Connecting the Dots: Leadership Lessons in a Start-up World

Great Read

What can you learn from one of the most successful CEO's in history who turned Cisco into an IT powerhouse; taking it from $70M to $47B? --Plenty. As a startup CEO in tech and in Silicon Valley, this book is the most efficient few hours you can spend. It codifies many of the things that contribute to the success of leaders, their companies, and teams. The latter word, teams is used in the context of this book in the broadest sense. What I love about John's approach in Connecting the Dots is that he understands how the "entire puzzle" works in how market adoption and leadership occurs from understanding and connecting government to infrastructure opportunities and gaps to ecosystems to education to talent trends and talent development obligations of a leader. John gets what a CEO really needs to be and to do to command the respect and partnership of all stakeholders: employees, investors, partners, customers. More than most in Silicon Valley, Chambers understands the role of government for example, and that you can't be a coward when it comes to any stakeholder, whether it's government or the media. Anyone who has ever done anything innovative or hard has faced doubters, haters, and plenty of criticism whether the latter is fair or not. Ironically, as every real leader knows, decisions have to be made many times before the need seems obvious or you will lose. The message? When facing market shifts, it's a leader's choice. Sacrifice incurring the pain of criticism (whether or not it's valid) now, then enjoy subsequent winning and respect later or alternatively, you can avoid criticism while avoiding success at the same time. In this book, John doesn't sugarcoat the pain incurred of being a leader, he acknowledges it, illustrates how you have to face it, head on with aplomb. In a complex, rapidly changing world, no one knows it all. If they claim they do, run. John doesn't claim to know it all, he lives and breathes the value of teams, not in a "group hug" sense of the word, but within the context of the competitive athletes within competitive sports teams that all leaders need to be to thrive in today's turbulent world. He also focuses on the critical importance of communication, a challenge for many gifted technically adept leaders, and something that rises in importance exponentially with complexity. I've been blessed to see John speak live and if you ever have a chance, jump. You will be so glad you did. I recommend that you read his book first.

interest as a retired ceo - john was successful in what he did, so his behaviour is extremely important.his values with business AND with family are so wonderful to recognize.loved the book

Havent completed itBut John has given a gist of all that he has learnt over the years by experience and knowledge

Clear takeaways at the end of each chapter, to help take John's wisdom and use it in your business life.