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    Think Simple: How Smart Leaders Defeat Complexity
    Unavailable
    Think Simple: How Smart Leaders Defeat Complexity
    Unavailable
    Think Simple: How Smart Leaders Defeat Complexity
    Audiobook7 hours

    Think Simple: How Smart Leaders Defeat Complexity

    Written by Ken Segall

    Narrated by Ken Segall

    4/5

    ()

    Currently unavailable

    Currently unavailable

    About this audiobook

    Simplicity is arguably the most potent weapon in business-attracting customers, motivating employees, helping outthink competitors, and creating new efficiencies. Yet rarely is it as simple as it looks.

    Ken Segall's first book, Insanely Simple, was based on observations gained from twelve years working as Steve Jobs's advertising agency creative director, first with NeXT and then with Apple. He saw firsthand that Jobs looked at everything through the lens of simplicity. His obsession with simplicity was not just visible in Apple's products. You could see it in the way the company organized, innovated, advertised, sold at retail, and provided customer service.

    In practice, simplicity was Jobs's most powerful business weapon. It helped Apple distinguish its products and create entirely new product categories, and it put distance between Apple and its competitors. But, while Apple is a terrific example of a company that has been propelled by the power of simplicity, it is hardly alone.

    Inspired by the ways Apple has benefited from the power of simplicity, Segall set out to find other companies that were traveling this path. He wanted to learn more about the thinking of their leaders. He felt that if he could chronicle the experiences of those who have successfully simplified, it would be an invaluable guide for everyone who would like to do the same.

    This book is the result of his journey into simplicity in companies around the world. Many of the "heroes of simplicity" profiled in this book are probably not on your list of usual suspects. Segall had conversations with over forty men and women from a wide range of industries, in companies big and small, established and up-and-coming, famous and below under the radar.

    Each leader has a fascinating point of view about how simplicity has helped improve his or her company and set it apart from competitors. Each is unique, yet, as you'll find, many display interesting similarities.

    From Jerry Greenfield, you'll hear how Ben & Jerry's grew from local to global without losing its focus and simple values. From the CEO of one of Australia's biggest banks, you'll hear how simplicity is attracting new customers. From former Apple Senior Vice President Ron Johnson, you'll hear how a simple idea aligned the team creating the worldwide network of Apple Stores.

    You'll discover how simplicity influences the CEOs of The Container Store and Whole Foods. You'll get insights on simplification from the worlds of fashion, automobiles, entertainment, and technology. You'll even get inside the blue heads of the Blue Man Group, who developed a business strategy to defeat complexity before it could take root.

    No principle is more important for businesses today than simplicity. In this insightful and often surprising book, you will learn how to harness the power of simplicity to build lasting, profitable organizations.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherPenguin Random House Audio
    Release dateJun 7, 2016
    ISBN9780735206434
    Unavailable
    Think Simple: How Smart Leaders Defeat Complexity
    Author

    Ken Segall

    KEN SEGALL worked closely with Steve Jobs as ad agency creative director for NeXT and apple. He was a member of the team that created apple’s legendary “Think Different” campaign, and he’s responsible for that little “i” that’s a part of apple’s most popular products. Segall has also served as agency creative director for IBM, Intel, Dell, and BMW.

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    Reviews for Think Simple

    4/5

    59 ratings10 reviews

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    • 3/5
      I’ve heard a lot about Jazz from the media and LGBTQIA teens at the library, but I’d never read her books. This memoir was great because Jazz shared her feelings about being born a boy, and how she worked to show her true self to the world. The writing was a little stilted, but the story was interesting enough to make it work. I think Jazz is a great advocate for the LGBTQIA community, and look forward to hearing more from her.
    • 4/5
      I will start by saying that I am a fan of Jazz Jennings. My daughter and I watch her show, I am Jazz, so I was already familiar with her before starting this book.

      This book is a fascinating look at the life of a transgender child. Beginning with Jazz's early childhood, and continuing up until her teen years. Jazz was lucky enough to have an understanding family, but even so she experiences acts of prejudice. This book was really eye opening for me.

      The book was written by Jazz, who was I think 15 at the time. So it is not as polished as some other books. The writing style often sounds like it was written by a teen. I listened to the audio version of the book, narrated by Jazz herself. At times her narration felt a little stilted, but overall, a very enthralling experience to listen to this book.
    • 4/5
      I am very thankful to Audiobooks SYNC for the chance to listen to this book. I don’t know if I would have read it otherwise. It was great to hear from Jazz in her own words and voice about what it was like growing up as a transgender child. Things that were hard but should be easy, and things that were way more than she ever thought she could be. This girl is growing up to be an amazing woman, and I am glad that I could see into just a little bit of her struggle. Here’s hoping she continues the good fight.
    • 5/5
      I listened to Jazz read the book herself. It was fantastic. Very engaging and kept me interested. I learned so much about transgender issues, and I admire Jazz and her family for being so supportive of her from a very young age. FYI, I am an adult but believe this book is appropriate for tweens through adults.
    • 3/5
      If you are looking to read a memoir about a teenager, here you go! Jazz Jennings tells about her journey to be her “authentic self.”Jazz knew she was a girl for as long as she can remember. She wanted to wear girly clothes and just basically be a girl. She knew she wasn’t what her body was born as. Her parents are very in tune with their child. Her father took a little bit more time to completely understand, but he was always supportive of her wishes and desires. They never seek to tell her she’s wrong, that she’ll grow out of “it,” or that she doesn’t know herself well enough as a child. They let her be herself. From an early age, Jazz seems to have a strong sense of self. There are several takeaways that make this memoir worth reading. First, Jazz doesn’t let others “get her down.” She says that she doesn’t really have time to have other people judge her. What’s important is that she doesn’t put others down--she talks about people with excitement. She just wants people to be themselves and be happy and nice to each other. That’s a good lesson for all people of all ages. Second, Jazz isn’t pushing a political agenda; she’s telling her story and wanting to demystify something that most people wouldn’t understand because statistically, not many people are in her shoes. She doesn’t act like she is this amazing person with an ego; she comes across as excited about life and the possibilities it offers. A lot of teens would be arrogant if they were as famous as her. I didn’t get that vibe listening to her read her book. Third, Jazz’s parents are very supportive and they have raised her to confide in them. Their relationship is very open, and they tell her about challenges as they see that she is ready. Their main goal is to protect her and make a world that she can live in as the person she is.Overall, this is an interesting memoir. There’s nothing to question or judge; it’s a story of a teen, like any other, who just wants to be herself.
    • 4/5
      Jazz discusses her life (0-15) as an out transgender person. Her family has been active in working for awareness and equity. She has a very teen voice in her writing style. Her story is engaging and provides lots of insight. I was certainly interested in her story, but found the book dragging about 3/4 way through. A helpful resource guide and interviews with other family members are also included at the end of the work.
    • 4/5
      Dear lord, Jazzy is a perky little thing! She spoke about her childhood with honesty, candor, and humility. She's an amazing person, especially for a teen.
    • 4/5
      Having attended a Jazz Jennings interview during the American Library Association annual conference in June (and having scant prior knowledge of who she is–I’m probably the only such person in the world), I was impressed. She was your typical fifteen year old, other than the fact that she was being interviewed primarily regarding her LGBT advocacy. And while I didn’t have time to stand in the (long) line to get a copy of her book autographed, it sparked an interest. (Lucky thing I’m a librarian and can order books for our collection.)I said in my post about Exit, Pursued by a Bear by E. K. Johnston that there are serious books describing various, sometimes debilitating, trauma experienced by victims of rape, bullying, etc. However, similar to Hermione in Exit, Jazz has the benefit of strong family and friend support and so her transgender experience is vastly different and probably vastly better than many young girls and boys in similar situations. Both books are very positive.In Being Jazz, Jazz describes the early feelings of being a girl in a boy’s body, wanting to wear girl’s clothing and play with dolls instead of trucks. She describes not being able to use the girl’s bathroom (it was interesting that the Orlando Convention Center had several unisex bathrooms), not being allowed to play on the girl’s soccer team. Yet, in the background, her parents were fighting the fights required to change the rules. I’m sure many (most) parents of transgender youth don’t have the knowledge or resources (time and money) to do all that the Jennings did.She describes the onset of depression and how she handles it. She talks about friendship and shows a lot of spunk and self confidence when saying if someone doesn’t love her for who she is, then the friendship isn’t worth pursuing. She talks about the awards she’s won and the people she’s met.Despite her experiences and the associated maturity, Being Jazz has the feel of being written by a fifteen year old (there’s no ‘with assistance from ___’ in the credits) and that’s good because maybe other fifteen year olds will be inspired by it…more so than if an adult wrote about being transgender.No such book would be complete without a resource listing. Being Jazz includes the following: websites, depression outreach services, books for kids, books for teens and adults, educational books for parents of a transgender child and movies/tv.All in all, Being Jazz was an enjoyable and educational read. It could be and should be a primer about what transgender means and how trans kids are no different than any other kid, having the same hopes and dreams.
    • 3/5
      I don't watch reality tv so reading this was my introduction to Jazz. It's awesome that she has been able to do so much for others who don't have the voice and support she has had. This was interesting to me but the best audience would be younger than me. It's about a lot of the things children and teens go through from the perspective of someone transgender.
    • 4/5
      Funny, conversational, and really engaging. It was a mix of eye-opening and routine bits about teenage life, with plenty of big picture activism details sprinkled throughout as well. Some of the statistics are heartbreaking, even as Jazz's personal experience is often (though definitely not always) positive. I listened to the audiobook, but grabbed the paper edition to flip through, and it's worth picking it up to see the photos and interviews that aren't included in the audio version.