The ROI of LOL


Book Description

Laughter is a powerful remedy to what ails today’s teams and organizations. There are a host of neuroscientific explanations for why laughter makes us feel so great. Laughter triggers "feel good" chemicals in the brain which activate opiate receptors throughout your body and mind. Creating a workplace culture in which laughter is not only allowed but expected is an important step in building the trust, openness, authenticity, storytelling, and teamwork (TOAST) that are essential to any healthy collaborative environment. What all this means for your business is that by harnessing the prodigious power of your own unique individual sense of humor (and empowering your employees to do the same), you can increase morale, collaboration, communication, and productivity. You can find new and unexpected ways to connect with your external stakeholders. And you can have fun doing it. Learn the role laughter plays in the five critical elements of a strong corporate culture: Trust, Openness, Authenticity, Storytelling, and Teamwork. Understand how the skills learned by stand-up comics like reading a room, being vulnerable or self-deprecating, listening, and overcoming objections are critical to leaders in today’s business climate. See how improv fosters teamwork and can be a unifying force in any organization. Gain insights into how other kinds of comedy like sketch comedy and creative collaboration can be applied in a business setting to build critical skill sets.




ROI for Technology Projects


Book Description

This is the first book focusing on the ROI for technology investments written by a technology executive for technology decision makers with the support and guidance of the foremost authority in the discipline of Return on Investment. This book leverages the talents of both authors to provide a framework and methodology that can ensure greater success in mobilizing technology initiatives. There is no other book on the market that specifically addresses the critical need to prove ROI on resource intensive technology projects with a time-tested and industry leading methodology. To date, most ROI books have focused in the areas of human performance, training, marketing, and other human capital related disciplines. With increased scrutiny of technology spending by the most complex organizations in the world, technology leaders need a 'tool kit' to help them prepare for hard-hitting discussions with their organization's CFO, president, CEO, or chairman about the return they should expect from critical technology projects. Rather than focusing top managers' attention on cutting, challenging, and controlling expenditures (as many C-level accountants prefer to do), this approach guides technology managers in providing executives with more comprehensive, balanced information that helps all involved make better business decisions. Along the way, it helps technology managers communicate more effectively with the financial decision makers in their organizations. The book also shows executives how partnering with IT leaders can help top management understand the return these technology projects can provide to the organization in increased human efficiency, automation of manual processes, unified organizational data, and other high-return results from complex and critical technology initiatives. At the same time, executives and IT professionals need to have their projects measured with a balanced perspective. While the ROI itself is very important, it's also important to capture intangibles related to the project, as well as information about application and implementation of the project. Even earlier in the cycle, it's important to capture reaction to the technology and the extent to which individuals have learned the technology. Together, these data sets represent a balanced profile of success, with ROI at the pinnacle.




R. O. I. Marketing Secrets Revealed


Book Description

ROI Marketing Secrets Revealed is a collective MasterMind effort of 36 of Americas leading marketing experts to show you the value of determining ROI (return on investment) for your business. By focusing on ROI for each dollar spent in your marketing program, you can calculate how much you are spending on every marketing alternative. You can see in clear numbers which marketing channel is producing the most return for your invested dollars. Once you know this number, you can use it to compare every dollar you spend on marketing to determine which marketing strategy produces the best return for your business. Your newfound ROI knowledge will allow you to intelligently shift your money to your most effective marketing options, slash wasted expenses that don't produce, and increase the number of prospects you get for every dollar you spend.




The 99 Day Diversity Challenge


Book Description

Is it really possible for an individual or an organization to develop an inclusion and diversity mindset within the proverbial 99 days? Award-winning social entrepreneur Dr Saundarya Rajesh, one of India's most prominent diversity strategists who is credited with having ushered in the 'second-career' revolution for women professionals, believes it is. In an engaging, gentle, often light-hearted way, Dr Rajesh demystifies this vast subject of Diversity and Inclusion (D&I) for the business leader, the diversity enthusiast and even the young professional who is interested in this topic. Over a set of 99 stories, anecdotes and thought blogs, this book sequentially uncovers the meaning of D&I and how this can be absorbed by just about everyone. At the core of the 99 Day Diversity Challenge is the belief that the organizational practice of inclusion actually results in us becoming better human beings. For when we break down differences and create greater connectedness between people, we are building a better world.




How to Write a Novel


Book Description

Author and former literary agent Nathan Bransford shares his secrets for creating killer plots, fleshing out your first ideas, crafting compelling characters, and staying sane in the process. Read the guide that New York Times bestselling author Ransom Riggs called "The best how-to-write-a-novel book I've read."







Who's in Your Room?


Book Description

Imagine your life as a simple room with four walls. Who are you letting in and who are you kicking out? Can you imagine living a better life? Would you like to surround yourself with more supportive people? There’s hope! You see, the quality of your life depends on the people in your life. THE SIMPLE AND POWERFUL IDEAS IN THIS BOOK CAN CHANGE YOUR LIFE FOREVER. Who’s in Your Room? introduces you to the concept of your life being like a room—a room where anyone who enters affects your life . . . forever. Although this concept may sound frightening, this book gives you the tools and exercises you need to take control of your room and live the life you desire. This book brings in experts to describe how people leave you with memories that cannot be erased but can be managed. You manage them by determining what’s really important to you, and then you can determine how to spend your time and whom you should be spending it with. Stop living according to everyone else’s rules. Shape your life by taking control of your room. Live your life by your design!




The Fires of Vengeance


Book Description

In this "relentlessly gripping, brilliant" epic fantasy (James Islington), an ousted queen must join forces with a young warrior in order to reclaim her throne and save her people. Tau and his Queen, desperate to delay the impending attack on the capital by the indigenous people of Xidda, craft a dangerous plan. If Tau succeeds, the Queen will have the time she needs to assemble her forces and launch an all out assault on her own capital city, where her sister is being propped up as the 'true' Queen of the Omehi. If the city can be taken, if Tsiora can reclaim her throne, and if she can reunite her people then the Omehi have a chance to survive the onslaught. "This gritty series set in a South African–inspired fantasy world is an intense reading experience, and the second book is just as phenomenal as the first."—BuzzFeed News "The Fires of Vengeance is epic fantasy at its finest."—Winter Is Coming The Books of The Burning Series The Rage of Dragons The Fires of Vengeance The Lord of Demons




Jacob Wonderbar and the Cosmic Space Kapow


Book Description

Out-of-this-world antics in this hysterical middle-grade adventure! Sixth-grader Jacob Wonderbar is a master when it comes to disarming and annihilating substitute teachers. But when he and his best friends, Sarah and Dexter, swap a spaceship for a corn dog, they embark on an outer space adventure. And between breaking the universe with an epic explosion, being kidnapped by a space pirate, and surviving a planet that reeks of burp breath, Jacob and his friends are in way over their heads. Action packed with an added dose of heart, Jacob Wonderbar and the Cosmic Space Kapow is sure to captivate middlegrade readers all over the universe.




Esports Business Management


Book Description

Esports have rapidly expanded from a pastime undertaken by casual players to one of the largest segments of the entertainment industry, in which hundreds of millions of people play and compete daily. Esports Business Management With HKPropel Access is one of the first textbooks to present an all-encompassing look into the world of esports business, will teach both aspiring students and sports professionals about the business of this rapidly expanding industry. Written by esports executives, business experts, and esports educators—and endorsed by the International Esports Federation, Esports Research Network, and the United States Esports Federation—the textbook offers a comprehensive approach to the operational side of esports, supplemented by a striking full-color design and dynamic imagery that will bring concepts to life. The text begins with a basic overview of the industry, including various levels of esports, culture, and social issues. Next, readers will explore the interests and concerns of various tiers of stakeholders—from title publishers and event organizers to leagues, sponsors, fans, and more—and learn about governance at multiple levels, from the international level to college conferences. A full look at the marketing engine of esports examines sponsorship opportunities, esports events and venues, and communications at all levels, including broadcasting, analytics, and social media. The book addresses managerial and business issues associated with running an esports-related entity, including financial and legal concepts as well as team and player management. The text concludes by examining careers found in the various segments of the industry and looking at the future of esports. Throughout the text, Zoning sidebars provide real-world spotlights that bring the concepts to life. Student learning will be enhanced by the related online learning aids delivered through HKPropel, with student exercises and case studies that apply content to life, industry profiles, and a list of Internet resources for further learning. While similarities exist between the sports and esports environments, there are also significant differences in how the esports industry must operate to thrive. Esports Business Management is the foundational text for understanding and working in this exciting, fast-paced industry. Note: A code for accessing HKPropel is not included with this ebook but may be purchased separately.