A powerful story about the African philosophy of teamwork and collaboration that has the power to reshape our workplaces, our relationships with our coworkers, and our personal lives, written by the bestselling coauthor of "Fish " and the bestselling author of "1001 Ways to Reward Employees."
John Peterson, a new manager in the credit department at a major big-box retailer, is struggling in his job. The people under him are not working as well or effectively as they need to, and his department is falling behind in meeting its goals. His only solution is to take on more work himself, burning the midnight oil and coming in most weekends to pick up the slack and keep his department above water.
When one of the employees stays behind to help him--a young man who came to America from a small village in Africa--he learns of the ancient wisdom and hidden power of the African philosophy of Ubuntu. Before long, it begins to change the way he thinks about the people he works with, about himself, and about how he runs his department and his life.
In an engaging and completely fresh narrative that holds a unique message for today's business world, "Ubuntu " shows us a way to overcome our fears, insecurities, and the "me-ism" that so often permeates our workplaces, and replace it with a culture of genuine respect and collaboration. It promises to take its place alongside "Fish " and other business parables as the next bestselling classic in the business category.

Why do some small businesses succeed while others fail?

That is the question one young entrepreneur faces in this illuminating business parable for our times. "Loops" reveals the soul-searching story of Tony, a business student who doesn't understand why he can't quit school and work in the family business.

Then his professor surprises him with an unusual final exam-- a twelve-week, summer-long study of the small businesses in his local area. This simple real-world assignment opens Tony's eyes to the most important lessons an entrepreneur can learn, such as how to: Manage "experience zones" Build strong customer relations through "vision moments" Standardize key processes for employees Innovate, improve, and maintain quality Accomplish real results by "closing the loops"

As you follow Tony's journey, you'll receive a week-by-week crash course on the seven essential loops for small business. You will learn how to distinguish yourself from the competition, improve your operations, and close the loops. Best of all, you'll discover innovative ways to apply the loops concept to every challenge you face, with every endeavor, in any economy.

When you close the loops, you open the door--to limitless opportunities.