O Great One!: A Little Story About the Awesome Power of Recognition

A parable about the secret to engaging and motivating people to do great things in all walks of life, by the bestselling author of Taking People With You.

Based on real experiences that David Novak had as the Chairman and CEO of Yum! Brands, this parable will empower readers to recognize the contributions of those around them in order to drive bigger and better results. It's not hard, it's not expensive, and you don't need an MBA or even a position of authority to do it. It's a deceptively simple principle that can have a huge impact on both your life and your business.

Jeff Johnson, the new CEO of The Happy Face Toy Company, has one year to save his family's famous toy company, which has fallen on hard times following the death of his father. If Jeff fails, the whole company will fail. As he races to save his family's legacy by getting the company back on track, Jeff encounters downtrodden factory workers and an uninspired executive team. Then a birthday gift from his grandson gives Jeff an important insight into why business is suffering: the secret ingredient to making people happy and engaged is missing.

During his time as CEO of Yum!, Novak harnessed the power of employee recognition to revitalize the culture. The principles he lives by, from handing out personalized awards to coaxing office culture into life, are at the core of this parable. Novak recently founded OGO Enterprises, the world's first recognition brand focused on appreciating all people for who they are and what they do.

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O Great One!: A Little Story About the Awesome Power of Recognition

A parable about the secret to engaging and motivating people to do great things in all walks of life, by the bestselling author of Taking People With You.

Based on real experiences that David Novak had as the Chairman and CEO of Yum! Brands, this parable will empower readers to recognize the contributions of those around them in order to drive bigger and better results. It's not hard, it's not expensive, and you don't need an MBA or even a position of authority to do it. It's a deceptively simple principle that can have a huge impact on both your life and your business.

Jeff Johnson, the new CEO of The Happy Face Toy Company, has one year to save his family's famous toy company, which has fallen on hard times following the death of his father. If Jeff fails, the whole company will fail. As he races to save his family's legacy by getting the company back on track, Jeff encounters downtrodden factory workers and an uninspired executive team. Then a birthday gift from his grandson gives Jeff an important insight into why business is suffering: the secret ingredient to making people happy and engaged is missing.

During his time as CEO of Yum!, Novak harnessed the power of employee recognition to revitalize the culture. The principles he lives by, from handing out personalized awards to coaxing office culture into life, are at the core of this parable. Novak recently founded OGO Enterprises, the world's first recognition brand focused on appreciating all people for who they are and what they do.

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O Great One!: A Little Story About the Awesome Power of Recognition

O Great One!: A Little Story About the Awesome Power of Recognition

by David Novak, Christa Bourg

Narrated by James Foster

Unabridged — 4 hours, 15 minutes

O Great One!: A Little Story About the Awesome Power of Recognition

O Great One!: A Little Story About the Awesome Power of Recognition

by David Novak, Christa Bourg

Narrated by James Foster

Unabridged — 4 hours, 15 minutes

Audiobook (Digital)

$28.99
(Not eligible for purchase using B&N Audiobooks Subscription credits)

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Overview

A parable about the secret to engaging and motivating people to do great things in all walks of life, by the bestselling author of Taking People With You.

Based on real experiences that David Novak had as the Chairman and CEO of Yum! Brands, this parable will empower readers to recognize the contributions of those around them in order to drive bigger and better results. It's not hard, it's not expensive, and you don't need an MBA or even a position of authority to do it. It's a deceptively simple principle that can have a huge impact on both your life and your business.

Jeff Johnson, the new CEO of The Happy Face Toy Company, has one year to save his family's famous toy company, which has fallen on hard times following the death of his father. If Jeff fails, the whole company will fail. As he races to save his family's legacy by getting the company back on track, Jeff encounters downtrodden factory workers and an uninspired executive team. Then a birthday gift from his grandson gives Jeff an important insight into why business is suffering: the secret ingredient to making people happy and engaged is missing.

During his time as CEO of Yum!, Novak harnessed the power of employee recognition to revitalize the culture. The principles he lives by, from handing out personalized awards to coaxing office culture into life, are at the core of this parable. Novak recently founded OGO Enterprises, the world's first recognition brand focused on appreciating all people for who they are and what they do.


Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

If you want to improve your life and the lives of those around you, just apply the ten principles my friend David Novak lays out in this book.”
Warren Buffett
 
“Any leader searching for the best way to motivate people needs to read this timely, unique, and exceptionally helpful book!”
Larry Bossidy, former chairman and CEO, Honeywell; coauthor of Execution
 
 “David Novak built YUM! into a great company by bringing out the best in his people. O Great One! shows you how easy it is to help people reach their potential. He is a great storyteller!"
Rick Pitino, head basketball coach, University of Louisville
 
“A must-read for every person in any organization. Read it, do it, and watch great things happen!”
Ken Langone, co-founder of The Home Depot 
 
O Great One! is a real page-turner. Through this insightful and elegantly written story, he does a brilliant job illustrating how recognition – a simple concept that is all too easily taken for granted – can be a potent force, motivating people to perform at their highest levels.”
Indra Nooyi, Chairman and CEO, PepsiCo
 
“An important and colorful book about a topic that is absolutely essential. When people care passionately about what they do, everything falls into place, and customer satisfaction and financial results follow. David's vast experience resonates throughout this book with useful and practical advice.” 
– Suzy & Jack Welch
 
O Great One! is by far the best book on the power of recognition that I have ever read. It will make a difference not only in your life but also in the lives of people you interact with at work, at home, and in your community.”  
– Ken Blanchard, coauthor of The New One Minute Manager® and Collaboration Begins with You
 
“David Novak hit another home run with O Great One! His message is clear: when we take care of our people, they take care of everything else.”
John Calipari, head basketball coach, University of Kentucky
 
 "This heartwarming story will captivate your spirit and challenge your leadership philosophy. Nobody has more credibility to deliver this message than David, who regularly uses the magic of recognition to lead his teams to extraordinary success.”
Steve Reinemund, former chairman and CEO, PepsiCo
 
O Great One! is a sweet story that contains a very important lesson: recognition is the key to creating an open and successful organization.”
Jamie Dimon, Chairman and CEO, JPMorgan Chase
 
“No one understands the power of recognition more and has translated it into tangible results better than David Novak. He is the world’s authority on recognition.”
Mike Rawlings, Mayor of Dallas
 
“The valuable lessons and insights shared in O Great One! should be applied to achieve powerful results not only in your business but with your family." 
Brian Cornell, Chairman and CEO, Target
 
O Great One! is an easy read that hits the nail on the head.  Successful companies are all about people and this book proves that people work more effectively when they are appreciated and recognized for their contributions to team success.”
Dr. Bob Rotella, psychologist and performance consultant
 
“After you devour this thoroughly enjoyable page-turner, buy it for all the leaders and future leaders in your life. It’ll make a huge difference!”
Bob Burg, coauthor of The Go-Giver and The Go-Giver Leader
 
 “Throughout his career, David has employed these same principles of recognition to drive terrific results.  It works.”
David Cote, Chairman and CEO, Honeywell

"This book reminded me of the power I have to make someone's day by being thankful for what they do. I liked its lessons so much I wanted my entire family to read it. You will love it too."
–Phil Mickelson, professional golfer

Product Details

BN ID: 2940169787320
Publisher: Brilliance Audio
Publication date: 05/10/2016
Edition description: Unabridged
Sales rank: 1,086,393

Read an Excerpt

Introduction O Great One!: The Story
(Continues…)



Excerpted from "O Great One!"
by .
Copyright © 2016 David Novak.
Excerpted by permission of Penguin Publishing Group.
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site.

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