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MnM Blog - I
get the sense that you are really trying to help others, especially new
managers, in your book “Managing for Success:
Practical Advice for Managers.”
Where did this drive to help others come from?
Steve - My
drive to help others came from my realization that most people are bad at
managing, despite being good at the technical aspects of their job. Without
management training, they do more to de-motivate than to motivate their staff
members. I know one manager who asked his people if they were taking “stupid” pills.
One scientist came to me for advice after his manager told him “I wish I had
never promoted you” in a room full of people. My book is for new and
experienced managers and supervisors who want to learn how to be better, and
will admit they need help.
MnM Blog - You
mention that you have worked in different companies through the years. Without naming the company (unless you wish)
– which period of your career would you say “stretched” your knowledge and
abilities in a good way?
Steve - Yes,
I worked for 15 companies. This in itself is not a great honor, but there were
reasons for every move. I left my first job out of collage at The Upjohn Company
because career growth was so slow. I left Abbott Labs for the opportunity to
start my own market research department at American Critical Care, a small
cardiovascular drug company. This was a great company and establishing a new department
stretched my technical and management abilities. I left only because we were sold
to Dupont and moved to the East Coast. After that, I moved around a lot, mainly
because of bad management. Finally I moved to Dow Pharmaceutical Sciences here
in Petaluma California where I had a chance to build a sales, marketing and
business development department. This was another great company that stretched
my abilities because I wore many different hats (marketing, in and
out-licensing, market research, strategic planning) and we were growing
rapidly. This was a challenging job and great fun, and I stayed there until I
retired. California is not a bad place to end your career!
MnM blog - What
part of writing a book do you wish you knew more about before you started?
Steve - There
are so many parts to writing a book that, if I knew them in advance, I may not
have written the book! Organizing the
material, finding a good editor, a good name, a good cover, an ISBN number, and
much more. But the hardest part of all is marketing the book- creating awareness
so people know it exists, getting reviews, a website, etc. There are a ton of
books out there and writing the book is just half the battle.
MnM Blog - What
is next on the horizon for you – personally and in your writing career?
Steve - After
working on this book for four years, I’m now focusing on creating awareness
among managers and supervisors so they know what it can do for them if they are
willing to open their minds. And, I’m supposed
to be retired, so we will travel more and focus on the things we really enjoy-
following the 80/20 rule. This summer we will spend a month in Provence, France.
MnM Blog - What
two books do you consider “must reads” for anyone in business / management?
Steve - My
favorite book (old but wonderful) is Work
and the Nature of Man by Fredrick Herzberg wherein he presents his two-factor
theory (motivation vs. hygiene factors). Another favorite is The 80/20 Principle by Richard Koch. Ideas from both of these
authors heavily influenced my book.
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