E=mc2 You may think you know what this familiar formula means, but until you read Sam Silverstein’s breakthrough book, you will not know its true power or its potential. This is the Accountability Formula™, and it forms the heart of the Theory of Accountability™. Silverstein’s Theory of Accountability has nothing to do with physics, the speed of light, or the relationship between space and time. It has everything to do with personal and organizational growth, and with establishing the kind of leadership in your own life that makes excuses a thing of the past…and inspires true commitment from others. The Theory of Accountability states: Our lived EXPERIENCE is the direct result of our MINDSET and our COMMITMENT SQUARED. Silverstein’s new book examines each of these critical elements in depth, and shows you how to leverage the power of accountability to create a sustainable high-performance life and organization. E stands for Experience. Our experience is the results: the outcomes we achieve in our life, in our business, and everywhere else. It is what we produce. Our experience impacts the lives of everyone we come in contact with. The problem is, all too often, our experience is erratic, random, unplanned, and dysfunctional--with results to match. M stands for Mindset. The accountable mindset is based on a conscious decision to embrace possibility rather than fear. When decisions are driven by fear, our experience and the experience of everyone we come in contact with suffers. On the other hand, when decisions are driven by a set of beliefs that are based on valuing people, and on a foundation of abundance rather than scarcity, our experience improves. C2 stands for Commitment Squared. How do we ensure that our mindset is driven by possibility and abundance, rather than by fear and scarcity? By focusing on our ability to make, keep, and expand specific commitments. There is truly awesome power in commitment. The quality of the results you achieve is always based on two things: how committed you are to people, and how committed you are to your mindset and your core beliefs. These are the two commitments of the accountable person. When both kinds of commitments are in full play, when you are all in, you are living to your full potential. Such commitments are like compound interest, because they produce increasingly greater results over time. Sam’s latest book offers leaders a proven system for taking control of your life and transforming yourself and your organization…by harnessing the awesome power of accountability.

Providing a holistic view of accountability, this book clarifies the purposes of accountability; identifies what triggers accountability exchanges; generates a set of responsibility and accountability constructs; and, links these constructs to the accountability process and to the influences that impact on this process.

How much influence do citizens have to control the government? What guides voters at election time? Why do governments survive? How do institutions modify the power of the people over politicians? The book combines academic analytical rigor with comparative analysis to identify how much information voters must have to select a politician for office, or for holding a government accountable; whether parties in power can help voters to control their governments; how different institutional arrangements influence voters' control; why politicians choose particular electoral systems; and what economic and social conditions may undermine not only governments, but democracy. Arguments are backed by vast macro and micro empirical evidence. There are cross-country comparisons and survey analyses of many countries. In every case there has been an attempt to integrate analytical arguments and empirical research. The goal is to shed new light on perplexing questions of positive democratic theory.

6 Party Government and Responsiveness: James A. Stimson

What if the secret to being your best, attracting people and leading people was merely knowing what, why and how to commit to people? All you have ever wanted was to have more meaningful relationships, attract others to your cause and be able to make a difference in the lives of the people around you. You can have all this and more when you harness the power of the commitment. No Matter What starts with a simple “Yes” that forms a commitment you make to yourself and to the people around you. You will discover that, No Matter What, you will be able to: Make your word your bond Know and live your values Help people be their very best Create a good reputation in a troubled world Develop and sustain sound financial principles No Matter What is simple, powerful and life changing. When you start right now you will be committing to a better future for yourself and the people around you, No Matter What! For over 25 years, Sam Silverstein has helped people and organizations be the very best they can be. Sam will share the truth of what accountability is, why it is the most powerful change agent in existence and how you can harness the power of commitment in 10 specific and defining areas. Sam has worked with companies, government agencies and individuals around the world helping them create their best possible self through the power of accountability. Thousands of people have put Sam’s philosophies and tools to work as they have grown and prospered.

Accountability is not a way of doing. Accountability is a way of thinking. Those who achieve greatness know true accountability makes all the difference between success and failure. Based on extensive interviews with accountable leaders—from Fortune 500 CEOs to Hall of Fame athletes—No More Excuses identifies the five accountabilities of successful people and organizations. These tenets encourage accountability in others and performance at the highest level. When you willingly accept and embrace the five accountabilities, you encourage accountability in others and empower your teams to achieve at the highest level. The result is an organization focused on its fundamental values and committed, at the individual level, to achieving critical strategic goals. Whether you are a business owner, a top executive, or a team leader, accountability starts with you and trickles down to everyone else. If you want to build an organization that achieves its goals and beats the competition it is time for No More Excuses.

Drawing on the best scholars in the field from around the world, this handbook showcases conceptual and normative as well as the empirical approaches in public accountability studies.