaned from hundreds of coaching sessions with executives in some of the world's best companies."
- Mark Sanborn, Author, You Don't Need a Title to Be a Leader

“I love Accelerate. It’s a must read that will transform both your business and personal life! It’s filled with nuggets of incredible wisdom that you can use immediately. If you want your business to sustain, profit and grow this is a must read!”
- Jason Jennings, Bestselling Author, It’s Not The Big That Eat The Small...It’s The Fast That Eat The Slow; Less Is More; and Think BIG, Act Small

“In Accelerate, Dan Coughlin has hit an absolute home run with a treasure trove of pragmatic advice garnered through coaching some of the top executives in business today. They obviously trust him as a coach, and you can trust him as an author.”
- Alan Weiss, Ph.D., Author, Million Dollar Consulting

About the Author

Dan Coughlin is president of The Coughlin Company, Inc., a consulting firm at the forefront of work on business acceleration, examining how corporations can continually increase their rate of sustainable, profitable growth.  As a business speaker and consultant, Dan has given over 500 presentations on business acceleration in more than 30 states and has provided more than 1,500 Executive Coaching sessions for presidents, vice-presidents and senior directors of Fortune 500 companies and major privately owned firms.  Dan lives with his wife, Barb, and their children, Sarah and Ben. Visit his website at

www.businessacceleration.com.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 304 pages
• Publisher: Kaplan Publishing (May 1, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1419593722
• ISBN-13: 978-1419593727
• Product Dimensions: 6 x 0.6 x 9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,967,047 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Solid and useful May 14, 2007

By J. Hall

Format:Hardcover

When I read a book, I like to use 'post-it' notes to mark key sections and passages but within the first chapter of Mr. Coughlin' new book, I stopped using them; the entire book is a 'post-it' note!

Also, the subtitle is a bit misleading, the 20 practical lessons are actually filled with numerous mini-lessons; more like 2000 practical lessons.

This is a solid and useful book that is an easy read. I've recommended it to several others.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Quick Read with Loads of Common Sense Ideas... January 7, 2008

By Jodi

Format:Hardcover

I actually bought this book as a Christmas present for my husband but I ended up reading it too. This book is chock full of those "I knew that but now I will make a point to do that" ideas regarding everything from time management to managing people.
Written with a clear and direct voice, this book is guaranteed to provide at least a new perspective to some of your business challenges and even some advice to take into your personal life.
My husband has already implemented some of the time management techniques and is noticing a big pay off in that area. Learning how to set up systems that are most efficient for how he works is also a huge take away he has gotten from this book.
For me, the value I have gotten is to give more thought to what is working and what can be improved in my small business. So easy to get into the rut of doing everything the same way because that's how it's always been done.
Excellent, fast reading book that I would recommend to managers at any level and business owners.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Ask questions, get answers. Then downshift and GO! May 1, 2007

By Elaine F. Todorov

Format:Hardcover

W. Edwards Deming once said, "If you do not know how to ask the right question, you discover nothing."

In Accelerate, Dan Coughlin guides business performers by asking the right questions - if my count is correct, 441 of them. Through over 1,500 coaching sessions with the world's best and brightest executives, Dan has developed a reputation for asking the right question at the right time.

This book puts into your hands those questions for every business scenario - for yourself, your direct reports and your company. Accelerate is the kind of book you recommend but don't lend because you want it in the passenger seat for that next business challenge around the S turn ahead.

5.0 out of 5 stars Practical and Useful July 8, 2008

By Scott Simmonds

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

I liked this book. I have to admit to not finishing most business books I start. This one got me all the way to the end.

The author takes us through 20 lessons on effectiveness. From individual results, to staff, to organizational results and your impact on customers.

A book filled with interesting ideas and concepts that I put to use right away.

5.0 out of 5 stars Accelerate Your Results With This Book May 17, 2007

By S. Horn

Format:Hardcover

As a book coach and author (POP! Stand Out in Any Crowd), the first place I look to evaluate whether a book will be worth reading is the Table of Contents. Is the author saying anything new? Are the chapter titles compelling? If I see something intriguing, I flip to three different sections of the book and read a few pages at random. Is the author introducing tangible, fresh ideas? Sharing real-life examples that show how these techniques work in everyday situations? Does the author pleasantly surprise you with thought-provoking quotes or funny anecdotes?

Accelerate passes this test with flying colors. Buy it and take it on a plane with you on your next business trip or keep it in your briefcase to read at lunch. The author doesn't waste time on abstract theories -- he provides practical insights you can use immediately at work AND at home to fast-forward desired results. Read it and reap!

5.0 out of 5 stars Practical Advice May 9, 2007

By Washington Reader

Format:Hardcover

It is easy to become overwhelmed...jaded by business books filled with theory after theory. Sometimes these philosophies are so lofty that they are lost on the average reader. Though Dan has consulted the most successful businessmen and corporations in America, he maintains a down to earth approach that is much more comfortable to stomach. This book is divided into 4 general topics: Accelerating results on an indvidual level, on the level of your staff, on the organization as a whole, and impacting your consumers. It is genuine, insightful and easy to navigate. Thank you to Dan Coughlin, for making this such an useful business tool with practical take-aways! I highly recommend obtaining a copy.

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Incredible Business Read! May 16, 2007

By A. Harrington

Format:Hardcover

Wow! This was a tremendous read. Accelerate provides valuable tactics on how to help successful leaders get even better! I bought copies for my entire staff. I'm sure they will get out of it as much as I did!