"Which way should I go?"
That question, or some variation of it, is one all of us ask, almost every day. We live in uncertain times, and it seems like a new turn is always right around the corner. But which road to take? Which turn to make? Those are questions that have bedeviled poets and philosophers from time immemorial.
Life is a twisting, turning road, and whether you're trying to decide which way to go for yourself, your family, your business, or your community, there is always some element of ambiguity regarding the best direction in which to head. When Robert Frost saw that two roads diverged in a yellow wood, he was sorry he couldn't travel both. None of us can.
TURNS: Where Business Is Won and Lost takes a deep dive into the physical, historical, and metaphorical nature of turns through the lenses of science, history, politics, sports, and more. While no book can point the way regarding specific crossroads to which you may come, this one can help you make better decisions based on eight insightful principles that all turns have in common.
Nothing can move in a straight line forever, so turns, by nature, are about limits. But they're also about overcoming limits. Finding new roads. Discovering new directions. One way to think about life itself is that it's fundamentally about knowing when, where and how to turn-turning questions into answers, problems into solutions, and people, circumstances, and situations around-without careening into a ditch. TURNS will help you better know which way to go when you come to those forks in the road.
Steve McKee is the co-founder of McKee Wallwork, a marketing advisory firm that specializes in revitalizing stalled, stuck and stale companies. He is the author of When Growth Stalls: How it Happens, Why You're Stuck and What to Do About It, an award-winning business book now published in four languages, and Power Branding: Leveraging the Success of the World's Best Brands, which New York Times bestselling author Jay Baer called "the definitive book on modern branding" that "should be mandatory reading in every business school in America."
Steve's firm made the Inc. 500 list of the fastest-growing private companies in America its first year of eligibility and has twice won the prestigious Effie Award for marketing effectiveness from the American Marketing Association. The firm has twice been recognized by Advertising Age as Southwest Small Agency of the Year and one of the nation's Best Places to Work, and also won the publication's National B2B Campaign of the Year award. A longtime SmartBrief on Leadership contributor, Steve has also been published or quoted in The New York Times, USA Today, Advertising Age, Adweek, Investor's Business Daily, and The Los Angeles Times, among others. He has appeared on CNBC, CNNfn, Bloomberg TV and network television affiliates in dozens of cities across America. Steve is a popular speaker and has shared his insights with a wide variety of organizations and associations including the Better Business Bureau, Bloomberg, British Airways, Cabela's, Christie's International Real Estate, Einstein Bros. Bagels, The Federal Reserve, the IBM Alumni Association, International Paper, the International Executive MBA Council, the International Sleep Products Association, and the International Pizza Hut Franchise Holders Association, among others."What a supremely interesting book. TURNS is a rollicking ride through history and modern times that illustrates why, how, and when to change course in business (and in life). It's a powerful combination of Gladwell-esque narrative mixed with a giant heaping of astute business insights. Bravo!"
-Jay Baer, Hall of Fame speaker, founder of five companies, and New York Times bestselling author of six books
"Steve McKee makes a compelling case that history's turns shape today's perspectives. The principles he has uncovered are extremely relevant to a rapidly changing business climate. The overarching lesson for business leaders? Ignoring the past will condemn you to repeat it."
-Steve Damman, CEO, Quantumdigital, Inc.
"Steve McKee has always been focused on growth, and now he turns that focus to where business is won and lost. This latest book provides his great insights and some practical guidance on the real world/real life turns that we all can relate to. Turn these pages into ways to grow your business."
-Steve Pacheco, President/CEO, American Advertising Federation
"Learn to navigate challenging times and make the best decisions for your team and company in this powerful new book! Turns perfectly captures the step-by-step to creating better outcomes and taking the risks you need to succeed."
-Dr. Marshall Goldsmith, Thinkers50 #1 Executive Coach and New York Times bestselling author of The Earned Life, Triggers, and What Got You Here Won't Get You There