Start with the Answer: And Other Wisdom for Aspiring Leaders [Hardcover]

Bob Seelert (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 27, 2009

"Seelert's stories and wisdom demonstrate that the principles and practices leading to winning results in sports are highly transferable to the building of brands, businesses, and organizations. This book tells you how."
—Jack Twyman, NBA Hall of Fame player, former ABC Game of the Week announcer, and former Chairman and CEO, Super Food Services Inc.

"Seelert's comprehensive revelation of his leadership wisdom is priceless—especially the management of culture through innovative communications, fueled by rock-solid personal spirit and style. Read and succeed . . . it's that actionable. Bob's the real leadership deal."
—John W. Luther, President, Luther & Company, Strategic Growth Consulting

"I've never been at my best when working for a boss in the traditional sense . . . Authority is not my favorite cultural tool. I am at my best (maybe like you) when I have a coach and mentor. Bob Seelert has played that role for over a decade, providing me with counsel, guidance, perspective, and unconditional love and support. Oh yes, and wisdom. Lots of it! You'll find out what I mean when you read this book."
—Kevin Roberts, CEO Worldwide, Saatchi & Saatchi

"Bob Seelert entered Saatchi & Saatchi in early 1995 when the company was in flux and extremely unstable. In a few short years, he not only stabilized the business, he grew it into an even greater advertising powerhouse than it once was. If anyone is qualified to write about business turnarounds, it's Seelert!"
—David Herro, Chief Investment Officer-International, Harris Associates LP

"Spencer Stuart placed Bob Seelert into leadership positions at Kayser-Roth and Saatchi & Saatchi at times when success seemed impossible, but failure was not an acceptable option. In both situations, he achieved highly successful turnarounds, and his stories tell you why."
—Thomas Neff, Chairman, Spencer Stuart USA

"Bob Seelert and I worked together for twenty years, and I saw firsthand how the wisdom in this book enabled him to build businesses and organizations. For MBA students and other aspiring business leaders, this book will become their well-thumbed how-to guide for constructing a successful career."
—Erv Shames, Lecturer, University of Virginia Darden Graduate School of Business andformer President and CEO, General Foods USA and Borden, Inc.

Editorial Reviews

From the Inside Flap

Today, we rarely see the words "business" and "wisdom" in the same sentence. For Bob Seelert, Chairman of Saatchi & Saatchi, the two go hand-in-hand. At a time when our economic systems desperately need to energize people and produce leaders at all levels, Seelert brings us Start with the Answer.

This collection of ninety-four real-life stories from Seelert's forty-year career as CEO of five companies in three different industries reveals transformative insights and practical instruction for anyone who wants to succeed as an executive, business leader, or entrepreneur. In this highly readable and down-to-earth book, Seelert outlines his strategies, practices, and principle-centered approach to decision-making and problem-solving. Even more important, he shares the wisdom he has gained through exposure to extraordinary people, events, and institutions.

Based on his long and successful career, Seelert boils it all down to the eight dimensions of business life every leader must master in order to succeed—preparation, building and managing a career, business strategy, business operations, finance and economics, leadership, culture and communication, and personal spirit and style.

As he explores these eight dimensions in detail, Seelert provides a wealth of experience-based tactics, principles, and ideas for overcoming all the basic challenges of the modern business world. With both the philosophy and the nuts and bolts of great leadership, Start with the Answer provides critical insight any aspiring leader can use to succeed in any industry.

But you'll find much more here than just business fundamentals, including a philosophical foun-dation for high-quality leadership in the modern business world. Start with the Answer argues that leaders must first come to know themselves, and then develop the values, beliefs, and principles they will carry through their careers in order to earn the trust of those they lead.

If you want to take your business career to the pinnacle of achievement and success-and lead your organization to new heights as well-you have to know where you're going before you plot your course. You must Start with the Answer.

About the Author

Bob Seelert is Chairman of Saatchi & Saatchi, a leading global ideas and advertising company. A graduate of Harvard College and Harvard Business School, he has been CEO of five companies, has built brands and businesses, been a party to two mega-mergers, and enacted numerous turnarounds. He has served on boards of directors of companies in the United States, the United Kingdom, and France. He lives in New Canaan, Connecticut.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 256 pages
• Publisher: Wiley; 1 edition (April 27, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0470450320
• ISBN-13: 978-0470450321
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.5 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,125,505 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A useful tool with a lot of wisdom, June 3, 2009

By 

Chris Foster - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Start with the Answer: And Other Wisdom for Aspiring Leaders (Hardcover)

Practical wisdom is something every new CEO needs. Start With The Answer is like wisdom in a bottle-it's refreshing, easy-to-swallow and ultimately hydrating. I think there's something in it for every leader. I found Bob's "wisdoms" not only insightful, but highly useable.

Chris Foster
CEO
Fallon Worldwide

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Finally, A Good, Practical Business Book from a Real Businessman, June 2, 2009

By 

Michael D. Hobbs Jr. "Atticus" (Atlanta, GA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Start with the Answer: And Other Wisdom for Aspiring Leaders (Hardcover)

Unlike so many other business books which either flow from ridiculous premises designed solely to sell books ("The Leadership Lessons of Vito Corleone"), or from consultants who have never even led a local school board (too many titles to list), "Start with the Answer" presents clear-headed guiding principles from an executive who has led five different global organization. The book is extremely well organized, practical, implementable and a fun read. Seelert's one sentence take-aways on each lesson provide a useful summary and mental hook. I would strongly recocommend this book for newcomers to the business world, and for experienced business leaders needing a reminder that sometimes the best advice makes the most common sense.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A CEO's Handbook, May 9, 2009

By 

Antony M. Young - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Start with the Answer: And Other Wisdom for Aspiring Leaders (Hardcover)

Bob Seelert is a proven CEO who offers first hand insight into how leaders can successfully steer their company and personal fortunes. This book isn't business management theory, it's a handbook that offers proven strategies re-told through 40 years of first hand, blue chip company, real world experience - Experience that could mean the difference between making it in your business life.

I found it to provide a lot of rich advice in change management, company turnarounds, dealing with mergers, marketing management, leadership lessons and personal career.

No exec is too senior or experienced to take something from this. I highly recommend it.

Antony Young,
CEO, Optimedia International Inc.
New York