It's Not Personal-It's Strictly Business: The Godfather Way of Surviving, Conniving, and Thriving in Corporate America by Tony Serri serves up a funny and insightful perspective on surviving in the cutthroat culture of American business. It's Not Personal... takes the lessons of The Godfather saga and analyzes the actions and outcomes of the Corleone family, drawing corollaries to real-life business challenges. Having trouble keeping your cool at work? Conquer your work demons in the chapter, "Your Sonny Disposition." Do you struggle at making tough decisions? Stop listening to your "conscience" and start listening to your "Don-science" in "What Would Vito Do?" Written in droll prose, It's Not Personal... sends a clear message that you can be ruthless in the workplace and keep your eternal soul if you learn the tricks of the most famous and successful criminal family in movie history. David Shore, Executive Producer of House M.D. says of It's Not Personal, "I know some extremely funny people. I know experts on everything Godfather. I know some people who have been spit on by corporate America. But I know only one person who has dedicated his life to these great goals. If this is the same Tony Serri, you should definitely but this book."

Do people see you as the kind of leader you want to be? Are your strongest leadership qualities getting in the way of your greatness? After decades of advising and inspiring some of the most eminent chief executives in the world, Lolly Daskal has uncovered a startling pattern: within each leader are powerful abilities that are also hidden impediments to greatness. She’s witnessed many highly driven, overachieving leaders rise to prominence fueled by well-honed skill sets, only to falter when the shadow sides of the same skills emerge. Now Daskal reveals her proven system, which leaders at any level can apply to dramatically improve their results. It begins with identifying your distinctive leadership archetype and recognizing its shadow: ■ The Rebel, driven by confidence, becomes the Imposter, plagued by self-doubt. ■ The Explorer, fueled by intuition, becomes the Exploiter, master of manipulation. ■ The Truth Teller, who embraces candor, becomes the Deceiver, who creates suspicion. ■ The Hero, embodying courage, becomes the Bystander, an outright coward. ■ The Inventor, brimming with integrity, becomes the Destroyer, who is morally corrupt. ■ The Navigator, trusts and is trusted, becomes the Fixer, endlessly arrogant. ■ The Knight, for whom loyalty is everything, becomes the Mercenary, who is perpetually self-serving. Using psychology, philosophy, and her own experience, Daskal offers a breakthrough perspective on leadership. She’ll take you inside some of the most cloistered boardrooms, let you in on deeply personal conversations with industry leaders, and introduce you to luminaries who’ve changed the world. Her insights will help you rethink everything you know to become the leader you truly want to be.

This handbook lets readers in on the rules of winning the game. Written by two veteran screenwriters, this is a complete guide to getting a screenplay seen, read, and sold.

Celebrating the 50th anniversary of The Godfather, this authorized, annotated and illustrated edition of the complete, unedited screenplay includes all the little-known facts, behind-the-scenes intrigue, and first-person reflections from cast and crew members on the making of this landmark film. From its ingenious cinematic innovations and memorable, oft-quoted script to its iconic cast, including Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, Robert Duvall, James Caan, The Godfather is considered by many to be the greatest movie ever made. And yet, the history of its making is so colorful, so chaotic, that one cannot help but marvel at the seemingly insurmountable odds it overcame to become a true cinematic masterpiece, and a film that continues to captivate its audience decades after its release. In this authorized, annotated, and illustrated edition of the complete screenplay, nearly every scene is examined and dissected, including: Fascinating commentary on technical details about the filming and shooting locations Tales from the set, including arguments, accidents, anecdotes and practical jokes Profiles of the actors and stories of how they were cast Deleted scenes that never made the final cut, and the goofs and gaffes that did And much more! Interviews with former Paramount executives, cast and crew members, and director Francis Ford Coppola, round out the commentary and shed new light on everything you thought you knew about this most influential film. With more than 200 photographs, this a truly unique, collectable keepsake for every Godfather fan.

The Kingdom Will Come Anyway: A Life in the Day of a Pastor opens a window into the world of a typical minister serving congregations in the midst of soul-stirring delights and heart-rending troubles. Pastor Bob Luidens paints a true-to-life portrait of moments in his life that have been evocative of humor and heartache, as well as inviting of conviction and confusion. This is a memoir that will resonate with church members and pastors, as well as college students and seminarians. The stories embedded in Pastor Luidens's recollections are rooted in everyday life. But those same stories disclose God's gripping work of restoration and renewal within that life--of a kingdom unstoppable in its coming into our midst. These stories will inspire and challenge each reader, just as the original experiences did with the author. They affirm Jesus's soul-lifting reminder that our loving creator is at work in every moment of our unique, precious lives.

In this entertaining and insightful essay, Mario Puzo chronicles his rise from struggling writer to overnight success after the publication of The Godfather. With equal parts cynicism and humor, Puzo recounts the book deal and his experiences in Hollywood while writing the screenplay for the movie. Francis Ford Coppola, Robert Evans, Peter Bart, Marlon Brando, and Al Pacino all make appearances-as does Frank Sinatra, in his famous and disastrous encounter with Puzo. First published in 1972, the essay is now available as an ebook for the first time. A must-have for every Godfather fan! Featuring a foreword by Ed Falco, author of The Family Corleone.

Change is a constant, and leaders must do more than keep up—they must innovate and accelerate to succeed. Yet people are often unnerved by change. As a leader during a time of transformation, you may stand up before teams that are indifferent, or even hostile, and need to convince them that change is necessary and urgent. More than money, time, or resources, the ability to lead these people determines your ultimate success or failure. What does it take to be an effective change leader and increase the odds of success? Stacking the Deck offers a proven, practical approach for inspiring meaningful, lasting change across an organization. Stacking the Deck presents a nine-step course of action leaders can follow from the first realization that change is needed through all the steps of implementation, including assembling the right team of close advisors and getting the word out to the wider group. Based on Dave Pottruck's experiences leading change as CEO of Charles Schwab and later as chairman of CorpU and HighTower Advisors, these steps provide a guide to ensure that your change initiative and your team have the best possible shot at success. In addition, established business leaders who have led extraordinary change initiatives demonstrate the steps in action. These executives include eBay CEO John Donahoe, Wells Fargo former CEO Dick Kovacevich, Starbucks chief executive officer Howard Schultz, San Francisco Giants CEO Larry Baer, JetBlue CEO Dave Barger, Asurion CEO Steve Ellis, Pinkberry CEO Ron Graves, and Intel's President Renee James, among others. Leading an organization through major change—whether it's the introduction of a new product, an expansion to a new territory, or a difficult downsizing—is not for the faint of heart. While success is never guaranteed, the right leadership, process, and team make all the difference. For all leaders facing major change in their organizations, Stacking the Deck is an indispensable resource for putting the odds in your favor.