A Friend in Every City

A Friend in Every City, by Penny and Thomas Power, founders of Ecademy, and Andy Coote, claims to be an inspirational and practical guide to the art and science of networking.

Networking is the key skill for the 21st century worker. As birth rates go down, life expectancy goes up and the business world continues to downsize to a core of permanent workers, more of us will find the 21st century a tough place to make a living. More of us will find ourselves working as freelancers or as part of 'fractional teams' that come together for a project and then disband. Fewer of us will retire on a pension - choosing instead to work on a portfolio of projects.



A Friend in Every City looks first at the forces shaping the new ways of working, then at how online networks, such as LinkedIn, Open BC, Ryze and Ecademy, are evolving to provide support for them. The authors look at how an individual worker can leverage these changes to their best effect.

Networks can provide us with support in all aspects of our lives. A good network will sustain us through bad times as well as good, providing emotional support as well as referrals. Contacts become connections, connections become advocates and advocates become friends.

Can the new networks provide the basis for something more than personal friendship and business? If we can look forward to having a true friend in every city around the world, what changes might that bring? Can conversations change the world?

Blog on to change your career

Margaret Stead, career coach and self-styled 'dream architect' has produced the first comprehensive guide to self-promotion by blogging. Blogs (weB LOGs) are the fastest-expanding feature of the Internet, easily out-pacing porn and gambling in their rate of growth. Margaret's book 'Blog on to a career change' describes how you can use blogs to build your profile and become widely known as an expert in your particular area.

In fact Margaret Stead guarantees that using the tools she describes in her book you are 'guaranteed' to 'enjoy the income you deserve'. And all for less than £100 ((US$185 or €145) and 'overnight'.

I have used Margaret's book to build this blog and its associated pages of news on energy and sustainability (see Links). So, has it worked? Well, I cannot say that I have followed all of Margaret's advice. Starting in December last year, I have not yet spent anything, but have only made $9 and haven't received that yet. I have not spent as much time on the blogs as I should have - little and often is the rule, whereas I tend to do big chunks when work and other commitments permit. It has been interesting and fun and, although I haven't received feedback that my standing as an expert has grown, I am sure the blog has done no harrm.

At £47 the e-book is not cheap, but Margaret convincingly argues that, by following her precepts, you can save many times that. She also offers free full access to her world number one careersnet career change and job search website with the book. And a one-year money-back guarantee. In fact, you should grab one before the price goes up!

Sun Tzu and the project battleground

In his first book David Hawkins explores the lessons that the classic book on Chinese warfare, by General Sun Tzu, has for people involved in setting-up and managing projects.

There have been many business books based on the works of Sun Tzu and a lot of them turn out to be rather stodgy and contrived. This book however uses the Chinese original as a basis on which to build a series of penetrating insights into the rough and tumble of modern business and project management.

I can claim a modest share in this book's success in that I helped the author to decide on what image to use for the cover.



David Hawkins has wide experience of project management in the engineering, energy and extractive industries sectors. He is currently Operations Director of business reklationship management think tank PSL.

Winning by sharing

Winning by Sharing is a collection of true stories combined with market research and analysis about the future of work, how profoundly it will affect people in the next decade, and how this will take most people by surprise.

Based on the personal experience of the author, Leon Benjamin, it describes the new ways in which freedom-loving individuals are choosing to work, buy and invest.



"The internet has caused a fundamental change in attitude towards work and the realisation that a 'career' has ceased to be a feasible way to organise working life", says the author. "I now view work as an instrument of self-development and personal autonomy and entrepreneurship not as a status symbol, but as an attitude - an attitude that everyone is going to need."

Leon Benjamin is a prominent thinker and practioner of the new networked business paradigm and has a leading role in Ecademy. This book is fascinating to read and is packed with keen insights into what many believe is the new world of work.

The Bending Moment - energizing corporate business strategy

This book is about how pressures and stresses from both outside and within can act to change the shapes of organisations - the 'Bending Moment' of the title. It develops the idea of an holistic business strategy as being essential to build success in today's highly complex global market place. The book has fascinating things to say about mergers and acquisitions, risk management, leadership, change management, business networks and alliances.

David Hawkins is Operations Director at PSL. He has extensive experience in procurement, project management and business relationship management. Anyone who has met David, or has heard him speak, will know that he is a highly original thinker who brings his ideas and experience together in ways that will challenge, perhaps infuriate, but will always set you thinking along new lines.