Blue's Clues for Success: The 8 Secrets Behind a Phenomenal Business [Hardcover]

Diane Tracy (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 12, 2002

The business success story behind the world's number one show for preschoolers. The Blue's Clues holistic approach to business success is documented by consultant Diane Tracy. She offers 'clues' to the program's popularity-a Blueprint, for duplicating the success of Blue's Clues in other companies and industries.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Executive coach Tracy presents a hybrid case study/business guide based on the creative culture of Blue's Clues, the highly popular children's cable TV show featuring an animated puppy and her 20-something live male sidekick. Tracy was called in as a consultant to the show for reasons never explained. She gushes, "I looked for some glaring weakness and could not find it." Blue's Clues, which hit the airwaves in 1996, now has over 13 million viewers in 60 countries and had earned about $1 billion in licensing products in the year 2000 alone. Such success provides much rich case study material. The book's strongest sections describe how the story lines and animation are developed. Parents, teachers and business people will also be interested in the company's innovative approach to market research and testing (e.g., Blue's Clues researchers found that preschoolers have a longer attention span and a stronger need to interact with characters than previous shows like Sesame Street had provided). No one featured either inside or outside the company has anything critical to say, however, and the narrative tone is weakened by sidebars containing viewer fan letters and testimonials from the show's staff (employee Alice Wilder says working there "is a dream come true"). While catchy tips (have a "strong vision" and a "net for each other") and relentless optimism may be appropriate in, say, one of the show's recruitment brochures, Tracy's tone may be less then optimal for discerning executive readers. Photos.
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

Review

"Businesses can use Blue's company standards, have a clear mission, know your customer, hire managers who care, to attain success." -- Dallas Morning News, July 29, 2002

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 288 pages
• Publisher: Kaplan Publishing; 1st edition (June 12, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 079315376X
• ISBN-13: 978-0793153763
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.4 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,889,615 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Finally, a sensitive, fun business book!, September 17, 2002

By 

Erika Sueker (Golden, CO United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Blue's Clues for Success: The 8 Secrets Behind a Phenomenal Business (Hardcover)

What a fabulous resource! As the Founding Director of a fledgling non-profit business and the mother of two really smart kids who have been watching Blue's Clues since it's very first year, I wrote to thank Diane for her new book. I've only begun to read business-related books this year, and I've found the selection to be so overwhelming that I usually rely on the library rather than purchasing something that is likely to have only one or two nuggets of useful information. Also, the writing style and attitude of the author makes such a difference as to whether I can get something out of a book-- I knew I'd never learn anything from the ones that liken the marketplace to a combat zone or advise women entrepreneurs to 'think like a man'. But when I saw "Blue's Clues for Success" in the airport bookstore (attracted of course by the blue cover and the puppy herself!), I bought it immediately, knowing that if my business could emulate the Blue's Clues 'phenomenon' even slightly, it would help us succeed.

What a breath of fresh air! It made me feel that running a business *can* be fun!

Since it's beginning in 1996, I have appreciated every educational, musical, and parenting aspect of the Blue's Clues show. This book allowed me to appreciate the business aspects of the show as well. Although my tiny start-up company is completely different from the huge television production giant that is Nick Jr., Diane made the lessons for success as easy to follow and understand as... well, as pawprints! I know the Clues for Success will help us carry out our mission and deliver an effective service... and it will be so cool to look back and be able to attribute some of our success to Blue and her creators!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Blue's Success, September 4, 2002

By 

Martin Schray (West Chicago, IL United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Blue's Clues for Success: The 8 Secrets Behind a Phenomenal Business (Hardcover)

Blue's Clues for success an interesting look at some of the main success factors contributing to the Blue's Clues huge success. As one might suspect there isn't a single factor that can be singled out, but rather a set of interrelated factors that help make Blue's Clues a success.

The author, Diane Tracy, does a great job in providing examples of Blue's clues team living out these success clues. One intriguing thread to this book is the level of balance that the Blue's Clues team seems to have across all of these clues.

Here is the list of the eight blues clues for success:

1. Mobilize the energy in you organization by turning you mission into mantras
2. Know you customer
3. Stay connected to your customer through research
4. Be the master of, not the slave to, you technology
5. Create work processes that serve your customers and enable your people to do the best.
6. Brand your products or company
7. Provide leadership that meets the needs of people, so they can meet the needs of customers
8. Consciously manage your culture the way you manage every other aspect of your business

Blue's Clues for success includes exercises at a business level and personal level for each clue and how it can be applied.

At some level this book represents an interesting case study of how living out these clues can contribute to a vibrant business. Equally interesting is that each business must search for the answers to these clues and they will be different for each business. To be effective these clues must be answered with the specifics of your mission, business, customers, technology and processes.

I found the chapters on mission, research, technology and process to be extremely interesting. I though Diane Tracy had particularly keen insights into people, process and technology.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Read this book!, July 17, 2002

By 

"biffie420" (Fair Lawn, NJ United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Blue's Clues for Success: The 8 Secrets Behind a Phenomenal Business (Hardcover)

As a teacher of young children who love Blue's Clues, I was extremely interested in what made this company and the show so successful. This book gave me answers to my question and so much more. This book is an inspiration to all who read it!