‘We basically treated legal compliance as a proxy for ethics, which has never really been a particularly good fit.’ I think we can all agree the world is ready for some fresh perspectives on the ethical obligations of the business world: Alison Taylor is here to provide them.  All too often there are stark differences between company statements and their day-to-day actions, as they perform the delicate dance between ethical decisions and turning a profit. Alison questions long-standing business beliefs, including the assumption that compliance is a proxy for ethical behaviour, propos ..read more

“Do what you can in the circumstances you are given right now. And don’t wait for the systems in the world around you to change in order to get some life into your life.” Most of us are only too familiar with ‘languishing’ – the opposite of flourishing. It was when Adam Grant wrote his famous 2021 New York Times article that we all recognised it as the defining post-pandemic emotion, and it continues to dominate discussions of wellbeing. Grant’s article credited research by Dr. Corey Keyes, a distinguished professor emeritus and a leading voice in the study of mental health and human flourishi ..read more

‘For an academic book, you are looking to demonstrate that you stand on the shoulders of giants. For a practitioner book, you ARE the giant… But you’re not the first giant.’ Meredith Norwich is a senior acquisitions editor at Routledge, part of Taylor and Francis Publishing, and she has seen a LOT of business book proposals. What makes a proposal stand out for her? You might be surprised… Packed with valuable insights for first-time authors and behind-the-scenes glimpses into the publishing industry, this is essential listening for anyone contemplating writing a business book.  AUDIO VID ..read more

I’m just back from an exhausting, exhilarating few days at London Book Fair. My ears are still ringing slightly, my feet hurt, I need to spend a few days on my own in a darkened room and I can’t even tell you how many follow-up actions are on my to-do list – in other words, it was a great Fair. But what does that mean? As publishers, we at Practical Inspiration Publishing are all about selling books, but we don’t actually sell our books at book fairs: so what DO we do? Here’s an insider’s guide to what actually goes on at London Book Fair for book trade professionals and for authors and illust ..read more

Louise Brogan helps entrepreneurs and professionals elevate their LinkedIn game. In this week’s conversation she explains why LinkedIn is so important for businesses and why most people are so dreadful at it. From fundamental mindset to the most effective tactics right now, it’s a masterclass in maximising your profile on LinkedIn without losing your soul.   She’s also in the throes of writing her first business book, so this is a great report from the frontline if you’re in that place and want some comradely advice and support. And finally, Louise’s no-nonsense, super-helpful Linked ..read more

“It was fantastic, just as a sheer exercise in putting something out there and being brave and saying, these are my thoughts, what does everyone else think?” Lucy Adams spends her days helping HR leaders reimagine their profession, and her classic work HR Disrupted and its sequel, The HR Change Toolkit, are critical to this mission. Her message is simple: treat employees as adults. But the implications are profound. In this conversation, we talk about how HR is changing (or not), the impact of COVID on the profession and on Lucy’s decision to write a new edition, the delight of writing and the ..read more

‘The beautiful part of it, which is also the hardest and the most painful part, is the editing… [if] you put a book out into the world which will be around longer than you, you might as well put in the effort to get it right.’ David McQueen has never been one to shy away from tough conversations. In his book, The BRAVE Leader, he challenges all leaders to lean into the difficulty, to be more courageous and ambitious in their decision-making for inclusivity.  And it turns out that willingness to engage and that refusal to settle served him well when it came to writing his first book. More ..read more

Following last week’s quadricentennial episode, a slightly belated but still brilliant best bits episode, showcasing the shiniest gems from the last few Extraordinary Business Book Club conversations.  The theme is pushing through discomfort, and it brings together extraordinary stories, illuminating insights and gloves-down challenges from:  Errol Doebler on emotional regulation and the discipline of writing;  Sir John Tusa on the traits of people who Get Things Done; Bonnie Wan on writing her way out of the darkest moments;  Andy Brown on taking ideas further;  Sara ..read more

How can I start running when I absolutely hate running? What’s your one big, albeit lesser known, tip for writing your first book? Have you tried smoked chili peanut butter yet? When I put out the call for questions for this quadricentennial episode, I could never have imagined the response. From the playful to the profound, these questions have got me thinking and I hope they, and my answers, will get you thinking too.  So for one week only, to celebrate this 400-episode milestone, you’re asking the questions in the Extraordinary Business Book Club and I’m in the hot seat. Very strange ..read more

“You have to get in front of what you’re writing. You have to look at it and you have to type a key. If you don’t, it’s just not going to happen.” Errol Doebler knows a thing or two about discipline. He’s been a Naval Surface Warfare officer, Navy SEAL officer, FBI special agent and SWAT operator before founding his leadership consulting firm Ice Cold Leader, which is also the name of his new book.  Why ice-cold? Because ice baths form a key part of his own self-regulation regime, and because managing emotional responses is so foundational to effective leadership. Errol had to develo ..read more