INTRODUCTION -- Power and Influence: The Rules Have Changed

A 2007 McGraw-Hill Business Book By Robert L. Dilenschneider

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Is this another “experience” book written by another successful business executive for the “little people?” Wrong. He truly appears to be sharing his INSIDER’S KNOWLEDGE in light, provocative, interesting ways. It's obvious he hopes the power- and influence-hungry reader will read a few pages, take a few notes, think about these clear and sensible words, then try them out

What could be simpler? They, in fact, may prove to be life changing, say, you could say, but only if you adopt and modify your business and personal attitudes, as well as work styles. While power and influence won't "come to you," they will become the low-hanging fruit of one's life choices.

Naturally, it takes more than a glance to digest the “a synthesis of his thinking over the page decades (4 of them), starting back in the 1960’s. Remember those days of activism (Viet Nam war worries), the Kennedy’s (JFK) and Camelot, and start of the Great Society of LBJ1), Flower Power was the “Power” of the day, and “Influencers” included Marshall McLuhan (“the medium is the message”) and The Beatles at their zenith.

How things have evolved and progressed, to the point where today many individuals have “lost” their way in business and in their personal lives! According to Author Dilenschneider, it didn’t take much to entice a McGraw-Hill publisher to jump on this small business how-to book for future movers and shakers. The publisher picked up on the universality of the themes and produced this easy read.

Before he got done, Mr. Dilenschneider interviewed hundreds of business executives, major and minor, at the zenith of their careers and in their early years. He notes that his task grew somewhat easier after the first hundred interviews and clear themes began emerging, themes both original and dominant.

His task was made easier, since he himself was ALSO becoming a superstar along the way: In the complex and mysterious “communications” arena (employee and corporate communications; public, media and community relations; news media dealings, and politics rolled into one). As one of, if not THE PREMIER executive in the business, CEOs came to the phone when he called and made time for his counsel, questions and theory-testing.

"Hi, the Chief Executive Officer is on the phone, would you like to take this call? Who could resist?

He called on them for counsel and information sharing. Others, maybe not as noteworthy, he met with to learn more about their strengths of character and personal styles.

So, in the end, if even half of his numbered and detailed how-to rules are true and/or applicable - - WOW. Maybe there still is a chance for the rest of us to change and claw our way to the top, while having a lot MORE FUN doing so.

Win-Win, as they say. Bravo! Bring it on!

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