Zenobia: The Curious Book of Business: A Tale of Triumph Over Yes-Men, Cynics, Hedgers, and Other Corporate Killjoys

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Contents

MAKE OF THE UNKNOWN AN ADVENTURE ... TAKE CARE, LEST YOUR SUCCESS LEAD TO RUIN ... CONCEIVE A PLAN; PURSUE IT ... CELEBRATE DIFFERENCES, OR WATCH THEM BREED DISTRUST ... PREPARE FOR RIDICULE ... KNOW THE WORLD WILL CHANGE, DESPITE OR BECAUSE OF YOU ... LOOK FOR WHAT COULD BE, NOT JUST WHAT IS ... STEP BEYOND YOUR WALLS TO FIND YOUR WAY ... LIST WELL ... YIELD NOTHING TO THOSE WHO CAN'T SEE PAST THEMSELVES ... SEEK THE UNLIKELY ALLIANCE ... EMBRACE THE ARRIVAL OF THE NEW ... INVENT YOUR OWN FUTURE ... HONOR THE IMAGINATION

Description

Book Description
Zenobia--a former industry giant that is bedeviled by paralyzing hierarchies, grossly inadequate communications, and distrust--is a broken place. Zenobia is a fortress doomed to collapse upon itself. Enter Moira, who has responded to a help wanted ad and seeks to find a given office, Room 133A. As she moves through the Zenobian maze, Moira makes some surprising discoveries about the power of teamwork, the role of the imagination, and the qualities that define true leaders. Her story is complemented and deepened by the story of a long-time Zenobia employee named Gallagher, the man who issued the help wanted ad and who watches, and comments, as Moira makes her way to the ever-elusive Room 133A. This unusual book will move readers to take a fresh and fearless look at their own organizations and imagine what they could be, always keeping in mind that, as the want ad Moira answers puts it, "creative persistence a prerequisite."

From the Back Cover
Imagine

Written by the CEO of a 14 billion dollar pharmaceutical company and an award-winning author and poet, this extraordinary business fable reminds us that imagination is one of the most powerful, and most overlooked, elements of business success. Moira, an enterprising young job aspirant, wends her way through a strange, sclerotic bureaucracy, never discouraged by what is, remaining tenaciously true to her vision of what could be. In the process she inspires those she meets to help in her quest to revitalize the once-mighty but now moribund Zenobia corporation.

"What leads an organization to greatness is often very different from what enables it to continue to grow and develop. Zenobia shows us the essence of what it takes for a company to change. It tells a story that matters for leaders at all levels."
--Marshall Goldsmith, author of What Got You Here Won't Get You There

"Zenobia illustrates what real change leaders do -- scale walls, inspire new conversations, find ways to have influence out of all proportion to their authority. It is a very human fable about a very important subject."
--Jon Katzenbach, Founder and Senior Partner, Katzenbach Partners and author of Real Change Leaders and The Wisdom of Teams

"Moira's winding, challenging trip through Zenobia's halls and floors represents an amazing adventure. Her climb to the elusive Room 133A was achieved with courage, creativity, grit and willingness to take risks - the very traits that Matt has demonstrated as the incredibly successful leader of Atra Merck, EMD and Shire."
-- Ed Rendell, Governor of Pennsylvania

"There's nothing like a good story to inspire, teach, fire up imagination, and stir your spirit. Zenobia is a fine story that does all this and more. It's rather like Alice in Wonderland meets The One Minute Manager -- full of surprise and delight!"
--BJ Gallagher, coauthor of A Peacock in the Land of Penguins and YES Lives in the Land of NO

About the Author
Matthew Emmens is CEO of Shire Pharmaceuticals, which under his leadership has become one of the top specialty pharmaceutical companies in the world. He is a frequent keynote speaker, and was recently profiled in Forbes magazine.

Beth Kephart is the award-winning author of eight books and the winner of a Pew Fellowships in the Arts grant as well as the 2005 Speakeasy Poetry Prize. Her work has appeared in the New York Times, Washington Post, Chicago Tribune, and Salon.com. She is a partner in Fusion Communications.

William Sulit is an award-winning illustrator and a partner in Fusion Communications.

Author/s ... Editor/s ... Illustrator/s ... Creative/s include ... Matthew Emmens, Beth Kephart, Illustrator William Sulit

ISBNs ... ISBN 1576754782, ISBN 978-1576754788

Related Phrases ... Matthew Emmens, Beth Kephart, Illustrator William Sulit, Business Story, Business Fable, Zenobia, Imagination, Change, Influence, Bureaucracy, Fusion Communications ... Business Life, Business and Investing, Workplace, Organizational Behavior, Motivational Books, Management and Leadership, Negotiating, Business Novels, Business Books, Books, Book

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