Resources Books

'Pay to Win' captures the essence of successful CEO pay programs. Anyone who is interested in the details of top executive pay arrangements should read this book.

Reda's book, 'Pay to Win,' combines compensation theory with an unprecedented review of actual CEO compensation arrangements. 'Pay to Win' is a 'must have' reference source for corporate counsel, directors and CEO's alike.

Every business leader or human resource executive can learn more about how the top companies reward their CEOs and other top executives. If they don't, they clearly should. And Pay toWin can help accelerate this learning process. James Reda and James McMahon, as expert analysts of how people are paid, provide us with an in-depth analysis of how the executives in the top-performing companies in America are paid.

This book slices and dices the total compensation of executives in such brand name companies as GE, Oracle, Sun, Wal-Mart, and Enron, to provide you with guidance and solid benchmarking information you can immediately apply to the situation in your company.

Reda and McMahon study everything from the written executive compensation strategies of these companies, to how they pay in terms of base pay, incentives, and equity compensation, and provide actual proxy analysis about what is going on in American's elite companies. They provide a computer disk that you can use to do your own analysis of the information-this is an important tool you can put to work with your executive team. But this book is more than just a compilation of practice information-the authors provide analysis and commentary about what typifies the top-performers and suggest how you might add value to your business from taking their expert advice.

Each company in the study is summarized in terms of the elements of compensation, the composition of their board compensation committee, how they target total compensation and the market, and how they measures executive performance at the organizational and individual executive level. Whether you are interested in a specific company, a number of key companies, or top performers in general, Pay to Win will get you on the proper track.

Chapter 1 - Overview of CEO Compensation Trends. Defines executive compensation, reviews current trends in executive compensation, suggests the examples set by successful companies, and reviews developments in executive compensation as well as reviews what the authors predict we can see ahead. Chapter 2 - Findings of the Study. Reviews how companies were selected, reviews the importance of benchmarking top company solutions, reviews why a CEO is important, discusses roles and goals of the board compensation committee, provides information on characteristics of executive incentives, and reviews strategies of important companies. Chapter 3 - Analysis of Findings. Addresses the elements of executive pay including base pay, annual incentives, total cash compensation, long-term incentives, stock ownership and employment agreements and change in control agreements.

Chapter 4 - Good Corporate Governance. Provides a primer on what constitutes good corporate governance and guides us in crating a CEO employment agreement. Chapter 5 - Designing a Pay Strategy. Guides readers on shareholder and finance considerations as well as stock ownership among CEOs. Chapter 6 - How Small and Mid-Sized Companies Can Use Winning Company Strategies. The authors advise us that top compensation strategies and solutions are not just for the top companies. Instead, they provide sage advice to us on how best to work best practices in your company whether large or small. Chapter 7 - Two Case Studies: How Leadership and Pay Practices Impact Company Performance. This chapter discusses practice at IBM and National Presto Industries, two vastly difference companies. It shows how top executive reward strategies can help companies meet their business goals.

Chapter 8 - Profiles of the 200 Best-Performing Companies. This chapter provides an analysis of executive pay on a company-by-company basis to let you do some digging into the information yourself. Pay to Win closes with information on professional and trade organizations and a list of periodicals. The computer disk adds value to the book and permits you to continue the executive compensation developmental process on your own.

The information provided by the authors of Pay to Win is factual and based on solid investigation. This book should be read by those planning compensation in their companies or anyone interested in how some of the best companies define the concept of "pay for performance" for their executive team. It is a helpful tool to both the novice executive compensation reviewer or to those with considerable knowledge and experience. It provides a ready source of information on how a bevy or executive reward tools are and can be used and gives expert advice to those seeking knowledge on techniques and approaches to rewarding critical business leaders. This book belongs on your bookshelf along with the top-selling pay and reward books published during the last few years.

I believe that Mr. Reda's book is an essential reference for all those involved in executive compensation. Not only does it present metrics of world-class companies, but it also gives good practical advice to be used in real world situations for companies of all sizes. The insights presented on corporate governance issues and strategies for increasing shareholder value are timely and sound.

page 187 - God's Master Builders

Paul abruptly changes the metaphor from God's field to God's building (I Cor. 3:9). Paul's ministry and ours is to be God's master builders. The word Paul uses is 'architecton'. A 'tekton' is a carpenter, but an 'architecton' is the craftsman who serves as the architect, contractor and engineer.

Great nuggets of information. Buy it!!

I am a student at Moody Bible Institute in their Pastoral Studies program. I stumbled upon this book while doing research into "What is a pastor?" I found Fisher's cander refreshing and myself identifying with many of his experiences...and applauding his solutions. He writes from a conservative viewpoint with the Bible as his authority. This book was helpful to encourage me in the difficult task ahead of pastoring a church in this pluralistic, postmodern, and pagan society, and would recommend it to any aspiring Christian shepherd!

Pastor Fisher's book is no doubt of great assistance to new pastors, who need a more practical and comprehensive preparation for the ministry than provided in seminary.

However, it is also of great assistance to the laity who want to better understand and support their pastor. The pastor's job can be a lonely one. It is in the interest of the entire congregation for their pastor to succeed.

David Fisher is the ideal person to write such a book. He has many years of experience, pastoring churches throughout the United States. (I was honored to have him as my senior pastor many years ago in New Hope, Minnesota.) He brings to the job a refreshing mix of friendliness and intellectual curiosity.

Though this book is now 10 years old, its timeless principles may well assist churches for another 90 years ... when God willing devout pastors and congregations throughout the world will be preparing for the 22nd century.

I had four important and definitive books in my life. First of all the Bible. In my conversion "Christian Counter culture"by John Stott. During my growth "Authentic Life", by Ray stedman. And during my bigest crisis in ministry this book of Pastor Fisher

This book is a wonderful resource, and full of great book report ideas. I like the pages that can be photocopied and distributed to the students. I have already used four of the projects, and found they are really well done.

I am a middle school teacher who was looking for a way to get my English students to even DO a book report. This book was an answer to whatever prayer I had. The diifferent genres helps them figure out WHAT genre of book they are reading and choose accordingly. The rubrics are easy for them to follow and understand and make my grading a breeze.

This book is a timesaver in every way: the ideas are great, the pages to photocopy are well thought out, and the scoring rubrics are very helpful! I'll use this book alot in my fourth grade classroom this year!

This is a wonderful book. It is a great resource for teachers and offers a variety of reproducibles for use in the classroom. I would recommend this book to anyone who actively works in the classroom.

There are a lot of products similar to this one, but this is the best "Math Games" book that I have ever purchased. It has easy-to-understand instructions and games are matched to appropriate grade-level curriculum. Students really enjoy these games and have opportunities to learn from them by reflecting on the strategies they use, creating new games, and by attempting challenging tasks included in the book. If you are looking for a good Math games book, look no further.

This book is a must for all teachers who struggle with making kids assimilate difficult concepts such as calculating equivalent fractions, geometry, measurement, probability and statistics, decimals, and mathematical operations ranging from addition all the way through divisions with remainder.

It contains black and white masters to photocopy in order to build your own board games. What I have done so far, is photocopy the games, color them and then have them laminated so that they can last longer. These board games are ideal for small group instruction or learning centers. Most of the games require not only the board and/or the dice, but a worksheet for the kids to color while they advance on the board, making the games even more engaging for the students.

The games are aimed at students between 3rd and 6th grades, and they all contain really attractive illustrations.

If you are looking for something fun to do with your kids meanwhile they are mastering mathematical reasoning, this book is a must for you!

There's one game in this book that's worth the whole price--Skyscraper Runup, a kind of relay race for computation that students *love* to play. The Remainder Raccoon game is also a hit. The others are fun, too. I highly recommend the book. I've worn out my copy already!

This book is a guide on how to create the board games for the kids, the board games are not included. Good product.

Where in ONE resource can one find such a multitude of self-help and wellness SITES? The author did a fantastic job in including "meaty" sites! Using this book, one can surf sites FROM empowering one's self in health issues, nurturing and lifting one's spirits and learning ways to recover from addictive patterns, TO dealing with issues especially for men or women only, children/family concerns and interpersonal relationships. Since I am of the baby boomer generation, my favorite chapters of the book are the ones that address life threatening illnesses, aging, grief, and death. These are issue I'm having to deal with more and more! Anyone looking for ways to destress and empower one's self will find this book a great tool for gaining knowledge, coping, and self-improvement. Keeping it by MY computer and will surf daily!

Talk about helpful internet sites--this book is amazing! I've only had this self-help and wellness guide for a few days, and already I feel like a new person. I've found sites that offer a wealth of information on total-body wellness, how to find true prosperity (without money), inspirational quotes of great thinkers on personal development and even an online course to help develop miraculous relationships. What more could you need--and it's all here in one book! Thanks to the authors!

Your book is crucial for every member of the family. The sites included in this easy-to-follow source are beyond comparison. The chapters zero in on every aspect of self-help and wellness imaginable, and the best thing about it is that your book can do something for everyone!

Where in ONE resource can one find such a multitude of self-help and wellness SITES? The author did a fantastic job in including "meaty" sites! Using this book, one can surf sites FROM empowering one's self in health issues, nurturing and lifting one's spirits and learning ways to recover from addictive patterns, TO dealing with issues especially for men or women only, children/family concerns and interpersonal relationships. Since I am of the baby boomer generation, my favorite chapters of the book are the ones that address life threatening illnesses, aging, grief, and death. These are issue I'm having to deal with more and more! Anyone looking for ways to destress and empower one's self will find this book a great tool for gaining knowledge, coping, and self-improvement. Keeping it by MY computer and will surf daily!

40 Days & 40 Bytes is an excellent resource for congregations who may be in the beginning stages of electronic fortification or who may be looking to streamline their electronic efficiency. While not focused heavily on websites and e-evangelism, the book offers a thorough review of all considerations when buying CMS (congregational management software), computers, and setting up a network. It offers several helpful appendices that serve as checklists, including: "Congregational Culture Questions" and a "Technology Assessment Form."

The book is set up in such a way that you can skip irrelevant sections (some chapters are devoted to the general basics, like defining a CPU, for example). Infused with good humor and an ecumenical spirit, 40 Days & 40 Bytes is one of the best resources I have seen for the non-techie layperson interested in helping move their congregation into the 21st century.

Upon first receiving this book, I was skeptical that it would be another over the top book written about networks, servers, and hardware that did not make a connection to the intended audience. BOY WAS I WRONG! Aaron and team have done a tremendous job of breaking a difficult language down to simplicity! I work with thousands of churches in my ministry and I highly recommend this book to each of them. It does not matter if you are a novice or savvy user of technology, everyone will benefit from 40 Days and 40 Bytes. I would wish you enjoyment in your reading, but that is a given!

What a delightful book! "40 days and 40 bytes" was a reading assignment in a course I was taking. I was not looking forward to reading about networks, software, hardware, and gigabytes. But this book is written so clearly and with such humor that I read it in one sitting - and completely enjoyed it.

40 days and 40 bytes very logically goes through the steps necessary to design and implement a plan to introduce, or update the technology needs of a congregation. It is the perfect book for the novice and expert alike. The book covers the very basics including techno vocabulary without `talking down.' At the same time, it addresses the concerns of those with expertise in the technology field. The resources from books, companies, software, and internet sources are extremely helpful.

The information from the Center of Congregations based on real experience, and trial and error is invaluable. The book goes from the beginning planning stages, through implementation, training, support, and starting again. It gives valuable information on where churches need to put their money to insure that the technology put in place continues to function smoothly. In addition, the recommendation for continuing support and updating of equipment shifts the mindset of congregations from looking at computers and technology as large one time expenses. The fact that this information comes from a group that works with congregations and actually knows how they function validates their recommendations. The emphasis on beginning first with a team to discern the unique needs of the congregation makes so much sense. I personally identified at least 4 pitfalls that my congregation has already fallen into, which might have been avoided if we had read this book. I'm hopeful it will give the congregation a whole new way to approach the technological needs of the church.

This is the best book available on technology and congregations. The authors write in a practical, whimsical manner and the result is all kinds of useful information about computers and ministry. This book would be great for a technology team in a congregation. Or better yet, a governing board might use the book to enhance strategic mission by becoming more savvy about technology. The book includes chapters about worship and education software, congregational management software, and helps related to creating a technology plan. More and more congregations use technology as an instrument for important work. Read this book and learn how technology can strengthen the congregation you serve.

Dr. Brickey has done it again! "52 baby steps to Grow Young" has marvelous, easy-to-remember exercises to change your outlook on life, one for each week. I highly recommend this book to anyone needing to raise their spirits, put spring into their steps, and plan for a long future.

Reviewed by Mary Greenwood for Reader Views (7/06)

"52 Baby Steps to Grow Young", by Dr. Michael Brickey, is a 52-week program that gives a baby step of improvement for each week of the year. "52 Baby Steps To Grow Young" is a modern day sequel to the Tortoise and the Hare story.

Dr. Michael Brickey is a Board Certified psychologist who has written another book called "Defy Aging". He has studied Reverse Aging and has attempted to distill his knowledge into 52 lessons. His format is to list the step and ask "Why?" Then he gives a quote or two and then lists something humorous related to the topic. The reader goes on to the next step so that by the end of the year, the reader's life has improved dramatically. He uses the analogy of losing weight. Those who keep the weight off are the ones who lose it slowly because they developed good eating habits. As a reviewer, I did not have the luxury of taking a full year to read the book. I read it all in one sitting and my head is swimming with lots of good ideas. Since I am of a certain age, I gravitated toward those lessons concerning retiring.

Step 11 is Never Retire: He applies Winston Churchill's statement about never surrendering to retiring. Dr. Brickey says that if you cannot agree with that statement, then you must not be doing something you love.

Number 29 is Fear of Gray: Notice friends, politicians, and celebrities who have gray hair and look attractive, distinguished, handsome and/or beautiful. I have a lot of gray hair and am in a constant debate as to whether to let it stay gray. Most recently I saw Meryl Streep with a white hair-do in the movie, The Devil Wears Prada. She definitely looked attractive and beautiful. Maybe I will keep it gray.

Number 30- Longevity Icons: Pick an icon that represents vital longevity and choose it for your personal longevity icon. He suggests the Phoenix or the Energizer Bunny. I picked the Energizer Bunny. It exemplified my Mom (90) and Dad (91) who keep on going and going despite life's obstacles.

What I liked about the book was that it was humorous and provocative. It is easy to understand each step and dig into the topic of the week. This book is targeted to Baby Boomers who are rethinking how we age and retire. "52 Baby Steps to Grow Young" is an easy way to think about making small positive changes. Dr. Brickey talks about vitamins, exercise, humor, resiliency, happiness, and death. There is definitely something for everyone. The Tortoise wins every time!

Dr. Michael Brickey gives excellent advice in his "52 baby steps to Grow Young". By taking a baby step each week, many will grow in self discipline, gain a new attitude and enjoy a
better life. Dr. Brickey's clear instructions will definitely help those who truly want to change old habits.

Lura Zerick, author of Getting Older and Enjoying It!

I really enjoyed reading this book. Not only is it easy to read and understand, but as we start living longer, it is very important to keep your mind and body in shape. This book gives usefull information on how to do this.

Our body system is nature's most perfect creation, balanced by intricate systems of feedback and communication. Our personal lives and organizational lives are often devoid of feedback; somehow we have lost these essential skills. This book teaches us how to become Aware of our Behavior and its Consequences through an eloquent description of how healthy feedback can change us personally and corporately. As a Family Physician and teacher of Family Physicians, I am certain that the ability to give and receive feedback promotes more healthy relationships. This is the essence of sustainable growth and change. We all have the power to change ourselves and this book is a good way to start that process!

The authors summarize their vast experience teaching executives how to give feedback to others...whether they be subordinates or equals. What needs to be fed back? How to "package" that feedback? What barriers keep us from trying? Why do we all think we are good at this basic function, when most of us are miserable and uncomfortable at it? This guidebook tells us how to do it and more importantly, tell us why we must. It stimulates and challenges and ends up inspiring us. It makes it fun. Our professional life is like our personal life. We have a duty to make others better and more productive. We need to invite others to help us to improve. Without feedback, there is no learning. Without constant learning, we stagnate. If we stagnate, our life was not worth living. So this book helps us to be better human beings. Read this book, then reread it. It's like a fine wine, getting richer with age.

As a consultant and trainer, I found "The ABC's of Effective Feedback" to be so very useful to all my work in Career Development. I have advised all 35 trainers who work with me to read it so they can use its gems of wisdom in their delivery as well.

This book could easily have been retitled: what I really should have learned in medical school about effective communication...but never did. The authors present an effective framework for not only learning basic communication skills, but for understanding the more fundamental behaviors which drive our language and communications. Always balancing their message with a caring, sensitive clinical perspective, (including several "right on target" examples) their message should hit home with every physician and caring professional who chose the healing arts as a labor of love, passion, caring and commitment. All too often, in today's healthcare environment financial pressures seem to take us further away than ever from the patient...changing us from patient advocate to adversary. The frustration is further heightened by the sense that "nobody really listens to us anymore." This book lays out a coherent, comprehensive, and compassionate approach to communication which, at its best, should enable and empower us to hear and be heard more effectively - not only with our patients, but with our colleagues, other healthcare industry leaders, and our families. I heartily recommend this book!!!

Great tool! The cards really work to help people talk about inclusivity and the issues that people don't want to say out loud in a group. I was surprised how fast people really got into it. The book has a very simple process to follow. Later, I used it myself and almost had fun figuring out what is wrong with our business environment.

You don't need more meetings or brainstorming sessions to identify what needs to be done and what the issues are. Leaders of the future need to enable themselves and their teams to work successfully among people with differences. Debbe Kennedy has heard it all, collected the best ideas and solutions, and has prepared this easy to use and understand tool kit. It allows you to get to work, start talking and build a deeper understanding of people. Most managers and human resource professionals do not know how to tackle the subject of diversity and inclusion and let their own sensitivities and lack of knowledge and experience get in the way. The Action Dialogues will more than get you started and keep you talking and thinking and doing.

Debbe Kennedy's newly released "Action Dialogues" is a BREAKTHROUGH in and of itself. I say this because I feel that Debbe has broken new ground and is helping to shape the future of how we will use books as tools, not just as repositories of ideas. It is so much more than a book. It is a Tool, Reference, a source of Inspiration and a Catalyst for change in organizations, not to mention that the process laid out is customizable, flexible, accessible, fun and action-oriented. The cards themselves are amazing - they convey the spirit of diversity and inclusion through their simple design and powerful use of graphics and quotes. The categories(leadership, culture, involvement, staffing & development, strategies & measures and business) listed on the bottom corner of each card let you perform a quick assessment of where the balance of your issues reside. My initial use of the tool confirmed my gut-feel --- and helped me craft the key message that I wanted to share with our leadership team. I was able to communicate what was working, what wasn't working and what we could do about it!

When I first opened the box and began working with the book and the companion card deck, I instantly felt empowered to take action. I have now used "Action Dialogues" to prepare for and execute a dialogue with a small group of leaders focused on a key culture change project. In addition to testing this powerful new tool in the corporate setting, I have also found it to be a great way to open conversations in both non-profit and public sector environments. In one instance, a particular card and the associated issu and quote really hit a nerve with a collegue who works for a city in Northern California. We used that one issue to build around it a focused dialogue session. There are no complex theories that need to be grasped or detailed preparation. If you have a issue that needs to be discussed and you have been putting it off because you don't feel comfortable facilitating the necessary dialogue - don't wait. Buy this book. It will take you by the hand and show you step by step how to be successful and get busy changing the world!

I found this tool -- not just a book -- to be useful far beyond bringing diversity and leadership to the workplace. The structure is straightforward. The knowledge and process to unlock talent in my company got my interest. The results made me a believer. Leadership is demonstrated from a diversity of perspectives. Thank God for authors and leaders like Debbe Kennedy, Joel Barker and Francis Husselbein for cutting through the rhetoric and giving us real help.

Searcy and Thomas have written an outstanding book on starting or developing a small groups program within the local church. The material presented demonstrates a depth of insight that only comes from experience - it's easy to see how Journey Church in New York City went from a handful of people to over 1100 in worship attendance and over 1200 people in almost 100 small groups in just a few years. The book is easy to read, very well organized, very practical, yet gives the important `why' behind each of the main ideas presented. (I would characterize his other book Fusion: Turning First-Time Guests into Fully-Engaged Members of Your Church in the same way.) The material is covered in several sections within two parts: the Activate Mindset, and the Activate System. The first half talks about several novel principles and shares some solid insight in sidebars and examples. The second half is really nuts-and-bolts on how to apply this approach not just as a set of disconnected ideas, but as a complete system that can be put in place. It doesn't tell the reader what needs to be covered or try to set an agenda for the groups, so there is still a lot of freedom for application and customization of the system to best match the needs of the church.

Part One: The Activate Mindset
* Rethinking Small Group Methodology
- Think Inside Out... Not Outside In
- Think Larger... Not Smaller
- Think Friendship... Not Intimacy
* Rethinking Small Group Structure
- Think Short-Term... Not Long-Term
- Think Promotion Months... Not Ongoing Sign-ups
- Think Church of small groups... Not with small groups
* Rethinking Small Group Strategy
- Think Easy... Not Hard
- Think Ahead... Not Behind
- Think Full Staff Participation... Not Staff Specialist
* Rethinking Small-Group Leadership
- Think Apprentice... Not Expert
- Think Decentralization... Not Staff Control
- Think Leader Multiplication... Not Group Multiplication

Part Two: The Activate System
* Focusing Your Groups (with 5 Focus steps)
* Forming Your Groups (with 3 Forming steps)
* Filling Your Groups (with 11 Fill factors)
* Facilitating Your Groups (with 5 Principles)

Some may be put off by the subtitle `An Entirely New Approach to Small Groups'. That type of marketing line seems to be best left for readers and reviewers to decide, but the material in the book is not as self-promotional as the title. I had previously read several books by Donahue and others stressing being a Church of Small Groups (not with). What I particularly liked about Activate was that several foundational principles were in common with these other books, while several aspects of the approach were quite different - and Searcy and Thomas discuss the reasons why. (For example, the approach to sign-ups and promotion is different in the Activate system, but with a good rationale.)

I would strongly recommend that pastors and/or those responsible for starting or growing a small groups ministry read `Activate' in addition to the excellent books from other successful practitioners in small group ministry (e.g. Bill Donahue and Andy Stanley, including Building a Church of Small Groups: A Place Where Nobody Stands Alone and Creating Community: Five Keys to Building a Small Group Culture).

This book is awesome. The first chapter alone is worth it's weight in gold. I found myself having a continual "A-Ha" moment. It has been a complete paradigm sift for me and my staff. It's so obvious and yet almost exactly opposite of anything I had been taught before on Small Groups.
Our entire staff had been through Nelson's small group seminar and we totally revamped our small group ministry. We immediately went from dozens in small groups to Hundreds literally. The book goes into so much more detail and explanation than the seminar.
I would strongly encourage anyone who is serious about Small Groups to get this book. You will be glad you did

What I loved about this book is that it doesn't just tell us "People need to be in community". Instead, it tells us how to lead people into a small group experience and how to manage the groups system as a staff. Nelson and Kerrick have written a book for people in the trenches of the local church because that's where they are as well. I highly recommend this you buy this book for yourself and for your entire church staff!

This is a powerful refreshing book on small groups. I have read it twice already and have it all highlighted with many new insights into my personal small groups theology. We have built our church on small groups here in NYC, and have read about every small group book there is.Many are pretty much the same.However, What makes this one different is that (1).It is in fact a radical paradigm shift!Many books I read are 80% things I agree on already. What makes this book better is that I actually learned a lot more than what I already agreed on. The idea of losing control is in istelf worth the book. (2).Nelson and kerrick are powerful practicioners in that they can articulate a plan of action in real steps and not only give you a "YOU NEED TO DO THIS" thesis. They actually give you a plan and a "Why", and PROOF that its worked. BOTTOM LINE: This is Simply one of the best books ever on small groups. Even if you dont agree on everything in this book, I promise you you will gain a lot from it. The price of the book is peanuts compared to the wealth of insight you will recieve. Thanks again guys, pastor Eddie Ramirez, Victory Outreach- Alcance Victoria Brooklyn, NY.