The Success Effect: Uncommon Conversations With America's Business Trailblazers [Hardcover]

John Eckberg (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 3, 2006

Trump. Chopra. Zell. Gerstner. Springer.

Those are just some of the diverse names found in The Success Effect, a ground-breaking project by Cincinnati Enquirer business columnist John Eckberg. This 300-page volume contains 40 candid conversations with America's top business trailblazers and innovators, from household names like Deepak Chopra and Donald Trump, to the lesser known Tami Longaberger, IDEO's Tom Kelley, Doobie Brothers' and Steely Dan guitar wizard Jeff "Skunk" Baxter, LensCrafter's Dean Butler and PGA guru to the stars Dave Pelz. Dozens of other interviews reveal what it takes for individuals, teams and companies to lead, achieve, prosper and grow.

Through his unorthodox question-and-answer style, Eckberg brings revealing commentary and off-the-cuff answers from America's best business minds. The reader gets insight, not spin -- perspective and life lessons, not canned responses and public relations.

Compiled over years of research, The Success Effect is at the crossroads of life-guide and business-leadership book.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"John Eckberg is a modern-day Napoleon Hill."
-- Jack Warkenthien, host of BizRadio Network’s "Where Main Street Meets Wall Street"

"What a fascinating, enlightening collection of interviews -- containing the essence of each notable contribution cuts right to the chase! A library of insights in one volume."
-- Dr. Stephen R. Covey, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People and The 8th Habit: From Effectiveness to Greatness

"John Eckberg is one of Gannett’s most highly regarded business reporters -- and this lucid and powerful book shows you why. Read this book and succeed."
-- New York Times bestselling authors Julia Sokol and Steven Carter, Men Who Can’t Love and Help, I’m in Love with a Narcissist!

"The Success Effect is one of those rare books that you can read and then apply directly to your life."
-- New York Times bestselling author Martin Yate, Knock ‘em Dead: The Ultimate Job Search Guide<

"The best way to learn about how the business world really works is through storytelling, and John Eckberg’s highly readable CEO snapshots teach a lot in a very short time. Fresh, entertaining and well written."
-- New York Times bestselling author Stephen Pollan, Die Broke and Second Acts

"The essence of business will always be about people, and the Success Effect offers page after page of suggestions on how to motivate and inspire people -- whether customer or staff -- from some of the best minds in business today."
-- Robert J. Herbold, former COO, Microsoft

"It would not surprise me in the least to see The Success Effect, John Eckberg’s delightfully useful collection of CEO profiles, make some of the nation’s business bestseller lists this year. I wish I’d thought of it myself."
-- New York Times bestselling author Hale Dwoskin, The Sedona Method and Happiness is Free -- and its Easier than you Think

"A really interesting book. Candid and alive, and one in which you’ll find some real gems to help you succeed in your heart’s quest in life."
-- Midwest Book Review

Product Details

• Hardcover: 265 pages
• Publisher: Sterling & Ross Publishers (March 3, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0976637243
• ISBN-13: 978-0976637240
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.2 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,566,737 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Former business reporter at The Cincinnati Enquirer. The Hindu finds The Success Effect an "unputdownable read." Whether cultural icon of commerce or kid selling golf balls from the course tee near his backyard, this much I've learned: commerce is about people. It has always been that way. It will always be that way.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Unique Lesson in Leadership, January 4, 2009

By 

Todd Sebastian (Cincinnati, OH) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Success Effect: Uncommon Conversations with America's Business Trailblazers (Paperback)

The leadership book category is extremely crowded. John Eckberg deserves a lot of credit for providing a new entry that is truly unique - and truly adds value to the topic. As the subtitle suggests, he takes an uncommon approach to interviewing an unconventional line-up of interview subjects. The result is a collection of success-oriented insights on leadership you simply won't find anywhere else.

Todd Sebastian

Best-selling author, Tell Your Clients Where to Go! A Practical Guide to Providing Passionate Client Leadership

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Uncommonly engaging, May 18, 2006

By 

Jake Barnes (Alexandria, Va.) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Success Effect: Uncommon Conversations With America's Business Trailblazers (Hardcover)

I reallly like John Eckberg's book. It's got some uncommonly engaging touches for a business book. Each CEO he interviews gets asked some personally revealing details, such as to list what CDs are prominent in his CD rack, and what books are on his nightstand. It humanizes them. And Eckberg shows flair and personality in his questioning, far beyond the usual bottom-line fixations. It ends up peeling back the mask on many of his captains of industry, showing a little of what makes them tick. My only criticism, really, is that some of these mini-profiles are too brief. Just when they're opening up, it's over. But that's a quibble over the book's formatting. This one's a winner.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Something For Everyone!, February 27, 2007

By 

Shirley Priscilla Johnson "Author/Reviewer -... (USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: The Success Effect: Uncommon Conversations With America's Business Trailblazers (Hardcover)

I wondered when I first approached this book how well I could do a review since I was not sure if the contents would even hold my attention. I am a simple person and at my age perhaps not one that would be going forth to be a success in business, but I was pleasantly surprised by what I found.

You see, this is a book that is chock full of information that can be used in many areas of one's life, not just in business. The wisdom given and life lessons learned and shared, can be implemented in dreams both large and small in one's own life. Between the pages of this book our author, John Eckberg, compiles for us interviews of some of the most successful business people in the world. His questions are straight forward and asked in such a way that they actually bring the person to answer in a down-to-earth way that is both informative and at times down-right entertaining and always interesting. We hear from names like Donald Trump to Jerry Springer and we even get a little glimpse into their personal tastes with the injection of little sections such as, Books on The Nightstand, and CD's In The Changer.

I have to say this was a really interesting book, written in a free-flowing style, candid and alive and one that you will find some real gems of information to help you succeed in your heart's quest in life.

Shirley Johnson

Senior Reviewer

MidWest Book Review