From Day One: CEO Advice to Launch an Extraordinary Career [Hardcover]

William J. White (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0132206862 | ISBN-13: 978-0132206860 | Publication Date: December 9, 2005

In FROM DAY ONE, long-time CEO Bill White reveals the key skills that lead to breakthrough success, and helps integrate them into your repertoire as you manage your career for outstanding results. Discover how to identify the best possible first job, first company, first boss... and get them. Walk in at 9 am on your first day, knowing exactly what it takes to succeed. Leverage the experience of world-class executives and benefit from practical tips about everything from "managing your boss" to networking; learn how to make a superb first impression;  set the best priorities for your first day, week, month; uncover unspoken "local knowledge" about success; make the most of feedback; demonstrate potential without overstepping bounds; strengthen crucial skills, from listening to estimating and forecasting. This is practical, realistic advice straight from the "corner office".

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

In FROM DAY ONE, long-time CEO Bill White reveals the key skills that lead to breakthrough success, and helps integrate them into your repertoire as you manage your career for outstanding results. Discover how to identify the best possible first job, first company, first boss... and get them. Walk in at 9 am on your first day, knowing exactly what it takes to succeed. Leverage the experience of world-class executives and benefit from practical tips about everything from "managing your boss" to networking; learn how to make a superb first impression;  set the best priorities for your first day, week, month; uncover unspoken "local knowledge" about success; make the most of feedback; demonstrate potential without overstepping bounds; strengthen crucial skills, from listening to estimating and forecasting. This is practical, realistic advice straight from the "corner office".

About the Author

William J. White is currently a Professor at the McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science at Northwestern University. He was named 2001 Professor of the Year and received the 2004 Northwestern Alumni Association Excellence in Teaching Award.

Prior to joining Northwestern, White served for eight years as Chairman and CEO of Bell & Howell, where he was responsible for stewarding corporate resources, values, and talent. White also served as a senior executive at Mead and other successful firms. He has been a member of the Board of Directors of seven publicly traded companies, including The Reader's Digest Association, Bell & Howell Company, and Packaging Dynamics Corporation. www.FromDayOne.com

© Copyright Pearson Education. All rights reserved.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 272 pages
• Publisher: FT Press (December 9, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0132206862
• ISBN-13: 978-0132206860
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.3 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (63 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #966,856 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Advice From Someone Whose Been There, February 16, 2006

By 

Bud Bilanich "The Common Sense Guy" (Denver, CO) - See all my reviews

This review is from: From Day One: CEO Advice to Launch an Extraordinary Career (Hardcover)

I liked pretty much everything about From Day One, but I was particularly impressed with Mr. White's Fundamental Habits for Success.

Reading
Writing
Speaking
Listening
Prioritizing
Estimating
Forecasting

Here is a brief summary of each of them:

Reading: You Are What You Read

Read widely. Be an eclectic reader with interests that span a great many fields. Mr. White's suggested must reading list includes: The NY Times, the largest circulation newspaper in your city, publications that have a slant with which you don't agree (for example if you're a liberal, read US News and World Report, if you're a conservative, read Newsweek).

Writing: The Power of the Written Word

Learn how to write well. Be brief. Harry Truman once said "never use two words when one will do". Don't confuse brevity with speed. Often it takes a lot longer to write a succinct report than it doesa long, rambling one. Don't be afraid to let the reader know you care about your topic. Write like you speak -- flowing, conversational, engaging.

Speaking: Mastering the Spoken Word

Become comfortable speaking in public. Do what you have to do to become more at ease in speaking in front of a group. If you are nervous or unsure of yourself, join Toastmasters. Learn to speak well, with emotion and persuasion.

Listening: A (Nearly) Lost Art

Listening is not a passive endeavor. It requires discipline and the full commitment of your brainpower. You can become a better listener by actively engaging with the other person. Observe what the other person has said and where he or she might be going next. Use the power of silence to encourage people to provide you with more information and details.

Prioritizing: Managing Your Time Wisely

When priorities change or demands shift, you need to be flexible enough to refocus your attention and reprioritize your asks and responsibilities. To do this successfully, you need strong time management skills. Watch out for potential pitfalls that can sabotage your efforts to be efficient and responsive.

Estimating: Is It a $2 Million, $20 Million or $200 Million?

Estimating - before you do a calculation -- helps make numbers more relevant and logical. Practice estimating. When you drive, estimate how long it should take to get from on place to another based on distance and speed. Make mental calculations and double check them with your math. Estimating will keep you from making errors.

Forecasting: What's Your Prediction?

Forecasting in an important skill for both business and life. The ability to predetermine how people will react to unexpected announcements and decisions is an important forecasting skill. Follow the advice of Peter Ducker: whenever you make a key decision or take a key action, write down what you expect will happen. Compare the actual results with your prediction nine or 12 months later".

There's a lot more to From Day One than the brief summary of success habits I've presented here. This book is full of good ideas and common sense approaches to building a successful career. Buy it, read it and use its advice. You won't be disappointed.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars For all people who eager to achieve true success, December 2, 2005

By 

P2P (Osaka, JAPAN) - See all my reviews

This review is from: From Day One: CEO Advice to Launch an Extraordinary Career (Hardcover)

"From Day One" has plenty of seasoned advice to build up a well-balanced, successful career. Unlike other easygoing how-to articles, this book is written from a long-term perspective. That is, true success comes from setting the company's goals first and working hard to achieve them.

Author's advices are profound, insightful, and thought-provoking. In addition, it contains several true stories from CEOs, including author himself who had held executive positions at many companies. These interesting stories enhance the clarity and cogency of his arguments.

After reading few chapters, you might have an impression that this book is just for students or young businesspersons because it is described in order of career progression. Throughout this book, however, you can learn the way of thinking and mental attitude when you face the DAY ONE in your career - the first step of your next portion of your life.

To sum up, this writing is for people who eager to contribute to the organization and achieve successes both in professional and personal life. Therefore, you will want to read this book over again whenever you come to a significant milestone in your entire career.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Timeless resource for any one looking for their professional passion, December 6, 2005

By 

Voracious "Avid Reader" (Los Angeles) - See all my reviews

This review is from: From Day One: CEO Advice to Launch an Extraordinary Career (Hardcover)

CEO and Professor Bill White's got it right. He nails it. His book FROM DAY ONE explains how corporations tick regarding a new employee. From how to find out what you want to do professionally, to what to do the moment you start a new job, Bill's words of wisdom resonate for anyone looking to start a new job or leave a job they are currently in because they are not happy. It is the perfect tool for anyone currently employed on how to move up the corporate ladder, and how to make networking work for you. It's a terrific book and should be on everyone's must have list.