I'm happy to announce that my latest book, Measures of Success: React Less, Lead Better, Improve More, is completed!
That means I was able to release it in the Amazon Kindle Store, which is probably the easiest way for most people to buy and download the book.
A paperback version is in the works and I'm still finalizing things with Apple Books (EDIT: now available).
I first released an “in-progress” version of the first three chapters of the book via Leanpub.com back in February. The feedback that I've gotten from early buyers and people I invited to read early drafts has been very helpful. I think the book is stronger and clearer, as a result.
The completed book can still be purchased through Leanpub at a suggested price of $19.99 (there's a slider that allows you to pay a little less or to, as some buyers have actually done, pay more).
You can get more information about the book on the newly updated website for the project.
I hope you're interested in buying. You can download a sample to read through Leanpub, Amazon, or through my book's website.
Buy Through Leanpub (PDF, MOBI, EPUB)
With the Leanpub purchase, you get:
- PDF version of the book that can be viewed, downloaded, or printed
- MOBI version that you can download and add to and Kindle app or reader
- EPUB version that can be downloaded for Apple Books or other compatible readers
- Digital extras that download along with the book, including an exclusive offer of 30 minutes of free virtual coaching
Buy Through Apple iBooks
Buy Through Amazon Kindle
If you buy through Amazon, you get all of the convenience and features you expect there:
- Easy download and sync across devices
- Change fonts and sizes
- Zoom in on figures
- Digital highlighting and notetaking
The Kindle version received pre-orders from the U.S., Canada, the U.K., Germany, France, Italy, and Brazil. I realize the need and preference some still have for paperback books (which is why I'm working on that), but it's amazing that an eBook can have such global reach so quickly.
The book has been the “#1 New Release in Total Quality Management,” which makes me chuckle a bit since the TQM term seems a bit outdated, but that's the broad category for books on Lean, TPS, Six Sigma, Agile, and more (and some seemingly miscategorized books). The methods and mindsets in my book, Process Behavior Charts, have existed since a time prior to the TQM term becoming popular, but I've tried to write a book that's relevant and updated for today.
Some of the current best sellers in that category (my book has been #5 or so this weekend), include books from some of my podcast guests past, such as Jeffrey Liker and Karen Martin.
Book Endorsements
I was honored to get some early book endorsements from thought leaders across multiple industries.
One came from Daniel H. Pink, a New York Times best-selling author (and podcast guest of mine):
“MEASURES OF SUCCESS will help you tame the firehose of data flooding your organization, turning it into an orderly stream of information you can use to improve your business. With clarity and precision, Mark Graban steps through the process of collecting and analyzing the kind of data you focus on — activities that add value for your customers rather than activities that are just wasted motion. If you're navigating a tough business environment, you need this book.”
I'm thankful for all of the endorsers, from Lean circles and beyond. I'm hoping Dan's blurb will help open doors to an audience that normally wouldn't get exposed to a book like this.
I was, of course, honored that Don Wheeler wrote the foreword and gave this endorsement:
…everyone who is exposed to business data of any type needs to read this book.
Upcoming Webinars
I will be doing some webinars later this month… details to come in a blog post later this week. One will be in the context of Lean management in healthcare and the other webinar will be for a broader Lean management audience. You can actually find info about the webinars now on my book's website.
The Process
If blog readers are interested, I'd be willing to write something about the “process” for writing this book and some of the approaches I took, etc. That could be an upcoming blog post.
Win One of Three Copies
See this Amazon Giveaway for a chance to win: Measures of Success: React Less, Lead Better, Improve More (Kindle Edition).
NO PURCHASE NECESSARY.
- Winner: Randomly selected after Giveaway has ended, up to 3 winners.
- Requirements for participation:
- Resident of the 50 United States or the District of Columbia
- Watch a (4 minute) YouTube video
- 18+ years of age (or legal age)
- See Official Rules (my apologies to blog readers outside of the 50 states and D.C. – the geographic constraint is Amazon's, not mine)
The contest will be open until Sunday, August 12, when the winners will be notified by Amazon. Good luck!
I Hope This Book Helps
Why do authors write books? On some level, because we want to. I think we actually FINISH books because we feel like we have to write a book. As I say in the preface of the book, I'm fortunate to have learned about SPC and Process Behavior Charts. I've seen how helpful they can be.
Not everybody has been exposed to those ideas. It's not their fault. When I criticize other methods, like tables of numbers with red/green color coding, I'm trying hard not to criticize the people who are doing things that way. They're often following the lead of what others taught them (or told them) to do.
But, I hope my book shows there is a better way… we can learn to react less, lead better, and improve more.
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Check out my latest book, The Mistakes That Make Us: Cultivating a Culture of Learning and Innovation:
Some reaction on LinkedIn:
From Twitter:
Another tweet:
I won one of the giveaway copies! Thanks, Mark! I started reading it last night.
Great. I hope you enjoy the book and find it to be useful.