The Answer to Global Overload

Contending with the 24/7 news cycle and an endless barrage of choices and information has stymied leadership and decision-making strategies among those at the top. But we all know, this is not a just a problem for the elite. The broad-based reaction to this chaotic, unmanageable assault has been to retrench, and to focus on immediate, controllable decisions. In the process, we lose sight of the horizon. More dangerous still, is the shift we've seen from "value" creation to "wealth" creation, where information technology 1.0 has enabled a transaction-based society in which the "deal" is more important than the value it drives or the relationships it is based on. On our current path, the odds of a better future are slim.

What we need is a new value proposition.

"Beating the Global Odds "is the answer to the dangers of too much of a good thing. There's no going back, but there is the opportunity to set things right. In this book, Paul A. Laudicina, Managing Partner and Chairman of the Board of global consulting firm A.T. Kearney, provides a fast-paced and engaging tour of how we got to this point and what we can do about it.

Drawing on examples from everything from world history and current media to anecdotes from his vast network of CEOs and the world's most innovative thinkers, Laudicina helps bring our world of seemingly fuzzy and disconnected pixels into sharp focus.

The result is a compelling case for change and call to action--not only for global leaders but also for everyone who struggles with the question of how we can inspire and seize a better future... how we can beat the global odds.

Reviews of A Modern Approach to Graham and Dodd Investing

"What happened in the market? What lies ahead? Investors should be required to read Tom Au's A Modern Approach to Graham and Dodd Investing. Tom delivers a commonsense road map for baby boomer professional and individual investors navigating the treacherous investment waters. This is the best investment book I have read in twenty-three years."
-Scott Kingsley Swift, Vice President, Merrill Lynch, CFM

"Many times I've found myself reading through investment classics, wishing that they were more relevant to our present world; the information companies report, market conditions, today's business culture, and the expectations modern stock investors have developed based on a large set of alternative investment choices. Finally, my wish, and those of other investors who've felt the same, has been granted by Thomas Au and his soon-to-be classic, A Modern Approach to Graham and Dodd Investing."
-Marc H. Gerstein, Director of Investment Research, Reuters

"In an age of easy money and easy credit, Thomas Au's A Modern Approach to Graham and Dodd Investing reminds us that successful investing is a product of long-term prudent strategies based on disciplined investment decisions. This work is an excellent and timely in-depth analysis on value investing which is a must read, particularly during these volatile financial times."
-David Marshall, President, Emerson Partners, LLC

"This is an informative, readable book that presents a comprehensive framework for practitioners of deep value investing. Thomas Au, a proven investor in the value world, shows that the principles of value investing can be applied to a broad rangeof investment issues from analyzing the key line items on the corporate balance sheet to international investing and dynamic asset allocation. Au's underlying message is that value investors have long time horizons, both in looking back at historical precedents and in looking forward, well beyond the next quarterly earnings report. Most importantly, the book is filled with real-time, real-world examples where Au applied the value approach to construct a winning portfolio. Au is gold!"
-Leland Crabbe, Portfolio Manager, Credit Suisse Asset Management

"A refreshing look at the methods for ensuring a margin of safety in one's investments developed by one of the true masters. Sadly, in this liquidity-driven bubble market, investors have once again lost their way. This book will grow in acknowledgement as today's stock market 'sheep' are once again led to their slaughter for having ignored such wisdom."
-Richard J. Greene, Thunder Capital Management

"Tom Au's update of Graham and Dodd's security analysis is a must read for any serious investor. With the technology bubble behind us, investors have come back to the proven principles of value investing. Tom has put together a powerful framework for value investing in the twenty-first century."
-Gerard Watson, Managing Director, Santander Investments

Mission Statement: The current education policy emphasis on higher performance standards, school-level accountability, and market-based reform presents important research challenges within the field of school finance. The simultaneous pursuit of both equity and efficiency within this policy context creates an unprecedented demand for rigorous, timely, and field-relevant research on fiscal practices in schools. This book series is intended to help meet this demand. Specifically, the series provides a scholarly forum for interdisciplinary research on the financing of public, private, and higher education in the United States and abroad. The series is committed to disseminating high quality empirical studies, policy analyses, theoretical models, and literature reviews on contemporary issues in fiscal policy and practice. Each themed volume is intended for a diversity of readers, including academic researchers, policy makers, and school practitioners.